Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Don Waddell indicated Wednesday that the team will be cautious about adding players via trade who are approaching free agency, even as the club remains in contention for a playoff spot.
Waddell’s comments came as the Blue Jackets resumed practice on February 18th following a two-week break for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The team currently sits four points out of a postseason berth, a position Waddell acknowledges influences his approach to the March 6 trade deadline.
“I don’t recognize if being in the playoff race changes my thinking, due to the fact that if there’s one thing we won’t do, it’s add [potential unrestricted free agents] at the deadline,” Waddell stated on the team’s website. “We could explore some avenues, but having three forwards (in their final contract year) who are playing good roles on our team, adding another (potential free agent) in return for assets probably doesn’t make sense.”
Waddell clarified that acquiring players with remaining contract years is a priority. “If we can trade for a player who still has years on their contract, that’s different. We’ll see,” he said. He also emphasized the importance of the team’s current pending free agents, stating, “All the players in their last year of contract with our team have an important role. So if you take someone out, you have to replace them.”
The Blue Jackets (29-20-7) have experienced a significant turnaround under fresh head coach Rick Bowness, posting a 10-1-0 record since his arrival on January 13th, replacing Dean Evason. This recent success has propelled them back into the playoff conversation in the Eastern Conference.
Captain Boone Jenner, also a pending free agent, expressed the team’s desire to return to the playoffs. “We want to do it, and myself – being part of a couple playoff runs here – I know what it’s like, and it’s been way too long without playoff hockey here,” Jenner said. “We want this group here to taste that, so right now it’s about the process of putting in the work to obtain to that point.”
Besides Jenner, other key players facing potential free agency include defenseman Erik Gudbranson, and forwards Charlie Coyle, Mason Marchment, and Danton Heinen. Brendan Smith, currently recovering from a knee injury, is also without a contract beyond this season. The Blue Jackets face a busy schedule in the coming weeks, with games against the Boston Bruins on February 26th and the New York Islanders on February 28th, followed by 17 games in March and seven in April.
