5 unrestricted free agents the Blue Jackets could pursue this summer
The Blue Jackets head into another off-season of change. If the new GM decides to take a "win now" approach, here are some free agents that could make sense.
It might be a bit of a stretch to think that the Blue Jackets could go out and add any big ticket free agents this summer. Of course, none of us saw the team landing arguably the biggest UFA name in recente memory in Johnny Gaudreau. Anything can happen.
Ultimately, their decisions will depend on whether or not the incoming GM views this roster as nearly ready for contention. We've been told quite a bit over the last couple of seasons that they are "really close", but there may not be much behind that other than hope.
Still, with the season winding down, we know that this team has to come back improved next year. They can't have another bottom-5 finish. They're going to do everything within their power to improve.
One thing that would help: adding a player (or players) to play alongside Gaudreau on the top line. Here are a few names that stand out.
Sean Monahan
If we're talking about finding players to play with Gaudreau, who better than his former Calgary Flames line-mate Sean Monahan?
The two were teammates for 9 seasons in Calgary, and had plenty of memorable moments together. In fact, Monahan's career-best 34 goal, 82 point season came in 2018-19, when Gaudreau had 63 assists and 99 points.
Monahan is a big, heavy goal scoring center who can win faceoffs while playing up and down the lineup. In that regard, he's exactly what we need.
Injuries derailed a career that looked like it was heading for bigger and better things. But after some time away, he looks to be in great health again - and he's producing. He has 24 goals and 56 points in 80 games this season.
He makes sense for a young Jackets team that could use some immediate help down the middle, but may not want to shell out the assets or dollars for a long-term fix.
If they could sign the 29-year-old to a 2 or 3 year deal in that $5-$7 million dollar range, it has the potential to be a big win. This kind of move would buy time for further development of the young centers already on the Columbus roster.
But, getting him to sign short-term may be tough sledding, as productive centers on the free agent market usually land big contracts. He's not the only one available, though.
Elias Lindholm
Here we go again. We've kicked this can up one side of the street, back down the other, and then all the way to the end again. But, this player still doesn't have a contract for next season.
Lindholm was traded to the Vancouver Canucks prior to the deadline this year, but I would be lying if I said things have gone well there. In fact, things have gone so poorly, that he was rumored to be on the move again just weeks after the Canucks picked him up.
Through 23 games in Vancouver, he has a modest 5 goals and 9 points. He's been his reliable self on both sides of the puck - including winning 60% of his faceoffs - but, I don't think the fit has been quite right here.
Lindholm is another center who has the distinction of being one of Johnny Gaudreau's former linemates. He also had a career year while on a line with Gaudreau - in 2021-22, he scored 42 goals and 82 points alongside Johnny Hockey.
Like Monahan, Lindholm checks a lot of boxes that need filled for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He's a terrific two-way player who can shut down the top line of the opponent, win faceoffs, and add scoring on a skill line.
He's not a play driver in his own right, but he's reliable, predictable, and consistent enough to score big numbers.
The downside here: Lindholm is 29, and rumored to want a long-term contract north of $8 million per year. And, as we said on the last page, big ticket centers usually get what they want on the open market.
He will probably price himself well out of the market in both dollars and term for the Blue Jackets, and that's okay. They do have other options to explore.
Matt Duchene
It seems like ages ago, but Matt Duchene was a Blue Jacket for a brief moment in time. He was a part of the 2019 team that won the first ever playoff series in franchise history.
In fact, he scored 10 points in 10 playoff games for this team that year. But they opted not to offer him a contract after that spring, allowing him to hit the open market.
He signed a 7-year, $56m contract with the Nashville Predators that summer, and he had some pretty productive years there. Two years ago, he set career highs across the board; scoring 43 goals and 86 points for the Preds.
But, the team decided to take a different direction over last summer however, with new GM Barry Trotz buying Duchene out and sending him to the open market again.
The Dallas Stars came calling and offered Duchene one-year contract valued at $3 million dollars. Suffice to say, he's on track for another big payday this summer.
Through 78 games, Duchene has 25 goals, 64 points and a +14 rating for the Stars - all while winning 56.7% of his faceoffs.
You might remember him from his time in Columbus, but if you don't: he is a strong faceoff guy who has great speed and high end playmaking abilities.
In short, he's everything you want in a #1 scoring center.
With all of that said, he is 33 years old, so there will inevitably be a drop-off in production in the near future. So, like with Monahan, the plan here would be trying to sign him to a shorter term (2 or 3 year) contract.
Merely taking a shot in the dark, I would guess Duchene's AAV comes in between $7 and $8 million. If it's a short-term deal, I would consider that.
Sam Reinhart
If it's a big ticket you're after, look no further than Florida Panthers star Sam Reinhart. He'll be the big UFA prize this summer.
Through 80 games, he has smashed his career high by scoring 54 goals - 21 more than his previous best. He has 91 points and a +26 rating this season.
Originally drafted into the league as a center, Reinhart has molded into a goal scoring right wing. Playing alongside Aleksandr Barkov on Florida's top line, he's quietly sitting second in the NHL in goals.
That isn't to say things are perfect. First, take into account Sam's ridiculous 24% shooting percentage this season. His career average is around 15.5%, so I do expect regression here.
And, the Jackets don't have an elite two-way pivot for him to play with. At least not yet. So, even if you put him on the top line here, does he still produce the same way?
To be honest, as exciting as the idea of a Gaudreau-Fantilli-Reinhart line is, I would be very leery to throw out the kind of money that Reinhart will demand this summer.
The Jackets could use a good pro like Reinhart. They would really benefit from having him fill the void on the other top line wing. But, not to the tune of a $10m AAV.
Let's take a look at one more.
Steven Stamkos
With full and complete bias, if I were taking over as GM of the Blue Jackets, my very first task would be to woo Steven Stamkos into signing in Columbus.
I know what people are going to say. "He's washed up. The only reason he's producing is because of Kucherov", etc.
I hear those thoughts. I choose to ignore them, because this is exactly the kind of player the Blue Jackets need.
At 34 years old, his best days are certainly behind him. He's not going to be a 40 or 50 goal scorer again in his career, most likely.
But, here's a proven winner who is competitive as they come. He's a leader in every aspect, and I think he fits the need the Blue Jackets have for a short-term fix on their top line.
He has 39 goals and 77 points in 76 games for Tampa Bay this season, so there is still some magic here. If the Bolts do let Stamkos walk to free agency, plenty of teams will be interested.
If the Jackets could woo Stamkos to signing a 2 or 3 year deal, I would give him whatever he wants to come to Central Ohio. This is the kind of mentor I want for Kirill Marchenko, Yegor Chinakhov, Kent Johnson ... heck, every young player in the system.
Imagine the team rolling out Johnny Gaudreau and Steven Stamkos on a line with Adam Fantilli next season. If he reaches full potential, I can see Fantilli as a similar type of competitive winner. It's almost too perfect, in my opinion.
As we mentioned from the top, it's going to be interesting to see what the Jackets decide to do this summer, with the new GM coming in. The only thing I'm really sure about: change is coming.
Does that mean a big ticket free agent? Probably not. But, we can always hope.
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