Jackets Free Agency hopes…
I’m gonna drop a line people are using as a crutch these days, but it’s still kinda true… IN THIS ECONOMY… It doesn’t look like the Jackets can do much in the way of free agency. As July 1 comes and goes, the NHL market will become flooded with guys looking to get at least a raise, it not get filthy rich. The problem is teams don’t have the money they once did to spend on hired guns. In fact the Blue Jackets dont have the cash to pay all the bills, let alone invest in building a better on-ice product. But… they’re gonna spend!
And it all starts with Rick Nash. Getting Nasher signed to a long-term deal will secure the team’s competitive ability for years to come. He’s a top ten NHL goal scorer and a dynamite figure in the community. Nash IS Blue Jackets hockey, and GM Scott Howson says they’ll do whatever it takes to keep RIck around.
Next, Manny Malhotra’s deal. He earned $1.5 million last season and will look for more, but likely not find much more than that. Malhotra’s been a quality, yet inconsistent player for Columbus. He’s a center, which the CBJ don’t have many of right now, which maybe helps his value to the club a little more. There are some quality free agents still out there but many carry a high price tag (for example: 3 free agent stars from the Canadians—Koivu, Kovalev and Tanguay—all carry salaries above $4 million). The best deal is keep Manny, and when the market doesn’t support a $3-4 million salary for him, I’m confident Malhotra will return to Columbus.
Howson’s also in the market for the defensemen, and looking for guys at a value. Johnny Oduya from the Devils made just $600K last year yet delivered a +21 rating.
I believe the Jackets best route this year is to let it’s youth grow up in the system and keep it’s talent. Sometimes staying the same makes you better.
