Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda wasted no time in getting the offseason content under way. Less than a day after the Stanley Cup was awarded to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Jackets Insider published a conversation with GM Don Waddell.
The article is full of juicy tidbits. As fans of this team, we are eating up everything Waddell says, but there is one answer that stands out in particular:
"We’d really like to add to our top-nine group if possible..."Don Waddell
That's exactly what we were hoping to hear. The Jackets were right in the mix after placing Rick Bowness behind the bench. They even walked all over the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Hurricanes in a 5-1 route on March 17th.
But, they ran out of gas in the last few weeks of the season, and were unable to outscore their defensive shortcomings. How far could they have gone if they had just gotten in to the playoffs?
To take that next step forward, it really feels like this team needs another scoring threat to play on its top two lines. Maybe more than that, depending on whether or not they can get Kent Johnson and/or Dmitri Voronkov to rebound and play up to their potential again next season.
In the same conversation, Waddell talks about all 32 teams potentially jockeying to convert themselves into playoff clubs next year. This could be taken a couple of different ways, with the most obvious being that he will have to compete with everyone else for the same players.
I took it differently, however. In the same answer, he mentions being active on the phones as one major key to success in the offseason. I think he's telling us that it is their goal to try to pluck away a player that is flying under the radar. In fact, he basically says that directly:
"...sometimes you can find the fit where somebody is not fitting in with somebody else that they’re willing to part with."Waddell
Makes sense to me. Hopefully, he's able to press the right buttons and help vault this team to another level next season.
In the same article, Waddell talks about his free agents and what the plan is. Again, reading between the lines here, it sounds like he's not afraid to take things into the 11th hour before pivoting back and signing players if he needs to. We will have to pay close attention to any movement on that front
Clearing the logjam, the Elvis question, and more info on that Charlie Coyle deal.
Waddell also talks about watching the Cleveland Monsters in their playoff run, and brings up the fact that they have at least three players who deserve a chance to play in the NHL next season. That's interesting news, because as we have pointed out, there aren't many jobs open.
This gives us a little bit more insight into what the plans might be this summer. It sure feels like someone's favorite player could be traded away at any given moment, assuming the return upgrades this roster. Obviously, the organization is comfortable with where they are at from a depth perspective, if they are talking about opening up jobs for younger players.
Also in Svoboda's article-and then stated more clearly in this one from Aaron Portzline-Waddell is asked about the potential of a contract buyout this summer. He quickly shoots the idea down. The obvious implication here is that the team is comfortable running things back with Elvis Merzlikins as their backup goaltender next season.
Finally, in that article from Portzline, we get some more clarity on the contract signed by Charlie Coyle. His no movement clause is only in place for the first four years of the deal-and it includes an expansion draft clause that allows the team to leave the centerman unprotected, if necessary.
Once again, I'm impressed by Waddell's foresight. I feel like he's the right man to lead this team, but he's going to need to find a dance partner to make the deals he wants to make. Lets hope for an exciting summer.
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