Foligno, Aucoin Join Jackets

            Columbus made pair of interesting moves on the first day of free agency. First, the Blue Jackets tapped into their surplus of defenseman to add a skilled forward. Then, later in the day, GM Scott Howson made an acquisition that 29 other teams would have never made to restore Columbus’ lack of confidence in his managerial capabilities.

Mark Methot for Nick Foligno (Ottawa)

           

            Although this wasn’t the exact trade the Senators wanted, Howson reported it did not take long to negotiate, which isn’t surprising considering the Blue Jackets unloaded a defensive reliability in exchange for a forward entering the peak of his career.  

            Columbus’ depth on the blue line made the move possible as James Wisniewski and Jack Johnson are expected to play on the team’s top pairing, followed by the Russian tandem of Nikita Nikitin and Fedor Tyutin.

            Sweetening the deal was the fact that Foligno is an asset the Blue Jackets desperately need. The gritty left-winger comes off a career-best season, registering 47 points in addition to a goal and three assists during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

            Foligno also fits into Columbus’ physical style of play. The 24-year-old recorded 124 penalty minutes and 196 hits with the Senators in the 2011-2012 season. He has not missed a game in two seasons.

            Howson was unclear as to where Foligno would play next season though his versatility may help him become a top-six forward on a team desperate for goals.

           

Adrian Aucoin

            Shortly after Columbus traded away Methot, Howson dipped into the free agency pool to cover any holes he may have created on the blue line. However, he may have dipped too far, inking the soon to be 39-year-old Aucoin to a one-year $2 million dollar contract.

            The acquisition is extremely similar to that of the ever-regrettable Adam Foote deal, except Aucoin is not nearly as revered as Foote was when he joined the Blue Jackets.

            In 16 NHL seasons Aucoin has accumulated 777 points, however his numbers were significantly lower last season as the veteran defenseman recorded only 9 points in 64 games.

            Howson slapped down the experience card while explaining the reason behind the addition. However, Howson did not address the fact that current Blue Jacket blue liners such as Johnson, Wisniewski, and Tyutin also have tenure and could mentor the young players just as easily as Aucoin could.

            Overall, it’s an ill-advised move for a team trying to usher in a new era of defenseman. John Moore and Ryan Murray, assuming he makes the team, will have to battle more for ice time because Columbus added a blue-liner in the twilight of his career.