The Columbus Blue Jackets Made Aggressive Moves at the Deadline
The Columbus Blue Jackets made a coaching change and now have one of the best records in the National Hockey League. Remember, the Blue Jackets started the season with Dean Evason, and on January 12th, he was replaced by Rick Bowness. The Blue Jackets are a different team under him.
GM Don Waddell believed the Blue Jackets were a playoff team, as many expected them to be coming off their success last season. Things didn’t start off well, so the coaching change was made. Given how the Blue Jackets rose up the standings and were in a playoff spot.
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Waddell decided to keep Charlie Coyle, Mason Marchment (whom the team acquired earlier in the season from the Seattle Kraken), Boone Jenner, Danton Heinen, Miles Wood, and Mathieu Olivier (signed a new six-year $18 million contract, $3 million AAV). The belief is that he wants to extend Coyle, Jenner, and maybe one other.
But Waddell wanted to go for it this season and decided to add Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks. He was linked to the Blue Jackets heading into the trade deadline. As Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period on TFP Hotstove said, the Blue Jackets were always looking to add a top-six forward.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Peter Berce: “The Blue Jackets are making a strong push to get into the playoffs. They’re right into the mix. They acquire Conor Garland. Looks like Werenski is back in the lineup tonight (Saturday), saying he’s lost a bunch of pounds due to his illness in the last few days. The aggressiveness of Don Waddell and acquiring a guy like Conor Garland, Dave.”
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Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, he wanted to add a top-six guy. Now they poked around, even after a little bit on Bobby McMann as well. I mentioned that earlier on in the show, out of Toronto, they wanted a top-six guy. They wanted another piece to add to their group.
And Conor Garland is controllable. He’s locked in. His no-trade doesn’t kick in. His new contract altogether doesn’t kick in until July 1, but, but he’s locked in for a six-year deal.
So they felt that was an area they needed to address, and with how they’ve played this season, perform this season, that they were a playoff team, and I think they’re looking at Boston dead in their sights, one point behind them right now (two points), Boston didn’t do anything of significance in terms of bolstering their roster going into the deadline.
And I think Columbus thinks that they’re ripe for the picking. So that’s something that will keep, obviously, tabs on also. I mean, the Islanders having to boost up as well. Pete, they’re only three points ahead of Columbus, and the Jackets have two games in hand. So the Jackets definitely feel like they wanted to add and they feel like their roster is a team that’s capable of making the playoffs.
Somebody I think is going to miss out, either Boston or the Isles. I think the Isles improved enough to stay in it. I’d be worried if I were the Bruins.”
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Now Garland has four goals in three games with the Blue Jackets. There is a belief that Columbus can get into the playoffs. The question remains: who do they knock out? Is it the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, or Pittsburgh Penguins?
But given how the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets added, and the other teams didn’t, you have to think that with games in hand, it will be the Blue Jackets.
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