Blue Jackets: Jarmo’s Top 5 Trades

Mar 3, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) stops the tip from Columbus Blue Jackets right wing David Clarkson (18) during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

5. The Clarkson Trade

This is a trade that took everyone by surprise.  The Blue Jackets had signed Nathan Horton to a long term deal with an average cap hit of $5.3 million a year.  The first year of the contract was not insured because the team knew that Horton was overcoming a shoulder surgury.  By the time the team he had recovered from that surgury he had sustained another injury which prevented his contract from being insured.  The then discovered degenorative back condition that Horton suffers from created a financial nightmare for the Blue Jackets.

At the same time the Toronto Maple Leafs were dealing with paying David Clarkson, a free agent acquisition who was underperforming, $5.25 million a year.  With a new regime coming into town who didn’t want to deal with the mistakes of the past they were receptive to the offer Jarmo cooked up.

It has been reported that the Blue Jackets approached the Maple Leafs with this offer.  While it wasn’t the most exciting trade it showed Jarmo utilizing his assets in a very clever way.  He knew that not only would the Blue Jackets not get any playing time out of Horton but that the team would also lose the possibility of getting any production out of that part of their budget.  He found a trade partner who was willing to eat that cost in real money to save it off the salary cap.

Wow Factor: 4

On Ice Factor: 5