Columbus Blue Jackets: Three Trade Proposals for Pick #3

We’ve seen some wild “trade proposals” over the last few days, made for the third overall pick held by the Blue Jackets. The thing about proposals from other fanbases: they usually completely ignore the actual needs of the opposing team. Today, we’ll look at this from a Blue Jacket perspective.

Right off the bat, it’s important to note that the Jackets don’t actually want to trade this pick. In spite of their adding defensemen over the last week, the idea here is to draft their future #1 center at this summer’s draft. That was the plan two weeks ago, and it’s still the plan today. So, for any team who wants to come knocking at the door for this pick, they have to know up front: it’s not really for sale, so your offer had better be ridiculous.

This isn’t a team that’s in a position to compete next year. This isn’t a team that is loading up for a one-year crack at a Stanley Cup, either. So, throw out your ideas of trading away 30+ year old fill-ins, or players who will be unrestricted free agents in a year. It just isn’t going to happen.

Also, no combination of spare parts is going to get this thing done. The Jackets have been clear about using this pick to land a long-term #1 center. With all of that in mind, here are three trades that might actually make sense from our perspective – with teams whose fans seem intent on landing the #3 overall pick.

Vancouver Canucks – Elias Pettersson extended 8 years. That’s it, that’s the trade. One for one. The Canucks are probably the only team we’ll talk about in this article, that can actually give the Jackets exactly what they hope to achieve with this pick: a young, high end first line center. This works if they’re willing to execute a sign and trade.

Why it works: The Jackets get a 24 year old center who is just entering his prime – and who has already scored 323 points in 325 career NHL games. The Canucks clear a big chunk of their cap troubles away, and acquire a high draft pick to kick off their rebuild in earnest.

Why it doesn’t: Come on, let’s face it. The Canucks aren’t trading away their franchise player. The Jackets are the only team that leaves happy in this scenario, and in 2-3 years, if Leo Carlsson and Will Smith are premier players in the league, will they regret it? Unless they have won a Cup, I would say, probably so.

The Jackets aren’t dealing this pick for anything less than a franchise center, so, let the 30-year-old JT Miller for #3 overall talk go where it belongs. The garbage can.

The fans of the Calgary Flames have been plugging every available angle, trying to will a trade for the third overall pick into existence. Even Elliotte Friedman had his fill of the “trade proposals” thrown at him by Flames fans. Still, let’s see what it might take from a CBJ perspective.

Calgary Flames – the farm. I wanted to say next year’s first round pick from Calgary, unprotected – but they’ve already traded their next year’s first round pick conditionally. Even with all of this packaged together, I don’t think the Jackets even seriously consider it.

Why it works: Well, I guess the Jackets get a guy who can fill in for a few seasons as the top line center. They add some nice prospects to their already impressive pool, which makes them a deeper team. And, Calgary fans get the pick they are so enamored with having.

Why it doesn’t: Because the Jackets still don’t land a long-term #1 center option. Lindholm is a terrific player, but he’s also 28 years old; how many elite years does he have left in the tank? And, he will be looking to cash in with a massive contract that will pay him into his mid-30s. The player they can draft third overall, could be more valuable in 2-3 years, which is when they hope to start contending. And, do you really see the Flames selling off all of these meaningful assets for one piece?

My guess is, the Flames would rather build around a fine young goaltender like Dustin Wolf, and start accumulating more prospects – rather than pushing all of their chips to table to land one piece. And, the Jackets aren’t looking for a center for the next three or four years, they’re looking for someone for the next decade. Neither side wins this deal. Declined.

So there you have it, we came up with two offers that we feel like might get Jarmo to blink … and another that still probably doesn’t even come close to providing enough value for the Jackets. What are the odds of any trades happening involving the third overall pick?

I would say, slim to none. Blue Jacket management has been adamant about using this pick to land their long-term #1 center. They happened to be terrible in a year where that’s possible, for the first time in the history of this franchise. Whether it’s Leo Carlsson, or Will Smith, or if Adam Fantilli happens to fall into their laps; whichever player they select here will immediately become the best prospect this team has ever had.

This draft really is that good, and the Jackets have rarely found themselves in a high enough position to land one of these kinds of players. Really, the only other time they’ve been in this spot, was when they traded up in 2002 to select Rick Nash first overall. And, any of the prospects I just mentioned, have a great shot at being better NHL players. Any of them could be the face of this franchise for the next decade, or more – and could end up with their own number in the rafters by the time it’s all said and done.

To win in the NHL, you need a guy like this. All of the teams who are consistently in contention in the NHL have one thing in common: high end #1 centers. There’s no chance the Blue Jackets give up their opportunity to land one of these guys, without the other team making a ridiculous overpayment. But there is one idea that has come up, which could make a move here possible. Could the Jackets actually trade up a slot?

Anaheim Ducks – Just a draft pick. Alright, I’ll admit it, this one is bold for both sides. But hear me out for a second.

Why it works: The Ducks have two really good young centers, already playing in the NHL. They also have a nice prospect pool, full of quality young defensemen. What they don’t have much of in their system, are good scoring wingers. Maybe they really like Matvei Michkov, and they’re willing to be patient for him to come over from Russia. Maybe adding another skilled young Russian sniper helps them buy time? This move allows them to avoid the “should’ve taken Fantilli” talk, take Michkov, and add two scoring wingers to their system.

The Jackets move up one spot, which allows them to make the pick that I feel like they really want to make, securing Adam Fantilli. It could be a win/win for both sides.

Why it doesn’t: Well, when is the last time you see a team bowing out of the playoffs and complaining about having “too many centers”? The Ducks probably don’t see enough value here to drop back a spot, even if Michkov projects as a future superstar. Fantilli is a difference maker, and there is no such thing as too many centers in the NHL.

Ultimately, I think the top-5 of this draft will take place in the exact order it’s in now. Each of these teams in the top-5 are eyeing the future of their franchise with these picks – not some patchwork roster fix, or spare parts deal.