Since the start of free agency, the Blue Jackets have been focused on getting their 3 big restricted free agents (RFA’s) signed to contracts. The team reached a 3-year, $15 million ($5 million AAV) contract with Jet Greaves.
The next priority is Cole Sillinger, whose arbitration hearing is scheduled for Monday (7/27). Once Sillinger is signed, the team will shift their focus to Adam Fantilli. With just under $20 million in cap space, the Blue Jackets should be able to sign both Sillinger and Fantilli with no issues.
On the surface, one would surmise that the team will eat up the remaining cap space and not be able to pull off anymore moves. However, does Don Waddell have any more tricks up his sleeve? I believe it is possible.
This upcoming season is important for the Blue Jackets and Don Waddell has made it clear that they want to improve and win. In order to do that, the team needs both internal growth and solid additions. Waddell acquired Valeri Nichushkin and signed Ryan Lomberg.
While both are good additions, the team also lost Boone Jenner and Mason Marchment to free agency. On paper, the team is better but marginally. Another move (particularly for a forward) could be what this team needs to get over the playoff hump.
There are multiple players that the team has been linked to. But one specific player is Jake DeBrusk of the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks are in a rebuild and DeBrusk has made it known that he wants no part of a rebuild. The Canucks have been shopping him and rumors swirled (especially around the draft) that the CBJ were interested. So why didn’t the deal get done? It could be that the asking price was too high. Or, quite possibly, it could be that a deal is complete but not finalized yet.
I believe that it is possible that Don Waddell could have a deal in place for Jake DeBrusk. However, he did not want to complete the deal until all 3 RFA’s were signed. If DeBrusk was acquired prior to signing any of the RFA’s, the potential of an offer sheet signing (particularly for Fantilli) could materialize and really put the CBJ in a bind (see the Anaheim Ducks).
Waddell wants to ensure that he gets all of his RFA’s signed and then see what else he can do to improve this team. By waiting to sign his RFA’s before making another move, Waddell gave himself some leeway to get business done.
Now, even with $20 million in cap space, both Sillinger and Fantilli will eat up most of that money. So if DeBrusk is acquired, the CBJ will have to fit his $5.5 million salary under the cap. I would expect a player or two with a similar AAV to be going back to Vancouver in return. Could a deal for DeBrusk be made around Dmitri Voronkov ($4.175 million), Miles Wood ($2.5 million), and a draft pick or prospect? The money would work for both teams.
On multiple occasions, Waddell has stated that he wanted to get the 3 RFA’s signed and then would have room for other moves. That could mean an in-season improvement, like at the trade deadline. It could also mean extensions for other players beyond this upcoming season. But I took those comments to mean another move this summer to improve the team right now.
Once both Sillinger and Fantilli are signed, we shall see if another move materializes for the Blue Jackets. It wouldn’t surprise me if no additional moves were made. Yet, it would also not surprise me if a mid-summer trade or a trade during training camp is made to improve the 2026-27 Blue Jackets. Time will tell.
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