With an eye toward strengthening their lineup with additional size and grit, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a trade pitch to acquire Boone Jenner from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Although Toronto hasn’t added any forwards this offseason, PuckPedia, the website, offers a new tool called PuckGM that allows users to construct their own transactions. A user put forth a trade that would see Jenner, the captain of the Blue Jackets, acquired by the Maple Leafs.
With Calle Jarnkrok, an NHL player, a prospect, and two first and second round picks going to Toronto, the proposed trade would be a blockbuster.
Though Boone Jenner is the key component of the deal, the Maple Leafs do receive a pick in return.
Jenner can provide the Maple Leafs squad some much-needed size and grit. He is in the second year of a four-year, $15 million contract. Max Domi might be moved back to the wing by Jenner, who is expected to be Toronto’s third-line center, improving them even further.
Jenner had 35 points in 58 games last season with 22 goals and 13 assists.
In Columbus, Jarnkrok would be acquired by the Blue Jackets, and he could take Jenner’s place in the starting lineup.
Jarnkrok, who earns $2.1 million a season and has two years remaining on his contract, finished the previous season with 10 goals, 11 assists, and 21 points from 52 games.
In contrast, Nikita Grebenkin, who was selected in the 2022 draft, inked an entry-level contract with Toronto in April. The Russian might make it onto Columbus’ NHL roster this year, but he would be an additional prospect to aid in their reconstruction.
Prior to the NHL trade deadline in 2024, Jenner participated in trade negotiations; nevertheless, the Blue Jackets decided against dealing their captain.
John Davidson, President of Hockey Operations for Columbus, stated on February 16 that while he had received many calls regarding Jenner, he was not interested in dealing his captain.
Davidson remarked, “We get a lot of calls on Boone, but Boone doesn’t want to go anywhere and isn’t going anywhere.”
Conversely, Jenner expressed his desire to stay a Blue Jacket and that he didn’t want to be traded either.
Jenner stated to The Athletic, “I want our group to become a successful team, to make the playoffs and be relevant, get ourselves back on the map as a team.” “I want to be a part of that and what we can become on the other side. I know we have it in here and we’re going through the process right now.
There’s a ton of work ahead of us. I’m aware that we still have a long way to go, but we can succeed. And I’d like to take part in that.
The Blue Jackets selected Jenner 37th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft. During his 11-year NHL career, he has skated in 715 games with Columbus, where he has totaled 364 points (192 goals and 172 assists).
The Maple Leafs concentrated on defense and goaltending in free agency after Toronto was eliminated in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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On October 9, the Maple Leafs will take on the Montreal Canadiens on the road to kick off the 2024–25 NHL season.
