The Columbus Blue Jackets jumped into the trade market on Friday. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen was busy making multiple trades today. The Blue Jackets trade partners were the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild. The Blue Jackets parted ways with some quality players and received players who should contribute and address needs right away.
Jarmo Kekalainen Makes Two Trades for Columbus Blue Jackets
The Bread Man Makes his stop in Columbus:
#CBJ acquire Artemi Panarin, Tyler Motte and a 6th-rd pick this year for Brandon Saad, Anton Forsberg and 5th rd pick in 2018. #Blackhawks
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 23, 2017
The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Forward Artemi Panarin, center Tyler Motte and a fifth round pick in 2018. In return the Blue Jackets sent forward Brandon Saad, AHL goaltender Anton Forsberg and a sixth round pick in 2017 to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Artemi Panarin
The Blue Jackets traded away a good young player in Saad but in return got an elite scorer with Panarin. Panarin has scored 30 or more goals in both of his first two seasons in the NHL. The Blue Jackets came into the off-season with a need for an élite goal scorer and Panarin can be that guy. Panarin can also give the Blue Jackets power-play the boost it needed at the end of the season, scoring nine goals along with eight assists last year. Panarin is more than just a goal score though as he has accumulated over 40 assists in both of his first two seasons. With 151 points in 162 game the 2016 Calder Trophy winner will help the Blue Jackets tremendously.
An unrestricted free agent in two years when his contract ends the Blue Jackets should be able to re-sign Panarin. After moving Saad’s contract the Blue Jackets should have enough cap space to keep Panarin if they chose to. Panarin will also carry a $6 million dollar cap hit for the next two years.
Blue Jackets fans should be ecstatic about this trade even though Saad was a fan favorite. Saad was a good player in Columbus but was expected to be a great player and paid to be one too. Saad was a liability on defense the past couple years and rumored to not fit in well with head coach John Tortorella.
Tyler Motte
Motte was also sent to Columbus as part of the deal. Coming off a rough rookie season Motte scored just seven points in 33 games in the NHL. Motte however has a huge upside from his college days. At the University of Michigan Motte scored 56 points in his last season wearing the maize and blue. Motte will replenish the Blue Jackets prospect pool and could turn into a good player for Columbus someday.
A Wild Trade
#CBJ have also traded minor-league forward Dante Salituro to #mnwild for C Jordan Schroeder
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 23, 2017
The Blue Jackets sent 20-year-old prospect Dante Salituro to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for 26-year-old center Jordan Schroeder. Schroeder who will be entering his sixth year in the NHL also spent time in the AHL has a lot of work to do. Schroeders numbers in his 33 NHL games were less than impressive with only 13 points. In the AHL Schroeder’s stats look a bit better scoring 18 point in just 25 games with the Iowa Wild. If Schroeder does make the roster he will definitely be part of the bottom six. Schroeder will have to quickly get with the other bottom six players and improve his game.
The Blue Jackets drove head first into the trade market today making two huge trades. The Blue Jackets got an élite scorer with Panarin and two good prospects that might eventually turn into quality players. Today should have Blue Jackets fans excited because the team addressed needs they had going into the offseason and became a better team. The Blue Jackets also showed that they are not content with just being good. The Blue Jackets made it clear that they want to be great.
BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 24: during round one of the 2016 NHL Draft on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
