Q: Are there any players on the current Blue Jackets roster, or prospects, you consider untouchable in trade talks?
A: I try to avoid the word untouchable. Everybody says, “Well, Wayne Gretzky was traded.” If you can make your club better, you’ve got to make tough decisions. I think we’ve done that in the past, shown that if it makes sense, then we’ll do it.
Q: How much have other teams inquired about Jack Johnson?
A: Defensemen and centers — that’s where you always start. And goalies don’t move a lot; there’s only 31 starting goalie spots. But defensemen and centers are always in high demand. You have to be careful, too. That’s been some of the lessons learned in my career — there’s not a lot of them around. ... In general, (defensemen) are in high demand. But you have to be careful what you wish for. You start trading one defenseman and then one centerman, and all of a sudden you’re like, “Oh s---, where can I find another one?” if it doesn’t go based on your projections. ... As much as we still love the Seth Jones-for-Ryan Johansen trade, then you’re looking for a center and it’s just hard to find them, especially a right-handed center with a lot of skills. It is. I’d make that deal in a second again, but it creates a big hole. (Derick) Brassard was a healthy scratch here before we traded him, and in the coach’s doghouse, everything. He’s a good center. ... If somebody offers a third-round pick (for Johnson) and that’s the best deal we’ve got? If that’s all somebody’s offering us for Jack, we’re not doing anything.
