Blue Jackets Creeping Closer To Trading 2 Defensemen

The Columbus Blue Jackets had major problems on the back-end last season due to health, so they made sure that wouldn't be a problem this season. They overdid it and have eight very capable defensemen on the roster with more in the system. This has caused there to be trade talks all season, but nothing has come of it yet.

The team is now 12 games in and two of the defensemen that should be playing everyday in an NHL lineup have played just two games. Whether it be to a contender or a rebuilding team, the Blue Jackets have to be exploring options to send Andrew Peeke, Adam Boqvist, or both.

Boqvist is a 23-year-old right-shot defender who is in his third season with Columbus after coming over in a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks. He has been good since arriving and the only reason he's not in the lineup is because Damon Severson was just signed to a huge deal, David Jiricek is the future and has arrived, and the Blue Jackets need a certain physicality and grit from the third pairing in Erik Gudbranson. Boqvist is under contract through 2024-25 and is a RFA at the end of the deal. He also has 22 goals and 75 points in 176 career games. That's great for a defenseman of his age.

Peeke is a different type of player, but he has been kept out of the lineup for the same reason as Boqvist. Peeke provides great defensive play and a whole other group of teams could use his skill set. The 25-year-old is in the first of a three-year deal worth $2.75 million AAV and has nearly 200 games of NHL experience. They can't sit out for much longer with the team struggling the way it is. They are trade pieces to use to get better elsewhere since the defense can't get much better right now.