Columbus eyes Vancouver's struggling stars. Can Pettersson, Boeser, or Hronek provide the missing pieces for a playoff push?
The Columbus Blue Jackets find themselves in a very difficult situation. The 2025-26 season has not gone the way they hoped, and they currently sit 15th in the Eastern Conference.
That is a heavy blow, especially considering the expectation coming into the season was to be in the playoff mix. With the 2026 Winter Olympic break just a few weeks away, teams around the league are starting to evaluate the direction of their roster ahead of the trade deadline, which comes shortly after the Olympic roster freeze lifts.
For the Blue Jackets, a playoff spot looks unlikely, but that does not mean they need to commit to a full rebuild. This season may not be a perfect representation of how good or bad this team actually is, which puts Don Waddell in a fairly reasonable position heading into the 2026 trade deadline.
Rather than tearing everything down, this is more about fine-tuning the roster for next season. Waddell should be looking at teams in similar situations, and one organization that stands out is the Vancouver Canucks, who appear to be heading toward a full-blown rebuild.
There are a number of players on Vancouver’s roster who could be available and would make sense for Columbus. Here are a few notable names.
Elias Pettersson
Pettersson is a player the Blue Jackets were linked to last season. Obviously, he was not dealt, but it is looking more and more likely that changes are coming this year. If he is made available by Vancouver, Columbus should at least inquire.
He has proven throughout his career that he is an elite talent, but it seems like the pressure that comes with playing in a Canadian market may be wearing on him. That is where Columbus could be an ideal fit. The Blue Jackets are a young team that feels a few pieces away from competing, and the media market is far quieter. That environment could allow Pettersson to focus on his game without the constant spotlight.
Brock Boeser
Next is Brock Boeser. When he signed his long-term deal with Vancouver this past offseason, it felt like he would be part of the organization for the rest of his career. Now, just months later, it looks like he could be on the move.
Much like Pettersson, Boeser has appeared to struggle at times under the Vancouver media microscope. When you combine that with the fact that he is an American-born forward, a market like Columbus makes a lot of sense. It offers a fresh start and far less noise around the day-to-day.
Filip Hronek
The last name that stands out is Filip Hronek. During his time in Vancouver, he proved to be an effective partner alongside Quinn Hughes. The Blue Jackets are still searching for a long-term solution next to Zach Werenski.
While there was some success last season with Werenski and Dante Fabbro, the organization needs someone with experience playing that role on a consistent basis. Hronek brings that experience, along with offensive ability that could translate to power-play usage and 30 to 40 points per season.
The biggest hurdle would be his cap hit. However, if the Blue Jackets were serious about acquiring him, Damon Severson could be used as part of a larger package, especially considering he is playing some of the best hockey of his career.
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There are other names that could make sense for Columbus, though they are not headline players. Depth options like Drew O’Connor or Lukas Reichel could also be of interest depending on how aggressive Waddell wants to be.
If they were truly looking to shake things up, the Blue Jackets could even explore one of Vancouver’s goaltenders, either Kevin Lankinen or Thatcher Demko, while including Elvis Merzlikins in a deal. That said, this feels very unlikely.
What is clear is that the Canucks have a number of players available as they navigate a difficult stretch for the organization. As the 2026 NHL trade deadline approaches, Vancouver continues to inch closer to what feels like a true fire sale.
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