Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets came into tonight's NHL Draft Lottery with a 48.2 percent of earning the first overall pick in this year's draft.

With the league's worst record, the Jackets had the best opportunity at receiving the top pick and possibly using it on Russian winger Nail Yakupov.

However, Columbus' bad luck this year continued tonight as the Edmonton Oilers, who had a 18.8 percent chance, will be drafting first overall for the third year in a row.

The Jackets missed out yet again, having never received the first overall pick through the draft lottery in their 11 years of existence.

Columbus will receive the second overall pick and will have to go back to the drawing board as drafting their top target is no longer a sure thing,

"It's disappointing," Columbus general manager Scott Howson told the Columbus Dispatch.

"My heart was pounding there when it got down to the final two spots.

As disappointing as missing out on the first pick seems, there are still plenty of talented players available at No. 2, and it may not be the only first round pick they end up using on draft night.

"It's still a positive day. We're looking forward. We've got this pick -- which is a very good pick, and we're going to get a very good player -- and we have the possibility of taking (the Los Angeles Kings') pick (currently No. 17), if we so choose," said Howson.

The pick from the Kings was acquired by the Jackets in their trade of All-Star center Jeff Carter.

Because the Kings made the playoffs this season, the Jackets have the option of using the first round pick in either this year's draft or next.

The Jackets have the option of two top picks in the first round and could also add a third if the rumors of Rick Nash being traded before the draft are realized.

Columbus is on their way to reshaping the franchise and having a chance to pick three of the top-30 young prospects is a perfect starting point.

If Yakupov does not fall to the Jackets at No. 2, other talented forwards available include Mikhail Grigorenko, Alex Galchenyuk, and Filip Forsberg.

The Jackets could also trade the No. 2 pick for immediate help, most likely in net as three consecutive years of inconsistency have shown that Steve Mason is no longer an option as the team's franchise goaltender.

Whatever they decide to do with the pick, the Jackets have plenty of options to choose from and draft night will most likely be a positive one for the young franchise.

Before the trade deadline, it was assumed that the Columbus Blue Jackets would take part in a fire sale of the team's roster, dealing some of their big names for draft picks and prospects so that they could rebuild the franchise.

The Jackets were able to pick up a first-round draft pick in either the 2012 or 2013 Entry Draft when they traded center Jeff Carter to the Los Angeles Kings for their pick, as well as young defenseman Jack Johnson.

They were also able to acquire a few other picks by trading centers Antoine Vermette (to Phoenix) and Samuel Pahlsson (to Vancouver).

Along with the acquired picks, the Jackets will most likely have the top overall pick in this year's draft, which many believe will be Russian winger Nail Yakupov (depending on his recovery from a possible concussion suffered on Saturday night).

Yakupov is talented enough to make an immediate impact for the Jackets if drafted, and could be a replacement if the team still has plans of trading Rick Nash in the offseason.

However, the Jackets hanging onto that No. 1 overall pick may no longer be such a sure thing.

According to the Twitter account of Marc Antoine Godin of La Presse in Montreal, Columbus is considering dealing the draft pick,

"NHL execs from three different teams told me #CBJ are expected to trade their 1st round pick (likely 1st overall) at upcoming draft" #yakupov

Now, this is not to say that the Jackets will in fact trade their pick, but the fact that they are considering it will have plenty of teams calling general manager Scott Howson to inquire about it.

It will be interesting to see what Columbus would ask for in return for the pick, most likely a swap of first-round picks and possibly some immediate help.

The Jackets need help at the goaltending position with Steve Mason struggling with consistency in his three years with the team and the need for a franchise goaltender.

If Columbus still has plans of trading Nash, a trade of the first overall pick could also bring a needed replacement to the winger position.

Acquiring an already proven winger in the NHL may be a safer move then waiting to see if Yakupov will pan out or not.

The Jackets have had a bad history with Russian draft picks with both Nikolai Zherdev and Nikita Filatov turning out to be busts and would prefer not having it happen again.

Columbus seems to be doing whatever they can to prevent a rebuilding of the franchise, but instead are trying to reshape it.

The franchise is done waiting to be competitive in the Western Conference and do not want to tear down and start from scratch, spending another three years at the bottom of the NHL.

Whether that means trading their No. 1 draft pick or not is yet to be seen.

What we do know is that these next few months will undoubtedly be the most interesting in franchise history.

Rick Nash, the most discussed player leading up to the NHL trade deadline, ended up staying with the Columbus Blue Jackets. At least for now. It's clear the talented winger still isn't happy with the team's direction, making a summer trade the best option for everybody involved.

Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch explained an awkward situation in Columbus:

Instead, the GM and the captain spent three weeks declining to respond to “rumors” and “speculation” when the truth was that the star asked for a trade and handed over a list of prospective destinations. There was a divorce going on, and they hoped the kids would not notice.

No matter what Nash and general manager Scott Howson say now that the deadline has passed, it has to be taken with a grain of salt because the two sides are stuck with each other until the season ends. The relationship has been fractured and repairing it won't be easy.

Nash is on pace to have his worst season since 2006-07 with just 44 points through 64 games. A lack of talent elsewhere on the team's last-place roster has certainly played a role in his drop of production.

So it's not a major surprise the 27-year-old Canadian began searching for an opportunity to play in a better situation.

He still has six years left on his monster contract and the Blue Jackets aren't going anywhere fast. By the time his deal runs out, he'll be past his prime and who knows what opportunities will be available? One thing's for sure, that's a long time to wait to find out.

It's also a long time to manage a broken bond. Since Nash and the team are on two different pages about the future, the tension will probably only continue to grow with each extra day he stays in Columbus.

That's why the team should explore every possible option to grant his trade wish during the offseason. At that point, the Blue Jackets will have a new face of the franchise thanks to their high draft pick, so losing Nash won't be as costly in terms of fan interest.

Teams on Nash's list would also be more willing to talk trade after the season finishes. It's tough to make a blockbuster trade involving several key pieces in the middle of a playoff race.

Blue Jackets fans would love for both sides to shake hands and move past the entire incident, but that's always easier said than done. The last few months have caused a lot of issues to develop, and they won't be easier to patch up.

Trading Nash would allow Columbus to add a couple more pieces for its rebuilding effort while also eliminating any potential distractions. He would get a fresh slate with a new team to get his career back on track.

It's not an easy decision to make, but it's the best one.

The Columbus Blue Jackets joined the National Hockey League with their expansion cousin the Minnesota Wild in 2000-2001 and have only once qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs—losing in four straight games to the Detroit Red wings in the 2008-2009 season. 

Conversely, the Minnesota Wild have qualified for the playoffs three times during the same period, including an appearance in the Conference finals in 2003 and a division title in 2008. 

The Blue Jackets were considered a team on the rise after reaching the playoffs three seasons ago. Then-rookie goaltender Steve Mason captured the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie by going 33-20-7, while posting a 2.29 GAA, .916 save percentage and an incredible 10 shutouts. Since then, he has not had a season with a GAA under 3.00. Clearly, part of the Blue Jackets' struggles can be placed on the mediocre goaltending that they have received from Mason since his terrific rookie season.  

Similar to Mason, another goalie comes to mind who also experienced success early in his career but was never able to duplicate it. Jim Carey, then of the Washington Capitals, won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie in 1996, his first full season, by going 35-24-9 with a 2.26 GAA, .906 save percentage and nine shutouts—numbers that are frighteningly close to what Mason posted 13 years later. 

To make matters worse, Mason is owed $3.2 million next season, making him virtually impossible to move unless the team is willing to deal for a player with a bad contract in return. With the Blue Jackets right up against the salary cap and hastily running out of options, the team could place Mason on waivers and hope another team claims him. If there is not a team willing to take him on, Columbus could put Mason on recallable waivers and if claimed, the team would then be responsible for paying half of his salary for the remainder of the contract. Another option could be to buy him out. 

However, the blame cannot entirely be placed on Mason’s shoulders. GM Scott Howson had been given the green light to spend up to the cap, but has invested his resources inefficiently. Other than Rick Nash and Jeff Carter (a mistake that he’s been able to correct) many of the other players signed to long-term contracts are grossly overpaid. 

First, James Wisniewski was signed to a ridiculous six-year $33-million contract this offseason for a salary cap hit of $5.5 million. Wisniewski is a good player but is being paid as a top defenseman which he is not. Prior to his 51-point season in 2010-2011, his career high was 30 which he accomplished the season before. Columbus is also the fifth team he’s played for since the 2008-2009 season (Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadians and New York Islanders). 

John-Michael Liles at $4.2 million this season and $3.875 million cap hit for the next four seasons after signing a contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs and former Maple Leaf Ian White at $2.85 million are two defensemen that also switched teams this offseason. They provide a similar skill set to Wisniewski but are much more valuable to their respective clubs as well as potential suitors because their cap hit is significantly less, which makes them easier to trade/trade for. 

The contract extension given to RJ Umberger is another one that will saddle the Blue Jackets unless they can find a taker. He was signed for five years and $23 million, counting for $4.6 million against the cap. Umberger is a solid player. His career high is 57 points, 25 goals and 32 assists, which he reached in 2010-2011—good production in today’s NHL, but at almost a five-million cap hit per season, it’s a poor return of investment for a team like Columbus.

Fedor Tyutin at $4.5 million for the next six years and Marc Methot $3 million for the next three are two more expensive contracts that the Blue Jackets generously handed out. At a combined $7.5 million price tag, Tyutin and Methot provide the team with average play at a premium price.  

Derek Brassard is owed $3.2 million for the next two years, while the buyout of Mike Commodore at $1.5 million next year and $1.1 million over the following two years further handcuff the team.  

Having a few overpaid players on a team is somewhat common. However, what separates Columbus from the other teams is that they not only signed average players to big money contracts, but they also signed them to long-term deals.

Rick Nash, Columbus’ most valuable asset is signed for the next six years that carries a $7.8 million cap hit. Although they were not offered the exact package of players/prospects that they were looking for, they still could have acquired a significant return for him at the trade deadline. With the uncertainties of the new collective bargaining agreement, the Blue Jackets might have been better off ridding themselves of Nash and his hefty salary.

Clearly it’s been a disappointing year for the Columbus Blue Jackets and their fans. Not only have they put a poor product on the ice this season, but they have also ensured it for years to come.

To make matters worse, Rick Nash, Jack Johnson, RJ Umberger, James Wisniewski and Fedor Tyutin are all signed through the 2016-2017 season, combining for a whopping $26.7 million in payroll, which will make it difficult for GM Scott Howson or a new GM to add more talent to the team with so much already invested in just five players.

If Columbus can rid themselves of one or more big-money players to go along with Nash, it would help speed their rebuild, while also reducing their payroll; it makes no sense to lose with an expensive team.

The assets obtained from a Rick Nash trade in addition with their own prospects, young talent and key free agent signings will require at least three years for this team to consistently compete, and perhaps by then they might be relevant for the first time in franchise history.

Your thoughts: How long will it take for the Blue Jackets to become a consistent playoff team?

Superstars who have no-trade clauses but demand to be traded always create tricky situations for their team. On one hand, struggling teams are generally fine with dealing them because they'll bring back a bounty of young players and draft picks.

On the other hand, if that player has a set list of teams he'd only approve a trade to, that severely limits the options for the team he is leaving.

Thus is the case of Rick Nash.

If Nash wants to be traded, it's very possible he'll need to expand his list of teams he'd play for. The Columbus Blue Jackets don't need to trade him, after all, and given their high expectations for what they want in return, the current stable of teams Nash has approved may not be able to get it done.

Consider the following from Elliotte Friedman of CBC Sports:

Like his baseball brethren, the Columbus captain wants out and controls the outcome. Over the weekend, things turned slightly ugly with agent Joe Resnick saying the number of teams Nash will agree to go to won't increase after the season. Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson responded by revealing it was Nash who asked to be traded.

Friedman goes on to add:

The sense is Columbus hopes Nash will broaden his choices. And no matter what was said last weekend, things can change, especially in someone who burns to leave. Nash wants to win more than anything else. From what I understand, all the teams on Nash's list are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, except Toronto.

The market will likely naturally increase come this offseason, specifically around the draft, and teams on Nash's list may be willing to pay a higher price if their season ends in disappointment. The Blue Jackets need to be realistic about what they can acquire in a trade for their captain.

That being said, if Nash is serious about being traded, he will likely need to add a few teams to his wish list. If Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic has taught us anything, it is that a small wish list is the surest way to make yourself difficult to trade.

Nobody can blame Nash for wanting out—not even Columbus, given their attempts to move him before the deadline—but he will be to blame if his wish list is too narrow for Columbus to get back a decent return.

After all, Rick Nash in a Blue Jackets sweater next season would be awkward. If he wants to avoid that, he'll need to be willing to wear a wider array of sweaters going forward.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets are more entertaining than the Slam Dunk Contest.

The 2012 NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and the biggest name on the block didn't go anywhere.

A lackluster trade deadline was a letdown for hockey fans, as well as for Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Columbus never got an offer it fell in love with, so it chose not to deal Nash. That's fine, but since he wants out, the Blue Jackets should meet his wishes this offseason. 

He's been loyal to them, and it's only right that they trade him and look toward the future. Nash told the Associated Press that he felt it would have benefited everyone if he had been traded:

"I was informed by management that there was a rebuild, a reshape, in the team and I personally felt I could be a huge part of that towards bringing assets in," he said. "In my view, that was the best thing for the team, the organization, and personally for my career."

Nash isn't the type of player to stir controversy and get angry because he wasn't traded. However, he deserves to be moved from a losing franchise, especially considering he's been with the team his entire career. 

By dealing him at the deadline, Nash could have joined a contender and Columbus could build for tomorrow. Apparently, the Blue Jackets weren't too high on the offers they received, so Nash stays put.

It's unfortunate, but all it means is that a trade must be worked out in the offseason. 

Currently in last place in the NHL, the Blue Jackets should have dealt Nash at the deadline.  If they intend to keep Nash around for next year—or longer—that's a pitiful move on their part. 

Nash has been the face of the franchise, so it's tough to part ways with him. However, dealing him will bring in great talent to build around for the future, which is the best thing Columbus can do right now. 

He wants to play for a contender, and Columbus should make that happen for him this offseason.