The Columbus Blue Jackets Should Trade Marian Gaborik and Jared Boll

Nov 19, 2013; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers left winger

(20) and Columbus Blue Jackets right wingers

(40) fight in the second period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Chris Austin-USA TODAY Sports

The Columbus Blue Jackets fandom, specifically the fans on twitter, started talking about trades.  Who to trade, who not to trade, who Jarmo Kekalainen should target… It got me thinking about the players I would trade, which isn’t many.  There were two players injured during the streak (that are still injured) and the Blue Jackets did just fine.

If the top nine stays the same (Foligno, Anisimov, Umberger, Jenner, Johansen, Horton, Calvert, Dubinsky, Atkinson) that leaves MacKenzie, Letestu, Comeau, Skille, Tropp, Gaborik and Boll all fighting for three spots.  Comeau-MacKenzie/Letestu-Tropp is a great energy line and Skille is a great depth player to call up out of the AHL.  That leaves Gaborik and Boll. Where do they fit in?

September 18, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing

(10) skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Center. The Blue Jackets defeated the Hurricanes 5-4. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Marian Gaborik was a rental player acquired at the trade deadline of last season.  Yes, I call him a rental.  He has done nothing this season to prove to me that he is not a rental.  He has only played 18 games this season due to injury.  He also only has 5 goals in those 18 games, which if he continued at that pace for the full 82 games, he would only have 22 goals and 31 assists.

That is not the Gaborik the Blue Jackets need on the ice.  He is being paid $7.5 million a year be injured and score less goals than 10 of his team mates.  What line would he go on?  And who would be sent down to make room for him?

Sep 21, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Jared Boll (40) at the face-off circle against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Jared Boll has been with the Columbus Blue Jackets since 2005.  It’s time for him to go.  He injured his foot in November and had to have surgery to fix it.  He has played 21 games and only has 1 point to show for it.  One.  He also only had 38 penalty minutes during his time on the ice.  For comparison, he had 100 penalty minutes in 43 games last season.

Boll is no longer playing for a contract.  He was signed to a three year extension in September for $1.7 million a year.  In the games I saw, he looked complacent.  He wasn’t getting into fights or putting much effort into the game.  With the emergence of Corey Tropp and Boone Jenner as tough guys, his “enforcer” skills are no longer needed.  Maybe he’ll find a spark in an organization he hasn’t been a part of for 8 years.

Of course, trades depend on cap space and depth, so nothing can be assumed. Happy trading!