Columbus Blue Jackets Center Alternatives without Matt Duchene

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been actively pursing Matt Duchene. What other centers could the Jackets target?

The Columbus Blue Jackets need a center. They cannot win a Stanley Cup with the current roster of skaters up the middle. No disrespect to Brandon Dubinsky, but he needs to be a third-line center if the Jackets want to raise the Cup.

The good news is that they are seemingly only a top six center away from having the depth to make a long playoff run. Bad news is everyone is always looking for a top six center and they don’t come cheap.

The Jackets have been in on the Matt Duchene sweepstakes since the beginning. All signs point to the Jackets being leaders in the race for the top flight center as well. But Joe Sakic hasn’t made a move and doesn’t appear to be close to pulling the trigger on a trade anytime soon.

So if the Jackets can’t land Duchene, what are some other options they have at acquiring center? Most of these centers won’t be available until the trade deadline. That will be fine for the Jackets as they need a center not to get in the playoffs, but rather do some damage in the playoffs.