Another possible deadline piece off the board due to season ending surgery

Gustav Nyquist was supposed to fetch the Blue Jackets a mid-round pick in the upcoming draft if he was dealt at or before the trade deadline. Unfortunately for both he and the Blue Jackets, that will not be happening as Columbus announced this morning that Nyquist is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

Nyquist is in the final year of a 4-year deal that pays him $5.5M per season and would have provided a team with a versatile winger that could slot into the left or right wing in the middle six. Not only would he be a penalty killer and be able to perform in a shut-down role, but he would have been able to provide some secondary scoring. On the season, he has 10 goals and 22 points in 48 games for the last place Blue Jackets, but produced 53 points just last season.

Nyquist has just 21 points in 65 playoff games, but aside from the roles he could play mentioned above, he also plays with some feistiness and much bigger than his 5'11 frame would suggest.