As the NHL trade deadline rapidly approaches, all seems to be quiet around the Columbus Blue Jackets. But it feels like it's only a matter of time before they do something big. Why not now? Could they put together a package for Robert Thomas, considered by many as the best player on the market?
It won't be cheap, but I think they have the assets to do it. The Jackets have mostly treaded water this season, though their hot run over the last 12 games does have them right back in the playoff hunt. We hope they can dig in and keep playing at this pace, but I'm skeptical of their firepower.
The top line of Mason Marchment, Adam Fantilli, and Kirill Marchenko, has been excellent. Since returning from the Olympic break, they look pretty close to unstoppable, having scored in all four games.
Outside of that trio and Norris Trophy candidate Zach Werenski, however? There is patchy scoring potential at best. On some nights, the team's third line of Cole Sillinger, Charlie Coyle, and Mathieu Olivier, does bring some offense.
The second line has seen a revolving door of players move in and out, with no real consistency in their production. I don't think it's up for much debate that this team needs another top-six forward. Really, they could use two of them, depending on how you view Dmitri Voronkov and/or Kent Johnson.
Too often, this is a one-line team. You can't win in the playoffs with one scoring line. It's too easy for the opponent to match up and shut down that line if you don't have any kind of support behind them. So, yes, I do think it's possible that Don Waddell's big splash for this team comes now, as opposed to the off-season.
Robert Thomas is a near perfect fit, but he will not come cheap.
With Adam Fantilli really starting to blossom on the top line, I have to wonder what this team might look like with another highly skilled center to roll out on the second line. No offense to Sean Monahan, or Charlie Coyle here, but they aren't bringing this kind of scoring potential.
Thomas has 509 NHL games under his belt, with 119 goals and 431 points, all with the St Louis Blues. They are looking to enter a rebuild, and we know what that means: they want high end futures. The Blue Jackets are as poised as any team in the league to make this move.
This is exactly the kind of player that I would like to see Waddell try to take a swing on. Thomas is a right shot center who can drive offense on a line-while being reliable on both sides of the puck, and strong at the faceoff dot.
Best of all, he's just entering his prime at 26 years old, and is under contract for 5 seasons after this one. The AAV on this deal might scare you at first, but considering the rising cap, I think it's only going to look better and better as time goes on. Young, right shot centers who score at a near point-per-game clip, almost never become available. When you can get them, you should at least try.
The only issue with acquiring a player like this is what you have to give up. The Buffalo Sabres were reportedly close to making this deal last night, but it ultimately became too expensive for them. That definitely gives me pause.
But, from a Blue Jackets perspective, what does the future look like? Are they going to be better off with the young assets they have in the system? Or, would they be better suited to package those assets for a sure thing like Thomas, who fits into the competitive window?
The reported asking price is an NHL player, along with a first round pick and (preferably NHL ready) prospects. Waddell has all of those assets. If he's feeling bold, he can use them to win now.
For example: would the Blues entertain something like Luca del bel Belluz (NHL ready center prospect), one of Kent Johnson or Dmitri Voronkov (NHL player), a 2026 1st round pick, and some other throw-ins? Does this deal have to include Cayden Lindstrom, maybe in lieu of that 1st round pick?
Perhaps the biggest question here is: would the Jackets miss all of that if Thomas came to town and produced at a roughly 70-point pace over the next 5 seasons? I don't know that they would.
In fact, I think this is exactly the kind of move they should consider, if they want to take a big step and crawl out of the mushy middle.
The fallout could have repercussions throughout the lineup.
The other side of this equation: what would this team do with so many centers? Adding Thomas to a group that includes Fantilli, Sean Monahan, Charlie Coyle, and Isac Lundestrom; could create a little bit of a logjam.
Certainly, they could hold onto everyone and move somebody to the wing. But, a lot of that probably depends on how they feel about their ability to re-sign Coyle ahead of the offseason.
At this point, I think Waddell knows exactly what that contract is going to look like. Does he want to be the one who puts it on the table? Coyle has been a terrific Blue Jacket to this point. Legitimately one of the best off-season acquisitions this team has ever made.
But, if you can acquire a younger, higher upside guy to play down the middle, you can use Monahan in
Coyle's spot. At that point, trading Coyle away could recoup you a lot of the assets you're giving up for Thomas in the first place.
Or, dare I say it: a three team deal could make sense here? It's a lot of moving parts, especially with the salary cap in place. But it would shake up the entire league, and that would be fun.
I'm probably dreaming. I'm not sure if the Blue Jackets are really primed for this kind of blockbuster. Either way, we'll be following the deadline happenings closely, and keep you advised of any deals the Jackets are involved in.