The First Five Hours…CBJ Add Top 6 Winger, Defense, & Goal Depth

Nick Foligno joins Blue Jackets in exchange for Marc Methot. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

While everyone waits for the dominoes to fall in order to push the Rick Nash trade to the top of the agenda, Blue Jackets’ GM Scott Howson made a few shrewd moves attempting to sure up the franchise’s needs on the first day of free agency. Building off yesterday’s re-signings of Jared Boll and Nick Holden was the signing of UFA goaltender Curtis McElhinney. You’ll remember McElhinney was actually on the Blue Jackets’ roster last season, coming over in the trade for Antoine Vermette in February, but never suited up as he was out with injury through the rest of last season. The new deal is a one year, two-way deal with a salary of $750,000 at the NHL and $105,000 in the AHL. McElhinney will most likely play in a 3/4 role with the AHL Springfield Falcons, while mentoring goaltender Allen York. He shouldn’t much if any time with the Blue Jackets unless catastrophe strikes the top club.

Also joining the CBJ’s ranks was forward Nick Foligno, who was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for defenseman Marc Methot. Foligno is an RFA so he will need to be re-signed. Foligno played all 82 games in each of the last seasons, and hit career numbers in points with 47(15G, 32A), while also earning a hefty 124 PIMs last year. A speedy left winger who according to Hockey’s Future, is skilled at creating scoring chances but has struggled to find his own scoring touch. Also, HF uses the phrase “plays with a chip on his shoulder”, a line becoming quite familiar to CBJ fans. It’s likely Foligno could play Top-6 minutes for Columbus.

As for Methot, a steady defensive defenseman, his play greatly improved last season but injuries limited him to just 46 games. The loss of Methot left Columbus with just six NHL ready defenseman, including second year pro John Moore and this year’s #2 overall draft pick, Ryan Murray. One move that came in the aftermath of Methot’s trade was the signing of seventeen year veteran defenseman Adrian Aucoin. Aucoin joins Columbus on a one year deal for 2 Million plus bonuses. The 38 year old(who turns 39 on Tuesday) defensive stalwart joins the Jackets after spending three years in Phoenix where he averaged 73 regular season games played(64 played last year where he was a +14, and played 11 playoff games) Aucoin will certainly eat up Methot’s minutes and considering his salary, plus the addition for Foligno, Howson has made a couple nice moves to shake things up. More to come, #NashWatch is on…