Since the start of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ offseason, I didn’t see free agency as something to pay much attention to. I knew what available cap space the team had would be tied up with re-signing restricted free agents Pierre-Luc Dubois, Vladislav Gavrikov, and possibly Josh Anderson. While the team would be looking to add outside talent, more likely that would come via a trade, with the dollars evening out.
Suddenly, after a very busy week, the Jackets roster is already looking much different, and suddenly the cap space is present to not only pay Dubois and Gavrikov, but to take a big swing at one of the free agents.