2012 KHL standings: Blue Jackets having success in KHL

Blue Jackets players playing in the KHL currently find their teams atop the standings.

Columbus Blue Jackets Interested In Acquiring Jonathan Bernier From Los Angeles Kings

On Friday, Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch received confirmation that the Columbus Blue Jackets are interested in acquiring Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier and have engaged in discussions with Kings general manager Dean Lombardi to see what it will take to acquire him.

Bernier recently made it public that he requested a trade in the wake of the 10-year contract extension given to the Kings No. 1 goaltender Jonathan Quick, who won the Conn Smythe trophy for most valuable player in the 2012 playoffs en route to the first Stanley Cup in the history of the Los Angeles franchise.

The 23-year old net minder was selected by the Kings in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and only played 16 games during the 2011-12 season, which has him looking for an opportunity to prove he can be a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL.

Portzline speculates over what it will take to get the highly regarded goaltender:

Well, they could simply return the Kings' first-round pick acquired last February in the Jeff Carter for Jack Johnson deal. The Blue Jackets passed on using it this season, so they have the Kings' 2013 first-rounder. Perhaps Steve Mason, in the final year of a contract but three years into a slump in Columbus, would be part of the deal, too.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

Nick Foligno Signs 3-Year, $9.15 Million Contract With Columbus Blue Jackets

On Friday morning, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced that the club had come to terms with restricted free agent forward Nick Foligno on a three-year, $9.15 million contract.

The announcement came five days after the Blue Jackets traded defenseman Marc Methot to the Ottawa Senators in order to acquire the 24-year old Buffalo native. Foligno will receive $2.5 million in 2012-13, $3 million in 2013-14 and $3.75 in 2014-15.

Taken with the No. 26 overall selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Senators, Foligno has spent his entire career in Ottawa accumulating 61 goals, 87 assists and 148 points in 351 career games over five seasons.

In 2011-12, Foligno recorded career highs in every major offensive category registering 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

Blue Jackets Free Agency 2012: Columbus Signs Curtis McElhinney, Adds Depth In Net

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed goaltender Curtis McElhinney, according to an article from the Associated Press.

According to the AP, the deal is a one-year, two-way NHL-American Hockey League contract. McElhinney will make $750,000 if he plays in the NHL, and $105,000 if he plays in the minors.

From the article:

He was originally acquired by Columbus from Phoenix, along with two draft picks (second round in 2012 and fifth round in 2013), in exchange for Antoine Vermette on Feb. 22, but he did appear in any games after that due to injury.

The 29-year-old, who has played in 69 career games with the Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators and Phoenix Coyotes, offers a third option in goal.

The Blue Jackets have struggled with goaltending since making their lone playoff appearance in 2009. Steve Mason, the Calder Trophy winner that year who has floundered since, is still under contract. The club recently traded with Philadelphia to obtain 23-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky. Also under contract is Allen York, a former sixth-round pick who is just 23 and played well in spot duty last season.

The AP article goes on to say that Columbus is still contemplating offers for Rick Nash, but as reported here, the Blue Jackets appear to be in no hurry to dish Nash.

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Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Blue Jackets In No Rush To Trade Star

The Columbus Blue Jackets superstar forward, Rick Nash, will eventually be traded, but the team is in no rush to do so according to general manager Scott Howson.

In an interview with the Sporting News, Howson says the team doesn't really know what's going to happen and will take their time in a making a deal in the best interest of the organization.

"I wish I had the crystal ball. I really don't know," Howson said. "I think in free agency now, that's where teams' attention is. We'll figure out after the chips fall if there's something there that would make sense for us."

Howson reportedly has a very steep asking price and making matters even more complicated, Nash has a no-trade clause and will only approve deals to the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL Free Agency 2012: Blue Jackets Sign Defenseman Adrian Aucoin To One Year Deal

After trading steady defenseman Marc Methot to Ottawa earlier in the day in order to bolster their offense, the Columbus Blue Jackets quickly solidified their defense later in the day by inking 17-year veteran Adrian Aucoin to a two-year contract. TSN's Aaron Ward confirmed on Twitter Sunday afternoon that Aucoin's deal will be worth at least $2 million depending on bonuses:

The 38-year-old Aucoin will presumably take on a mentor-like role with some of the Blue Jackets' young defenders, including 2012 first round pick Ryan Murray, who was born literally 20 years later. Though Aucoin once tallied 23 goals in a season back with Vancouver in the late 90's, he has deteriorated as of late and clearly drew minimal interest on the free agent market. But being in desperate need of a proven veteran to step up and take on Methot's minutes (or more), Aucoin's signing is a solid value for Columbus at this point.

For more coverage of Columbus' quest to acquire free agents, stay with this StoryStream. For more on the Blue Jackets, head over to The Cannon. And for more NHL news and analysis, be sure to check out SB Nation's NHL hub.

Blue Jackets Acquire Forward Nick Foligno From Ottawa In Exchange For Marc Methot

The Columbus Blue Jackets traded defenseman Marc Methot to Ottawa on Sunday in exchange for forward Nick Foligno.

Columbus Blue Jackets 2012 Free Agency: Offense Could Be Offseason Focus

The Blue Jackets addressed their goaltending during the draft, but still have a few holes to fill.

Blue Jackets Not Extending Qualifying Offers To Brent Regner, Taylor Ellington, Shawn Hunwick

The Columbus Blue Jackets just wrapped up their draft, highlighted by the selection of defenseman Ryan Murray at No. 2 and being involved in what was almost the dumbest trade in NHL history. They didn't go through with the trade, but at any rate, they've now got to focus on free agency and have decision to make regarding some of their own pending free agents.

Aaron Portzline has announced on Twitter that the team will not be extending qualifying offers to Brent Regner, Taylor Ellington and Shawn Hunwick:

#CBJ will NOT extend qualifying offers D Brent Regner, D Taylor Ellington, G Shawn Hunwick. All become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 25, 2012

Regner and Ellington have decent potential but are getting the short end of the stick with the drafting of Murray. Columbus already has a good number of defensemen in the system and Murray is likely the future at the position, so there's no real room to keep those guys around.

In particular, Regner is notable because he made some solid strides this past season. General manager Scott Howson said the decision to cut him was tough, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Still, he, along with the other two, will hit free agency on July 1 and will be free to sign elsewhere. Smart money is on Regner finding a spot elsewhere.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule For 2012-2013 Announced

The NHL on Thursday released 2012-13 schedules for all 30 teams. The Blue Jackets will open the season with a three-game road trip, starting with an Oct. 13 trip to Chicago.