Rumor: Jackets going after a big piece

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been quite active on the trade market since the start of the 2017-18 season. However, when Jackets management tried to land forward Matt Duchene, only to see him moved in a three-way trade to the Ottawa Senators. 

Now, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun revealed what sort of piece general manager Jarmo Kekalainen would add if he could make one more move on Montreal’s TSN 690 on Tuesday evening. 

“It’d be a center,” indicated LeBrun. “And that’s why they were in on Matt Duchene. They think they made a pretty good offer is what my understanding is. They didn’t get him. And so just because they didn’t get Matt Duchene doesn’t mean that that desire of adding a center disappears. It’s just that the next person up hasn’t quite materialized. I don’t think it’s clear what Columbus can go out and do now. But at some point in time between now and February 26 there’s no question in my mind I believe the Columbus Blue Jackets have identified that as their top priority, all things being equal, in terms of other potential injuries and other issues.

“But as it stands right now, I think they want to go out and find a top-two center or certainly a top-six forward, and they feel pretty good about their team if they can do that.”

However, like Bob McKenzie has revealed, the Jackets are not the only team looking for a boost up front and could see the next trade attempt fail, once again... 

But if the Jackets had the pieces in place for a big deal with the Colorado Avalanche back then, they might be able to land a deal with another team to bolster their offense.

Stay tuned...