The Columbus Blue Jackets are focused on their season, and with the club in the thick of a very tight Eastern Conference playoff race, any internal housekeeping is being put on the backburner for the time being.
Earlier this month, TFP reported the Blue Jackets have not had any serious contract talks with captain Boone Jenner so far this while, and TFP’s David Pagnotta reported last week while there were some discussions between Columbus and Adam Fantilli this season, things haven’t picked up.
This appears to be by design.
Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell joined Pagnotta and Irfaan Gaffar on Wednesday’s episode of DFO Rundown Insider Edition and confirmed that the team and its pending free agents have planned to address any contract extension negotiations during the Winter Olympic break in February.
“I’ve talked to both representations from both players (Fantilli and Jenner), along with some other not only free agents but restricted to guys and, you know, pretty much we’ve all agreed let’s play to the Olympic break,” Waddell said.
“There’s no big rush, you know, from any end. Boone is our captain; he’s been here since Day One, certainly a player that we want to keep here, and I think he wants to stay here. Obviously, you get to meet the demands and come to a deal that makes sense for both teams.
“And Fantilli, I’ve dealt with (agent) Pat (Brisson) for many, many years. We had a good meeting in late August and said, ‘let’s table it, let’s see how things go here off the start and we’ll get together as the season progresses.’ So, no live negotiations going on right now.”
Jenner, who has a $3.75 million cap hit, has tallied three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 16 games so far this season. He is in the last season of a four-year, $15 million deal.
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Fantilli, 21, has registered nine goals and eight assists for 17 points in 23 games. His three-year, entry-level contract expires next summer.
Meanwhile, Waddell indicated that if there is an opportunity to improve his club sooner than later, he isn’t afraid to pounce.
“So for our situation, if there is a move that we feel would make us better right now, we would certainly be that able to pull the trigger,” Waddell stated.
