The Toronto Maple Leafs head into the All-Star Break on a win streak after taking both games of a home and home series with the Winnipeg Jets.
While some of the Toronto Maple Leafs players are going to get some down time, sleepy GM Brad Treliving needs to get busy on improving this team as to not waste the season a few of their All-Stars are having.
Over the next few days we will look at what teams should be sellers and players that Treliving should be targeting to bring into the fold. Today we will look at the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Right now, Columbus sits 19 points back of the wild card spot with no games in hand, the season is all but over at this time for the Ohio State club and they will be sellers over the next few weeks.
Jack Roslovic is the only pending unrestricted free agent on the Blue Jackets as he is in the final season of a two-year extension with a cap hit of $4 Million he signed prior to last summer thanks to a 22-goal season. After scoring just 11-goals in year one of the contract he has scored two goals through 26-games this season. Even at a 50% retention, the team needs to avoid this player.
Boone Jenner is the Only Player Treliving Should Target
The only player that the Maple Leafs should be targeting is Blue Jackets captain Booner Jenner. The 30-year old is coming off a fractured jaw that kept him out six weeks. Since rejoining the line-up five games ago, Jenner has yet to record a point, however he had potted 13 goals in 29 games leading up to the injury.
The former Oshawa General has two additional years left on a four-year deal he signed back in the summer of 2021 at a very modest $3.75 Million deal. His contract is more than fair, but if the Maple Leafs could find a way for Columbus to take any more of the deal it would be beneficial.
Jenner is a big center that has registered over 200-hits four times in his season (albeit his most recent was 2017-18), and has record back-to-back 20-goal seasons headed into this year.
Over the last three seasons, Jenner has averaged over 20-minutes of ice-time with a 32-goal per 82-game pace. The one area to be a little concerned is his lack of playoff performance, Columbus has failed to be in the playoffs since 2019-20 and over his last two playoff years he has just four points in 20 games.
The former second round pick could slot into the third line center role this season to slide Domi over to the wing and then potentially move up to the second line next year with a Tavares transition to the wing.