Blue Jackets Face Key Decisions with Pending UFAs, Rangers Weigh Options with Trocheck
As the NHL hits pause for the Olympic break, the Columbus Blue Jackets are using the downtime to tackle some big-picture decisions. Four of their pending unrestricted free agents - Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle, Mason Marchment, and defenseman Erik Gudbranson - are expected to sit down with management to see if there's a future for them in Columbus beyond this season.
It’s a pivotal stretch for GM Don Waddell. If extension talks go well, it could be a stabilizing force inside the locker room, especially with the team battling its way back into the playoff conversation. But if those conversations stall, Waddell will have to weigh the risk of losing key veterans for nothing against the potential return at the trade deadline.
There’s also talk that Waddell might look to add rather than subtract. Rewarding a group that's clawed its way back into contention could mean bringing in a scoring forward with term - not just a rental.
One name that’s surfaced? Former Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno, currently with the Blackhawks and potentially available.
A reunion could bring leadership and depth to a group that’s shown it’s not ready to fold.
Rangers’ Trocheck Drawing Trade Interest, but Will They Move Him?
Vincent Trocheck is one of the more intriguing names floating around the trade market, but whether the New York Rangers are actually willing to move him remains an open question. He’s got three years left on his deal with a $5.625 million cap hit, and he’s arguably their most valuable trade chip if they decide to shake things up.
The Rangers could wait until the offseason, or they could decide to keep him altogether. But if they do pull the trigger, the ask will be significant - think something in the range of what the Islanders got for Brock Nelson: a first-round pick, a high-end center prospect like Calum Ritchie, and a conditional third. That’s the kind of package it’ll take to pry away a top-six center in a market where those are few and far between.
Trocheck does have some control over the situation - his contract includes a 12-team no-trade list. Still, teams are circling, and there’s no shortage of potential suitors with the assets to make a deal work.
Here’s a breakdown of teams that could be in the mix and what they might offer:
- Minnesota Wild: No 2026 first-rounder, but they do have their 2027 and 2028 picks. Prospects like Danila Yurov, Charlie Stramel, and defensemen David Jiricek and Carson Lambos could be of interest.
- Carolina Hurricanes: Loaded with picks - including an extra first in 2028 - and a deep prospect pool. Defenseman Alexander Nikishin and forwards Bradly Nadeau and Nikita Artamonov are names to watch.
- Detroit Red Wings: They’ve got their own firsts and a strong pipeline, including Nate Danielson and Marco Kasper. Plenty of flexibility here.
- Utah Mammoth: Four picks in the first two rounds this year and one of the top-ranked prospect pools in the league. Forwards like Caleb Desnoyers, Cole Beaudoin, or even 25-year-old pending RFA Barrett Hayton could be in play.
- Dallas Stars: No first-rounder this year or in 2028, but forward Mavrik Bourque (a pending RFA) could be a piece of interest.
- Colorado Avalanche: Limited draft capital and assets. More likely to target a third-line center than someone like Trocheck.
- Pittsburgh Penguins: They could use a boost down the middle, but giving up young talent for a player who turns 33 next season may not be in the cards.
- Los Angeles Kings: Trocheck is close with Artemi Panarin, and the Kings have already pulled off a major deal with the Rangers this season. They have their first-round picks, but the question is whether they have enough else to get it done.
- New York Islanders: They’ve got an extra first-rounder and a solid prospect pool. It’s rare to see rivals trade, but Trocheck might be open to staying local - and the Isles could use a player with his skillset down the stretch.
The Rangers are in no rush to make a move, but the calls are coming. With the deadline approaching, the front office has to decide whether to stand pat or capitalize on a valuable asset while the market’s hot.