Blue Jackets: Jarmo’s Top 5 Trades

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Gabriel Carlsson poses for a photo with team officials after being selected as the number twenty-nine overall pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

On Febuary 13th of 2013 Jarmo Kekalainen was named general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets.  As the first NHL General Manager from outside of North America Blue Jackets fans only had some basic information about him from his eight year stint with the St. Louis Blues during which time he was promoted to Assistant General Manager.

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Now Columbus Blue Jackets fans have three drafts and lots of roster decisions that can be used to judge the job done by the man known around the NHL simply as Jarmo.  Let’s look at the Top 5 trades done under his watchful eye.  These trades are going to be judged on a simple scale of both WOW factor as well as how much impact the trade had on the ice.

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

Mar 24, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski (20) passes the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard (58) defends on the play during the third period at Nationwide Arena. Columbus defeated Anaheim 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

4. The Wisniewski Trade

This is the deal that broke a thousand hearts.  On Trade Deadline Day 2015 the two names that were rumored to be on their way out of the Blue Jackets organization were Cam Atkinson and James Wisniewski.  During the day Cam Atkinson was signed to an extension which cemented his place in the organization.  Then the deadline came and Blue Jackets fans breathed a sigh of relief.  Then the news broke.  The Wiz was leaving Columbus.  Jarmo had sent him out of town for a potentially passed his prime winger, a solid young prospect and swapping up a round in the upcoming draft.

As we wrote here before this move turned out well for the Blue Jackets (to read how they won the trade read here).  In the end the Blue Jackets traded out a player who the Anaheim Ducks didn’t think would help them in their playoff run (Wisniewski didn’t play in the playoffs) for a depth winger and future assets.  Good move Jarmo.

Wow Factor: 6

On Ice Factor: 6

Apr 9, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Los Angeles Kings right wing Marian Gaborik (12) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

3. The Gaborik Trade

This was the surprise deal of Jarmo’s first Trade Deadline in 2013.  The Blue Jackets were the surprise team of the strike shortened 2013 season and the opportunity presented itself for the team to improve itself on offense.  This trade does not get ranked higher because it didn’t translate into a lot of on ice success.  But it did start to change attitudes towards the Blue Jackets around the NHL since Marion Gaborik had to waive his no trade clause to move to Columbus.  It also established that the Blue Jackets would be active on the trade market in the years to come as the team has made a big move in each year’s that Jarmo has been the general manager.

Apr 8, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Scott Hartnell (43) shoots the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

2. Hartnell Trade

This was the great deal of the 2014 off season.  The 2013-2014 Blue Jackets season ended with R.J. Umberger being a healthy scratch during the playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  With the story leaking that Umberger had asked for a trade it seemed a certainty that the Blue Jackets would not get fair value in return.  No worries thought with Jarmo making the calls.  Scott Hartnell responded with one of the best seasons of his career scoring 28 goals and 32 assists.

Hartnell has also taken a leadership role on a team with a lot of young talent.  The Umberger for Hartnell trade is one of the most definitive trades that showed the transition from the old regime to the new.

Wow Factor: 7

On Ice Factor: 8