NHL rumors: The Metropolitan Division team looking to trade up in draft

The 2026 NHL offseason is being touted as the summer of trades, and the Columbus Blue Jackets could end up being one of the more aggressive teams ahead of the NHL Draft.

Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell, who currently owns the No. 14 overall selection, could look to trade up, as Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis reported on Friday.

“I think a team that wants to make a splash and be competitive sooner rather than later, and I think one team that I would watch is the Columbus Blue Jackets,” Ellis speculated on the latest episode of Daily Faceoff Live.

“They got the No. 14 pick. Team picking there, you’d think they’d be a bit more competitive, and then their pipeline would be good, but honestly, their pipeline’s not that great. Let’s not forget, Kent Johnson hasn’t been the player I think a lot of people expected him to be. They already moved on from David Jiricek. They’ve got some holes to fill out there.”

The Jackets appear to have found a potential No. 1 goaltender in Jet Greaves, but Ellis believes the team could look to add extra depth at the position, especially considering Elvis Merzlikins’ struggles in 2025-26.

He also thinks the organization needs to improve offensively to break a postseason drought that stretches back to 2019-20.

“Could they go out there and use a bit more offensive weapons? 100%. So at 14, I don’t think you’re getting a guy that’s going to really move the needle in a big way. I think that’s something where if they could find a way to move up, if it’s 14 and Kent Johnson to get into the top 10, I think that’s at least an intriguing starting point.”

If Waddell looks to add another premium young talent, he could dangle either the 14th overall selection or the No. 43 pick.

The Blue Jackets have ample salary cap flexibility to bring in another impact player or two, which would make sense considering Columbus has been on the verge of returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs over the last two seasons.

It’s especially true with questions beginning to surface about captain Boone Jenner’s future in Ohio.

Waddell has consistently emphasized the importance of building through youth since taking over hockey operations, and it’ll be interesting to see if he makes a splash in Buffalo at the end of June.

The post NHL rumors: The Metropolitan Division team looking to trade up in draft appeared first on ClutchPoints.