Countdown to TradeCentre: Looking at the Blue Jackets’ trade chips

The NHL's Mar. 21 Trade Deadline is approaching and teams are making decisions on whether to buy, sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out today's trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat.

The Columbus Blue Jackets appear destined to miss the playoffs for the second straight season as they enter play Sunday 13 points out of a wild card spot. They haven’t exactly looked like they’re on the verge of making a run either, going 2-4-4 in their last 10, and currently sit fifth in the Metropolitan Division at 29-27-3.

According to The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline, the best read on the Blue Jackets heading into the March 21 trade deadline is that general manager Jarmo Kekalainen projects to be a moderate seller. They’re expected to listen to offers on just about anybody, but aren’t likely to break up the leadership group or core of the franchise, making it a “stay-the-course deadline,” Portzline writes. So it looks like we may not get that Patrik Laine trade after all.

According to Portzline, three players who could move are forward Max Domi, defenceman Dean Kukan and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo.

Portzline writes that Domi could be a second or third-line winger on a playoff team and is Columbus’ biggest available trade chip. A pending unrestricted free agent this summer, there have been no talks about an extension. The 27-year-old currently has nine goals and 20 assists in 49 games this season, his second with the Blue Jackets.

Kukan, 28, is also a pending UFA and while he might not generate a huge return, Portzline argues that playoff teams are always looking for depth on the back end.

And then there’s Korpisalo, who has struggled this season to a 3.95