Is Blue Jacket Defenseman Andrew Peeke on the Trading Block?

Since the Jackets took major steps in building up their defense corps, we’ve been left wondering who might be on their way out. Obviously, with roughly nine players competing for seven spots, something has to give.

We may have our answer as to which piece the Jackets are looking to move, if rumors are correct. If you take a step back, look at the situation and all of the pieces involved, Andrew Peeke really does make the most sense. In terms of what he brings to the table, he’s by far the most replaceable of the bunch, particularly if you’re only looking at the right side.

Peeke has been a workhorse defenseman for the Jackets over the last two seasons, playing 162 games over that span (missing only two). He’s a big body at 6’3″ and 210 pounds, who has emerged as a shot blocking machine. Unfortunately, even though he has the size, he hasn’t established himself as an overtly physical player quite yet – which means that he often gets outmuscled in front of the net and along the boards.

For a defensive defenseman whose game is not built around strong skating or gap control, this has become a bit of a problem. Due to injuries in Columbus over these last couple of seasons, Peeke has been pushed into roles he’s not entirely suited for, and as a result, he’s seen his shortcomings exposed and abused.

I think the original plan was to have Peeke play in a bottom-six role, where he could eat up minutes against bottom of the lineup opposition and establish his physicality, much like Erik Gudbranson was brought in to do. But he’s failed to show that kind of strength or overbearing will, and the Jackets have other options to plug into their lineup, that will bring different things.

Gudbranson can take on the physical/protector element. In today’s NHL, you don’t really need two of those guys – this season’s struggles should serve as case in point. They would be wise to keep Adam Boqvist around for at least another season. Health aside, he looked like he was set to break out in a big way, and the last thing you want to do is trade a guy and have him become the next elite puck moving defenseman in the NHL.

Damon Severson was just brought in and signed for eight years, which tells me that they felt like they needed an improvement over Peeke. It also tells me they aren’t trading him. He’ll play the same kind of role here; minute munching, shutdown defender. After that, you have one of the top blue line prospects in hockey, David Jiricek – he’s not going anywhere. And, Nick Blankenburg, who is still cheap, and can bring energy into the lineup anywhere you need him, any time.

All of this means that Peeke is probably the odd man out. It will be interesting to see if the Jackets are trying to include him as part of a bigger deal to upgrade elsewhere – or if they’re trying to recoup assets that were lost in acquiring Severson and Ivan Provorov. This is another storyline that should come to a head in the next week or two.