The Blue Jackets tried to trade Jakub Voracek but the cost to move him was insane
It's been a busy couple weeks in Columbus. They landed the biggest fish of the off-season by signing Johnny Gaudreau to a seven year contract. The next move was locking up Finnish Sniper Patrick Laine for four more years.
To become cap compliant someone had to be moved. That player ended up being Oliver Bjorkstrand. He was traded to the Seattle Kraken for a 2023 third round pick and 2023 fourth round pick.
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports the Blue Jackets could have traded veteran Jakub Voracek over Bjorkstrand.
The problem GM Jarmo Kekalainen had with trading Voracek is his two years remaining with a cap hit of $8.25 million. To trade Voracek, Columbus may have been required to throw in a top prospect and a first-round draft pick.
Kekalainen was not ready to give up a first round pick and a top prospect to dump a salary so he had no other choice but to trade
Bjorkstrand led the Blue Jackets in goals the past two seasons. I'm sure Kekalainen wasn't happy about moving him but is it the cost of doing business.
With so many teams over the cap this will not be the last we see of players with a long term contract moved for draft picks.
| POLL | ||
Which team will be next to make a similar move? | ||
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 31 | 23.8 % |
| Florida Panthers | 19 | 14.6 % |
| Washington Capitals | 24 | 18.5 % |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 56 | 43.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
