SportsNet‘s HockeyCentral Trade Tracker panel recently discussed what the future of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jeff Carter may hold.
The panel, along with others like Andy Strickland of True Hockey, reported that Carter isn’t happy in Columbus and he and his agent have made it clear a trade out of Columbus is much desired.
That’s news to Carter, though. He tells Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch that he has not requested a change of address.
I haven’t asked for a trade. Nothing. I’m here to play hockey.
That doesn’t mean the club isn’t shopping him.
In a segment of TSN‘s Insider Trading during the All Star break, Darren Dreger reported that Carter was 100% on the trade block. Portzline as well as Pierre LeBrun of ESPN both recently confirmed that Carter has in fact been put on the trade block by Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson.
The question is, will there be any takers?
Former Philadelphia Flyers forward Mike Richards. Photo courtesy Flickr user neat1325.
The HockeyCentral panel suggested that a reunion with former Philadelphia Flyers teammate in Los Angeles might be an option. It’s unclear whether the Kings are interested, however. While they could use a player of Carter’s abilities, the cost of acquiring him may be a deterrent.
The Blue Jackets want at least a first round draft pick and a good young roster player in return, according to Dreger. That may be a little steep for the struggling Carter, who is in the first season of an 11-year, $58.0 million contract, and holds a $5.27 million cap hit. He’s got a big ticket to say the least.
Not even the deep-pocket Toronto Maple Leafs want anything to do with that contract. Despite rumors that the Maple Leafs are a suitor, Dreger reported that the Canadian club haven’t held any talks with the Blue Jackets nor think Carter is a good fit for them.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun and Bob Mitchell of the Toronto Star both believe that if he were to be moved, the Blue Jackets may have to wait until the summer to deal Carter.
Unlike others, however, Strickland doesn’t believe moving Carter will be as difficult because he’s an established scorer who is still young. A team desperate to bolster their offence for a Stanley Cup run could bite, but that is highly unlikely.
Back to Carter, he says that these kind of rumors are only natural with the kind of season the Blue Jackets have had.
There’s talk about a lot of guys (in here) right now. Our team, with the way the season has gone — the injuries, the standings, and stuff — I don’t think it should come as a surprise to anybody on our team if they end up (in rumors).
There’s not much I can do about that. That’s something I can’t worry about or control. My main focus right now is just getting healthy and getting back into the lineup.
What Carter can control, is the team he ends up with if he and the Blue Jackets agree to split as the owner of a no-trade clause.
UPDATE: it has just been reported on CBC’s Satellite Hotstove by Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun that Carter does not have a no-trade clause in his contract.
