Insider reveals that the Blue Jackets were big game hunting all along, made a huge offer to another top UFA

It was wild, simply because nobody even knew that Columbus, who is just turning the corner in their rebuild, was looking to secure a top UFA like Johnny Hockey. Well, apparently, Gaudreau was not the only top UFA Columbus pursued, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Friedman stated this week that the Jackets also made a strong push for Stanley Cup Champion Nazem Kadri, on the heels of his career season. Friedge said that Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen made "a big pitch" to Kadri on day one of free agency.

As we found out yesterday, Kadri has been going through the offers that were extended and eliminating teams one by one based on whether or not he felt as though they were legitimate contenders. It looks as though Columbus never made the cut - and just as well for the Jackets, who ended up with (arguably) an even better piece in Gaudreau.

Kadri, who will be 32 before the 2022-23 season begins, put up 87 points in just 71 games this season - his best statistical season by a very wide margin. Gaudreau, on the other hand, put up a 40-goal, 115-point season. This was also a career best for him, and also by a very large margin. Gaudreau (almost 29) is also 3 years younger than Kadri as well.

Talk about aiming for a home run and hitting one into the upper deck.