TRADE: Matt Duchene to Columbus Blue Jackets

The Metro Division continues to get stronger. Friday afternoon, the Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Matt Duchene from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a pair of prospects, a first round choice, and a conditional first round choice if Duchene signs with Columbus.

The trade will give Columbus depth in the middle with front line center Pierre Luc Dubios

In addition to Duchene, Columbus also acquired  23-year-old defenseman Julius Bergmann, who they acquired in June from San Jose as part of the Mike Hoffman deal.

Bergmann was a second-round pick in 2014.

The two prospect headed to Ottawa are forward Vitaly Abramov and defenseman Jonathan  Davidson. Abramov, 20, is from Russia but played junior hockey in the QMJHL. He failed to make the Columbus roster in training camp and has spent his first professional season exclusively with the Cleveland Monsters.

Abramov has 22 points (12g, 10a) in 52 games.  He was a third round pick (65th overall) in 2016.

Davidsson, 21, is currently lighting up the Swedish Elite League. The RW was a 6th round pick in 2017. He currently has 20 points (10g, 10a) in 35 games.

Columbus is currently battling the Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. The teams are separated by only a couple points on any given day.

Columbus could choose to keep pending unrestricted free agents Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky for a playoff push. The franchise has never won a playoff series, though they had the eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals down 2-0 and in overtime of Game 3, last season