What's next for the Blue Jackets at the trade deadline?

Jarmo Kekalainen pulled off the
biggest trade deadline deal so far this year
when he acquired Matt Duchene on Friday, then produced an encore when he
added fellow former Ottawa forward Ryan Dzingel
on Saturday.
Now, with a little more than a day left until the trade deadline passes at 3 p.m. Monday, there are still some moving parts on the table.
So what will the Blue Jackets general manager do?

Of course, that remains to be seen, and the GM isn't the kind of guy to tip his hand. But here is where things stand heading into the final hours.

Bob and Bread

Kekalainen was emphatic that the Blue Jackets are
looking to win this year
when talking about the deal that brought Duchene to the team in exchange for two prospects and at least one first-round draft pick.
But it's also fair to say there will be continued chatter about the futures of Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky up until the deadline. Both are unrestricted free agents at the end of the season and want to test the market, leading to rampant speculation around the league that at least one will be moved ahead of the deadline.
The two Ottawa trades, though, are a signal the Blue Jackets are serious about giving this year's team a chance to make a run, especially in a Metropolitan Division that feels more wide open than the past few seasons. In other words, those two aren't just going to be unloaded; a suitor will have to meet the Jackets' price.
There's also the fact the Duchene deal set the trade market for an upcoming UFA player, and that market is high. That gives Columbus leverage when it comes to any potential deal with Panarin.
Kekalainen said after the Duchene deal that he is still considering all options with Panarin, but that it would take a deal that makes sense to get the Jackets to part with their leading scorer.
"I don't think this affects that at all," the GM said Friday. "We said right from the start and I think we have stayed consistent with what we've said about Panarin. We're not going to trade Panarin just for draft picks. We're going to keep are eyes and ears open on what the marketplace looks like. That's what we have said right from the start.
"But it would have to be a deal that we can't refuse. It would have to make sense now and into the future. That's the best answer I can give you."
As for Bobrovsky, any potential deal is complicated by a few factors. First, the goaltender has a no-movement clause, so he'd have to be on board with any deal that is made. Secondly, the Blue Jackets would likely want a goaltender in return - either in that deal or a separate one - to help fill his spot in net in net down the stretch.
No matter what happens with the two standouts, Cam Atkinson said he has faith in Kekalainen.
"If he's going to trade for someone or get rid of someone, it's going to be to better the club," Atkinson said. "I have all the faith in him. I keep reiterating it, but I don't think he's just going to get rid of them just to get rid of them. … But if Jarmo thinks he's going to trade someone and get good guys in return, he's going to do it."
TRADE DEADLINE: Keep up with all the moves in trade deadline central

Other Needs

Outside of the situation surrounding Panarin and Bobrovsky, there are a couple of needs the Blue Jackets could try to address before the deadline.
Getting a center, which the team did in the Duchene deal, was need No. 1, Kekalainen said, so that mission is accomplished. Another winger has been checked off as well. What else might be on the GM's wish list?
- A depth defenseman:The Blue Jackets' defensive corps has standouts in Seth Jones, Zach Werenski and Ryan Murray, though the latter's recent upper-body injury that has put him on the shelf might reignite the injury concerns that have dotted Murray's career. Below that, Markus Nutivaara has been fighting his game at times this year and both Scott Harrington and Dean Kukan are short on playoff experience. To make a run, the Jackets would likely want to add a depth defenseman, perhaps in the mold of last year's acquisition of Ian Cole. - Draft picks:Kekalainen is a scout at heart, and having just three picks in the 2019 draft remaining -- a third-rounder, a fourth-rounder and a seventh-rounder -- has to hurt a bit. Columbus is also without a first-round pick in 2020 and second-round picks in 2020 and '21. The Jackets do feel good about their prospect depth at the moment, a point Kekalainen drove home when discussing the Duchene deal, but at some point down the road you have to keep replenishing. Any deal that involves Panarin would almost certainly have to include at least one first-round pick and will likely require a bounty.

Almost Over

Whatever happens, the Jackets have dealt with the speculation around the trade deadline, specifically around Panarin and Bobrovsky, all season long -- and handled it well.
"Once our season started, we had very honest conversations about how we were going to go about our business there," head coach John Tortorella said. "Both Bread and Bob have been really good pros. Their teammates, knowing what's going on and all that, have done a terrific job. That's what we talked about in general terms of just going about our business the right way, as professionals should. I'm proud of how the two players and our team in general have handled the situations."
In a few short hours, the speculation will be over and answers to all the questions will be had. Then it's game on.