The Blue Jackets have traded Voracek and a sixth-round pick to the Coyotes for goaltender Jon Gillies. This seems to all but confirm that Voracek’s career is likely over. It’s hard to imagine the Jackets paying to offload his contract if that weren’t the case. It’s a very sad and unfortunately ending to Jake’s career and his exciting homecoming in Columbus.
#CBJ have traded Jake Voracek to Arizona. Voracek (concussion) has missed most of this season and is likely done for his career, so this is GM Jarmo Kekalainen dumping a contract.
Cost is a sixth-round pick.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 2, 2023
This deal overall is a bit strange. It’s odd that Jarmo ended up paying to offload Voracek’s contract, especially when Arizona needed it to help get them to the cap floor next season. Jon Gillies is the return in the trade, but he is nothing more than a depth goalie and could serve as Elvis’ backup for the rest of the season if Quick is either traded or his contract is terminated in some fashion.
Voracek was 7-61-68 in 90 games in his second stint in Columbus. He had a fantastic career, logging 223 goals and 583 assists in 1,058 games. He will continue to be one of the most memorable players in franchise history. Above all, we wish him a healthy recovery and hope he can live a normal life without any lingering long-term concussion symptoms.
Thanks for everything, Jake!
Update: Apparently the move helps the Blue Jackets apply performance bonuses to this season’s cap instead of moving them to next season. That helps explain the cheap offload, although the included 6th round pick is still odd.
Really smart move for #CBJ to move Voracek’s deal and ensure they get under the final cap calculation this season to avoid a performance bonus carryover and can start clean next year.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 2, 2023