The Columbus Blue Jackets accomplished an indication and commerce with the New Jersey Devils on Friday. For a third-round choose on this yr’s draft, the Blue Jackets acquired defenseman Damon Severson. He’s now signed to an eight-year contract price $50 million.
After buying Ivan Provorov earlier within the week, the Blue Jackets have continued their aggressive method to this offseason. Their top-four has been fully remade within the span of just some days.
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Listed below are our three preliminary takeaways of the commerce from a Blue Jackets’ perspective. Keep tuned Saturday as we caught up with each Severson and GM Jarmo Kekalainen in regards to the deal.
Blue Jackets Considering Playoffs
Kekalainen mentioned in his finish of season availability that they had been sick of watching the playoffs on TV. Their first two strikes clearly point out not solely a need to return to the playoffs, they point out a need to win within the playoffs as quickly as this season.
Severson instantly improves the top-four and might slot in subsequent to Zach Werenski on the highest pair. If that doesn’t work, he can play with Ivan Provorov on the second pair. The commerce opens up extra choices for the teaching employees to work by.
The Blue Jackets recognized Severson as their high free-agent goal. Buying and selling the eightieth general choose, the one acquired as a part of the Oliver Bjorkstrand commerce, signaled how critical the crew was in touchdown him.
With the opportunity of head coach Mike Babcock becoming a member of the Blue Jackets as soon as July rolls round, these strikes additionally signify that they need to be more durable to play towards, one thing Babcock would absolutely assist. That’s the sort of type that may be profitable within the playoffs. It additionally signifies a need to make Elvis Merzlikins’ job simpler in internet. If there was something the Blue Jackets needed to accomplish this offseason, it was to set Merzlikins up for fulfillment.
With Severson and Provorov within the fold, Merzlikins ought to see much less photographs than he did final season. No strain Elvis, however success will fall squarely on his shoulders in the event that they need to make the playoffs in 2023-24.
Most significantly although, having a extra veteran presence ought to immensely assist the younger gamers get the expertise they want. That ought to assist them construct success not simply this season however in future ones too.
Commerce Signifies Significance of Minors
Immediately, there’s a logjam of right-shot defenseman on the Blue Jackets. Eric Gudbranson, Adam Boqvist, Andrew Peeke, Nick Blankenburg and David Jiricek all could possibly be within the combine for the opposite spot within the top-four. Whoever doesn’t get in there might compete for the underside pair. Regardless, there’s rather more competitors within the room.
Buying Severson permits the Blue Jackets choices in relation to their youthful gamers. If Jiricek isn’t prepared, begin him in Cleveland. Blankenburg is waivers exempt and will get top-pair minutes on the Monsters if there isn’t an on a regular basis spot accessible for him in Columbus.
And who can overlook the scores of accidents the Blue Jackets handled final season? Having this type of depth ought to enable the crew to resist accidents higher than final season.
Growth has to stay a high precedence for the Blue Jackets even of their pursuit of the playoffs. A remade top-four coupled with depth choices permits them to have a few of their youthful gamers get constant growth time. Kekalainen mentioned he screwed the Monsters final season. It’s clear he doesn’t need to screw them once more transferring ahead.
There’s Nonetheless Extra to Come
The protection has been remade. However the Blue Jackets should not completed reconstructing their roster. They nonetheless have to deal with their middle ice.
Kekalainen is already on file by saying they may get “a hell of a participant” with the third-overall choose. It could be surprising in the event that they out of the blue change course from that.
However it isn’t out of the realm of chance for the Blue Jackets to discover one other commerce if it means bolstering their top-six. Kevin Hayes’ identify continues to be on the market. Elias Lindholm’s identify has been talked about as a potential match.
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If the Blue Jackets had been keen to be daring on two trades involving defensemen, it’s affordable to imagine they’ll method middle ice the identical means. That’s very true if the playoffs are a objective subsequent season.
Boone Jenner, for now, seems to be the number-one middle for the Blue Jackets getting into 2023-24. That might change relying on different strikes. That should change in the event that they need to compete with the higher echelon of groups in their very own division. Severson solely additional proves the Blue Jackets aren’t completed. Actually, they’re a good distance from being completed with the strikes they should make. Settle in.