Columbus Blue Jackets scouring NHL free-agent forwards to boost depth

BUFFALO, N.Y. ― The Blue Jackets are searching for help at forward as training camp looms.

While continuing to grieve the death of star forward Johnny Gaudreau , the team’s focus also must shift to what’s ahead for the new season. Gaudreau, killed Aug. 29 along with his younger brother Matthew while they rode bicycles in South Jersey, was their highest-paid player and top forward.

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His loss creates a big void on the top line, but Gaudreau isn’t the only missing forward going into camp later this week. The Jackets also traded forwards Alexandre Texier and Patrik Laine this summer, opted not to re-sign Alexander Nylander and may be without Justin Danforth to start the season. Danforth is dealing with issues related to offseason surgery for a wrist injury that occurred at the end of last season.

Danforth is scheduled to meet with a doctor about it Monday to assess the injury.

Waddell, who joined the Blue Jackets in May , said the team's roster is down to 10 available NHL forwards going into camp. Without a trade offer that gets Waddell's approval, the Jackets' plan is to sign "at least two" veteran free agents to bolster forward depth and potentially get the team's payroll back over the league's salary cap floor of $65 million for this season.

According to PuckPedia, a salary tracking site, losing Gaudreau's $9.75 million cap hit dropped the Jackets to $62.3 million with 22 of 23 roster spots filled. There's a chance the Blue Jackets could be granted a one-year exemption to remain under the cap floor without penalties if their planned additions don't add enough salary to become compliant.

"We're in a unique situation, so I think the league and the union are both looking at it," Waddell said. "They're looking at it, and I don't think it's going to be a problem."

Rather than extending professional tryout offers to available forwards, like most teams do each preseason, the Blue Jackets are in a position where they'll offer guaranteed NHL contracts. That includes free agents who have yet to sign PTOs with other teams or those starting camps elsewhere with non-binding PTO deals.

“We’ve been talking about it,” Waddell said. “We might sign one or two of the (available) guys right now, because if we think there’s a good fit for us, and for them, I don’t want to have to go through that (tryout process).”

The pile of free agents from the summer’s open market has been picked over. There aren’t any tantalizing options left, but there is a collection of unsigned forwards who would add experience and leadership. Some available players are young enough to tap into a talent level that allowed them to produce solid NHL numbers in recent seasons.

Those who remain unsigned include left wing James van Riemsdyk, left wing Mike Hoffman, right wing Kyle Okposo, right wing Jakob Silfverberg and center Jeff Carter, a former Blue Jacket whose displeasure at being traded to Columbus by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2011 led to a trade with the Los Angeles Kings the following season.

Notable forwards signed to PTOs with other teams include center Tyler Johnson (Boston Bruins), left wing Max Pacioretty (Toronto Maple Leafs), right wing Kailer Yamamoto (Utah), left wing Tanner Pearson (Vegas Golden Knights), center Sam Gagner (Carolina Hurricanes) — another former Blue Jacket ― left wing Sammy Blais (Vancouver Canucks) and left wing Jakub Vrana (Washington Capitals).

“There will be players on waivers and all that stuff, and there’s potential trades, which, right now, the trades I’ve talked about are not something I’m willing to do,” Waddell said. “So, we’re looking at it saying, ‘Maybe a couple of guys we still like out there, we might just sign.’”

bhedger@dispatch.com

@BrianHedger

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets scouring NHL free-agent forwards to boost depth