NHL trade rumors were all over the Columbus Blue Jackets the last few weeks wondering what the team would do with Patrik Laine, then the blockbuster signing of Johnny Gaudreau and the trading of fan favorite Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports the Blue Jackets could have traded veteran Jakub Voracek over Bjorkstrand.
The problem GM Jarmo Kekalainen had with trading Voracek is his two years remaining Blue Jackets salary cap hit at $8.25 million. To trade Voracek, Columbus may have been required to throw in a top prospect and a first-round draft pick.
Kekalainen was not ready to give up a first round pick and a top prospect to dump a salary so he had no other choice but to trade Bjorkstrand.
With the Bjorkstrand trade here is how the Blue Jackets lineup looks for the 2022-23 NHL season.
Columbus Blue Jackets 2022-23 potential lineup
Forwards
First line: Johnny Gaudreau – Boone Jenner – Patrik Laine
Second line: Gus Nyquist – Jack Roslovic – Jakub Voracek
Third line: Alexandre Texier – Cole Sillinger – Kirill Marchenko
Fourth line: Eric Robinson – Sean Kuraly – Mathieu Olivier
Defence
First pair: Zach Werenski – Andrew Peeke
Second pair: Vladislav Gavrikov – Adam Boqvist
Third pair: Nick Blankenburg – Erik Gudbranson
Goaltenders
No. 1: Elvis Merzlikins
No. 2: Joonas Korpisalo
