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.

Fans of the Montreal Canadiens have started to join into the discussion as well. Their team actually has some assets that might push a trade like this over the edge. But realistically, the Canadiens aren’t going to want to do what it takes to make the deal.

Montreal Canadiens – their young captain. To move up two picks in the draft? Well, yes, that’s what the cost is going to be. By trading down two spots, the Jackets likely take themselves out of the opportunity to draft one of the top centers in this draft. By forcing that risk onto the Jackets, the Canadiens have to pay the piper – by giving up their own first line center, and captain.

Why it works: For the Blue Jackets, this works fine. They’ll thrust themselves into competing for playoff spots for the foreseeable future, after adding one of the best young two-way pivots in the game. He has a great contract, too. They’re fine picking 5th overall with this in mind, and will gladly pick whichever top-5 prospect falls into their laps. They can now play the patient game with this pick.

Why it doesn’t: Because Montreal is no closer to trading away their franchise player than any other team in the league. The Canadiens are a talented young group, that is just starting to assemble their core pieces. Why would they blow that up to get a little bit younger and set themselves back a few years? It just doesn’t make sense.

But, in my opinion, if you want to look at the cost of doing business, this is what it will take for Montreal to move up 2 spots. They don’t have any other top line centers they can throw our way, and you know Jarmo Kekalainen isn’t answering the phone unless the #5 overall pick is involved.