The Columbus Blue Jackets have – at a minimum – considered trying to sign Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner to an offer sheet, per Elliotte Friedman on the most recent episode of the popular 31 Thoughts Podcast.
"Last Friday, when everyone was talking about the (New York) Islanders, I think there was another team before that, and my belief is that team was Columbus. I think they were thinking about it.
"From what I heard, and this is not like a fight, it did not turn into a bad negotiation, someone said don't frame it as it turned into a fight between Columbus and the agent. I think what happened was if Columbus was going to do it, it had to be for seven years. And I think what Marner and his side was looking for was less term than that."
"And if you're going to go the full four (1st round) picks, you're not giving up four first rounders for three of four years. You're just not doing that. And I think that's why that one fell to the wayside. But I had multiple people telling me that, if anyone was going to do that, it was going to be Columbus."
Marner, 22, is coming off a 26-68-94 point season in which he led the Maple Leafs in scoring. He is a restricted free agent and currently without a contract, which has further fueled speculation that rival NHL clubs are targeting him for an offer sheet.
It doesn't sound like it's going to happen at this point, but it's interesting that the Blue Jackets were at least considering giving up four first round picks for one of the top forwards in the NHL today.
