Blue Jackets Trade Speculation

[skatingtripods]

The rumor mills are heating up in response to Rusty Klesla being back on the shelf and a possible concussion to Kristian Huselius.

According to Puck Rakers and other blogs around the league, the Jackets are looking at Toronto, Ottawa, and Atlanta as possible trade partners. New GM Brian Burke in Toronto is looking to move some of the veterans and this includes Pavel Kubina and Tomas Kaberle. Both are sound offensive defensemen, but they also have no-trade clauses. Nik Antropov, a 6'6" centerman, has also had his name thrown about.

From Ottawa, Antoine Vermette is the name. Supposedly, Ottawa newspaper reporters have mentioned Kris Russell and draft picks as potential returns.

I'll be sure to keep this thread around as more news is found.

[jack_tors]

The rumor mills are heating up in response to Rusty Klesla being back on the shelf and a possible concussion to Kristian Huselius.

According to Puck Rakers and other blogs around the league, the Jackets are looking at Toronto, Ottawa, and Atlanta as possible trade partners. New GM Brian Burke in Toronto is looking to move some of the veterans and this includes Pavel Kubina and Tomas Kaberle. Both are sound offensive defensemen, but they also have no-trade clauses. Nik Antropov, a 6'6" centerman, has also had his name thrown about.

From Ottawa, Antoine Vermette is the name. Supposedly, Ottawa newspaper reporters have mentioned Kris Russell and draft picks as potential returns.

I'll be sure to keep this thread around as more news is found.

I wouldnt mind Kubina or Kaberle as they would provide the blue line talent this team has been lacking since it was created. That being said, any idea what Toronto wants for one of those guys?

[skatingtripods]

I'm thinking Voracek is the person that they will look at most. After that, Maxim Mayorov. I would think that Filatov and the CBJ 1st are untouchable.

Kris Russell has a lot of upside. He's been mentioned for Vermette, but not for Kubina or Kaberle.

[jack_tors]

Looks like the Jackets pulled the trigger on a deal with Atlanta.

Columbus Gets:
Jason Williams-Center

Atlanta Gets:
2009 6th round pick
Clay Wilson- Defenseman


Not sure what to make of this deal since I am not familiar with Wilson. Williams seems more like a role player but I dont know a ton about him since I never bothered watching him since I loathe all things Detroit.

[skatingtripods]

Looks like the Jackets pulled the trigger on a deal with Atlanta.

Columbus Gets:
Jason Williams-Center

Atlanta Gets:
2009 6th round pick
Clay Wilson- Defenseman


Not sure what to make of this deal since I am not familiar with Wilson. Williams seems more like a role player but I dont know a ton about him since I never bothered watching him since I loathe all things Detroit.

Talked about this quite a bit on last night's show. If you get a chance to listen, check it out.

Williams can play the point on the PP and is a right handed shot. I think the move is two-fold. First, provides secondary scoring when Nash is back and on the top line with Huselius. Second, what I said above. PP QB with a right handed shot.

The knock on Williams is that he can get lazy at times, so consistency is an issue. If Malhotra sticks with Huselius, as he should after how they looked together last game, I could see Williams on a line with Peca and someone like an Andrew Murray or Jake Voracek.

[TouchEmAllTime]

This is kind of off topic but a Blue Jackets question. The last I saw he was traded to Edmonton, but what went wrong with Gilbert Brule? From what I read a couple years back some were saying he was arguably the second best player taken in his draft class. Was he that big of a bust in that little of time to give up on, or injury prone on top of that?

[skatingtripods]

This is kind of off topic but a Blue Jackets question. The last I saw he was traded to Edmonton, but what went wrong with Gilbert Brule? From what I read a couple years back some were saying he was arguably the second best player taken in his draft class. Was he that big of a bust in that little of time to give up on, or injury prone on top of that?

Brule was often injured and his development was ruined. They rushed him to the NHL and tried to change his game way too much. The organization really made a back move with that pick. Torres and Brule was a trade where both teams felt that each guy needed a change of scenery.

Many people, when he was drafted, felt that Brule was going to be very good for a very long time for the Jackets. Unfortunately, they were wrong, and the organization really mishandled his talent.

As a side note, I'll have a front page piece up about the Jackets trade deadline and the stretch run shortly.

[pup]

This is kind of off topic but a Blue Jackets question. The last I saw he was traded to Edmonton, but what went wrong with Gilbert Brule? From what I read a couple years back some were saying he was arguably the second best player taken in his draft class. Was he that big of a bust in that little of time to give up on, or injury prone on top of that?

Brule was often injured and his development was ruined. They rushed him to the NHL and tried to change his game way too much. The organization really made a back move with that pick. Torres and Brule was a trade where both teams felt that each guy needed a change of scenery.

Many people, when he was drafted, felt that Brule was going to be very good for a very long time for the Jackets. Unfortunately, they were wrong, and the organization really mishandled his talent.

As a side note, I'll have a front page piece up about the Jackets trade deadline and the stretch run shortly.

Shapiro and Wedge run the Jackets too?