Yesterday, the Blue Jackets parted ways with 2005 sixth-overall pick Gilbert Brule in a deal with the Oilers. And today, they sent 2003 fourth-overall pick Nikolai Zherdev to the Rangers in a four-player deal. The Blue Jackets traded Zherdev and 2003 second round pick Dan Fritsche to the Blueshirts in exchange for defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman, in a deal that gave the Rangers an additional $2.6 million in cap space (Fritsche is an unsigned RFA).

With this deal—and their trading of prospect Gilbert Brule to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for checking winger Raffi Torres—the Blue Jackets are rapidly erasing all evidence of previous GM Doug MacLean. By trading two of the most highly touted forwards to be drafted in the past half-decade (Zherdev and Brule) for role players, the Blue Jackets have effectively squandered both lottery picks. For a franchise still looking for its first-ever playoff appearance, this is an unforgivable offense.

The trade is far easier to understand from the Rangers' perspective. In Zherdev, the Blueshirts have landed a supremely talented forward who was the fourth overall pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. One of the finest skaters in the NHL, Zherdev enjoyed a career season in 2007-08, tallying 26 goals and 35 assists in 82 games for the Blue Jackets. He should fit in nicely on the Rangers, his fast-paced game a seemingly perfect match for playmaking center Scott Gomez, and if he emerges as a perennial point-per-game player in New York (or better), the Rangers will have unequivocally won this trade.

Fritsche, a reliable two-way forward who’s unafraid to play in traffic, should fit in nicely as well. His combination of skill, size, and grit make him a solid replacement for Avery, on the ice at least. Of course, Fritsche and Aaron Voros (a capable fourth-line grinder signed yesterday, terms undisclosed) won’t command nearly as much attention from the New York tabloids, but if they deliver on the ice, they’ll soon curry the favor of the passionate blue-collar fans filling the blue seats every night.

The two rearguards heading to Columbus, Tyutin and Backman, both have considerable upside, but were made expendable with yesterday's signing of Wade Redden and with the pending arrival of top prospect Bobby Sanguinetti. The 24-year-old Tyutin was likely the key to the deal for the Blue Jackets, while the 28-year-old Backman should capably fill the power play quarterback’s role vacated by Ron Hainsey. Yesterday, Hainsey signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract with the Atlanta Thrashers, perhaps prompting Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson to pull the trigger on this trade.

Evaluating the Rangers’ offseason overhaul is a bit difficult at this stage, because it seems clear that more transactions are ahead. The well-heeled Blueshirts are currently over $14 million under the salary cap, and will likely look to get closer to the payroll maximum in the coming days and weeks.