The Blue Jackets have yet to make a move in free agency, but they made a trade today acquiring Jerry D'Amigo from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Columbus sent Matt Frattin back to Toronto in exchange for D'Amigo as well as a conditional 7th round pick.
D'Amigo had just three points in 22 NHL games last year while buried by Randy Carlyle and playing extremely limited minutes, but many view him to be NHL ready.
He will bring some speed, skill and depth to the Jackets.
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Blake Comeau won't be returning to Columbus, as he's elected to sign a one-year deal with the Penguins.
He'll be a nice depth add for them, and at $700,000 he'll come in at very cap friendly terms.
He posted very good possession numbers with Columbus last season, and has historically done well in that regard. He also has a 24 goal campaign under his belt in the past, so he's not without skill.
I thought Columbus would have been smart to bring him back, but they have plenty of internal options to try and replace him this fall.
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NHL free agency is here, and the Blue Jackets don't figure to be among the teams handing out big money, long-term contracts left, right and center.
Jarmo Kekalainen dished out a big contract to Nathan Horton last year, but isn't expected to make that kind of noise this July.
The Blue Jackets have almost $20 million in cap space, but they need to fill out their group of bottom-6 forwards, and sign a depth defenseman. They can't go wild in free agency even if they wished, as the team needs to have enough cap space to match any offer sheet for Ryan Johansen should one come his way.
Talks haven't been going overly well with Johansen, so it is a possibility, and would become one even more so if they handcuffed themselves by committing more money to others.
I kind of get the sense Columbus has interest in Ales Hemsky, but it sounds like he may price himself out of the range the Blue Jackets are willing to pay.
Another option I could see them pursuing is depth center Marcel Goc, who would be a more than adequate replacement for Derek MacKenzie should he sign elsewhere.
Kekalainen may make a few moves, but don't expect anything big from the Blue Jackets today.
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The Blue Jackets have announced the signing defenseman Frederic St. Denis to a one-year, two-way extension. He figures to spend next year in Springfield.
Note: I'll update this post throughout the day with any Blue Jackets news.
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