Columbus Blue Jackets players Boone Jenner, Ivan Provorov and David Jiricek surfaced in trade speculation in the past month, but that's changed for some.

With the March 8 NHL trade deadline less than a month away, the Columbus Blue Jackets are becoming the focus of increasing trade speculation. Given their position at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, they're expected to be among the sellers in the coming weeks.

When we last checked in with the Jackets, there was talk that captain Boone Jenner was drawing interest from some playoff contenders. It was also believed they could entertain trade offers for Ivan Provorov. Meanwhile, rookie defenseman David Jiricek's frustration over being demoted to the AHL raised the possibility that he might become a trade target.

Ten days later, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline expected teams might come calling for the 30-year-old Jenner, something GM Jarmo Kekalainen said happens every trade deadline and off-season. Portzline considered it unlikely the Blue Jackets would move him unless they received “a staggering haul.”

Provorov, however, could be available. Portzline noted that the 27-year-old defenseman has played well this season, with 23 points in 50 games. However, he felt something had to give on their crowded blueline.

PuckPedia indicates Provorov carries an average annual value of $6.75 million through next season. However, the Los Angeles Kings retained $2.025 million of that cap hit as part of the three-team trade that sent him to Columbus from the Philadelphia Flyers. He also lacks no-trade protection.

As for Jiricek, the 20-year-old blueline has accepted his assignment to the Cleveland Monsters, where he's been playing well thus far with seven points in six games. The Hockey News Columbus' Jason Newland noted that Jiricek tallied a hat trick and collected an assist in a 9-0 drubbing of the Chicago Wolves on Feb. 3.

Jiricek would draw lots of interest if the Blue Jackets put him on the trade block. However, it's apparent they consider him a key part of their defense corps going forward.