COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the first time in six seasons, the Columbus Blue Jackets will arrive at the NHL trade deadline on Friday without a “for sale” sign on their roster. Instead, GM Don Waddell has been telling rival GMs he’s looking to buy.
Waddell is not expected to be one of the league’s high-rollers on Friday. He’s already made it clear he’s not in “go-for-it” mode, stating several times that he has no interest in trading a first-round draft pick for a “rental” player who is a pending unrestricted free agent this summer.
But he would like to add a top-nine forward with a history of providing offense, especially with lingering injuries to first-line center Sean Monahan (wrist surgery) and third-line center Cole Sillinger (shoulder), who are both likely out until late March.
“If we can add (to our lineup) around the edges, certainly we’re going to try that,” Waddell said. “I’m more interested in hockey deals with players who have term remaining on their contracts. We’re exploring, obviously, as many of those as we can.”
Waddell’s descriptions — no high-priced rentals, support players rather than star players, and contract terms beyond this season — give us three pretty good clues to help parse the list of the players who are believed to be available before the bell tolls at 3 p.m. on Friday.
Disclaimer: Any of this can change with one phone call, and a player not believed to be available could suddenly be on the table. But Waddell has been pretty clear in his thinking about where the Blue Jackets are in their growth curve and how the way this club has played makes them deserving of an added bump for the season’s stretch drive.
Don’t expect the Blue Jackets to be in on Carolina’s Mikko Rantanen, the New York Islanders’ Brock Nelson, or Vancouver’s Brock Boeser. They’re all UFAs who are going to draw massive player-and-pick returns.
Here’s another read on the situation: Don’t expect a player acquired with remaining term to be a center. It’s not out of the question, but there are multiple reasons the Blue Jackets would most likely be interested in wingers with existing term.
Why? Because the Blue Jackets are actually — maybe for the first time in franchise history — pretty deep down the middle, either with proven veterans (Monahan) or young, precocious players growing into prominent roles (Adam Fantilli, Sillinger).
Acquiring a center typically costs a premium, and Waddell wouldn’t want to bump Fantilli or Monahan into a third-line role or Sillinger to the fourth line, and you wouldn’t want to play a premium for a center who then — when the Blue Jackets are healthy — either plays on the third line or switches to wing.
Now, a center with an expiring contract could make sense, as Monahan and Sillinger are still a few weeks away from playing.
With all of this in mind, we’re looking at Waddell’s potential targets through two categories:
• Established scoring players (likely wingers) with remaining term, requiring a solid trade offer, perhaps involving a first-round pick (the Blue Jackets have their own and Minnesota’s in this summer’s draft).
• Solid contributors who know how to play in the playoffs and may have expiring contracts, requiring an offer that begins and ends with a mid-round pick, either this summer or next.
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Against that backdrop, here are players in each category that Blue Jackets players should keep in mind heading into Friday (listed alphabetically):
Remaining term
Rickard Rakell, RW, Pittsburgh: After a tough 2023-24, Rackell (29 goals) is on the verge of his first 30-goal season since 2017-18 with Anaheim. The Penguins don’t have to move him, but they may be looking to strike while the iron is hot. Rakell, 31, has two years remaining with a $5 million salary cap hit.
Alex Tuch, RW, Buffalo: Not sure why the Sabres would want to move on from a local product who brings size and scoring to the lineup, but GM Kevyn Adams — a former Blue Jackets player — is looking to change his mix to kick-start a rebuild that’s taking too long. Tuch, 28, can become a UFA in the summer of 2026. He carries a $4.75 million cap hit.
Jared McCann, LW, Seattle: Adding McCann in the 2021 expansion draft was one of the Kraken’s top early moves. He peaked at 40 goals in 2022-23, slid to 29 last season and currently has 15 in 62 games. McCann, 28, has two years remaining (at a $5 million cap hit) before he hits UFA status in 2027.
Expiring term
Kyle Palmieri, RW, New York Islanders: Nobody is quite sure what the suddenly resurgent Islanders are going to do: hold steady, sell or buy. Uncle Lou can keep a secret. If Palmieri is available, he’ll be on the move again, as contenders crave steady vets. The 34-year-old has a $5 million cap hit.
Joel Armia, RW, Montreal: This is a sturdy, solid player who is probably better suited to a third-line role. He’s not a big goal producer — Armia’s career high was 17, set last season — but he’s consistent. He may seem redundant with James van Riemsdyk in Columbus. Armia, 32, has a $3.4 million cap hit.
Reilly Smith, RW, New York Rangers: Smith has a history of scoring goals, though not consistently and not over the past two years with Pittsburgh and the Rangers. But he has Stanley Cup pedigree, having won it all with Vegas two seasons ago. Smith, 33, comes with a $5 million salary cap hit.
Brandon Tanev, LW, Seattle: Plays with an edge and can score greasy goals, but not regarded as a big offensive contributor. The type of player who makes a bigger impact in a playoff series (you again?) than in a regular-season game. Tanev, 33, has a $3.5 million cap hit.
Jason Zucker, LW, Buffalo: If Zucker moves, he’d be joining his fifth team in three seasons, and this would mark the second straight year he moved at the deadline. Crafty, speedy player who can score goals in bunches when he’s rolling. Zucker, 33, has a $5 million cap hit.
(Photo of Don Waddell: Jason Mowry / Getty Images)
