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The Columbus Blue Jackets have had major injury issues early on in the 2014-15 NHL season and currently sit in the cellar of the Eastern Conference ahead of only the miserable Buffalo Sabres. At 4-10-1, Columbus’ playoff aspirations are looking slim in a conference that has been quite a bit better than most expected so far. With plenty of player still on the shelf, Columbus would be smart to throw in the towel this season and take a shot at Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. Trading James Wisniewski should be the first step on the organization’s list.
Wisniewski hasn’t looked great this year, but he’s still quite plainly an upper-echelon number three defenseman that is capable of playing the number two spot in a pinch. His offensive instincts are solid and he has a powerful shot from the point. At $5.5 million annually through 2016-17, Wisniewski is on a very fair contract that wouldn’t be a long-term handcuff on any team looking to acquire him.
This Blue Jackets team simply isn’t making the playoffs, and in the year of a draft that looks to have the best top two since Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin in 2004, it makes a lot of sense to try and stay at the bottom the standings. Tanking gets a bad rap, but it would only serve to benefit Columbus here; the playoffs already look out of reach and the potential reward for finishing in the league’s basement is too promising to ignore. Trading Wisniewski gets Columbus closer to that point.
Sean Sarcu is a Chicago Blackhawks writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter or add him to your network on Google.
