It looks like there won't be any royalty in Columbus this season.
Per NHLNetwork (via Travis Yost), the Columbus Blue Jackets inquired on Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers.
NHLNetwork is saying Columbus inquired on Henrik Lundqvist.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) February 25, 2019
Blue Jackets' General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen had some tricks up his sleeve leading up to the trade deadline. He made some shrewd acquisitions including Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, and Adam McQuaid, but snagging Lundqvist from the Rangers would have been nothing short of shocking.
Lundqvist would have had to waive his NMC (no-move clause) to facilitate a move out of New York, and it appears "The King" had no interest in leaving the club he has been with since the 2005-06 season.
The Jackets ended up acquiring a different goalie, getting Keith Kinkaid from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 5th round pick in 2022.
The Blue Jackets' goaltending situation is a little murky, with Sergei Bobrovsky, Joonas Korpisalo, and Kincaid all vying for minutes. As the Blue Jackets continue their quest towards the playoffs, it'll be quite interesting to see how the depth chart settles.
