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Columbus Blue Jackets notes: Sillinger nearing deal, Laine trade market still slow
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- Columbus Blue Jackets notes: Sillinger nearing deal, Laine trade market still slow
Don Waddell's crowded list of Blue Jackets offseason chores is down to a couple items.
Cole Sillinger needs a new contract and forward Patrik Laine would still like to find a new NHL home via the trade market. Otherwise, Waddell has checked off a lengthy list of "to-do" items this summer , including a Thursday announcement naming new head coach Dean Evason's assistant staff .
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"Every day, I feel a little bit better," Waddell said. "We still have some things to figure out, but that's OK."
Here's a closer look at what's left for the Blue Jackets this summer:
Columbus Blue Jackets near extension with Cole Sillinger
Nov 29, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (4) looks for an open pass past Montreal Canadiens defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic (26) during the first period of their game on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023 at Nationwide Arena.
The last remaining restricted free agent on the Blue Jackets roster may be close to signing a new contract.
Waddell said the team and Cole Sillinger are close to agreeing on a "multi-year" contract. Sillinger, 21, could be headed for a breakout going into his fourth NHL season. He's played in the NHL since being selected 12th overall in 2021 by the Blue Jackets, who took forward Kent Johnson fifth overall in that year's class.
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Johnson, 21, signed a three-year extension worth $5.4 million in late July – an average annual value of $1.8 million – and Sillinger is expected to get a deal that lands somewhere between that amount and Kirill Marchenko's three-year deal that averages $3.85 million per year ($11.55 million total).
Trade market for Columbus Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine remains sluggish
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Patrik Laine (29) brings the puck up ice ahead of Carolina Hurricanes right wing Sebastian Aho (20) during the third period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. The Blue Jackets lost 6-5.
It's been two weeks since Laine was released from the NHL/NHL Players Association's player assistance program , which cleared him to speak with opposing teams. Laine, who's training in Florida , first expressed his wish to be traded via agent Andy Scott in June.
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Waddell said there's mutual interest in finding Laine a change of scenery, but the forward may need to boost his trade value by playing in Columbus to start next season. Scott hasn't returned multiple contact attempts from the Dispatch, but Waddell said the agent has clearance to speak with other NHL teams about Laine, who has two years left on a contract that carries a hefty $8.7 million charge against the salary cap.
Waddell told the Dispatch in July that he could've traded the Finnish forward by agreeing to absorb the NHL's maximum salary retention of 50% on Laine's contract, but that's not an acceptable scenario at this point. The Jackets do expect to eventually retain some percentage of Laine's remaining deal, though.
Oct 12, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Patrik Laine (29) fires a shot during the third period of the NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets lost 4-2.
Simply put, there's not a lot of interest in Laine at less than $4.35 million per season, which is partly because it's getting late in the NHL's offseason and partly due to Laine's injury woes since joining the Blue Jackets. The Dispatch has learned that two NHL teams have inquired about Laine since he gained NHL/NHLPA clearance, but no offers have materialized.
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One offer that was accepted was made by Laine, who announced his engagement Friday to social media influencer Jordan Leigh.
Cayden Lindstrom to start first NHL training camp with Columbus Blue Jackets unsigned
Jul 2, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA.; Forward Cayden Lindstrom (28) skates during Blue Jackets development camp at the OhioHealth Ice Haus.
Cayden Lindstrom, whom the Blue Jackets drafted fourth overall in June , will not sign an entry-level contract prior to attending his first NHL training camp.
There's also a chance Lindstrom, 18, won't get an ELC before departing for Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League. Waddell isn't in a rush to sign the impressive forward, who missed about half of last season with injuries to his back and hand. Lindstrom said those issues are healed, but the Blue Jackets took extra care with him during their NHL development camp in early July. He participated in skating drills but wasn't cleared for "battles" or a scrimmage to conclude camp.
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Prospects selected in the first round often sign ELCs quickly, since it's mostly formulaic. That's why Lindstrom's lack of a contract is notable. Waddell declined multiple trade offers to select Lindstrom, and the Jackets bypassed highly skilled winger Ivan Demidov to snag a 6-foot-3, 210-pound center.
Jul 2, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA.; Forward Cayden Lindstrom (28) skates during Blue Jackets development camp at the OhioHealth Ice Haus.
Lindstrom is currently one of two first-round picks from this year's draft who hasn't signed and isn't under contract in Russia or headed to college. The other is London Knights forward Sam O'Reilly, who was selected 32ndoverall by the Edmonton Oilers with the final pick in the first round.
Waddell isn't concerned about it.
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"I'm not a believer in keeping these young kids here, so whether we sign him or not (in camp), we're going to send him back this year and let him play," Waddell said. "I told his agent, 'Let's just get to training camp and get him here.' I'm not worried about it. We'll sign him at some point."
Columbus Blue Jackets retain strength/conditioning and training staffs
Nov 15, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) leaves the game with an apparent injury during the second period of the NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
Waddell said the Blue Jackets' strength/conditioning and athletic training staffs will be retained. The team's new GM plans to use the coming season to become more familiar with them and make assessments later.
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"Everybody is coming back," he said. "Then, we're going to assess everything through the season. All the staff, I said we're going to take this year and assess what we're doing. You get to know me. I get to know you and we'll go forward after that."
Waddell left the Carolina Hurricanes , one of the NHL's least injured teams, to join one of the league's most injury-plagued organizations over the past few years.
The Blue Jackets finished with a whopping 327 man-games lost to injuries last season, which was actually a significant decrease from the franchise record of 563 man-games lost in 2022-23. They also lost 371 man-games to injuries in 2021-22, which brings their total for the past three years to 1,261.
Bad luck seemed to be the root cause of the health woes, but the Blue Jackets have racked up a collection of torn shoulder labrums that required surgeries for Josh Anderson , Gustav Nyquist , Zach Werenski , Justin Danforth , Jake Bean and, most recently, Johnson.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets, NHL notebook: Sillinger deal close, Laine trade stagnant
