The Columbus Blue Jackets may be staring at more than one major decision, and both involve the future of the organization. On one hand, there’s the possibility of a coaching change. On the other, there’s the question of Zach Werenski and whether his long-term future eventually becomes a real issue.
Frank Seravalli said it wouldn’t shock him if Columbus made a change behind the bench within the next 20 games. Rick Bowness, he noted, keeps calling out his players, but that message may be starting to wear thin. Seravalli also pointed to uncertainty around Werenski’s future, saying the defenseman is content for now, though the Blue Jackets will need to come back to him on a contract extension next summer.
Elliotte Friedman struck a slightly calmer note on the Werenski situation, saying everyone is wondering if the “Werenski watch” will begin again. “But I think it’s premature for that.”
If Werenski doesn’t want to commit long term, Columbus would have to take a hard look at its options.
In Buffalo, Jarmo Kekalainen went public with his support for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but the trade chatter around the goalie hasn’t disappeared completely. Speaking Tuesday morning on WGR 550 AM, the Sabres GM said, “We believe in our goaltending…Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is a really good goaltender who has a lot to give to the Buffalo Sabres and will be a big part of our future,” Kekalainen said.
That’s a clear vote of confidence, though not necessarily a full stop to the rumors. Buffalo has been mentioned in connection with Connor Hellebuyck, and the market could shift depending on other moving parts. Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson’s strong early-season play could make another goaltending addition less pressing for the Jets, while the New York Rangers also emerge as a possible fit after Igor Shesterkin’s season-ending injury.
For now, though, the Sabres’ message is simple: Luukkonen is viewed as part of the future, even if the situation could still change down the road.
Toronto, meanwhile, sounds ready to spend big if the right defenseman becomes available. Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts that Maple Leafs executive John Chayka has told multiple general managers the club is willing to pay a premium for a true difference-making blueliner. One thing, however, appears to be off the table: Easton Cowan.
Friedman said the Maple Leafs believe Cowan has made major strides and see him as a key part of what comes next. If Toronto keeps him, then the trade chips could come from elsewhere, including the first-round pick acquired from Colorado and a number of prospects not yet in the NHL.
Luke Fox backed that up by suggesting Toronto shouldn’t even think about moving Cowan unless the return is someone of Zach Werenski’s caliber or a legitimate No. 1 defenseman.
In Nashville, the conversation is bigger than simply scraping into the postseason. Pierre LeBrun said on Melnick in the Afternoon that the Predators’ roster remains a work in progress, and that GM Chris MacFarland wants something more ambitious than a bubble team.
The goal, LeBrun said, is to build a club that can keep taking swings at contention instead of just chasing a wild-card spot year after year. That means the Predators may lean toward moves that help the long view rather than quick fixes aimed only at making the playoffs.
In Other News...
Blue Jackets Reunion With Marchenko Turns Into Another Ugly Night
Kirill Marchenkos return to Nationwide Arena gave Columbus one more familiar face to track in a game that already had enough firepower to keep the building on edge. The Blue Jackets got goals from Jake Christiansen and Charlie Coyle, but Toronto matched them with a steady stream of offense, turning the night into another one of those games where every push seemed to invite an answer.
Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Easton Cowan and Jack Roslovic all found the net for the Maple Leafs, adding to a scoreboard that kept changing and kept the home side chasing. The late-stage frustration only grew as Toronto picked up another milestone moment in the process, leaving Columbus with little comfort beyond a few bright spots in a game that never settled down. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Suddenly Have A Blue-Line Problem Blue Jackets Fans Will Notice
The Maple Leafs blue line took a hit during their game against Columbus when veteran defenseman Jake McCabe left with a facial injury in the first period. McCabe, who has been skating on Torontos top pairing, was ruled out for the rest of the night, adding to a defensive group that is already working around injuries and shuffling roles.
Toronto has been leaning on depth more than it would like, with Chris Tanev out on a week-to-week basis and Troy Stecher stepping into the second pairing. For Blue Jackets fans, it is the kind of early-season roster wrinkle worth watching because any more strain on Torontos defense could change how the Leafs manage matchups and minutes the next time these teams meet. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Fans Should Watch This Penguins Trade Twist Closely
The Penguins are again weighing whether to move Rickard Rakell as they keep reshaping their roster around younger pieces, and that is the sort of development Blue Jackets fans should keep an eye on. Rakell has not met expectations this season, but Pittsburgh still has to balance that with the fact that he has produced solid scoring before and remains under contract beyond this year, which gives the situation a little more layers than a simple deadline dump.
For Columbus, the intrigue is less about the Penguins direction and more about where a name like Rakell could surface if Pittsburgh decides to shop him before the deadline. Previous trade talks around him went nowhere, and the Penguins are said to be looking for a sensible return rather than simply taking the first offer, so this may not move quickly. Still, with Pittsburgh open to changing course and a veteran scorer on the block, it is the kind of storyline that can ripple beyond one division and into conversations the Blue Jackets have to watch closely. [Read more 🡒]