Blue Jackets Won't Let Go Of Possible Trade Candidate Easily

The Columbus Blue Jackets stormed back into the playoff race before the Olympic break and sit four points back of the final wildcard spot on a seven-game win streak. They have a game in hand and only one team to jump to get in. There are still a handful of games when teams come out of the break before the trade deadline as well, so they'll get an even clearer picture of where the team is in terms of chances to make the postseason.

The next few games might not determine the outcome of the trade deadline as the Blue Jackets could already have decided. The players fought back and have played well under their new head coach and following season after season of selling at the deadline, they may not do the opposite and buy, but they probably won't sell either.

There is one player in particular that has caught the attention of teams, but he won't be all that easy to pull from the Blue Jackets as the team may not even consider a trade unless it's a big overpay. Elliotte Friedman said, "I think Columbus, probably the number one guy left on the market is, I don't know, is it Charlie Coyle? And I heard Columbus wants to keep their guys."

Coyle is having a very good season for the Blue Jackets, and even though he is a UFA after the season, a contract extension could be in place if they keep him through the deadline. The 34-year-old has 15 goals and 42 points in 56 games as a right-shot center who plays both power play and penalty kill. He is also a great piece to have if Sean Monahan misses time as he's tended to, or Boone Jenner doesn't re-sign.

The Blue Jackets do have some good pieces in contract years and could lose some after the season, but instead of having the future mentality all the time, they have to go for it once in a while, and it appears as though that's what they are doing with decisions this season. But nothing is for sure, we'll have to wait and see exactly how far they are out of a spot and what injuries and such look like. Decisions can change in an instant if something happens.