Blue Jackets looking for experience
The Columbus Blue Jackets have one of the youngest rosters, and adding a couple of veterans to the lineup might just be what the team needs to get to the next level. With $40.4 million on the payroll, GM Don Waddell has no shortage of options.
The core players like Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko carried the team offensively with 31 goals apiece, and helped the team finish eighth in goals per game. Beyond those two, plus star D-man Zach Werenski, there's a steep drop off in points so the Jackets need more secondary scoring to rely on.
Columbus attempted to add that veteran presence in James van Riemsdyk last summer, but that didn't go according to plan as he only managed 36 points in 71 games. Someone more like Patrick Kane would offer the experience Columbus needs, while also being a reliable source of offense. At age 36, Kane would be a solid top six winger that can still be counted on to score upwards of 20 goals.
Goaltending could use an upgrade, too, and Jake Allen is the best option on the market this summer. Elvis Merzlikens has struggled at times, but a 1A-1B type situation might be ideal for Columbus. Allen definitely has the chops to split the net and even if the Jackets stick with Elvis as the No. 1, then Allen is a formidable option as a backup in a 60-40 division.
The Blue Jackets are on the cusp of being a very competitive team, and with some offseason upgrades and splashy signings, it could bring them that much closer to the goal of making the playoffs next season.