CityGuy

Rampant leaguewide speculation has the Jackets making a draft-day run at San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau, but it's possible -- even likely -- that Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson will check on the availability of others, including Daniel Briere of Philadelphia, Patrick Elias of New Jersey, Scott Gomez of the New York Rangers.

Those latter three clubs could be looking for roster and payroll flexibility, and the Blue Jackets -- way under the salary cap -- could be sitting in the catbird seat.

I find this interesting because all of those players besides Gomez have full no trade clauses. Gomez's NTC only allows him to nix trades to 3 teams of his choosing. So if we fall short in the playoffs, it may be feasible to move Gomez in the summer and use that cap space to get that #1 dman we need, and maybe get a solid draft pick from CBJ as well..