NHL Rumors: Blue Jackets Looking To Trade For Right-Handed Defenceman

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in need of a right-shot defencemen and may be looking to make a trade, Adam Portzline brings up. The team has Adam Boqvist, Nick Blankenburg, Andrew Peeke, and Erik Gudbranson.

The season didn't start the way they wanted to as they lost their first three games. They made some lineup adjustments which included scratching Boqvist who had a top pairing spot. He has since sat the past two games and the team has won two in a row. This doesn't mean that Blankenburg, who replaced Boqvist on the top pair for now, is ready to take that role. The Blue Jackets still need a more impactful defenceman on the right side.

#CBJ Nick Blankenburg will make his season debut on Tuesday vs. Vancouver after being a healthy scratch in the first three games of the season.

Looks like he's going into the lineup for Adam Boqvist, which puts Jake Bean on the point of the second power-play unit.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 17, 2022

The most logical trade target would be a player who can play top-four minutes and one who has experience. There isn't a ton of experience on the Columbus blue line with Boqvist, Jake Bean, Peeke, and Blankenburg. All of the Blue Jackets' right-handed defencemen have little to no experience on the top pair or even in the top-four. If the team wants to compete in a strong Metropolitan division, they are right to look for help elsewhere.