Blue Jackets Rumors: Columbus Trying to Trade Defenseman

The Columbus Blue Jackets are trying to make a trade and have held discussions for the past few weeks. While a couple of their superstars are struggling, it's on the blue line where GM Jarmo Kekalainen would like to improve immediately.

The Blue Jackets are trying to move on from defenseman Andrew Peeke. The 25-year-old is finding himself scratched most nights and has only seen four games of action this season. Peeke is 6-foot-3 and plays a physical game, finishing last season with 180 hits and 197 blocked shots.

The big righty is a target of many contending teams, however the money will need to make sense for a team to pull the trigger with the Blue Jackets. Peeke is in the first year of a three-year contract extension, paying him $2.75 million against the cap.

The Parkland, Florida resident does not hold any trade protection on his deal and can be moved at will. While he doesn't offer much offensively, Peeke's underlying numbers defensively are worrisome as well, however the Blue Jackets haven't necessarily been a wagon defensively these past couple of seasons. Peeke is expendable by Kekalainen and Columbus will continue to work the phones looking for the best return.