COLUMBUS, Ohio — A collection of notes, insights, ruminations and did-you-knows gathered throughout the week that was for the Columbus Blue Jackets:Item No. 1:There are three players in the argument for greatest Blue Jackets player in franchise history: Sergei Bobrovsky, Rick Nash, and Zach Werenski. Bobrovsky left in anger as a free agent, Nash asked to be traded, and now Werenski is maneuvering his way toward the exit.Of the many ways to chart and measure this franchise’s utter futility through the years, that one’s pretty damning.Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell is listening to trade offers for Werenski now that it’s known the 28-year-old reigning Norris Trophy winner is unlikely to sign a new contract in Columbus when his current deal expires after the 2027-28 season.In the modern parlance of the NHL, that’s asking for a trade without having the temerity to actually ask for a trade.The week turned worse for the Blue Jackets during Friday’s draft, with a report — which Waddell did not dispute — that winger Kirill Marchenko, the Blue Jackets’ leading goal-scorer, also might not extend when his contract is up after this coming season.It rips the scab off a never-healed sore spot with the Blue Jackets — soooo many players have orchestrated their way out of town through the years — and it conjures myriad questions and concerns as we watch this play out.Now? Now you pull the chute?In the summer of 2021, the Blue Jackets embarked upon a rebuilding plan. Nick Foligno and David Savard were traded for first-round picks at the end of the previous season. Cam Atkinson was traded to Philadelphia, and Seth Jones was traded to Chicago when he made it clear he wouldn’t be re-signing when his deal ended.At that same time, the Blue Jackets came to Werenski and laid out their plans, asking if he wanted to be a part of the rebuild. He agreed, and his reward was a six-year, $57.5 million extension.In the four years since that extension kicked in, the Blue Jackets have climbed from 31st to 29th to 20th to 18th in the NHL’s overall standings. They’ve risen from 59 to 66 to 89 to 92 points in that span.After putting up with the muck these last four seasons, now is when Werenski decides to hatch an escape plan? Now?Is this another rebuild?Waddell has told potential trade partners that he has no interest in “futures.” Draft picks and prospects may be sweeteners in the deal, but the focal point must be an NHL player (or players) in return. This is not a rebuild.This is why Waddell wasn’t compelled to rush a trade before Friday’s first round of the draft. In fact, by pushing a possible Werenski trade beyond the draft, he helped shape the type of offers he’ll get in return.This is similar to how previous GM Scott Howson handled Nash’s trade request. He insisted on an NHL return that included at least one established center, and he showed a level of patience that, quite frankly, wore thin with some of his fellow GMs.Ultimately, he sent Nash to the New York Rangers after a six-month process. The package did include a first-round pick in the following draft, but the anchors of the trade from the Rangers were centers Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov.Did Bowness, Coyle know?Veteran coach Rick Bowness, 71, has signed on for at least another year behind the Blue Jackets’ bench because he believes he can not only change the culture in the dressing room but also win with this bunch.Charlie Coyle, who would have been one of the most sought-after free agents on the market on July 1, signed a six-year, $36 million extension with the Blue Jackets because he believes the Jackets are on the cusp of winning.What were they thinking last week as the Werenski and Marchenko news swirled across the league?If Boone Jenner moves along via free agency, as expected, and Werenski gets traded, you’d have to think that Coyle stands a good chance of wearing the captain’s “C” next season. Maybe Mathieu Olivier has a shot, too.Negotiating ploy?The wheels are in motion for a Werenski trade. The Marchenko situation is more murky, and not only because the Blue Jackets — with Marchenko set for restricted free agency next summer when his current contract expires — have more control over the situation.Waddell has made it clear that he planned to extend Marchenko this summer, a deal that can only be signed once the new league year begins on July 1. If you’re agent Dan Milstein, what better way to crank up the pressure on Waddell, who can’t possibly want a messy negotiation with Marchenko.Milstein is likely looking for an Alex Tuch-like contract. Tuch just signed for eight years and $120 million with the Washington Capitals after he was traded there by Buffalo.