2 early Blue Jackets trade targets after missing 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The same, tired refrain that fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets have been experiencing for the last several years continued this season. Just as they did in 2024-25, the Blue Jackets flirted with a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs only to fall short in the end.

Interim Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness went nuclear on his club following the season, questioning the players’ desire to hate losing and promising that, if retained, he would introduce a major culture shift.

The Blue Jackets, who entered the NHL as an expansion franchise in time for the 2000-01 NHL season, have only made the playoffs six times in their history, with the most recent occasion taking place during the 2020 “bubble” in Toronto, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in the qualifying round before falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the subsequent round.

Ironically, it was the year prior that the Blue Jackets enjoyed the greatest success as a franchise, shocking the President’s Trophy-winning Lightning in a four-game sweep in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.

While their roster boasts several intriguing young pieces like Adam Fantilli, Zach Werenski, Cole Sillinger, Kirill Marchenko, and goaltender Jet Greaves, the Jackets still have yet to get over the hump. Meanwhile, they do have approximately $40 million in available cap space. Still, much of it will be used to try to re-sign pending restricted free-agent forwards Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger, as well as pending unrestricted free agents Charlie Coyle, Boone Jenner, Mason Marchment, and Danton Heinen.

Additionally, they have several players who are on the verge of becoming free agents next summer, and according to general manager Don Waddell, it will all go into his offseason planning over the next several weeks and months.

“This year, if we don’t make it to the cap, it might be because we know next year we have multiple-year contracts coming up,” Waddell said via NHL.com. “I think that’s where we have to look at it from the business side of projecting out contracts. You have a lot of guys coming up next year. You have more guys the following year, some key guys. You have to put it all in your planning.

“Let’s say you have $5 million extra, you say this guy will help us, but you have to give him four years. Two, three and four may be difficult years. That’s all stuff we’ll figure out.”

That being said, who are some players that Waddell could potentially target via trade this offseason?

Blues would be a fantastic fit in the middle-six

One of the St. Louis Blues players who was not moved at the NHL Trade Deadline in March was forward Jordan Kyrou, who would be a fantastic top-six addition to any team he joins.

In the days leading up to the Trade Deadline, NHL Insider David Pagnotta reported that Kyrou was open to “a change of scenery”.

“Blues GM Doug Armstrong is willing to listen to trade inquiries on almost every one of his players, but the price tag for one is significantly different than the price tag for another,” Pagnotta said via YouTube.

“Kyrou, 27, is no stranger to the rumour mill, as his name has been the subject of trade speculation since last season. He was also popular around the NHL Draft when teams like the Montreal Canadiens and Seattle Kraken expressed interest. Kyrou, who has an $8.125 million cap hit, owns a full no-trade clause as part of his contract, but would be willing to sign off on a move to the right environment.”

The Blue Jackets, who have the 14th overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, could dangle it as tempting bait to the Blues in exchange for Kyrou. Additionally, the Blues already have a pair of opening round picks in the first 15 selections, and adding a third with the chance to draft a young talent in return for a player looking to move on could prove too good to pass up.

Kyrou would not only add size, but a scoring punch to a team badly looking to take the next step.

Columbus and Montreal could partner for their goalies, who both need a change

Not only has goaltender Elvis Merzlikins been replaced as the starter in net for the Blue Jackets by Jet Greaves, but Montreal Canadiens netminder Sam Montembeault has also been supplanted as their No. 1 by Jakub Dobes.

Both goaltenders appear to need a fresh start and a change of scenery to reset their careers and regain confidence. What if the two teams helped each other out?

An even swap of Merzlikins for Montembeault could provide both goalies with the opportunity they need, while also giving each club experienced depth behind their current starters and added stability during the long, demanding NHL season ahead.

Montembeault is entering the final year of his contract with a $3.15 million cap hit, while Merzlikins is also a pending UFA after next season with a $5.4 million cap hit.

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