The Columbus Blue Jackets are doing what few expected at this point in the season - they’re winning, and doing it consistently enough to put themselves right in the thick of the playoff race. And while that’s great news for the team and its fans, it’s throwing a wrench into what many assumed would be a straightforward trade deadline for GM Don Waddell and his front office.
Just a few weeks ago, the Blue Jackets looked like prime sellers. Players like Boone Jenner and Charlie Coyle were being floated as potential fits for contending teams - including the Edmonton Oilers, who are still trying to solidify a third line as they search for answers heading into the Olympic break. But Columbus’ recent surge, sparked in large part by the arrival of Rick Bowness behind the bench, has shifted the equation.
Let’s be clear: the Jackets’ front office always believed this roster was better than what it showed in the early going. No one expected this level of performance, but there was a sense that a coaching change could unlock more from the group.
That’s exactly what’s happened. Bowness has brought a looser, more communicative atmosphere to the locker room.
There were whispers that some players had started to tune out Pascal Vincent, and the coaching switch seems to have reenergized the team.
Since Bowness took over, the Jackets have tightened up defensively - allowing just 13 goals over a seven-game stretch - and that’s been the foundation of their turnaround. They’re playing with structure, confidence, and, most importantly, purpose. And now, they’re not just playing spoiler - they’re in the playoff mix.
But success brings complications.
Waddell now faces a delicate balancing act. On one hand, the front office believes in this group and sees the potential for a postseason run.
On the other, several key players - including Erik Gudbranson, Boone Jenner, and Charlie Coyle - are heading toward free agency. If Columbus doesn’t feel confident they can re-sign them, the pressure to explore trade options increases.
That’s where things get tricky. Teams like Edmonton and Los Angeles are known to be in the market for centers.
Coyle, in particular, could be a valuable addition for a contender looking to solidify its middle six. Other teams - Dallas, Colorado, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Montreal - are also monitoring the market closely.
If the Blue Jackets make any of these players available, the interest will be there.
But it’s not just about asset management. The Jackets have been down this road before.
Back in 2019, they held onto Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky through the trade deadline, treating them like internal rentals in pursuit of a playoff run. That gamble paid off - they stunned the league by sweeping the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round - but both players eventually walked in free agency.
So the question becomes: is this run for real? Can Columbus sustain it long enough to justify keeping their core intact? Or do they hedge their bets and move key pieces while their value is high?
Waddell and his staff are walking a tightrope. The team’s recent success has validated the belief that this roster can compete. But if contract talks stall and the risk of losing players for nothing becomes too great, they’ll have to consider pulling the trigger on deals - even if it means disrupting the momentum they’ve built.
Either way, the Blue Jackets have gone from afterthought to wildcard in the trade market. And with the deadline approaching, all eyes are on Columbus - not just for what they might do, but for how their recent surge might reshape the plans of teams around the league.