This summer has long been poised to be a busy one around the NHL. So far, it has lived up to expectations. Things really took off yesterday, as teams around the league jockeyed to make adjustments to their roster. In particular, the Eastern Conference leveled up in a big way.
Getting things started, the New Jersey Devils parted ways with former 2nd overall pick Simon Nemec, picking up a handful of futures for him; not unlike the Blue Jackets did with David Jiricek, who was taken four picks later in the same draft.
Next, the Ottawa Senators filled the massive void left after trading away captain Brady Tkachuk, by acquiring talented youngster William Eklund from San Jose. It was clear pretty early on, that yesterday wasn't going to be a normal June day around the NHL.
That held very true when the Washington Capitals went out and acquired Jordan Kyrou from the St Louis Blues. This is not good news for the Blue Jackets. For the second year in a row, they lose out on a talented player that they were likely targeting-again to the team that finished directly ahead of them in the standings.
If we were left with FOMO after that trade, the big Buffalo move later in the evening only added to our anxiety. Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen (remember him?) looks like he absolutely fleeced the Chicago Blackhawks once again.
The Sabres sent defenseman Bo Byram to Chicago, along with winger Jordan Greenway; getting back the #4 overall pick, #45 overall pick, and defenseman Louis Crevier. This is one of the most lopsided trades we have seen in this league in a long time.
Meanwhile, our Blue Jackets have been dead quiet. Not a peep coming out of the front office in Columbus, while a lot of the teams around them are gearing up to forge ahead. What gives?
The 5th Line is rightfully nervous.
The only news surrounding the Blue Jackets seems to be bad news. All week long, we have been subjected to Zach Werenski trade rumors. Rumors that appear to have forced a meeting between team and player, to happen sometime after the draft.
While I don't think that's any reason to panic, I do think that this is going to force Don Waddell's hand a little bit. The need to strike and add to this roster is only going up right now. It's safe to say that the pressure is on full blast to get something done.
Meanwhile, a lot of the potential targets are finding other dance partners. Of the players dealt yesterday, I think only one (Kyrou) would have been pinned to the CBJ trade board. But, as options dwindle, teams are going to shift their focuses onto fewer and fewer players.
It's very possible that the Blue Jackets are left holding an empty bag for the second year in a row. That would be the worst possible outcome for this team this summer.
I don't think this is a case of Waddell and his staff not trying. In fact, it sounds like they are trying very hard. But, to this point, they haven't gotten anything done. Unfortunately, that might force them to do something they don't want to do.
Whatever happens over the next few days, is going to be fascinating to see.
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