Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen refutes report that he agreed to claim Ryan McDonagh
Sportsnet analyst claims defenseman was given two options by Tampa Bay Lightning: accept trade to Nashville or join Columbus via waivers. Kekalainen calls report '100 percent inaccurate.'
Brian Hedger
MONTREAL — Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen denied the veracity of a report by Sportsnet analyst Nick Kypreos on a podcast the former NHL player co-hosts.
According to Kypreos, who made the claim during a segment of the “Real Kyper & Bourne Podcast,” the Jackets became an integral part of a trade Sunday between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators. The impetus for the Lightning was to gain salary-cap relief by moving the contract of 33-year-old defenseman Ryan McDonagh that carries an annual charge of $6.75 million for the next four years.
The contract includes a no-trade clause McDonagh waived for the deal to happen, but Kypreos said McDonagh agreed to the trade only after the Lightning presented him with two options.
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“He had some control with the no-trade, but the no-trade isn’t a no-move (clause),” Kypreos said. “And, apparently, if he didn’t agree to be traded, he was going to be waived and Tampa had a commitment from Columbus to claim him, is what I heard … and now it’s, ‘You want to go to Columbus, or you want to go to Nashville?’ ”
Kekalainen, two days before the start of the 2022 NHL draft at Bell Centre, said the claim is “100 percent inaccurate,” and declined to comment further. Kypreos could note was be reached.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Jackets are searching for an established NHL defenseman to play as Zach Werenski's partner on the top pairing, but McDonagh would’ve been a head-scratching addition.
The veteran blueliner has valuable skill and experience, after helping the Lightning nearly win three straight Stanley Cups, but his age, cap charge and remaining term wouldn’t be a great fit for a team in the middle of a “reset.”
Adding a younger defenseman with NHL experience who has multiple years left on his contract would make more sense. That's why the Blue Jackets were among a handful of teams interested in Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun prior to the trade deadline in March.
If they’re kicking the tires again on the 23-year old, it wouldn't be a stretch.
Chychrun is a two-way defender with nice offensive upside and has three years remaining on a contract that carries an annual cap charge of just $4.6 million. He’s also represented by agent Andy Scott, who’s negotiating with Kekalainen on a contract extension for Patrik Laine.
Kekalainen also has valuable draft capital at his disposal.
Columbus has the sixth and 12th picks and could use the latter to form an enticing trade package.
“It’s a great opportunity for us at six and 12, and we’re keeping an open mind,” Kekalainen said. “We’ll look at every opportunity there may be to make a pick or, probably not to move up, but maybe to move down to gain more assets or trade a pick – one or the other, but more likely the 12th – for a young player that can help us right now and also in the future.”