NHL
*NOTE* This article was written by a former TSJ writer.
This has to be the season for the Columbus Blue Jackets to chase the Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh is out of cap space and just took Jack Johnson’s contract off the books. Washington will have the struggle of keeping a Cup-winning team together. After next season, Zach Werenski will be due a real contract when his draft contract is up. And Sergei Bobrovsky, a Vezina caliber goalie, will need a new contract. This has to be Columbus’ year.
A roster with seven past or present all stars, a wall of a goalie, and a Russian superstar fresh for a breakout, should have no problem competing for the Cup. Bad luck of drawing Cup champions the past three seasons should no longer be an issue.
A Rick Nash Reunion?
The best look for the Blue Jackets might be to orchestrate homecomings this off-season. To fill a need of a depth scoring power forward, and coming off a rental in Boston that flopped, esteemed Blue Jacket Rick Nash might be one of the best fits. He is both a fan favorite and as a depth power forward with a scoring touch. His value is hurt by a previous inability to score in the playoffs. Coming up to the back end of his career, a two-year deal at about at $4 million a year range isn’t unthinkable. That compares to the deal a 37-year-old Ilya Kovalchuck just got from the Los Angeles Kings.
Help on the Back End
The loss of Johnson presents another problem that could be fulfilled with another past Blue Jacket that didn’t blossom as expected. John Moore played with the Devils, but never grew into what he should have when he was drafted 21st overall. He makes an average of $1.6 million a year from New Jersey. However, it isn’t unthinkable that, paired with a Seth Jones or Werenski, he couldn’t reach his potential as a back end defenseman capable of taking care of the defensive zone. $2 million a year for the next three to four years would set up nicely on the Jackets’ roster.
Reeling in a Big Fish?
Signing restricted free agents such as Matt Calvert, Oliver Bjorstrand, and Ryan Murray, then letting a larger cap hit like Boone Jenner hit the market would leave a little money left over to chase a big fish for a rental run at a Cup. The first name that comes to mind is a 30-40 goal scorer who would pair nicely with Artemi Panarin. That is James van Riemsdyk.
Give him a rental $4-5 million deal and you have a legitimate shot at a Stanley Cup. With the money the Jackets have left over, a shot at John Tavares isn’t unthinkable, either. Tavares will be Cup hunting here soon.
If this window closes, all the big contracts are up next year and this roster of all stars will fall apart. Taking a shot before the option disappears is what needs to happen in Columbus. The city is ready for a championship. These few pieces could make a real run for it all.
