Let's get this going, shall we?
The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded for Matt Duchene, a long-sought target of GM Jarmo Kekalainen. The reported cost is prospects Jonathan Davidsson and Vitaly Abramov along with a first-round pick guaranteed, and another first-round pick should Duchene sign an extension in Columbus.
Whew. Big day, indeed.
And with the Blue Jackets set to play the Senators (heyo!) tonight at Canadian Tire Centre, Duchene will literally head down the hallway and suit up for his new team tonight, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.
No sense waiting around...plan is for Duchene to be in the Blue Jackets lineup tonight.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 22, 2019
All of a sudden, the Blue Jackets have some serious depth. Pierre-Luc Dubois figures to remain the No. 1 center with Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson, and Duchene has a likely spot on the second line with as-yet-to-be-determined line mates. In all likelihood, Alexander Wennberg will slide to the third-line center spot while Riley Nash or Brandon Dubinsky battle it out for the fourth line role.
Plenty more to come, but it sounds like the Blue Jackets will have their newest acquisition in the lineup tonight for a big game against the Senators.
