Jackets Get Audience With Wisniewski

			2010-2011 NHL Statistics				July 1st Status
To Columbus	Position	Age	GP	G	A	P	Years	Cap Hit
James Wisniewski	D	27	75	10	41	51	0	UFA
--------------------------
To Montreal	Position	Age	GP	G	A	P	Years	Cap Hit
Conditional 2012 Draft Pick

The Columbus Blue Jackets are going to try their hand at a last-minute negotiation with defenseman James Wisniewski, the best defenseman I had on my top 20 unrestricted free agents list. Wisniewski was either unable to secure a new deal or was just unwanted by the Canadiens, so his rights were traded away for something tangible.

The Blue Jackets have some space to move underneath the cap, but they may not get the audience with such a valuable free agent commodity like Wisniewski, especially when teams like the Red Wings come calling, so making this deal is almost a no-brainer.

Whether or not Wisniewski likes what he sees in the re-formatting of the Blue Jackets is another thing altogether.  The Jackets should have the cap space to fit the $5+ million deal in their budget, so money won't be an issue.  This will be the sticking point in the end.