Blue Jackets Trade for Thomas Vanek
Jussi Jokinen and Tyler Motte head to Vancouver
Vancouver Canucks forward Thomas Vanek is headed to Columbus in exchange for Tyler Motte and Jussi Jokinen, per TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
Vanek, a 34-year-old winger, has 17 goals and 24 assists in 61 games for a struggling Canucks team. He’s an unrestricted free agent after this season, where he makes $2 million per year.
Jokinen was waived yesterday and Tyler Motte has “underwhelmed” the CBJ staff this year (per Portzline).
This could be a shot in the arm for the Blue Jackets, whose struggles to score need no introduction. In any event, Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen pulls the trigger on a scoring forward essentially for free.