NHL Trade Deadline Analysis: Columbus Blue Jackets

In response to the NHL trade deadline day, it was back to status quo for the Columbus Blue Jackets (CBJ).

That means the CBJ were—as they have been in eight of their previous nine years— sellers rather than buyers. This mode is the cumulative effect of seasons lost. In this particular season, it is the most frustrating of all prior seasons, as expectations were at their highest, given that the CBJ made the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in their history.

However, after a season filled with setbacks including Mike Commodore's puzzling "conditioning issues" and downfall; the regression of super sophs Derick Brassard, Jakub Voracek, and Steve Mason; the asymmetries of Ken Hitchcock's plodding, and the defense-first system versus the pedal to the metal, post-lockout systems employed by the NHL's elite teams, the CBJ found themselves falling far short of where they and their loyal fans intended them to be.

They fired their coach a month ago, signaling a seismic change in direction of the team.

Slowly but surely, gone are the days of plodding, physical, veteran-laden players. Instead, the emphasis is on speed and athleticism.

Let there be no doubt: This is CBJ GM Scott Howson's team. Ken Hitchcock was already in as coach, and with that also came his influence, whether the organization will admit to it, or not, on the direction of the team and the personnel who executed his system.

So, while the organization was saddled, once again, as being sellers, Scott Howson's goal was a bit different from his two previous trade deadline day experiences.

The goal, this time, was to trade those unrestricted free agents (UFAs) for which he could obtain any value, whether that be for prospects or draft choices.

Much like trade day pundits so often do, I'd like to offer my grade for Scott Howson's performance for the trade deadline; however, much unlike those pundits, and much unlike my teachers and professors (you didn't think I forgot a few unfair final grades, did you?), I'll offer grades by trade, and come up with an overall grade.

With that, here are the trades that Scott Howson made:

Raffi Torres to Buffalo for their 2nd Round draft pick (2010 draft) and Nathan Paetsch

This particular trade is the most difficult to grade, as this is both conditional and requires a few layers and parameters. Torres was acquired two seasons ago, in exchange for Gilbert Brule, the CBJ's former no. 1 pick in the 2005 draft (6th overall), from Edmonton.

Torres experienced an injury-riddled 2008-2009 season, but when healthy, continued to enhance his reputation for scoring clutch goals, as well as providing gritty play.

During the 2009-2010 season, Torres had a very solid season for the CBJ. However, Gilbert Brule has also started to realize his potential in Edmonton, and Brule is also only 23-years-old.

In fairness to Brule, his years in Columbus were stifled by being rushed too fast by the CBJ's previous GM Doug MacLean, as well as by Coach Ken Hitchcock—a coach not known for being young player-friendly.

Scott Howson was in the process of negotiating a long-term deal for Torres; however, with an eye for reducing the team's overall payroll, it was believed Howson offered a slight annual salary reduction, something a player of Torres' pedigree—a physical player with a knack for scoring clutch goals, particularly in the playoffs—wouldn't appear to take.

In return, the CBJ receive a 2nd round draft pick, as well as Paetsch.

While the 2nd round draft pick sounds promising, given the Blue Jackets history on 2nd round picks—name one 2nd round pick that's been successful in the NHL, enough said— this might not exactly turn out very favorable.

Paetsch is a utility player—one who can play either defense or forward—who has had some success at the NHL level, but particularly so at the AHL level.

In short, Paetsch is more of a depth acquisition, and the trade will be judged on the success of the pick at next year's draft.

So, the grade is as follows:

If they re-sign Torres, the trade is, in essence, a player rental: B+

If they don't re-sign Torres, a C, particularly if Brule continues to progress with Edmonton.

Milan Jurcina to the Washington Capitals for a sixth round draft pick

This trade also is a bit convoluted to assess.

The CBJ acquired Jurcina, along with Chris Clark, in exchange for forward Jason Chimera, in December.

Jurcina was a pleasant surprise for the CBJ, but he was often benched (scratched) when Ken Hitchcock was the coach for some rather puzzling reasons, the most puzzling of which was due to his inexperience of playing in a playoff hockey system.

The last I checked, the Capitals are a pretty consistent playoff team.

Jurcina appeared to have bolstered his stock by his Winter Olympic performance; however, it was later discovered that he was injured during the Olympic tournament, and was diagnosed with a sports hernia.

So, rather than being traded for anywhere from a third round to a fourth-round draft choice, the injury severely diminished Jurcina's trade value.

As Jurcina was traded back to the team he was originally traded from, the December trade now goes, as follows:

Jason Chimera and Milan Jurcina for Chris Clark and a sixth round pick.

Adding to the confusion is the sixth-round pick is conditional upon Jurcina playing in a specified number of games after he recovers from the hernia injury.

So, the grade is as follows:

If Jurcina plays in the specified number of games: C

If Jurcina doesn't play in the specified number of games: D

Frederik Modin to the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional seventh round draft pick

It is no secret that Modin is a shell of his former self, having only played in one third of the scheduled games over the last three seasons. If you assess, however, which games Modin was functional—given his legendary toughness for playing through injuries—that number is far less (more along the lines of one fifth of the games, during the last three seasons).

This trade could have been avoided, prior to the beginning of the season, by buying out Modin's remaining year on his contract; however, as the Blue Jackets are a budget team, a buyout would not have occurred.

Adding to the quandary was Ken Hitchcock's fascination with Modin; however, that fascination was a legacy rather than a reality.

However, that Scott Howson relieved himself of a $3.5 million salary cap burden,  granted this is prorated over the remainder of the season—for such an oft-injured player, someone who is not in the future plans of this organization—was quite a yeoman's effort, on his part.

So, the grade is as follows: A+

Matieu Roy to the Florida Panthers for Matthew Rust

Roy was a restricted free agent, and was a solid contributor when called into service for the Blue Jackets, splitting time between the parent club and their AHL affiliate. However, it was discovered that Roy's expiring contract made him expendable.

Roy qualifies as a Group 6 free agent because of his age and his three-plus pro seasons without accumulating 80 NHL games (Roy has appeared in 61 career NHL games).

So the CBJ's hand was forced, a bit, due to a league rule.

Rust is in his final year with the University of Michigan.

The scouting report on Rust indicates that he is speedy, two-way player with great vision, something quite valuable for a center. While Rust will probably begin next season at the CBJ's AHL affiliate, he does project into a third line player, and one with a skill set befitting the team's new direction.

So, the grade is as follows: B+

Alexander Picard to the Phoenix Coyotes for Chad Kolarik

Picard, the eighth overall selection in the 2004 draft, was easily considered as their greatest draft day bust.

While a horrible injury in the minors set Picard back a few years, registering only two assists in 67 career NHL games is not the stuff of legend.

I've heard from the CBJ faithful of Picard's energy and grit; however, that would be beneficial to someone drafted far later. What's most disturbing is how Picard was projected, when drafted as a high-energy third line stalwart.

So you draft in the first round when players like Travis Zajac, Alexander Radulov, and Mike Green were also available, for a third line player?

That might be all you need to know about how the organization was run during Doug MacLean's tenure.

Kolarik is a center, a position the Blue Jackets have had problems in developing, particularly for their top line. While Kolarik may not be a first line centerman, he does bring impressive collegiate and AHL numbers, and provides another speed player with great hands and a finisher's touch around the net.

If anything, this trade is a classic 'change of scenery" move, for both players, particularly for Picard.

So, the grade is as follows: B

So, while this might be tricky to compile an overall grade, particularly with such conditional scenarios of the first two trades, Howson's overall grade for the trade deadline would be a B.

While that's admirable given what Howson was faced with on this day, this doesn't mean it was a success.

Because, come June (NHL draft) and July (UFA signing period), the stove just went from simmer in the preseason, to medium, and trade deadline day moves to boil.

Howson needs to deliver on revamping this organization, in his vision and mold. It's his team now, and his success and reputation will rise or fall when the pucks drops come October 2010.