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Columbus Blue Jackets: Which Prospects are Trade Bait

By Lansing Murphy

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 17: Sonny Milano #22 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Washington Capitals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sonny Milano
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 17: Sonny Milano #22 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Washington Capitals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sonny Milano /
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Columbus Blue Jackets
LAVAL, QC – JANUARY 18: Vitaly Abramov #11 of the Cleveland Monsters skates against the Laval Rocket during the AHL game at Place Bell on January 18, 2019 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Cleveland Monsters 1-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

The Obvious name in Cleveland that could be moved at the deadline is Sonny Milano. The former first round pick has fallen out of favor with the organization and has been bypassed several times for an NHL call up in favor of Eric Robinson, Zac Dalpe, and most recently Kevin Stenlund.

Milano has played well in Cleveland and continues to put up big scoring numbers. He has 20 points in 22 games. He has the scoring ability to make a difference in the NHL and has proven it with his 14 goals last year in only 55 games in which he was on the third or fourth line. He will be an intriguing trade piece for plenty of teams in the NHL but I’m not convinced the team is trading him.

If Artemi Panarin leaves you have a big opening on the wing and will want plenty of options in your search to replace him. Why give up on a 22-year-old with great scoring ability and a winning pedigree?

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Unless the relationship has soured past the point of no return, it should take a hefty offer to pry Milano out of the organization.

Another former first round pick that could be moved is defenseman Gabriel Carlsson. After being thrown into the Playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carlsson has not been able to stick in the NHL. This has a bit to do with his play but also plenty to do with the Jackets having solid defensive depth and a wanting for Carlsson to eat up plenty of minutes which he would do as an NHL third pair defenseman which is where he would be in Columbus.

Carlsson is still very young for a defenseman having just turned 22 on January 2nd. He is still developing and could be a great pick up for a team on the rebuild.

Also in Cleveland is another scoring winger with a high ceiling in Vitaly Abramov. The former QMJHL league MVP has had a rough transition to pro hockey but is staring to play more consistently and put up points. Abramov has four points in his last seven games and still has plenty of room to grow. The Russian will certainly be valued by many teams in the NHL.

To a lesser extent both Eric Robinson and Kevin Stenlund could be on the block. Both have some NHL experience now and put some solid performances together for their NHL tape. They are still raw but both have great size and play tough.

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