The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking to stay out of the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and in to the top three of the Metropolitan Division. They got some major help on Friday when they acquired Matt Duchene from the Ottawa Senators. The Jackets also brought in minor league defenseman Julius Bergman, in exchange for two first round draft picks over the next two years and two prospects. Those prospects are Vitalii Abramov and Jonathan Davidsson, while the 2019 draft pick is protected, but the 2020 pick is dependent on Duchene re-signing with Columbus.
Duchene is now with his third team in the past two seasons, as he was also dealt from the Colorado Avalanche to the Senators early in the 2017-2018 campaign. In 51 games this season, he has 27 goals and 31 assists, and that is even with missing two weeks in December with a lower-body injury. It may not be too much of a surprise that Ottawa deals Duchene, as he was one of seven players recorded by an Uber driver criticizing the Senators' coaching staff in October. The 28-year-old even admitted to not paying attention during team meetings, but all of the players went on to apologize later on.
This addition is not only for the Jackets to move up in the standings, but just to get a playoff series victory. They have not recorded one of those in their 17-year history, and they look to do so before possibly losing Artemi Panarin in free agency this summer. They could also lose goalie Sergei Bobrovsky this summer, but as for right now, they hold a one-point lead on the Carolina Hurricanes for the top Wild Card spot. In fact, they debuted Duchene on Friday night in a 3-0 win over who else but the Senators.
Duchene is now with his third team in the past two seasons, as he was also dealt from the Colorado Avalanche to the Senators early in the 2017-2018 campaign. In 51 games this season, he has 27 goals and 31 assists, and that is even with missing two weeks in December with a lower-body injury. It may not be too much of a surprise that Ottawa deals Duchene, as he was one of seven players recorded by an Uber driver criticizing the Senators' coaching staff in October. The 28-year-old even admitted to not paying attention during team meetings, but all of the players went on to apologize later on.
This addition is not only for the Jackets to move up in the standings, but just to get a playoff series victory. They have not recorded one of those in their 17-year history, and they look to do so before possibly losing Artemi Panarin in free agency this summer. They could also lose goalie Sergei Bobrovsky this summer, but as for right now, they hold a one-point lead on the Carolina Hurricanes for the top Wild Card spot. In fact, they debuted Duchene on Friday night in a 3-0 win over who else but the Senators.
