The Columbus Blue Jackets might not be as busy this off-season as last summer, but they're speculated to be buyers again.
Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen talks to his players.The summer of 2022 was a busy one for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
They stunned the hockey world by signing free-agent left winger Johnny Gaudreau to a seven-year contract. The Jackets also re-signed winger Patrik Laine to a four-year deal, signed free-agent defenseman Erik Gudbranson to a four-year contract and shipped out winger Oliver Bjorkstrand to the Seattle Kraken.
Despite an air of promise surrounding the Jackets entering this season, a series of injuries to key players sent them tumbling to the bottom of the standings.
The Jackets could end up with the best odds of winning next month's draft lottery and the right to choose generational prospect Connor Bedard. Nevertheless, GM Jarmo Kekalainen could once again turn to the summer trade and free-agent markets for more immediate roster depth.
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic believes bolstering the blueline will be Kekalainen's priority. On March 3, he noted that the Blue Jackets GM attempted to acquire Jakob Chychrun before the Arizona Coyotes shipped him to the Ottawa Senators.
Kekalainen collected a conditional 2023 first-rounder from the Los Angeles Kings as part of the return for Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov. Portzline felt that pick could be used as a trade chip before the draft to add a defenseman.
Two days later, Portzline also speculated Kekalainen could consider adding some veteran leadership to his young roster. He felt the Jackets have suffered from the recent departures of Nick Foligno, David Savard, Seth Jones, Jakub Voracek and Cam Atkinson.
Perhaps Kevin Hayes is on Kekalainen's radar. On March 9, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman speculated the Blue Jackets had an interest in the 30-year-old Philadelphia Flyers forward. Two days later, his colleague Jeff Marek suggested those discussions could resume closer to the June draft.