Blue Jackets Willing To Make Big Move This Summer
GM Don Waddell has made clear through multiple conversations with media and insiders that the organization's first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft is available if the right deal presents itself.
The Blue Jackets are open to trading their first-round selection, which is projected at No. 14 overall heading into the May 5 lottery.
The willingness to move that pick is not new information exactly, as Waddell told Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers last spring that both of the team's first-round picks at the time were absolutely available, answering with a simple "Yes. 100%." when asked if they were on the table.
The same philosophy carries into this summer.
Why Waddell Is Looking to Move the Pick
The Blue Jackets spent the last two seasons fighting their way back toward relevance after years as one of the worst teams in the NHL.
They came close to making the playoffs in 2024-25 in a result that surprised most of the league, and missed again this season despite a valiant push toward the end.
The young core built around Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, Kirill Marchenko, Zach Werenski, and goaltender Jet Greaves is real, but the gap between where Columbus is and where a playoff team needs to be is still meaningful.
Waddell's read is that drafting another teenager at 14th overall who needs three to four years to develop is not what this particular team needs right now.
He would rather convert that asset into a proven NHL player who can contribute immediately alongside the young core rather than add another piece to a prospect pool that already has long-term depth.
The Blue Jackets also carry significant cap space heading into the offseason, giving Waddell the financial flexibility to attach a pick to a contract in a trade without straining the books.
That combination of a tradeable first-round pick and cap room to absorb salary makes Columbus one of the more interesting trade partners any team looking to move a player this summer could call.
What a Deal Might Look Like
The Blue Jackets need an impact top-six forward or a reliable top-four defenseman more than anything else.
They acquired Conor Garland from Vancouver at the deadline, a move that added skill and character but not the kind of elite offensive production that pushes a team over the top.
Damon Severson is a trade candidate at $6.25 million heading into his age-32 season, and his departure would create additional cap flexibility while also indicating that the organization is willing to reshape the defense corps around younger legs.
Any team looking to move an established forward or defenseman in a deal built around draft capital should have Columbus near the top of the call list this summer.
The May 5 lottery will determine where the pick actually lands before any trade can be formally structured.
Photo Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
