The Columbus Blue Jackets may have traded Seth Jones, but they’re adding quite a bit of young talent to the blue line. After acquiring Adam Boqvist from the Chicago Blackhawks, the Blue Jackets have also nabbed Jake Bean from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a second-round pick. The 44th overall selection, it was one of the picks that they received for Jones.
Bean, 23, was left unprotected by the Hurricanes in the recent expansion draft, but seemed to avoid a move when the Seattle Kraken decided to take Morgan Geekie instead. Instead, it only kept him in the Carolina organization for a few more days. He’s off to Columbus to negotiate his next contract as a restricted free agent, where there is suddenly plenty of playing time available.
That’s not something Bean is used to. The young defenseman was selected 13th overall in 2016 and has been stuck behind a deep defensive group in Carolina for years, despite dominating at the minor league level. In 2018-19 he recorded 44 points in 70 games as an AHL rookie, winning the Calder Cup in the process with the Charlotte Checkers. The following year he was given the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s best defenseman, scoring 48 points in 59 games to lead all players at the position. Despite that success, Bean received just two games of NHL experience before the 2020-21 season.
This year he stepped into a full-time role in Carolina but was still given limited minutes, averaging just 14:32 through his 42 appearances. He scored 12 points, including five on the powerplay, but rarely saw the ice at even-strength as the Hurricanes relied on Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Dougie Hamilton and Brady Skjei to soak up the 5v5 minutes. In Columbus, he’ll likely be given a much bigger chance to show what he can do as they look to build a new identity in the post-Jones world.
For Carolina, the move will raise some eyebrows, given the fact that Hamilton is a pending UFA. It’s not that Bean could directly replace him if he decides to sign elsewhere, but he at least is capable of providing some of the offensive upside that the group will be lacking. Of course, there would have been the issue of his RFA contract, and perhaps Bean was asking for more than the Hurricanes were willing to give. At any rate, they’ll now have to fill out the depth chart with other names but at least have an extra second-round pick to show for it.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
good replacement
So instead of taking Bean and flips him for a 2nd, Seattle takes an AHL player. It’s insane how much they bothced the expansion.
Agreed. Why would someone pay Eberle 5.5 let alone pick up that contract
I’m still of the belief that there are expansion related trades to be made. There has to be, that’s the only explanation. Unless teams really smartened up after getting taken to the cleaner by Las Vegas in 2018.
Geekie has legit top 6 talent. They have like 400 defenseman, they seen a good future top 6 player and took him.
Geekie is going to be an impact forward for Seattle next year, just watch.
i mean surely. what else explains the CBJ and CHI picks?
Lmaoooo so ur saying they wouldn’t have gotten an AHL player with a 2nd round pick?
Geekie is way more valuable than a 2nd round pick brother.
I think they’re gonna use the cap space to sign Landeskog
Why take limp arm Tarasenko when you can use that money to land a top FA ?
I cannot understand what Carolina’s approach to the offseason is. But I do agree with the above–what in the world was Seattle doing the other night. They will be pathetic for years.
Their defense looks to be really good, I’d be surprised if they don’t take a run at some of the top UFA forwards in the coming days.
They will be far from pathetic. Fringe playoff team
Ya we have a lot of wanna be GMs without real scouting reports, having no real understanding of contracts and injuries, relying on video game ratings, calling Seattle team trash.
They’re going to be very hard to play against and will have the cap room to bring in an elite forward whether its this off-season or next
Jarmo is good at his job.
Me thinks Francis overplayed his hand and all the teams told him to pound sand. He can certainly still take contracts and send back cheap AHL players, but seems like he lost a lot of leverage by not being bold in the draft. Boy are the Kraken not going to score much in 21-22
People said that about Vegas, then Karlsson went from something like 8 goals to 41. Some guys just need an opportunity.
who is Seattle’s Karlsson?
Since none of us have a crystal ball, we’ll have to wait until December or thereabouts to find out.
why would they take Price or Tarasenko when they can sign a FA with that money that is actually healthy?
The hurricanes are a tire fire. Great trade for CBJ.
Don Waddell making Atlanta Thrasher moves
If anyone knows what Carolina is doing, I’d like to hear what it is. Bean, Geekie and Ned all gone. And for a measly return as well.
Talk to Don Waddell.
I predict he is attempting to improve the team.
It shouldn’t be a mystery that he is, but he is.
Improving the team by subtracting a bunch of young guys with good upside? That’s Ken Holland Logic!
So Ronny thinks Geekie is worth more than the #44th overall pick is all(He drafted him 67th overall with CAR in 2017), I’ll take the wait and see approach and hope he’s right! I have no doubt his jersey will sell regardless tho considering all the geeks up here in Seattle! ;)