By now, it's no secret: the Blue Jackets have a problem (ok, a few problems) on their hands when it comes to the expansion draft.
They have a cadre of young players who meet the requirements to be exposed for selection. They have a slew of expensive veterans with no-trade clauses who are automatically protected, counting against their final number on the protected list. With those predicaments considered, it shouldn't be a surprise that they're trying to get creative in order to minimize the damage to their roster.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen is all over this. He's as prepared as they come and has no doubt been on the phone to Vegas GM George McPhee (who he knows well) over the last few months, trying to hammer out a deal that makes sense for the Blue Jackets in the short and long term.
The smoke is starting to thicken around these two teams, and late last week, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman added another layer to the speculation when he mentioned the Blue Jackets' first-round pick (24th overall) possible being in play in this situation.
This snippet, in particular, is juicy:
Can’t pin it down 100 per cent, but there is at least a possibility the two clubs are discussing David Clarkson. Whatever the case, Columbus has the 24th pick and some young forwards at the AHL level who might be part of this. Like I said, I can’t pin it down. But there’s something up.
Should something like the above scenario come to fruition, you'd have to think the first-round pick is the price for Vegas to both agree to avoid certain Blue Jackets players AND assume the hefty contract of David Clarkson, whose playing days are over (he's coaching the Upper Arlington High School hockey team this fall) and still sits on Columbus' long-term injured reserve list.
Is it a high price? Of course it is. But the Blue Jackets have, in all likelihood, run through hundreds of scenarios to weigh the risk versus reward. A late first-round pick in a decent draft in exchange for protecting players you covet and relieving some financial pressure seems like a reasonable price, even if the "first round" part comes with some sticker shock.
We've only got a couple of weeks left until the madness starts. Buckle up.
