No one has been on the Blue Jackets longer than Matt Calvert, but that could change within the next week.
Someone on the current Columbus roster will end up in Vegas Golden Knights colors when the expansion draft takes place June 21, and it is a fair guess that the 27-year-old Calvert will not be protected. In fact, Columbus Dispatch writer Aaron Portzline guessed earlier this week, writing that No. 11 is his guess as the one to be packing his bags and heading out west.
Could Calvert in fact be in the crosshairs as Vegas prepares to draft?
Previous Vegas Watches: Karlsson | Anderson | Johnson
Why He Will Be Selected
SHUT UP STOP THIS IS NOT HAPPENING.
OK, now that I have that out of my system...
Anyone who knows me knows that Calvert is my favorite Blue Jacket, and it's fair to say he would likely become a fan favorite in Vegas as well should this happen.
What's in it for Vegas? First, you get a guy who can score a few goals for a bottom-six forward, as Calvert has averaged nearly 15 goals per 82 games in his NHL career and has hit double figures three years running. His effort is unquestioned, as Calvert has shown an ability to use sheer will and persistence to cause turnovers all over the ice. He's proved to be a quality penalty killer and someone who uses excellent anticipation to cause turnovers and create offense even while a man down. And he's also the kind of guy who can take a puck off the head and come back, 30-some stitches later, to score a game-winning goal.
There's another potential reason he ends up in Vegas. Should the Blue Jackets and Golden Knights come to some sort of deal that perhaps includes Vegas agreeing not to take a certain player in exchange for some sort of trade bounty, there still needs to be a CBJ player that goes to Vegas in the expansion draft. Of the players left available by Columbus, Calvert might be one the Blue Jackets are most willing to part with as part of an agreement.
And here's one more fact: Calvert's junior coach, Kelly McCrimmon, has been hired to work in the Vegas front office as assistant GM, bringing some familiarity to the table.
Why He Won't Be Selected
Let's call a spade a spade here: Calvert isn't exactly an elite offensive player, especially for a forward. His possession numbers have slowly declined throughout his career, though this could be somewhat attributed to the fact he's more a defensive zone than offensive zone player when it comes to zone starts. But the reality is he's an effort winger and bottom-six forward in a world where those things can be found (plenty will be available in the expansion draft, I bet).
In fact, if you're Vegas and you're simply picking based on what Blue Jackets players are available, it's obvious Calvert isn't the most talented one no matter who Columbus protects among forwards and defensemen. Of course, the expansion draft is more about strategy than talent in some ways (with each team able to lock up up to seven forwards, elite talent will be hard to find), and Calvert could be part of the Vegas strategy.
Contract Status
According to CapFriendly.com has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $2.2 million. The one-year deal would give Vegas flexibility as it goes about constructing its roster.
