Blue Jackets Rumors: Adam Boqvist Quickly Becoming Trade Candidate

It appears as though the Columbus Blue Jackets have liked the play of David Jiricek and want to keep him around. He was recalled before even getting a chance to play a game in the AHL this season and has gotten into four of the five games for Columbus thus far.

The team recalled him after Zach Werenski got injured in the first game of the season, but the team's top defenseman is now back. Jiricek got a top line role, but has now slotted in on the second pair. He is most definitely the defenseman of the future and seems to have locked down a role in the present as well.

While he has come up and made an impact, it has kept Andrew Peeke out of the lineup, making him a clear cut trade candidate. As Peeke has sat out all but one game, Adam Boqvist has now found himself out of the top-six and has only played two games this season. The right side is pretty much set with Damon Severson under contract for seven years, Jiricek proving to be a valuable young asset, and Erik Gudbranson playing a specific role on the third pair.

Boqvist is only 23 years old and is very capable of holding down a spot on the defense of nearly every team in the NHL, just not the one he finds himself on currently. He was a big returning piece in the Seth Jones trade a few years back and still holds a good deal of value that the Blue Jackets can use. Something has to give in Columbus and a trade be executed soon.