Blue Jackets Must Re-Sign Gavrikov

The problem with trading a guy like this is, as soon as you trade him away, you immediately go out and try to find another player just like him.

The team has been rumored to be kicking the tires on Arizona defenseman Jakob Chychrun, which would be great … but consider the assets they would have to give up. And, considering his injury history, any move there is going to be risky.

With all of the pieces put together: one of the only true defenders on the team, leader on and off the ice, fan-friendly personality, and entering the prime of his career – why would the team trade him away to give up big future pieces and replace him?

Why they might trade Vlad…

Maybe the issue is dollars, or term. Werenski is the highest paid defenseman on the team at $9.583m per year. Erik Gudbranson, signed this past offseason to a 4 year deal worth $4m per, is the second highest. Vlad, as a second pairing defensman, should slot somewhere in between the two at a $5.5-6.5m AAV. If he’s asking for more than that, I can see why they would deal him away.

But it shouldn’t be too hard to find common ground here. His value is what it is, and there wouldn’t be much risk in signing him to a 5-6 year deal, if that’s what it takes. Then by the time a prospect like Denton Mateychuk is coming off of his ELC, this contract would be expiring and freeing up space to sign the younger player long term. That’s the way this is supposed to work.

In the end, I have a feeling that the team’s exploration of Chychrun is precisely what is holding this decision up. It makes sense, considering his team friendly deal that runs for two seasons beyond this one. But with the team well out of the hunt for a playoff spot at this time, their best games are in future seasons, and it’s hard to see them trading a top prospect and first round picks away. Which is what it’s going to take, with so many teams in the sweepstakes.

It will be interesting to see which direction this goes. Vlad is an important player not only on the ice, but in the locker room; one who has done everything the organization has asked of him so far. He’s earned a raise, and should be a Blue Jacket long-term.