Next up on the "What do the Blue Jackets do?" list is defenseman Damon Severson. 

Severson, one of former GM Jarmo Kekäläinen's lasting gifts, had a very up-and-down year for Columbus. 

On the surface, Severson didn't have a terrible year. He had 6 goals, 25 points, and was a plus-5. So why was he a healthy scratch 12 times this season, which included the last nine games? The answer is easy for me - Giveaways. 

Severson had a career-high 85 giveaways this past season. He also had 55 defensive zone giveaways. Severson's mistakes often ended up behind the CBJ goalies, and that's probably the reason why HC Dean Evason benched him. 

Severson also had a minus-8 on-ice goal differential, and his on-ice Corsi and Fenwick % were career lows. He wasn't terrible, but he wasn't great either.

So what does Don Waddell do? There isn't much he can do if we're being honest. Ideally, the Jackets would like him to be a better defenseman and contribute in other ways, instead of offensively, like he prefers. 

Damon Severson is signed through the 2031 season at $6,250,000 per season. The only way Waddell could trade him is by eating as much of the contract as possible. Sure, he has a lot of cap space, but would he be willing to eat salary to get rid of him? He could also ship him off with a draft pick, but I doubt Waddell wants to do that. 

 A buyout isn't possible for Severson, so let's cross that option out now. If he were bought out, it would go until 2036-37. Sure, it would save them some money, but do the Jackets need a Minnesota Wild situation? No way. 

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