Speculation: Spezza to Columbus?

but Brassard is not someone I would give up

A great player and a great leader but giving up Brass and our 1st round pick…….just too steep when the Blue Jackets need the draft picks more than any team right now.

I’m not so sure the Jackets need the picks right now, they aren’t a rebuilding team in the classical sense. They are primed to win now, and Spezza offers that. Waiting for Brass and whoever is drafted this year would not pay immediate dividends. Adding a stud pivot in his prime would, and he and Nash would combine to be the new deadly duo in the NHL. Richard trophy for Nash.

In nearly any scenario, I will take the sure thing over the “maybe” or the “what if.” Brassard might be a good player some day. Or he might kind of keep playing at the level he’s played at overall in his professional career (good, not great). The 4th overall pick is a pretty surefire pick, but again, that player is probably a good 2-3 years off from having any impact. And our 2nd round pick history speaks for itself.

Meanwhile, Spezza is pretty much a lock to hit 80 points if he plays a full season. Nash has consistently done well when he has another superstar by his side – someone not only to dish the puck to him but to take off some of the load as well.

Don’t forget Brassard’s contract goes up, so adding the salary of Spezza isn’t too bad in the overall picture.

This is a move I make today, tomorrow, and the next day for sure. Hopefully it’s more than just speculation this time around.

What concerns me is Spezza’s defensive play. Yes, he’ll score 80, but how many goals against will he be involved in letting in?

Also, I’m not so sure he’d find chemistry with Nash. I can’t recall them ever playing together at the Worlds or another tournament.

The Centres who seem to work best with Nash do feed him, but they’re also willing to get physical and drive to the net to help set up opportunities. Spezza isn’t really a drive to the net guy…

Thats an awful lot to give up for Spezza…I need to be convinced.

I would love to have Spezza but not if it means giving up Brassard. I don’t think that Spezza alone automatically puts us over the hump. So what if he helps us get into the playoffs again, do we really think he is what we’re missing to make a deep run? I don’t think he is it… I just think it’s too steep a price. Brass and two picks doesn’t work in my mind.

I saw this scenario presented at bleacher report and, at least in my eyes, seems more reasonable since we would still have a 2nd rd pick and should still be able to get a decent player at 16:

Spezza and Ottawa’s first pick (16th overall), to Columbus for Derick Brassard, Columbus’ first pick (4th overall) and one of Columbus’ 2nd round picks.

On one hand, I don’t want to give up Brassard and the 1st round pick for Spezza. It seems like too much. On the other hand, the Jackets need help NOW, not in two years. Spezza would do just that. Now, if Ottawa would throw in their 1st round pick, that may tip me over to the trade scenario.

Ummmm … sorry, no. Take off the fourth overall pick and it’s something I might consider. I don’t know what improved depth you see in your mind, but all I see is a team who allowed the second most goals against last year. I think a solid, young defenseman like Gudbranson or Fowler is something that would push this team into playoff contention, and I would not be willing to give that up for an admittedly skilled player, but who is liable in his own end. More importantly, Columbus is eventually going to have to find that powerplay quarterback, and I think that Fowler would fit the role perfectly.
Given, I am no hockey expert, so I apologize if I said anything out of line, but that’s my $0.02 Canadian.

Call me crazy but I don’t want to give up Brassard at all. Maybe it’s because of how he played before he got injured in that stupid fight in his rookie year. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to see him become the star I think he can be playing for someone else. Either way, I don’t want to give him up.