Blue Jackets GM willing to move No. 2 pick
Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson has many ideas running through his mind about how to improve his team. Trading the second-overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft is one of them and Howson says the pick has already garnered some interest from around the league.
“We’ve certainly listened to people. We’ve had a couple of expressions of interest on the pick in terms of moving down,” Howson told The Morning Show on Sportsnet 960 The Fan on Thursday. “We wouldn’t want to move too far down so we’ll just see how it plays out next week. Traditionally, and if history repeats itself, teams get a little more serious about exchanging picks as we get closer to the draft on the draft floor.”
Howson, who has been the Blue Jackets GM since 2007, said he is looking at any and all avenues to improve his squad and is open to dealing his top pick if the right offer is made. But he also admitted that trading away a high draft pick can be quite difficult.
“We’d be open to any suggestions,” Howson said. “It’s not an easy trade to trade out of the two slot, or one slot or three slot for that matter.”
The Blue Jackets are no strangers to making deals close to draft day either. One day before last season’s draft, Howson traded Jakub Voracek to the Philadelphia Flyers along with the eighth-overall pick (which the Flyers used to select Sean Couturier) in exchange for forward Jeff Carter.
In February, Howson then flipped Carter to the Los Angeles Kings for defenceman Jack Johnson and a conditional first-round pick. Although disappointed Carter didn’t help his club like he anticipated, Howson has no regrets about the signing and was pleased he was able to get a good return when they traded him.
38 Responsesto “Blue Jackets GM willing to move No. 2 pick”
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I want Tomas Hertl. Dude’s got good size at a shade above 6 foot 2, is already 200 pounds and still looks like he could gain more quite easily. He’s got good hands, great offensive instincts and vision and is known as a superb playmaker. He’s also a smooth skater, although his biggest weakness is his foot speed (which can be worked on).
He’s flown under the radar for some reason, but I personally like him better than Faksa. A lot better. If Grigorenko/Galchenyuk are gone by the time it’s our turn to pick, I’d be totally down for trading down and getting a 2nd first rounder with which to grab him with. Maybe to Tampa or washington or Buffalo for both their picks and a little extra. Grab whichever of the big dman falls (whether it be Reinhart/Dumba/Trouba/Reilly/Ceci/Maatta, the depth in the this draft for dman could match the 2008 draft) and then grab Hertl with the other pick.
No surprise here. Odds are Burke will try to swap picks with Columbus so he can grab Galchenyuk at 2. Much more likely than him going after Yakupov a 1.
And it makes sence for Columbus to swap with Toronto. Phillip Forsberg seems to be the guy that Columbus wants. If Toronto takes Galchenyuk at #2, Montreal will take Grigorenko at #3, NYI will be happy to take Murray at #4 and Columbus will still get Forsberg and whatever else they got in the trade at #5.
It’s a win, win. And then Montreal doesn’t get Galchenyuk so it’s a loss for them. Just what I like to see. It’s hard to call Grigorenko a loss though..
I am all for trading up to the 2nd overall pick and grabbing Galchenyuk before montreal can grab him!!!
If this deal does happen, it will probably be a day or two before the draft.
So Edmonton never wanted Schenn, they spoke to both Toronto and Montreal about swapping picks.
The offers Edmonton made were:
To TOR: 1st(1).
To EDM: 1st(5) and Jake Gardiner.
or
To MTL: 1st(1).
To EDM: 1st(3) and PK Subban.
Both Toronto and Montreal Declined.
Looking at those offers, it seems like Gardiner has more trade value than PK Subban(directed a Lafleur)
The Toronto trade would be huge for them. It makes me wonder though who they would take. Do you draft Murray/Dumba or do you draft one of the forwards since you’re assuming Schultz will sign there now that you have Gardiner.
With Gardiner, Schultz would sign there for sure. I think if Forsberg was still available, they should draft him. A top 6 down the road of
Hall-RNH-Eberle
MPS-Gagner-Forsberg
would be insane.
you wish he had the trade value that subban has,infact you wish he had the talent that subban does,this kid isn’t even in subban’s league!
Generational Talent?
Subban is a mouthy idiot and him and Gardiner are two different type of defencemen, Gardiner is more like a forward on defence and has scored nicer goals in his rookie season than Subban will score in his entire career.
All Subban has is a blast from the point which can be easily blocked. Gardiner’s shot, speed and passing ability into the offensive zone puts teams into disarray.
hahahaha wake up! subban is twice the defenceman that gardiner is or ever will be! subban is an offensive defenceman he’s like another forward out there for us! subban has scored way nicer goals and bigger goals than gardiner has
I think that 10 in Lafleur stands for your age. Cuz your comebacks are weak and immature.
Not trying to get into the argument, cause I don’t really care but I don’t see and immaturity or weakness in his comebacks here… In fact its not a comeback at all… Just his opinion…..
thanks tim…yeah it was my opinion
Well they’re both great skaters, Gardiner obviously a better skater but Subban brings the shot .Tough call.As for the prettier goals part of the argument- couple of Jakes end to end goals were beauties, can’t remember any PK goals off hand.
i think your illerate the 10 in lafeur is /was his number and just happens to be my favorite habs player of all time,also your the one that’s immature and weak their son i’m old enough to be your dad,infact leafy and i are probably the 2 oldest members of this site
that didn’t make a whole lot of sense.
-Both Subban and Gardiner are offensive defensemen so the first point is moot.
-Gardiner and Subban each got 7 goals this year so they’re even there (Gardiner played 6 less games than Subban but with only 7 goals that is hardly a big deal), and ‘bigger’ goals is a dumb argument since both teams sucked this year and the goals could not have been that big.
-Subban got 100 more penalty minutes than Gardiner making Subban a liability at times (even if you want to argue they were for fights and the penalty minutes is actually an asset that doesn’t really work because if Subban is Montreal’s best defenseman then him sitting for 5 minutes is dumb and is hurting the team).
Fact of the matter is Gardiner has more trade value than Subban (which was the point here), maybe Subban will be a better hockey player than Gardiner when all is said and done but right now Gardiner is the guy everyone wants not Subban.
No way. Gardiner will probably be the better player and next year he may even have more trade value. But you’re kidding yourself if you think Gardiner has more trade value. Perhaps to a team look to gain him and Schultz, or not have Subban’s mouth in the locker room. But I’d say 20 other teams would take Subban over Gardiener, at least right now.
Right now, I am going to take the position of expecting the Leafs to do nothing so that I am not as badly disappointed when I see big names being moved and none of them end up Leafs.
There were a couple of trade suggestions put forth by Mike Augello.
One was Kulemin and the 5th for Jordan Staal
The other was Franson for Ott.
On the topic of big names, the Staal one is very interesting, but I’d rather trade Colborne/Kulemin/Schenn and keep the 5th. I wonder if that would be enough considering the 5th overall pick could be a player Pittsburgh covets more.
Hard to say. I dont feel its completely enough as Staal is an incredible talent who i think would explode in a big way playing with both Lupul and Kessel.
Also, i think Shero will ask more from the Eastern Conference than he would out west where I think he’d prefer to trade Staal.
To be honest that’s what I’m expecting. I’m expecting Galchneyuk to be gone by the time the 5th pick comes around and the Leafs to go with a dman over Grigorenko (or he will be gone). I’m not expecting anything earth shatterin.
Staal is definitely the one I’m hoping to happen for the Leafs. Nash is a great peice, but we’ve gotta take a pass & focus on our biggest needs, even if it means losing out on a great winger (which he is). If Burkie can pull of trades to land Staal from the Pens, Lou from Vancouver, and this proposed first round upgrade, I’d be a very happy man!
Whooooaaa, Tampa Bay just traded 2 second round picks, a 3rd and Caron to Nashville for Lindback and Kyle Wilson.
A lot of hype surrounding Lindback. He’s a promising goalie, we’ll see if he works out.
It’s a good deal for both teams.
Lindback was going nowhere behind Rinne and really he had more value as a trade chip that as a backup. Two 2nds and a 3rd is really good value. Especially considerin Nashville didn’t have a pick till the 3rd round.
Tampa is taking a risk that Lindback’s potential is high and he is what people think he is. With Nashville having three 2nds (and possibly 4) it wasn’t a huge risk though.
Tampa needed a goalie, Nashville had one to give up. Nashville needed picks, Tampa had plenty. It’s a win-win for both teams.
Nashville has Hellberg coming over from Europe who will likely fight for the backup spot, so Lindback wasn’t really needed anymore. Tampa needs a goalie and having three 2nd rounders who might do something in three years isn’t as big a need as a top potential goalie is.
I’d expect Tampa to do something for a dman to build around too. I’d actually look at them trying to trade up to grab a Reinhart or Murray if it works out that they haven’t been taken by the time pick 5 or 6 rolls around.
In fact, I’d bet big time that Yzerman and Burke might hook up for a deal if Galchenyuk/Grigorenko are gone by the time pick 5 comes.
For the record, the whole 5th overall pick and Kulemin for Jordan Staal idea is a terrible one.
I mean, J.Staal is good, don’t get me wrong, but he only hit 50 points for the first time in his career this past season with 25 G and 25 assists. His point totals have been pretty consistent since entering the league: 48, 28, 49, 49, 30 (in 42 games), and 50 (in 62 games).
Kulemin on the other hand hasn’t been consistent at all, with his point totals in 3 seasons being 31, 36, 57, and a terrible dip to 28 last year. Still, he’s put up 30 goals and on a worse team.
Staal is definitely a better player overall, no argument, but he’s not significantly better to the point where it warrants trading the 5th overall pick. And for anyone who wants to argue that “Staal hasn’t been given an opportunity because he plays 3rd line!” Just remember the injuries Crosby’s had and the man games lost, not to mention Malkin’s injuries. Staal has had plenty of opportunity to play in a top 6 role but he’s never been able to step up to that next level.
Basically, if he weren’t Eric’s brother we wouldn’t be talking about him the same way.
Stall is a bit tempting because he torn it up in the playoffs but that series was probably the biggest gong show I’ve ever witnessed.
Stall is a Kesler type of player, hot one season, ice cold the next.
Kadri and Kulemin for Stall sure but we have a chance at landing a franchise player with a 5th overall pick, I’ll take that gamble over Stall.
We read this ever year, a GM with a top three pick will dangle it in the hopes of fleecing someone and no one takes the bait. After Yakupov the top five is pretty interchangeable. Ever mock draft I’ve read this season flips around Forsberg, Murray, Grigorenko and Galchenyuk. Unless you want the 1st overall why hand over assets?
It will be interesting to see what happens post Dumba at 6th when a team didn’t get the player they wanted start to scramble to trade. I see NYI as taking either Grigs or Galchenyuk (whomever’s left) to hold it over Toronto for Forsberg +
Interesting scenario, could happen.
I did not know that a squad that hasn’t made the postseason in 7 seasons has an abundance of top assets. But apparently this franchise does.
To fellow Leaf posters, stop posting ridiculous scenarios involving Holzer and others…Your trades would never work in a 1000 years.
If you want players like Clow, Morrow, or others…It will most likely cost you a Kadri or a Schenn…So start posting realisitic deals and not ones Leaf fans would like to see happen.
Is this actually LN91?
And Clowe isn’t worth as much as people think.
San Jose fans on Hfboards pretty much agreed it would take Gunnarsson or MacArthur and a pick to get him.
I’d do it for MacArthur, not Gunner.
Ren Lavoie from RDS has started a rumor that Kane doesn’t want to sign with the Jets.
Would you be interested for the 5th overall? Would the Jets (getting two top 10 picks)?
Interesting, I really like Evander Kane, but I would rather just roll the dice on the draft.
This is a draft pick that the leafs need to keep. It’s the best oppertunity they will have to find that elite center that is so hard to get. You’re right, Evander Kane is a great player, but this is an important draft.
If Winnipeg offered the Leafs Kane straight up for the 5th overall I think we should take it. That being said I’m ok with it being a draft time decision.
If Yakupov, Murray, Galchenyuk, and Forsberg(personally I’d rather have Kane over Forsberg but I can understand why the Leafs would prefer him) are all picked before #5 then we should grab Kane. He would not only be a better asset to us but he will actually play for us next season while there is a good chance that the guy we draft will not.
I think Kane is worth more than the 5th overall pick but if he doesn’t want to play in Winnipeg and with the Jets wanting to save money with an ELC I get the feeling offering the 5th straight up would be fair and might get it done. Who knows, if the guy Winnipeg wants is available at no.5 they may give us a touch more.
If Galchenyuk is gone then I’d do it. Kane was a centre in junior so I could see them trying him between kessel and lupul. If not, then we get a good young top six forward and we add some much needed size and toughness to the team.