(Columbus, Ohio)
Another big move was finalized today in the Jackets rebuild. Columbus has acquired an absolute stud on the blueline (Pietrangelo) to round out the core of the backend going forward. The Jackets GM is very happy with his group of young defenceman going forward, which along with Pietrangelo includes fellow draft class member Zach Bogosian, Ladislav Smid, Mark Stuart, Jeff Petry, Luca Sbisa and Jason Demers. Columbus was absolutely ecstatic to hear that Pietrangelo was available, and he will most likely step right into the top pairing with shutdown specialist Ladislav Smid. Pietrangelo is a very decorated player already at the age of 20, as he played a key role on team Canada at the WJHC in 2009 to help his team win gold in Ottawa, then returned the next year to play an even bigger role but came up short in the end losing a heartbreaker to the U.S. squad in Saskatoon, and that will immediately help him gel with his new teammates as he played alongside Taylor Hall and Luke Adam in that tourney. He is a very solid 2-way defender already in the NHL, and is expected to keep getting better.
Along with Pietrangelo Columbus also acquired bruising winger Cody McLeod. As if Columbus doesn't have enough toughness already, as along with McLeod their regular lineup features Derek Dorsett, Jared Boll, Matt Martin, Zenon Konopka and Jody Shelley. McLeod will be expected to step right in and play on the third or fourth line full time.
Columbus sent two really solid players to Colorado in this deal also, as they had to part ways with Karl Alzner and Wayne Simmonds. These weren't guys that the Jackets were looking to deal but when a seperate deal fell through they had to jump at the chance to acquire Pietrangelo. It will be sad to see them go as they were both solid parts of the rebuild, but Columbus believes this makes them better going forward.
