The Columbus Blue Jackets have invested in improving their offense this summer through the acquisition of Brandon Saad, but the team’s defense hasn’t seen the same level of change. Apparently that’s not for a lack of effort as a new report suggests the Blue Jackets attempted to lure in several big names – Dougie Hamilton, Kevin Shattenkirk and Paul Martin – but came up empty on all three attempts.
Via the Columbus Dispatch:
Kekalainen said after last season that he wanted to add a defenseman, but that has proved difficult.
The Blue Jackets were in on trade talks concerning Dougie Hamilton before Boston sent him to Calgary, and they’ve contacted the St. Louis Blues about Kevin Shattenkirk. The Jackets also made a contract offer to free agent Paul Martin before he signed with San Jose.
There haven’t been any details released as far as what the Blue Jackets may have offered for either Hamilton or Shattenkirk, but it’s obvious it wasn’t enough to get a deal done. In all three instances, the Blue Jackets fell short but they should have known that it’d take a strong trade – especially in Shattenkirk’s case – to upgrade the defense so significantly. In Martin’s case, the Blue Jackets apparently couldn’t beat San Jose’s four-year, $19.4 million contract.
The Blue Jackets won’t give up on looking, but it sounds like they’re focusing internally after striking out on three big names.
Kekalainen said he will keep looking and “won’t rush the process just to add a body,” but he still believes the current blue-line group is good enough to win, especially if Ryan Murray — who played only 12 games last season — can stay healthy.
A healthy Murray is a nice asset to have patrolling on defense, but fans will be disappointed to hear their team didn’t have what it takes to obtain a significant upgrade. There’s still time for a major trade to unfold, but the market for top defensemen is an expensive one.
