Bold Prediction #4: the Blue Jackets make a play for the 5th overall pick.
Prediction by Weston Motz
This kind of move would not surprise me one bit. With the Jackets stuck in the mushy middle, everyone expects them to go out and add a more experienced scorer to their top-two lines.
But, if Waddell isn't able to make that kind of move, what next? The next most obvious move might be to move up in the draft, and in this prediction, the Chicago Blackhawks make a lot of sense as a trade partner.
They own the 5th overall pick, and it's hard to see them being stuck on holding onto it. Like the Jackets, they are a team hoping to take the next step. They've collected a lot of young assets already, but have still been unable to find a supporting piece worthy of feeding Connor Bedard the puck.
Are they going to get that with the 5th overall pick this year? Maybe. But, that player is probably at least 1-2 years away from coming into the NHL.
The Blue Jackets are in a little bit of a different position. Yes, they want to improve this year. But, they could feasibly go out and acquire this pick, improve their draft capital, and still improve this year. How?
Would a player like Kent Johnson entice the Blackhawks enough to swing this deal straight up? If so, that might make sense for both teams. The Jackets could then use this pick themselves, or trade it in a package with some of the other pieces we have mentioned in this article, in exchange for immediate help.
That would certainly be a bold way to approach the offseason. Whether it's Johnson, or those other assets heading out the door to Chicago, I could honestly see this one happening. I also think they could jump up as high as #2 overall. We'll know the answer to this prediction, in about 10 days.
Lets look at our final bold prediction on the last slide. It ties in with this one.
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