Expect the Blue Jackets to be active

From Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:

On July 1, free agency opens with the Blue Jackets having between $16
million and $20 million in play money. They won’t be going after role players
this summer.

Howson has said he’ll consider all roads possible toward improving the Blue
Jackets — trades, free agent signings, offer sheets to restricted free agents,
etc.

“It’s an exciting time,” Howson said. “The pressure comes internally as
much as externally. We have a lot of work to do. It’s a big challenge. But
there’s a lot of anticipation as we draw closer to the time when the activity
really starts to pick up.”

Read the entire article here.

The Blue Jackets have been linked to a lot of possible free agent signings and trades over the past few weeks. Most of the time, the rumors have centered around acquiring Patrick Marleau and Ryan Malone. Time will tell if those players are suiting up in Ohio next season; but this much is certain, Scott Howson is a smart man who will not let a chance at short-term success get in the way of his long-term plan.