Columbus Blue Jackets Trade Block: Kerby Rychel
By Frank Walker
The Columbus Blue Jackets trade block is reportedly currently occupied by 2013 draft pick Kerby Rychel.
As fans may remember Rychel was part of the first draft overseen by Jarmo Kekalainen, which boasted a three pick first round of Alexander Wennburg, Rychel, and Marko Dano. Last year Rychel was hampered by injuries but had moderate success in his few games at the NHL level. The current report is that the team is looking for help on the blue line in exchange for Rychel.
For Rychel, I expect the team to possibly get a defensive prospect or some type of later pick in the draft. The situation that the Blue Jackets find themselves in is that the team has an overabundance of young forward talent but is lacking in young defensemen. Unfortunately for the Jackets this is a situation that a lot of teams around the league find themselves in.
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Because this situation exists with many teams around the league the Blue Jackets may want to look into altering their draft strategy in the future. It is common belief around the NHL that you take the top player available in the draft no matter what you need. The idea is that the best player will either end up playing for you or will be a more valuable asset if the Columbus Blue Jackets trade him. The hole in this strategy is that there is a tendency in the NHL to read forwards as “better” players than defensemen.
The Blue Jackets should adjust their draft strategy to meet this league wide issue. They should balance the best player available strategy along with what position of need will be for the majority of teams around the NHL. Drafting for your own need is risky as there is always the possibility of some players playing beyond their potential but if you draft keeping in mind that most of the league will be looking for defensemen later in the year or going into next year than the value of a defenseman is higher because he will bring more for a Columbus Blue Jackets trade.