Columbus Blue Jackets Free Agency: Mike Green
By Frank Walker
With the offseason here for the Columbus Blue Jackets the team’s front office is focusing on how to ice the best team come September. Lets take a look at possible targets for Columbus Blue Jackets Free Agency decisions. We will look at the quality of the player, how they would fit in the team, if adding the player would fit in the salary cap, and the likelihood of that player joining the team.
For our first look at possible Columbus Blue Jackets free agency targets we look at a player who is still playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Mike Green is a defenceman who currently plays for the Washington Capitals and will be turning thirty next season. He is a puck mover who has done great work in his time with the Capitals. What is really impressive about his game is that it has remained consistent from year to year. He has averaged close to a half point a game over his career and is a four time All-Star.
If the Columbus Blue Jackets were to sign Mike Green they would add to a defense corp that is currently a little thin. He would fit in as a first or second pair defenseman that would get some power play time as well.
More from Blue Jackets News
- Blaming Columbus Blue Jacket Players for Babcock Fallout is Unfair
- The Mike Babcock Experiment in Columbus Has Failed
- Blue Jacket Prospects Win Traverse City Tournament: Who Stood Out?
- Mike Babcock Resigns as CBJ Head Coach: Reaction
- New Claims Bring Higher Level of Concern to Babcock Situation
A major downside to signing Mike Green would be his cap hit. He has been carrying roughly six million against the cap each year. If the Blue Jackets were able to sign him for a similar price to what he has been making in Washington he would be the highest paid defenseman in Columbus by a million a year. Considering there will be a bit of bidding for him though it can be expected that his price will go up.
The likelihood that he will sign in Columbus is pretty low. First I expect that the Capitals will try and keep him and that he would be inclined to stay, especially now that Washington is a contender. Also Jarmo Kekalainen has indicated that the plan is to add talent through trades and the draft, not free agency. If the right deal were to present itself he may make the big signing but it would have to be a value deal.