By Michael Augello, Featurd
With the NHL Trade Deadline fast approaching and races tightening for positioning and playoff spots, teams are looking for that key player or two that will help them in the final weeks of the regular season without significantly impacting their future. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes are two such clubs, within three points of each other and battling with Washington and Pittsburgh for a spot in the top three of the Metropolitan Division or an Eastern Conference wildcard spot.
The Jackets are in a difficult position with their two best players (Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky) pending unrestricted free agents and sending clear signals that they do not intend to re-sign in Columbus.