Columbus Blue Jackets: Could a Deal for Jeff Carter Actually Happen?

On Monday, I wrote an article about how the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers could be trade partners this offseason because each could help each other out.

The Flyers needed to shed some cap space, while the Blue Jackets needed a top-line center or defenseman.

In that article I wrote that the Blue Jackets, although interested in Jeff Carter, did not have a shot at acquiring the 26-year-old center.

There were too many other teams in the league, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, that could offer more in return for Carter than Columbus could.

However, according to the Columbus Dispatch, the Flyers acquisition of the rights to goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov has made a deal between these two a possibility.

Although the Flyers acquired his rights, it is still unclear whether or not they will be able to sign the Russian goalie before the free agency period begins on July 1.

"Bryzgalov is looking for a five-year contract in the area of $6 million per season, according to reports in Philadelphia, a figure that would put the Flyers well over the NHL's projected salary cap," wrote Aaron Portzline in The Dispatch.

With a cap hit of this caliber, the Flyers would have to get rid of a good chunk of their cap space, which is where Jeff Carter comes into play.

Carter signed an 11-year deal with the Flyers worth $58 million last season, making an annual salary of $5.27 million.

This deal has been the reason that a lot of teams, like the Leafs, may not pursue Carter, because of the risk of keeping a player for quite an extended period of time.

However, the Blue Jackets are not one of those teams, as general manager Scott Howson has realized that it is either "now or never" for him to put a winner on the ice.

The Dispatch would go on to say that the Blue Jackets and Flyers have been discussing possible deals that would bring the 26-year-old center to Ohio:

"Multiple NHL sources have told The Dispatch that the Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers have discussed a trade that would send Flyers center Jeff Carter, an All-Star in 2009, to Columbus for a top-six forward and the No. 8 overall pick in this year's draft."

Now, this is not to say that the deal has been made, but if it were done, that top-six forward would most likely be 2007 first round pick Jakub Voracek.

Voracek, who will be a restricted free agent next season, was Howson's first selection as the Blue Jackets' new general manager at the time.

Although he has a lot of potential at the NHL-level, he has not lived up to his expectations since becoming a Jacket.

If a deal like this were to happen, the Blue Jackets would fill one of their biggest offseason needs: a top-line center who is "offensively-gifted."

Carter scored 115 goals in the past three seasons, with a career-high 46 goals in the 2008-09 season. He has great size for the center position, with a great skating ability, as well as a hard accurate shot.

Another positive with Carter is that he has plenty of experience at the highest level—five seasons—and still has plenty of years left in the tank at only 26 years old.

Blue Jackets fans would salivate at the idea of a No. 1 line that includes captain Rick Nash at wing and Carter at the center.

Last season, the Jackets' top line was centered by youngster Derick Brassard. Brassard played well last season, but he is not quite top line center material just yet, so Carter would be an immense upgrade.

The outcome of a Carter deal of this magnitude could have an incredible ripple effect on not only the team, but the city of Columbus as well.

With the addition of Carter to the first line, the Blue Jackets would have one of their most competitive teams in franchise history on the ice. That is what a player like Carter brings to a team.

A huge hole would be filled, but the Jackets would still need to acquire some help at the point, and if they were able to do so, the Jackets could be a scary team to play against.

Just the rumors of a deal like this has fans excited, but if it were to actually happen, it would send a jolt to a fan base that has been begging for some excitement since the team made the playoffs three seasons ago.

The Dispatch reported last week that the Jackets are just keeping pace when it comes to season ticket renewals and need something big to start filling the seats:

"Given the Jackets reportedly lost $25 million last season they need a seismic shakeup to get the needle jumping.

"Heading into October with 8,000 season-ticket equivalencies portends another bad year at the gate -- the Jackets averaged a franchise-low 13,658 fans last season -- unless play drastically improves."

It's now or never for Scott Howson and the Blue Jackets. They need to start showing the rest of the league that they are a force to be reckoned with and that they can compete on a nightly basis against any team.

Howson promised a shakeup with some blockbuster trades, now he just has to back it up. The ball is in your court, sir.