Blue Jackets Getting 'A Lot Of Calls' For One Player On Trade Market

The Columbus Blue Jackets could be a major player on the trade market — but do they go into the buyer or seller category? That will be determined over the next nine games leading up to the trade deadline on March 6. Another win on Wednesday night (over the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-3) is their 7th in the last eight games—six of those wins under new head coach Rick Bowness—and has them holding out some hope of getting back into the playoff chase.

The Jackets are eight points back of the Boston Bruins for the second Wild Card spot, but they hold two games in hand, and are hot. Mind you, there are also five other teams tied with them at 57 points.

If they flop in these next nine contests, there are a number of players, mainly pending UFAs, that they could take trade calls on. But the one that's seemingly getting the most attention, per insider Pierre LeBrun, is center Charlie Coyle.

They could dramatically change the market... I will tell you, Charlie Coyle is getting a lot of calls. Which tells you how few centers there are on the trade market. A lot of teams want to know what Columbus will do with Charlie Coyle.
But at the end of the day, it's about Columbus announcing whether they are in or out. But they haven't made that announcement yet.

Coyle is in the final season of his six-year, $31.5 million deal with a $5.25 million cap hit. It's not an unbearable cost, and there are a lot of teams in dire need of a middle-six center who can provide some solid secondary scoring.

The 33-year-old is having a fine season in Columbus, with 12 goals and 35 points in 52 games. The two-way forward has been a consistent producer and is able to protect the puck with his 6'3", 220-pound frame.

Aside from the more elite pivots on the market in Vincent Trocheck, Nazem Kadri and Robert Thomas, Coyle is the next best centerman available. The Blue Jackets would be able to secure a nice return, especially once the bigger names are gone.

But that will all have to wait until the team makes up its mind on its future.