The Tampa Bay Lightning trade deadline will be interesting to watch this season. Over the last several seasons, they’ve been active with deals. It started with Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow.
As the Columbus Blue Jackets endure another miserable National Hockey League campaign, interim general manager John Davidson will be busy in his new role ahead of the Mar.
Dan Kingerski: Scouts listed to attend the Penguins-Canucks game in Pittsburgh, though not all showed up, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers, and the Edmonton Oilers.
According to The Fourth Period, the Columbus Blue Jackets are willing to take calls on defenseman Ivan Provorov. Writing, “The Blue Jackets could retain part of Provorov’s remaining contract to help maximize their return and also assist cap-strapped teams,” they note that the Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers may have interest.
It’s been a tough season for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Despite flashes of optimism in the offseason – through a shiny new third overall pick, adding a couple of top-four defensemen, and a fresh faced rookie head coach – the team is no better.
The struggling Columbus Blue Jackets will likely be selling at the trade deadline this season as they currently sit near the bottom of the standings at the end of January.
Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekäläinen is reportedly open to trade discussions for key players Patrik Laine and Ivan Provorov, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.
At the end of the day, given that both players are signed beyond this season to relatively large sums of money, it is unlikely that the Blue Jackets will be able to find a trading partner until the draft or the opening of the free-agent market next summer.