From Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:
The two clubs have had preliminary trade talks, the Dispatch has learned. The discussions have involved Pittsburgh trading the rights to one or two of their pending unrestricted free agents — players the Penguins have decided they can’t keep because of the salary cap — to the Blue Jackets for draft pick or player compensation.
It’s unclear who the players are, but Ryan Malone and Brooks Orpik seem like logical choices. Hey, why not Marian Hossa?
My guess is the Blue Jackets will be giving up draft picks.
Read the entire entry from Puck-rakers here.
This is a similar scenario to the one we saw last season that saw the Flyers trade for Scott Hartnell before he was set to become an unrestricted free agent. As Portzline mentions later on in his entry, the deal will only work if the Jackets are able to sign the players that are pending UFAs. Otherwise, it makes no sense to give up draft picks for a player you can sign for free as of July 1st.
Keeping you up-to-date with all the latest pro hockey news in Manitoba.
He kicks off his first year as bench boss in Winnipeg on day 1 of…
We heard from the versatile forward after the afternoon session on day 1 of training…
Second group hits the ice at hockey for all centre.
Hear from the Jets GM on the first day of camp.
Coming into his second training camp the Jets 2021 2nd rounder is feeling confident.