Could Jack Johnson be on the move? Sure.
The Blue Jackets have between now and 3 p.m. Monday to figure it out. Johnson requested a trade earlier this season and has been aching to play a larger role as he approaches unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career, so the ask makes sense.
As it turns out, the idea of trading Johnson – or at least the time frame to do so – aligns perfectly with a sudden rash of injuries to the Blue Jackets' defense. Markus Nutivaara is out indefinitely with an upper body injury (not good!), Dean Kukan will miss a month of action, and Ryan Murray just got back into the lineup after missing three months.
Oops! Not done there. Zach Werenski has been playing through injury (injuries, probably) for most of the season. The defense is banged up, to borrow a term from John Tortorella, so subtracting one of its most important and experienced players doesn't seem like a great idea on the surface.
But a conversation started right here within the 1OB ranks got me thinking: the Blue Jackets can probably make the playoffs without Johnson, and in the process, could probably upgrade their roster with a scoring forward either in the same trade or with the piece(s) they get in a Johnson trade.
Are we concerned about a defense that looks like...
Murray – Jones
Werenski – Savard
Nutivaara – Kukan
Harrington
Chorney
...this?
Now, that's assuming all of these guys are in the lineup for at least part of the final stretch. I also think it's reasonable to count on the Blue Jackets acquiring a veteran defenseman at the deadline if they end up trading Johnson. They need some experience, no question about it, but man are they loaded on skill back there.
All of this to say: yes, the Blue Jackets can get by if they trade Johnson. I also think they'll have a contingency plan to add some more depth if they can pull it off, something a smidge higher on the list than a waiver wire pickup (sorry, Taylor Chorney, no disrespect). If they can do that, and upgrade at forward, it's a successful trade deadline.
YOU SHOULD BE READING
- It sounds like the Blue Jackets are at least interested in the services of two old friends, Artem Anisimov and Derick Brassard.
- In this week's edition of the Heat Check, Alexander Wennberg is (finally) getting his game back on track.
- Sam Blazer has more on the Blue Jackets' waiver claim of journeyman Taylor Chorney.
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