It's been over 2 years since the Blue Jackets traded franchise winger Nikita Kucherov and star center Elias Lindholm for a new franchise piece in Jack Eichel. Eichel was several years younger than both players and while coming off some major injuries, the Jackets figured he would bounce back to superstar form. These past few seasons have shown that he has rebounded both in the NHL and NEFHL. That trade was supposed to kick off a rebuild for the Jackets, but these past 2 seasons the Jackets continued to defy expectations and kept winning. Coming within 2 games of their first conference championship with Eichel out for all but the last game of their run. Ths upcoming season however it truly appears that the Jackets will be planning to rebuild their team around Eichel for the next few seasons. The trades that have been done in the last few 9 days have given the Jackets a real boost in the futures department. These trades have been....
Winnipeg Jets trade Devon Levi, Ondrej Palat and Tom Wilson to Columbus Blue Jackets for Nicholas Paul and Ryan Hartman
- taking on some cap but a potential franchise tendy in Devon Levi, goalies are voo-doo but Levi has that high potential to lead a future Jackets team to glory
Columbus Blue Jackets trade Mackenzie Weegar to Toronto Maple Leafs for Ilya Lyubushkin and Ross Colton
- Trading a pending ufa d-man for another one and potential boom canididate in Ross Colton. Signed for next 2 seasons and still an rfa, has some risk as well but Colton is still a solid forward if he doesn't have an uptick in production
Columbus Blue Jackets trade Tom Wilson to Toronto Maple Leafs for Andreas Athanasiou and CBJ 2024 Rnd 2
- getting their 2nd back along with another potential boom player in Athanasiou. A solid potential ufa loyalty resign. Has speed and can play any position so a very useful player for the pending ufa Tom Wilson.
Columbus Blue Jackets trade Dylan Strome to Dallas Stars for DAL 2024 Rnd 1, DAL 2024 Rnd 3 and DAL 2024 Rnd 4
- Strome was greta for the Jackets, but a 1st with 2 other draft selections was hard to pass up for him. An rfa at years end, the Jackets took advantage of his useful low cap for other teams.
Columbus Blue Jackets trade Gustav Forsling and DAL 2024 Rnd 3 to Buffalo Sabres for Cam Fowler and BUF 2024 Rnd 1
- Forsling was great for the Jackets as well and led their blueline when Hamilton was injured, but getting a 1st and a better rated d-man was hard to pass up. Had to give a 3rd up but that is a small price to pay.
Columbus Blue Jackets trade Mikael Backlund to Ottawa Senators for Elmer Soderblom, Adam Engstrom and OTT 2025 Rnd 3
- This trade could blow up, but Soderblom's size and skill is an interesting player to get. Engstrom had a great D+1 year in the SHL, showing off his speed and hockey IQ(future Forsling replacement?) and getting 16 points in 43 games. Was used in all situations. One of the high risers from the 2022 draft.
While the Jackets still have work to do, getting a few extra 1sts, potential #1 goalie, and some interesting younger players is a good way to start the rebuild. The Jackets believe they got a good couple fo stars to build around in Eichel and Hamilton, with other pieces such as Samuelsson, Schneider and Valimaki being good young players as well. The Jackets hope this approach will lead to more consistent success rather than being constant underdogs.