The Blue Jackets have been right in the middle of everything this week, trying to improve their roster. This is important to note, as the rumor mill continues to churn out discussion surrounding their two best players.
Whether it's Zach Werenski or Kirill Marchenko, it seems like every fan on social media is lining up to throw out what they consider to be their best trade offer to the Blue Jackets. If you believe in what has been rumored, it sounds like at least one team has made them a massive offer to this point (conversation here, around the 27:00 mark).
But, so far, GM Don Waddell has not budged. Despite the entire hockey world throwing their names out there, the Blue Jackets have not made any irrational decisions. To the contrary, Waddell went out and got a player that signals everyone his true intentions: this team is gearing up to win now.
The plan is not to take a handful of futures for Marchenko, or to kick off the rebuild by trading away Werenski while he still has two years left on his deal.
Waddell is not trading either of these guys, unless its a means towards improving his roster for next season and into the future. He has told everyone that publicly. I'm sure it has been said in private, too. Whether opposing teams like it or not, the Blue Jackets are open for business. But not that kind of business.
This could obviously change at any time. Waddell and Werenski are due to meet sometime after the draft, to discuss his long-term future in Columbus. That gives us a little bit of hope that there is still a potential for a future with #8 in the Union Blue.
Maybe going out and acquiring Valeri Nichushkin is his way of trying to convince Zach that he's doing everything he can to turn it around. It could also be viewed as his way of convincing Marchenko that the Russian presence will always be heavy on this team.
Either way, it's hard to see him going out and giving up future capital for a 31 year old, unless the intent was to start winning games next season.
Winning cures all.
Whatever Werenski and Marchenko are thinking, doesn't matter for the short-term. Both guys have contracts for next season, with Werenski set to be an unrestricted free agenct in 2028-and Marchenko a restricted free agent next summer.
Even if both guys are eyeing a change, Waddell could choose to run things back next season with the roster he's working to improve. If the team finds its footing and starts to win, maybe the perception can be changed.
Time will tell. But, for now, put those future-heavy trade packages on hold. The Blue Jackets are not starting the rebuild quite yet.
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