NHL Trade Rumors: Blue Jackets Poised For A Big Move Ahead Of Trade Deadline
According to The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline, Waddell is willing to trade one of the team’s two first-round picks but only for a player with term remaining on their contract. “We had some irons in the fire,” Waddell said. “But no action yet.”
Injuries to Sean Monahan and Kirill Marchenko have left the Blue Jackets shorthanded, and while captain Boone Jenner is set to return soon, Waddell knows they need more offensive firepower to stay competitive.
Lighting the lamp as part of a 3rd period surge that led to his team's Saturday 2-1 victory against the Maple Leafs, Brock Boeser ended up with his 29th career game winning goal in the process. With that, he currently sits tied for 5th on this list of @Canucks (primary) wingers pic.twitter.com/wXSOErIC6B
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 11, 2025
Several names have been linked to Columbus, including Casey Mittelstadt, Brock Boeser, and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Mittelstadt, who hasn’t quite fit with Colorado since his trade from Buffalo, has two years left on his deal and fits Waddell’s preference for a longer-term addition.
Boeser, a pending UFA, could be a more affordable target, while Bjorkstrand, a former Blue Jacket, may be available if Seattle decides to shake things up.
Columbus could also use mid-round picks to add a rental forward like Gustav Nyquist or Yanni Gourde to bolster their depth. Meanwhile, if the Vancouver Canucks shift gears before the deadline, the Jackets could even take a swing at Elias Pettersson.
Oliver Bjorkstrand drops the gloves with Simon Benoit, who has 4 inches and 36 pounds on him.
— Emerald City Hockey (@EmeraldCityHky) February 7, 2025
Impressive that Bjorkstrand held his own. pic.twitter.com/kPIiOTUc0E
While a forward is the priority, Columbus is also keeping an eye on its blue line, especially with Dante Fabbro’s status uncertain.
If Waddell looks to add a defenseman, options like Rasmus Ristolainen and Connor Murphy are on the radar.
The team is also negotiating with pending UFAs Ivan Provorov and Mathieu Olivier. “We’ve exchanged ideas and numbers on both sides,” Waddell said. “We’re not there yet, but there are deals to be made.”
With the Blue Jackets sitting just outside of the final wild-card spot, Waddell’s willingness to part with draft capital suggests they are serious about making a move. Whether they land a long-term scoring threat or a short-term boost, Columbus looks to be one of the more aggressive teams as the deadline approaches.
Photo Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
