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Gavrikov 3 years - $2.8M Cap Hit |
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If you are outside of Columbus this 'headline' does not excite you. But for me (and hopefully you CBJ fans out there) this is exciting. As the Jackets jettisoned two noteworthy (but under-performing) blue liners early in the off-season the question left in my mind was regarding defensive depth. That particular thing sank them in the 2019 playoffs against BOS. And what did they get in return for Murray and Nutivaara? Cap space.
Murray's salary dump is understandable. He is making $4.6M and could not stay healthy. He could be a solid (not spectacular) first-pair defensemen, but others in the pipeline were catching up to him (Gav and Peeke) with a much better return for the money. Nuti seems a bit of a mystery to me. His playing time seemed sparse in 2020, not giving him much opportunity to shine. In the pecking order he had fallen behind guys like Gav and Savard (obviously), but also Kukan and maybe even Peeke.
With Gavrikov signing the d-corp looks like this going into the upcoming season:
Seth & Zach
Savard & Gav
Kukan & Harrington
Competing for the 7th spot and playing time during the season will be Peeke and Carlsson with Clendening mentoring other D prospects in CLE.
My guess is that at some point this season Peeke with get a regular role and Carlsson will get some PT with injuries inevitably happening.
JK has one more item to check off his off-season to-do list: sign PLD
Given recent signings I think he will limit this one to a 3 year contract as well. Maybe 4 years. Here are other recent contracts that point to the shorter term:
Domi: 2-year (Anderson, the other half of this trade, got 7 years)
Gus: 4-year
Zach: 3-year
Gav: 3-year
Elvis: 2-year
Korpi: 2-year
We don't know what went on behind closed doors, but players are not signing long-term deals in Columbus. Are they being offered longer contracts? Are they demanding shorter contracts?
Some of this is due to the RFA/UFA rules. Everyone on this list except Gus falls into that category and so will PLD. Which is what leads me to believe a 3 year contract is in the works.
This way of forming a team is a bit concerning to this CBJ fan. Looking at current contracts the only players signed for the 2022-2023 season are Cam and Gus. You are not reading that wrong. In 2022 there will only be 2 players under contract, the rest of the team will have come up for free agency (with only Zach and Bjork as RFAs). Scary.
Taking the short view, if PLD signs a 3 year deal, it is likely to be less than $6M. Which leaves significant cap space to acquire another contract either through a dwindling free agent market or via trade. As Gus is out long term another scorer would be nice. Because honestly, who will score all of those empty net goals if not Gus? I joke about that, but filling in while he is out is a real concern.
Jarmo, work your magic in the trade market....
Good Luck and Go Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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