Columbus’s Unfortunate New Reality

By William Espy

As the team began to move forward and develop success, an inevitable issue was bound to follow. This problem affects the best of the best, the LA Kings, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and especially the Chicago Blackhawks. That problem, is known as the salary cap. This year it will likely not affect the team in this upcoming season, however after that it becomes an issue. The Blue Jackets have been on the positive side of this issue, as recently as the acquisition of Brandon Saad. That acquisition by itself may have flipped the tables on the franchise. Prior to that trade, $37.65M of the Jackets cap was locked up for at least the next three years. After it, that number jumped to $43.65M. Those numbers also do not include Cam Atkinson’s $3.5M for the next 3 years due to it being easy to move if necessary, or Ryan Johansen’s $4M for the next two years. The Blue Jackets have just under $6M of cap space currently without Matt Calvert’s upcoming deal.

You may be asking, why is this suddenly an issue? This has become an issue because of important expiring contracts on the horizon. Rene Bourque’s $3.3M cap hit being gone after this year helps, but then another issue rises. What if Bourque performs well and earns a regular spot on the team? Regardless of how he performs, it would seemingly take a miracle to bring back Bourque. Boone Jenner, Ryan Murray, David Savard, Dalton Prout, Kevin Connauton, and Justin Falk all have contracts expiring after this upcoming season. Falk will more than likely sign a two-way deal giving some leverage to deal with the cap if he goes to the minors, the rest of them however won’t. Jenner has become a regular in all parts of the Blue Jackets lineup, he can play any line at almost any position. If Murray can stay healthy, then he is the top defenseman on the Blue Jackets. Almost all open cap space will go to those three. That leaves Connauton and Prout. It would be almost impossible for the Jackets to keep both of them, even keeping one could prove difficult if Jenner, Murray and Savard all have career years. The year after that, Ryan Johansen is due for another contract along with Alexander Wennberg, Cody Goloubef, Curtis McElhinney, possibly Jared Boll if he finds his game and many prospects who may make the NHL team.

It may be possible for the Blue Jackets to keep the team intact while solving this issue, but the odds of that are very unlikely. At least one player will likely be dealt to dump cap at some point, the question of who it will turn out to be remains.