from Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch,

The Blue Jackets could have, probably should have, tanked. Instead, it appears they are pulling their Deathmobile out of the garage. Again.

This could get crazy.

The trade deadline is March 2. What will general manager Jarmo Kekalainen do?

He has defined the team’s core by signing Ryan Johansen, Brandon Dubinsky, Nick Foligno and Sergei Bobrovsky to long-term contracts. But what of pending restricted free agents Matt Calvert, Cam Atkinson and Cody Goloubef? What of pending unrestricted free agents Mark Letestu, Curtis McElhinney, Jack Skille and Jordan Leopold?...

We are soon to find out whether the restricted free agents fit into Kekalainen’s long-term plans. If they don’t, they will be moved, most likely at the deadline. Hanging on to them for the purposes of a playoff push is a romantic idea; player-personnel decisions are a pragmatic reality.

What is Kekalainen’s plan?

Does it include moving any contracts?

Last week, TSN reported that the Blue Jackets are willing to trade any defenseman other than Ryan Murray and David Savard. Of course that is true — depending on the price. Kekalainen is not going to give anyone away, but if there is a first-round pick to be bagged in advance of an extraordinarily deep draft, he will have to think hard.

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