CBJ Today: Jackets' roster in flux as deadline nears

Each weekday this season, BlueJackets.com will post CBJ Today, a look at news, notes, analysis and fun stuff from around the Blue Jackets world. It's everything you need to know if you're a fan going into the day.

Trade Winds

With the Blue Jackets' decision to make David Savard a healthy scratch Thursday night for precautionary reasons, it's hard to ignore the fact that the deadline is just days away, and that some tough decisions might have to be made to try to set Columbus up for future success.
This is a different year for Columbus, as in each of the past few years, the team has been looking to load up for a playoff push. This year, now seven points behind Nashville for the last playoff spot after Thursday night's game, there is a larger eye on the future.
"I've never been in this position before," defenseman Zach Werenski said after the game. "Kind of the first time I've had a teammate held out for precautionary reasons. It's definitely a little difficult, but your job is still the game every time you go on the ice. … You try not to let it affect your play."
Tortorella felt the Blue Jackets did have plenty of energy in Thursday night's loss, but it was still odd for the players, they admitted, to not see the beard and feel the presence of No. 58 on the ice. As he is an unrestricted free agent after this season and possesses the kind of gritty, tough game that marks playoff hockey, Savard is both a logical trade piece for Columbus as well as an attractive option for teams looking to beef up their defense for the postseason.
The scratch makes it at the very least clear he's a potential trade target, and the tough part of the business is seeing someone who has played all 597 career games with the team that drafted him potentially on the move.
"I consider him a really good friend," captain Nick Foligno said. "It's hard not to see him out there battling. We've been close a long time here, so it's really difficult, but that's the job. That's the business."
Where there might be some difficulty -- and opportunity -- are the changes to the CBJ lineup that have happened over the past few days. First, veteran center/wing Riley Nash went down with a knee injury Sunday in Florida, while veteran center/wing Boone Jenner suffered a broken finger Tuesday. Take out Savard, as well, and those are three players with a lot of experience now out of the lineup.
"(Savard) and Jens, they exemplify what our room was," Tortorella said after Thursday's game. "They are two big components of that. Did it affect us tonight? I don't know. Again, I thought we did some really good things."
That left open a spot defensively Thursday for Dean Kukan to fill, while Stefan Matteau went into the forward group. But you can also see how there might be a chance for such players as Alexandre Texier, Kevin Stenlund and others to earn bigger minutes or increased roles down the stretch.
In the meantime, though, some pretty big names and dependable presences are out for the Jackets, and all the team can do is soldier on with a series vs. Chicago on tap next.

Other Winds of Change

That flux would take a gigantic step forward if the team were to trade captain Nick Foligno before Monday's deadline as well.
It's not that Foligno wants to leave Columbus, but he also is an unrestricted free agent-to-be, someone whose physical, gritty game with some offensive touch would be pretty attractive to a team looking to make a long playoff run. Foligno also could potentially embrace a run at a Stanley Cup, as the 14-year NHL veteran has never made it to a conference final let alone won the ultimate prize.
It seems unlikely that Foligno would be moved if he didn't want to be -- he's earned that right over his nine seasons and now 599 games in Columbus -- and the captain has said he's had conversations with general manager Jarmo Kekalainen about the deadline. He wouldn't go into those publicly but did say in the meantime he's just putting his head down and working as usual.
"It's part of the business," he said. "I'm used to that. I think it's always hard when you hear your name, but it's the reality of the situation we're in. It's not easy to hear, but I'm used to it. I've seen guys come and go. It is what it is as a part of the business side of trade deadline time. Just kind of put your head down, continue to work. I'm here."
One player who gave an affirmative answer recently when asked if he wanted to stay in Columbus is defenseman Michael Del Zotto. Signed on a tryout offer this year, Del Zotto has become a key blueliner this year for the team, as the 30-year-old has played in 39 of 42 games with a 3-6-9 line and been a solid character addition to the dressing room as well.
He signed only a one-year deal, so he is a UFA, but Del Zotto made it clear he's been happy with his decision to join the team this year.
"I think (staying) would be an ideal circumstance for me. I've enjoyed my time here," said Del Zotto, who played on the second pair Thursday in Savard's spot with Vladislav Gavrikov. "As far as what happens next, that's out of my control. I'd like to stay, and I've made that very clear along the way here. I also understand it's a business."