Is Blue Jackets Defenseman on the Blackhawks' Radar?
Now that NHL training camps are about to open and general managers have completed their summer work, some teams have amassed more players than they can keep and may be looking for a deal to help bolster their long-term prospects.
The Columbus Blue Jackets made several deals over the summer, including acquiring Ivan Provorov from the Flyers and Damon Severson from the New Jersey Devils.
However, the surplus of defensemen has made Jake Bean a possible player who could be available for trade. The 25-year-old defenseman, standing at 6 feet and weighing 196 pounds, was drafted in the 2016 entry draft by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round, 13th overall.
He spent two seasons with the team before being moved to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he has remained. In his 125 NHL games, he has scored nine goals, recorded 34 assists for 43 points, and has a -9 plus-minus rating.
As many know, defensemen tend to take time to develop and become more effective later in their careers. With the possibility of being on the move, two teams have emerged that could benefit from
his addition.
The first team is the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks are currently mired in their rebuilding phase and are open to making changes that would help them in the future.
Bean would certainly make a case for being part of the six-man rotation and could see an increase in his power play production with more ice time. It would be in the Blackhawks' best interest to take a closer look at him and see if he could fit into their mould.
The other team is the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks are also in their rebuilding phase, and with the departure of Erik Karlsson, the team would certainly welcome any player who could provide some offence from the blue line, as filling this enormous hole will be very difficult in the short term.
Time will tell if either team will make a deal for Jake Bean, but with the season inching closer and beginning in early October, some interesting times lie ahead.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 6 | 65 ANSWERS Is Blue Jackets Defenseman on the Blackhawks' Radar? Will the Hawks look at Jake Bean in a deal? | ||
| Yes | 48 | 73.8 % |
| No | 17 | 26.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
