Is There a Team Altering Trade Forming in Columbus? 3/3/2026

I'll start out by saying what I normally do the first week of March every season: Unless under special circumstances, I only allow myself to speculate one week a year, and that is NHL Trade Deadline Week.  I could be wrong, and I only have information avalible to the public. I am not an insider, and I've never claimed to be. That said, something has happened tonight that gives me a gut feeling our General Manager, Don Waddell, could be up to something. What I am about to lay out is either a coincidence or a fact, and only time will tell. Here are my thoughts.

Let me make this very clear: I have multiple reasons to love each of our players. So, what I'm about to say comes from a business standpoint only. Kent Johnson had been a healthy scratch for the last two games. He's a young player with decent numbers, which could be an asset to any of the other 31 NHL teams. I firmly believed that he'd be leaving us, and, if he did, I would of course wish him nothing but the best. However, things changed tonight when Kent Johnson stepped onto the ice at home against the Nashville Predators... and another high-profile Blue Jacket did not.   

Right before the game tonight, we learned two things: Zach Werenski would miss a second game in a row due to illness, and I don't find this suspicious at all, given he just returned from the Olympics. What was surprising was our captain, Boone Jenner, would miss tonight's game due to 'maintenance' per the Columbus Blue Jackets' CBJ Public Relations Page on X. It was revealed his timeframe was day-to-day. Now, injuries happen all the time that we find out about after the fact, or never. That said, the day-to-day timeframe, less than two days before the trade deadline, is throwing me. 

In my mind, Boone Jenner has done a good job as captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets. His leadership was on full display for the hockey world as this team grieved the loss of Johnny Gaudreau. Boone, from day one, has shown how much he cares for this franchise and every single one of his players. Honestly, this is why I hope that in two days, this blog post will be proven a waste of my time. However, there are a few factors not working in his favor. 

1) Boone Jenner is a veteran player who could add to any locker room. 

2) Boone Jenner is a low-cap hit for what he offers. 3.75 million is cheap for most teams looking to build for a playoff push. 

3) Boone Jenner can flip between Center and Wing like a light switch, and that's very valuable in a cup run. 

4) Boone Jenner is a UFA at the end of this season. This means we'd have to give him a new contract, trade him before he became a UFA, or let him walk. If we traded him now, we'd get something in return, and Boone gets a chance to prove himself on another team that could sign him after the playoffs if he performs well for them.  

5) The Columbus Blue Jackets did just hire a new Head Coach, and although Rick Bowness has spoken highly of Boone Jenner, sometimes Head Coaches want to pick their own captain. This point is honestly from what other coaches have done, as Rick has offered no indication of this to the media. However, there's a chance this could be true. 

6) Although this is a team sport, the Blue Jackets have not gone to the playoffs since Boone Jenner was named captain. Given all the coaching changes and shuffling of players, this doesn't rest on Boone Jenner's shoulders at all, but it is a fact I have to state. 

To me, there are plenty of reasons teams would call on Boone Jenner. If I were on the outside looking in, I would. There are reasons to trade him and not, as is true with any player. Boone Jenner has a price for what he offers, and although it isn't on the same level as say Ouinn Hughes or Connor McDavid, he is far from cheap. 

I'm very interested in how this team looks on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. following the close of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. I know it's been a rough start coming out of the Olympic break, but before it, this team was unstoppable, and I expect that will return as this team returns to it's formor rythum. I don't think much needs to be done, but I have come to know Don as he's worked this team the last couple of years, and I highly doubt he'll not do anything. Again, this is all speculation, but stranger things have happened, 5th Line. I don't have to tell you that.  

Go CBJ!


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