The Columbus Blue Jackets are two wins over .500, but in a very crammed race for the playoffs in the East right now. Things will start to separate further into the season, but it is no lock that the team that hasn’t made the playoffs in the past five years takes the step in.
If the Blue Jackets are in a position to sell, they will have suitors for multiple players, including Boone Jenner. He is in the final year of his four-year deal at $3.75 million AAV, which is very attractive for teams looking for a skilled, physical leader who can score for anywhere in the top-9.
David Pagnotta reported that Jenner, “Likes it there. I’m sure he’d like to stay, but with the way the team is going, it may be too good to pass up depending on what the offers are going to be.”
This is the 11th consecutive season that Jenner has been above 50% in the faceoff circle, no matter how few or how many faceoffs he takes in a season. The 32-year-old, who has three goals and 10 points in 16 games, averages over a minute per game on the power play and penalty kill too.
Columbus is a young team that is generally going to stay that way, so it does make sense to trade away aging veterans who might not re-sign for some assets if the team can move on fine without them, even if Jenner is the captain. The Blue Jackets are close to turning the corner, but players like Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, and Cole Sillinger have to step up and other young players like Jet Greaves, Denton Mateychuk, Luca Del Bel Belluz, and more have to continue to grow.
The Blue Jackets are going to get there with the talent on their roster and in the system, but they will have to show real improvement from last season and be right in the race at the trade deadline to warrant keeping the group together and maybe even adding.
Photo credit: © Aaron Doster-Imagn Images