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Jackets' search for a defenseman streches into free agency

SUNRISE, Fla. – Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen has made it known: he’s on the hunt for a defenseman, one that can immediately upgrade his blue line at the NHL level.

Though he would not get into specifics (and not that anyone expected him to), it’s believed that the Blue Jackets were involved in several different scenarios at the NHL Draft. Reports had them linked to now-Calgary Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton and also to Noah Hanifin, who was eventually selected No. 5 overall by the Carolina Hurricanes.

They did, however, select a defenseman ranked near the top of their list in Zach Werenski, the 17-year-old freshman standout from the University of Michigan.