Assessing the Columbus Blue Jackets trade of Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov to the LA Kings

It has been no secret the Columbus Blue Jackets planned to trade D- Vladislav Gavrikov, who had been a healthy scratch for trade purposes since Feb. 14. G- Joonas Korpisalo was a player who was first thought to be a trade candidate. Then with the struggles of Elvis Merzlikins, there was talk the organization would hold onto and perhaps extend Korpisalo; ultimately, they paired the two together and sent them to the LA Kings.

The Blue Jackets received a 2023 first and third-round draft pick and longtime Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. The Blue Jackets did not ask for Quick. The Kings insisted he is included so the Kings could fit Korpisalo and Gavrikov’s contract under the cap. The Blue Jackets are exploring the market for Quick, who will not play for Columbus.

If the Kings, who currently have an 84.1% chance of making the playoffs, somehow fall out of contention, the draft picks become a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick. The Kings gained a solid stay-at-home defensive player in Gavrikov; the Kings were looking for help for their blueline. The Kings also wanted to get both younger and better depth at goalie, so they also asked for Korpisalo.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were said to have made three different offers to pending UFA Gavrikov, but no deal was ever close, and the two sides were far apart. Korpisalo wanted to stay in Columbus, and word is the Blue Jackets will be his first choice in free agency.

The rebuild Blue Jackets did well for the organization. GM, Jarmo Kekalinen said the team is not done making deals. One rumor that has gained momentum is that Columbus will trade both of the draft picks to Arizona for D- Jakob Chychrun. That is because Kekalinen said that if the right trade comes along, he would not be willing to trade the Blue Jackets’ first-round draft pick this year, but he would trade other picks.

The Blue Jackets have long coveted Chychrun and have the assets to be a team that not only could but would be willing to swing a trade for the defensive player.

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