Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Prediction: Resign him before the end of the season
Excluding his years in the AHL in 2008-09 and 2009-10, MacKenzie has played for the Jackets since 2007. I don’t see him leaving the team any time soon. He isn’t a team necessity, only contributing 13 points in 47 games played this season, but he has been a Blue Jackets staple player for many years, and I doubt the Jackets would let him go into the free agent market this year. As far as trading goes, I don’t think the Jackets could get much for MacKenzie, at least not as much as they could for a player like Gaborik, so I think signing him is the best plan, unless a really good trade option comes along.