The Columbus Blue Jackets have some decisions to make regarding their pending UFAs
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic: Similar to last week, the Columbus Blue Jackets had not spoken to UFAs Charlie Coyle, Boone Jenner, Mason Marchment and Erik Gudbranson, but General Manager Don Waddell said they would. Waddell said free agents want to stay and he should be able to find a way to keep them.
“If guys want to stay here, I’ll find a way to keep them here. I’ve said that before, and I have a really good history of that.”
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“Everyone wants to stay here. We have something to do here.”
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Jenner and Gudbranson have been in Columbus for a while, but Coyle and Marchment are new this year. A good sign for the organization that they would like to stay.
The Blue Jackets will have to make a decision whether to re-sign Coyle and Marchment or trade them if a deal cannot be reached. There will be interest and the returns should be decent. Waddell’s plan to keep them and sign them.
Coyle is 34 years old and has made the playoffs for thirteen seasons, though he has never won.
Trading interests in Rasmus Ristolainen are increasing
Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff: Trade interest in Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen picked up with his play for Finland at the Olympics.
It doesn’t really sound like Ristolainen wants to be traded, but I’ve heard in the last two weeks that five or six teams have signed on with the Flyers.
If the Flyers were to move him, they would be looking for a return of the Brandon Carlo or Ben Chiarot type – a first and a prospect. He has one year left at $5.1 million, so a team gets two playoff runs.
According to sources, the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers are two of the teams that have at least made inquiries. A Boston source didn’t think the Bruins overrated Ristolainen, but they need to cover all ground. The Oilers would have to shift salary, and Andrew Mangiapane is in trouble.
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Other teams that would make some sense include the Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Stars would have to do some juggling. The Red Wings have their first prospects, including goaltender Sebastian Cossa. The Lightning don’t have their next two firsts.
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