Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets’ Domi Among Five on the Likely to Trade Or Available List

Max Domi is among five names the Columbus Blue Jackets might be willing to move before this year’s NHL Trade Deadline comes and goes.

by
NHL Trade Talk
March 10, 2021

The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline took a look at the potential names on the Columbus Blue Jackets roster that could be part of a trade this season. He ruled out a handful of names early, but he kept some surprising players on the list of those that are either “available” or “likely” to be moved.

The Athletic: Blue Jackets Trade Tiers | The untouchables, the likely goners and everyone in between, with the #NHL trade deadline a little more than a month away #CBJ https://t.co/XMDLidEkfd pic.twitter.com/hlas1KNTVH
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 10, 2021

Among those on the available list were recently acquired winger Max Domi and forward Mikhail Grigorenko.

With Domi, Portzline was shocked things had gotten so bad so quickly. The forward was added in a deal that saw Josh Anderson go to Montreal but Domi has had almost no positive impact this season. The Blue Jackets have been holding out hope this is just a long adjustment process but there’s concern he won’t turn things around.

The issue with moving Domi now (and Columbus knows it) is that they’ll be selling low and that deal will go down as one of the worst NHL trades in years.

With Grigorenko, he’s not proven he’s a high-level NHL player. The one-year, $1.2 million contract he signed last summer hasn’t been a total bust, but it seems the team has no plans to retain him after the season is over.

Most Likely to Be Moved

Making the list in the “likely” category are Riley Nash, David Savard and Michael Del Zotto.

Savard is a pending UFA and while the Blue Jackets don’t want to move him, they realize he’s unlikely to be back next season. Because the Blue Jackets have Andrew Peeke, Dean Kukan and Gabriel Carlsson pushing for more playing time, Savard is a player you can move, especially if the team is not a playoff contender.

Del Zotto signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jackets and he’s absolutely outplayed his deal. That, along with his playoff experience will make him an asset the Jackets can get something for.

Nash can play center or wing, he’ll win a faceoffs and he can kill a penalties. That has value to NHL teams.

Next: Oilers Might Have Interest in G Elvis Merzlikins [Report]