3 young trade candidates at forward who would ignite the Blue Jackets in 2024-25
The Columbus Blue Jackets have another high draft pick and an outstanding prospects pool, but there are also a few trade candidates who they should consider.
Ordinarily, teams in the Blue Jackets position should build through the draft and its prospects pool, but they need to find a way to excite a fanbase that has spent the last half-decade watching nothing but bad or, at best, subpar hockey. This is a team that hasn’t been consistent in scoring, and they have been among one of the worst defensive units in that span, so bringing in a big-time name would immediately draw excitement.
Not that they haven’t been doing this already, as they signed Johnny Gaudreau two years ago, and in 2023, Columbus drafted future star Adam Fantilli. The Blue Jackets will continue to excite their starved fanbase with another dynamic draft pick this year should they keep their current first-round pick, but they can also create further excitement with a blockbuster trade.
Columbus Blue Jackets could and should make a big trade in 2024
Below, we got three big-time players listed who are currently in the rumor mill with nothing preventing them from being sent to Columbus. This means there aren’t any ‘no-trade’ or ‘no-movement’ clauses attached to their names, so they can’t block a trade from happening if their respective general managers are keen on sending them to the Blue Jackets.
And best yet, all three players are 26 and under, so they could potentially be in Columbus for a long time. Imagine not only snagging another potential star player in the draft, but also trading for one to help the team now and over the next half-decade or so. Yeah, the Blue Jackets are in a prime position to do just that.
Note that it wouldn’t be possible for all three of these forwards to play in Columbus, but if the Blue Jackets landed just one of the three soon-to-be mentioned names, there would be excitement moving forward in 2024-25.
Martin Necas, Carolina Hurricanes
Depending on what the Hurricanes do with their long list of pending restricted and unrestricted free agents, Martin Necas could be the odd man out, something we have seen implied from sources like Elliotte Friedman of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast and echoed by Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report.
But Necas is a solid player and pending restricted free agent who the Blue Jackets could acquire for a reasonable price. Nobody would demand outstanding compensation from a player like Necas, but he would also be a massive help for a Blue Jackets team that finished the year 25th in scoring with 237 goals.
With a new outlook in the Ohio state capital, adding youngsters would be key here, and Necas fits that mold, along with the other two players listed. He’s scored 24-plus goals in each of his last two seasons, and he also logged 124 points in that span.
Necas was also good enough to play top-six minutes with one of the league’s best teams, and he would add experience on the wing alongside talents like Adam Fantilli and Johnny Gaudreau - assuming the latter remains with the Blue Jackets.
He wouldn’t provide a miracle in Columbus, as the team would still be thin in their middle and lower lines. But adding a player like Necas will instantly make the Blue Jackets more competitive than they have been across the previous two seasons, assuming the team can stay healthy.
Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning
While it probably isn’t happening, there is a small chance the Tampa Bay Lightning shop and ultimately trade Anthony Cirelli. This is an organization attached to star player Steven Stamkos, and if it means keeping him around at the expense of a younger asset who doesn’t have a no-trade clause that can block the deal, Columbus should inquire.
The Blue Jackets have enough cap space to absorb Cirelli’s contract, and like Martin Necas, he’s got enough experience to immediately turn this team’s fortunes. Trading for someone like Necas would be good, but if the Blue Jackets instead found a way to bring Cirelli to town, it would more than ignite a suffering fanbase.
This is a player who has finished in the top five for the Selke Trophy twice; he’s another one on this list who could play alongside star forwards Adam Fantilli and Johnny Gaudreau. And after busting through the 20-goal barrier last year, Cirelli would be a threat to score every time the puck lands on his stick.
While trading for the two-way forward would be great, doing so would cost the Blue Jackets a lot in future assets, and it’s something the organization may not be willing to move. But someone like Cirelli would give them a ton of stability with that long-term contract of his.
Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks
Just about every team in the NHL will be vying for Trevor Zegras if the Anaheim Ducks start fielding calls for the 23-year-old. Zegras can help a rebuilding team like the Blue Jackets as another addition to the core, but he can also factor in as the missing link for a team on the verge of making the playoffs.
Regardless of where he may end up, if the Ducks were to trade Zegras, it would be for a steep price, thanks to his age and potential. But given their center depth, moving him wouldn’t hurt the organization, especially at the compensation; they can move him to get deeper at other positions.
He may not go for the same price as Cirelli, as the latter is a more proven talent, but his high potential indicates that Zegras could go for more compensation than Necas. Throughout this article, I have been asking you to picture the likes of Necas and Cirelli lining up on the top line alongside Adam Fantilli and Johnny Gaudreau, but Zegras could bring more productivity in the long run than the other two.
He doesn’t have the same defensive capabilities as Cirelli, but Zegras can put up more points, and he has yet to reach his ceiling when his team has the puck.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)