Boone Jenner

Don Waddell stares down the deadline with Columbus lurking just three points from the wild card, forcing tough calls on UFAs like Boone Jenner and Mason Marchment that insiders buzzed about selling just weeks ago. He snags Conor Garland from Vancouver in a late-night picks swap, betting on the gritty forward to juice their top lines without torching the prospect pool.

Boone Jenner locks in on Columbus' wildcard hunt amid a gritty Blue Jackets resurgence. Predators pull Cole Smith midgame in a move that screams trade deadline drama, shipping him straight to Vegas. Front offices buzz as these shifts test depth charts down the stretch.

Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner both sit out the back-to-back against Nashville after illnesses sidelined them earlier in the week. Werenski's scorching point streak hangs in the balance, while Jenner's steady presence leaves a hole in Columbus' suddenly hot forward group. The Blue Jackets lean on Jet Greaves and their post-Olympic momentum, but missing these two core guys tests their depth right when the playoff push heats up.

Yesterday's rumor mill churned hot with Toronto shopping McMann and Roy to Edmonton, as the Leafs tweak their bottom six ahead of a Cup push. Meanwhile, extension buzz swirls around Alex Tuch and Boone Jenner, with their camps digging in for long-term security. In February's whisper game, these threads hint at deadline fireworks that could flip standings and locker room vibes overnight.

Columbus surges into the Olympic break with a 9-1 run over their last 10, forcing GM Don Waddell to rethink his deadline strategy after years of selling off talent. Instead of shipping out UFAs like Boone Jenner and Mason Marchment, the front office eyes re-signings and a homecoming for former captain Nick Foligno from Chicago. Foligno's gritty leadership could anchor a surprise playoff push, but Waddell knows one stumble post-break flips the script on these high-stakes plans.

The Columbus Blue Jackets make no secret of their desire to lock up captain Boone Jenner beyond this season, but front-office whispers question if his injury-riddled history justifies another big commitment. At 32, the longest-tenured Jacket bleeds blue, yet his $3.75 million cap hit looks like a bargain only if he stays healthy enough to lead the rebuild.