Unless something changes soon, the Blue Jackets are poised to let their unsigned veteran free agents explore the open market.
If so, they could lose Boone Jenner, Mason Marchment, Erik Gudbranson and Danton Heinen to other teams while creating sizable voids in their own lineup. That’s three versatile forwards in Jenner, Marchment and Heinen, not to mention Jenner as the team’s captain , and Gudbranson is a stout defenseman with a right-handed shot and imposing size.
More Blue Jackets news: Columbus Blue Jackets in holding pattern with unsigned free agents
All are north of 30, which makes NHL GMs anxious about doling out contract extensions longer than three years, but there's always a risk to parting with the kind of predictable, experienced leaders in veterans that coaches always want in their lineups. It’s a trade-off that Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell is poised to make with his unsigned vets.
If so, here's how the resulting holes can be patched:
If so, they could lose Boone Jenner, Mason Marchment, Erik Gudbranson and Danton Heinen to other teams while creating sizable voids in their own lineup. That’s three versatile forwards in Jenner, Marchment and Heinen, not to mention Jenner as the team’s captain , and Gudbranson is a stout defenseman with a right-handed shot and imposing size.
More Blue Jackets news: Columbus Blue Jackets in holding pattern with unsigned free agents
All are north of 30, which makes NHL GMs anxious about doling out contract extensions longer than three years, but there's always a risk to parting with the kind of predictable, experienced leaders in veterans that coaches always want in their lineups. It’s a trade-off that Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell is poised to make with his unsigned vets.
If so, here's how the resulting holes can be patched:
4 months ago
