As the Columbus Blue Jackets continue their season with an eye on the future, they're seemingly receiving interest from multiple teams regarding some of their most valuable trade assets.
NHL insider Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period shared some information on Friday (h/t NHLRumors.com) appearing on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio.
According to Pagnotta, the Jackets' general manager Don Waddell is "getting calls" about potential trades, with contenders showing particular interest in some players ahead of the March 7 trade deadline.
"I think a lot of teams are going to be poking around on [Ivan Provorov] to see what that price tag is going to be later on in the season," Pagnotta said.
Currently, however, Columbus isn't in a rush to make moves and will likely wait until closer to the trade deadline to maximize returns according to Pagnotta.
"They don't need to [trade Provorov] unless somebody will overpay significantly," Pagnotta said.
The insider noted that a move involving Provorov is unlikely until closer to the trade deadline. However, if a team is willing to pay a premium, Columbus could reconsider sooner.
"[Provorov] is going to be a high ticket guy," Pagnotta said. "He's going to be somebody a lot of teams are going to be poking around on to see what that price tag is going to be later on in the season."
Provorov's manageable cap hit -- around $4.7 million after a portion of his salary was retained by the Los Angeles Kings in the trade that sent him to Columbus -- makes him an even more appealing target for teams looking to solidify their blue line.
Beyond Provorov, the Jackets could see interest in players like James van Riemsdyk and Kevin Labanc, who came in on shorter-term deals and could be useful for teams aiming to strengthen their depth.
Other names to watch, according to Pagnotta, include Sean Kuraly and other bottom-six forwards, all of them considered to have a mix of cost-effective contracts or high-value players.
Pagnotta concluded, "Columbus, they're going to get interested... and it's just a matter of seeing what the market is going to bear."
Related: Blue Jackets' Boone Jenner News Hints at Season Outlook