Columbus Blue Jackets
Ryan Murray Traded to Devils In Cap-Clearing Move By Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets plan to make a big splash in free agency, the team has traded defenseman Ryan Murray to the New Jersey Devils.
In another move that appears to signal the Columbus Blue Jackets are planning to make a big splash in free agency on Friday, the team has traded defenseman Ryan Murray to the New Jersey Devils. The Blue Jackets have now cleared $11.8 million in cap space thanks to the buyout of Alexander Wennberg ($4.5M net), the trade of Markus Nutivaara ($2.7M), and trade of Ryan Murray ($4.6M).
Reiterating this wasn’t about anything more than flexibility for tomorrow’s NHL action, the Blue Jackets took no cap space back as the trade was Ryan Murray to NJ for a 5th round pick in 2021.
Even the Devils joked about how little it took to land a former top-end draft pick who, when healthy can be a pretty productive NHL player.
Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald said of the trade:
“Ryan is a smart, two-way defenseman who fills a need on the left side of our top four. His poise, defensive acumen and transitional game will pair nicely with our current defensemen on the right side and he will play an important role for us.”
Murray Trade Shows the Value of Cap Space
Murray was the No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft and while this trade shouldn’t necessarily be a reflection of how he’s played as a member of the Blue Jackets, his value since that draft has dropped. This more a reflection of the cost of doing business this offseason as cap space is more valuable than ever.
Some teams likely wouldn’t have taken what feels like such a loss on the deal from the status of the pick used to land him. But, depending on what the Blue Jackets do with the money, this could be a deal that lands the team a huge piece that would contribute a lot more often.
Next: Everything You Really Need to Know Heading Into Start of NHL Free Agency 2020
