Blue Jackets president does little to quiet rumors, says 'everybody's tradeable'

Columbus Blue Jackets president John Davidson's been around the block. He knows there's no such thing as an untradeable player, and said as much Friday.

Davidson addressed speculation that Ryan Johansen may be moved in the weeks and months ahead in a Q-and-A with The Columbus Dispatch's Aaron Portzline.

The bottom line: Davidson and the Blue Jackets are trying to get better, and they'll do whatever it takes to make that happen.

"The situation is we’re in a position where we’re trying to upgrade our team," Davidson said. "If we can make a deal - I don’t care who it is - we’re sitting at the bottom of the heap right now. Unless the contract stipulates otherwise, everybody’s tradeable. That’s hockey. It could be (Johansen) or it could be anybody else. If we feel it’s the right deal, we make the deal."

A Thursday report had a number of teams in touch with the Blue Jackets about Johansen's availability after he was benched by head coach John Tortorella on Tuesday. Johansen sat out Thursday's game as a healthy scratch.

Expectations were high going into the season, and it's been a disaster all around for Columbus. Coach Todd Richards was fired early in the season, and Davidson said the onus falls on his players.

"Our core players have not played well enough, together, night after night for us to win," Davidson said. "We continue to assess it, find out why and work our way through it."

Davidson was asked if he's thought about dismantling a roster he built meticulously, and he answered honestly.

"Every day we’re looking at that. Every day," Davidson repeated. "Have you seen any trades around the league? The other day there was one (Chicago and Pittsburgh). That’s it. It’s hard to do right now. Things will happen down the road."

The next two months will be very interesting in Columbus. Everyone, it seems, is on notice.