The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded assistant-captain Antoine Vermette to the Pheonix Coyotes for minor league goaltender Curtis McElhinney and two draft picks, a second round pick in 2012 and a fifth round pick in 2013.

If the Coyotes win a playoff round this year, the fifth-round pick in 2013 becomes a fourth-round pick.

McElhinney has spent most of the year playing for Portland of the AHL, and is a likely candidate to be sent down to Springfield once he arrives in Columbus. The trade looks like the beginning of the rebuilding process in Columbus, and could be the start of the largest fire sale in Blue Jackets history.

Rumors circulate that Jeff Carter (who had a hat-trick Tuesday night against San Jose), and superstar Rick Nash are on the trading block as well.

Vermette has eight goals, 19 assists and is has a -17 plus-minus rating through 60 games this season.