Trade Deadline BJs

A tale as old as time, after a terrible start to the season the Blue Jackets have caught fire and narrowed the gap to the playoffs. With their fifth straight win the Blue Jackets have pulled within 3 points of the final playoff spot in the Lemieux conference. Jay Woodcroft has found the perfect formula for the lineup and the team has gone 26-9-6 in its last 41 games, a points percentage that would put them at the top of the league standings over a full season. The improvement coincides almost entirely with the trade of the struggling Ryan Johansen and introduction of Kevin Labanc from the Panthers. The top line combination of Jack Eichel and Timo Meier have lead the way. Meier is one goal shy of becoming the first 40 goal scorer in franchise history, while Eichel has his eyes on becoming the first player in franchise history to reach the 100 point plateau. Fans will hold their breath and keep an eye on how the team holds up with the loss of team captain and minute munching defenseman Colton Parayko.

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Andrew Payeur was fairly active on EHE trade deadline day, completing three deals to better position the team down the line. The biggets of the three trades was sending one of the biggest names on the TSN Trade bait board Colton Parayko to the cup contending New York Rangers.  Parayko spent parts of three productive seasons in Columbus but was not expected to resign with the team before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. When discussing Parayko after the trade, Payeur explained "we need to make room for our young guys coming up. We see Cam York, David Jiricek and Mason Lohrei as top four defencement in this league and we already have Ekholm and McCabe locked up long-term. Colton gave us everything he had, but it was a good time for everyone to move on. Colton missed 10 games this season and we liked how Calvin De Haan stepped up in his absence, that gave us comfort in making the deal". In exchange for the defenceman the Blue Jackets received a 3rd round pick along with struggling winger Kasperi Kapanen. Kapanen moves onto his seventh team in just three seasons, still trying to find his long-term home in the EHE. Payeur said of Kapanen "we're aware of the players past struggles, he's signed long-term which we like and we know what he is, we don't need him to come in and move mountains." When asked about the rumoured asking price of a first round pick for Parayko, the GM admitted it was a softer market than expected for a top pairing defenceman "there wasn't as much interest as we expected, we felt compelled to jump at our first offer not knowing if another one would come".

Payeur quickly spun that new 3rd round draft pick into a deal for another struggling winger, Jonathan Drouin of the Ottawa Senators. "We don't see him as a top six winger right now but we don't need him to set the world on fire, we think he can contribute on the second unit of our powerplay and help a struggling fourth line. He's tough, he's had some personal difficulties and we think he can regain the promise he showed early in his career."

The team also made a minor league deal to improve the contending Greenville Swamp Rabbits, acquiring veteran Jean-Sebastein Dea from the Sabres Organization. Payeur was also hopeful to add Mike Vecchione to the AHL squad through demotion however he was unexpectedly claimed on waivers by the Anaheim Ducks. Payeur was reportedly fuming at the claim and sources reported he shook his fist at the sky yelling "Waddell!" over and over again for hours.

Payeur tried for most of the season to deal pending UFA Kevin Shattenkirk but received no offers prior to the deadline.