NHL Trade Rumors: Blue Jackets Would Be Crazy to Give Up on Jeff Carter Already

The Columbus Blue Jackets can't give up on Jeff Carter despite a disappointing start to the season. The team acquired the dynamic center less than a year ago, so dealing him before this season's trade deadline would be a crazy move.

Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reported the details:

"

Multiple sources confirmed to The Dispatch that Carter has been put on the trade block by the Blue Jackets, barely seven months after he was acquired from Philadelphia and deemed the No. 1 center the club has always needed.

“There’s not much I can do about that,” Carter said. “That’s something I can’t worry about or control. My main focus right now is just getting healthy and getting back into the lineup.”

"

It seems like the Blue Jackets are trying to find a scapegoat for their poor start, and Carter is a likely target. He's making $6 million this season. The 27-year-old former Philadelphia Flyers star is also sidelined with a shoulder injury.

So, while it's obvious why he's being singled out, it's not fair criticism. The fact of the matter is nobody on Columbus is playing well right now. It's tough for any player to live up to their full potential when his teammates aren't producing.

Carter averaged more than 70 points per season in his final three years in Philadelphia, so the talent is undoubtedly there. And he should be just entering his prime seasons, so if there was ever a time to be patient, it's now.

The Blue Jackets embrace a more defensive style of hockey than most teams, so a drop-off in production from Carter should have been expected by the front office. They brought him in to help boost the offensive attack, and now they need to give him a chance. At least more than seven months worth.

Another factor to consider is his contract. Since his annual cap hit is more than $5 million for the duration of his contract, which still has six more seasons left after the current one, teams will be unwilling to pay fair market value for him.

Columbus's front office would basically have to accept an extremely lowball offer if the team had any hope of actually move him.

Selling low is rarely a good decision. Carter is underachieving, has a massive contract and is trying to work back from an injury. In other words, his value has never been lower. That's the worst possible time to attempt a trade.

This is going to be a lost season for the Blue Jackets as they sit in the NHL basement, so they are best off just keeping Carter and hope he builds some momentum heading into next season.

It's simply too soon to give up on him all together.