Columbus Dispatch - Jackets Draft Preview

[Virtual Jarmo]

With under a week until the NHL Draft from Los Angeles, the Jackets front office is very busy. Following an incredibly disappointing postseason appearance, the team may be looking to go in a different direction this season. "We're a team built on depth with two-way players," GM Adam Burke said via text message. But, sources say that the team wants to shy away from the two-way and get a more defensive bottom six.

Perhaps more interestingly, the team is looking at shaking up its top six as well. The Jackets have made other teams aware that star RW Marian Gaborik is being shopped. Burke declined to talk about specifics but said that the team was in a "feeling out process".

Quite simply, the Jackets failed defensively in the playoffs and they may be looking to make the team more defensive-oriented overall. Derick Brassard has not developed as well defensively as the team would like and he became a huge liability in the postseason. Rick Nash's injury just before the playoffs threw him off track, and cost him a shot at the Art Ross. Needless to say, the talented enigma Nikita Filatov struggles defensively and he looks to be a big part of the offense this season. With that in mind, the Jackets need to surround him with more responsible forwards. Mike Fisher should play an enormous role this season.

The Jackets do not pick until the middle of the 2nd round in the upcoming entry draft, but Burke did mention that the team may be looking to get into the first round. "There's a few guys we really like with mid-to-late round picks." He did not comment further, saying that possible negotiations were between him and another GM. League sources believe that Burke has been in contact with at least three Eastern Conference GMs regarding Gaborik.

With rumors circulating that the salary cap is not expected to increase, Burke made it a point to tell the Dispatch that he may be looking to cut salary where possible. The odd man out in that scenario appears to be Jochen Hecht. Mike Commodore is also reportedly available, but the Jackets really have no replacement for him at the present time. Trade deadline acquisition Taylor Ellington may see big minutes this year along with John Moore, who had a tremendous season in the AHL developing into a strong two-way defenseman. Kris Russell might be a casualty of Moore's rise through the system.

It should be an interesting week as the final scouting is done on this year's draft class and the Jackets see what upgrades they can make to the 2010-2011 roster.