COLUMBUS, Ohio — That is probably the most intense week of coaching camp for the Columbus Blue Jackets, not simply because the troublesome roster selections have gotten clearer — that’s true for each staff within the league proper now — however for the alternatives for readability.
The Jackets play their remaining 4 preseason video games within the span of 5 days, starting with Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. That’s a wealthy alternative for the seven forwards and 4 defensemen who’re nonetheless within the working (at the very least on paper) for the ultimate roster spots.
Put one other approach: Six of these forwards and two of the defensemen have been within the lineup in opposition to the Capitals.
“It’s not a secret, we’re fairly set,” Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason stated. “There’s a couple of positions which can be open. There’s competitors happening up entrance, however it’s happening with protection, too. The blokes who’re competing are all going to get (preseason) video games, nonetheless.
“As a gaggle within the coaches’ room, we really feel actual optimistic about our depth. Myself, coming in right here, I didn’t know the Columbus guys, overlook concerning the Cleveland guys. However I’ve labored with them now, we’ve practiced, and I’ve seen them within the room, and I’m very impressed. I like what’s been constructed right here.”
The Blue Jackets play tonight in St. Louis, then end the preseason schedule with back-to-back video games vs. Pittsburgh on Thursday (in Columbus) and Friday (at Pittsburgh).
There could possibly be room for 2 forwards to outlive remaining cuts, except GM Don Waddell is profitable in his makes an attempt to land a veteran NHL ahead, both via commerce or the waiver wire. In that case, it could make just one spot out there and it may change the kind of participant the Jackets determine to maintain.
There’s doubtless room for just one defenseman, however there are a number of shifting elements on the again finish.
The goaltenders are just about set, with Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov anticipated to the Blue Jackets’ 1-2 in some order.
NHL rosters have to be set by Oct. 7.
Let’s dive into this, we could?
Ahead
Between Waddell whittling down among the roster’s fringe gamers this summer time and Evason’s well-structured coaching camp, there are surprisingly few questions among the many Blue Jackets forwards.
Sean Monahan is centering the highest line with Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko on his wings. Adam Fantilli is the No. 2 middle, with James van Riemsdyk and both Dmitri Voronkov or Yegor Chinakhov on the wings, whereas Cole Sillinger anchors the third line with wingers Kent Johnson and both Voronkov or Chinakhov.
The one thriller, it could appear, is the fourth line.
Veteran Sean Kuraly is locked in at middle, and Mathieu Olivier is the fixture at proper wing. The query, then, is who will play on the left facet of that line and who will function the additional ahead when the Jackets have a busy schedule or a street journey.
Once more, Waddell is attempting so as to add a ahead by way of commerce or waiver wire. So, as you peruse this listing, take into account that solely considered one of these guys — or presumably none, in the event that they don’t open the season with a thirteenth ahead — goes to make the minimize.
The candidates:
Owen Sillinger: The primary title Evason jotted down subsequent to Kuraly at first of coaching camp, and that’s largely the place he’s skated ever since. That has to depend for one thing, proper?
Sillinger, who simply turned 27, has spent the previous two seasons with AHL Cleveland, drawing rave evaluations from coaches for his consistency and work ethic. We all know Waddell is averse to bringing gamers to the NHL too shortly, however Sillinger has paid his dues.
One concern doubtlessly working in opposition to him? He doesn’t want waivers to be despatched to the minor leagues.
GO DEEPER
Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Cole and Owen Sillinger could quickly be NHL teammates
James Malatesta: No query, Malatesta suits the profile of a fourth-line winger. He received’t overwhelm together with his dimension, however he’s effectively put collectively and many aggressive. There’s a little bit offensive contact in there, too, which can doubtless emerge as his profession strikes on.
Malatesta did spend final season with AHL Cleveland, however it could make sense if Waddell believes he wants extra time to percolate. He doesn’t want waivers to return, both.
Dylan Gambrell: There’s a superb argument to be made that Gambrell could possibly be listed increased. He has extra NHL expertise than anyone else on this listing (233 video games with San Jose and Ottawa), so he requires waivers to be able to head to Cleveland.
Right here’s one thing else to contemplate: Whereas Waddell could need to see Malatesta, Sillinger and others taking part in commonly in Cleveland — not sitting in Columbus — Gambrell could possibly be the extra affordable selection because the Jackets’ thirteenth ahead ought to they preserve two gamers on this listing or ought to Waddell add a participant from exterior the group.
Mikael Pyyhtiä: He’s performed 4 years of professional hockey should you depend the three-plus seasons he performed in Finland’s Liiga earlier than coming to North America. He additionally performed 17 video games final season for the Blue Jackets, with no objectives and two assists.
Pyyhtiä’s model of play doesn’t precisely scream “fourth-liner,” however he’s turn into a succesful AHL participant.
Trey Repair-Wolansky: If the roster spots out there in Columbus have been increased within the lineup, Repair-Wolansky would completely be increased on this listing. He’s a confirmed AHL purpose scorer, and whereas that hasn’t fairly translated to the NHL but, he’s not a fourth-line man.
Repair-Wolansky might want to clear waivers to be despatched to AHL Cleveland, the place he’s performed 244 video games — and scored 86 objectives — since 2019-20.
LDBB buries one! 💥@FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/sCzFfcNfCf
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 1, 2024
Luca Del Bel Belluz: The second-round choose (No. 44) in 2022 is coming off a strong first professional season in AHL Cleveland and possesses some attention-grabbing instruments — respectable dimension, respectable velocity and a heck of a shot, as seen in his late purpose on Wednesday.
However we’re guessing Waddell and Evason suppose his growth ought to proceed beneath the teaching workers in Cleveland.
Gavin Brindley: He’s a bona fide NHL prospect, with heaps to admire in his sport already, however Brindley is coming straight out of faculty hockey and is subsequently a protracted shot.
Brindley, who performed one NHL sport final spring, must be an impression participant within the AHL. Let the event proceed.
Protection
There could also be half as many lineup spots on protection, however the Blue Jackets have extra shifting elements on this finish of the ice.
When coaching camp broke, Evason had Zach Werenski and Damon Severson collectively as the highest pair. The duo stays intact. It’s the second pair, Ivan Provorov and David Jǐrǐcek, that has began to really feel a little bit shaky with Jǐrǐcek’s play.
If he’s not prepared, who slots in? It was attention-grabbing to see Erik Gudbranson in that spot for Monday’s sport, but when he strikes up from the third pairing, who fills his outdated spot? It could possibly be Jǐrǐcek, in fact, however that may impression the left facet of that third pair in a number of methods, too.
A number of shifting elements.
The candidates:
David Jǐrǐcek: No one wanted a clear slate on the prime of the group greater than Jǐrǐcek, who was none too happy by his dealing with final season which included a demotion to AHL Cleveland. He believes he’s NHL prepared, so this can be a scenario that shall be dealt with delicately.
There’s a lot to love about Jǐrǐcek’s sport, however there are nonetheless flaws to iron out — his decision-making with the puck, his capability for dangerous reads, and many others. That’s laborious to cover in a top-four spot, particularly when the video games begin counting.
We’re nonetheless giving Jǐrǐcek the sting right here — and it must be famous he continues to skate with the NHL group, not the AHL group — however we’re much less assured he’s going to make the membership on the finish of camp than we have been two weeks in the past.
He doesn’t want waivers to return to AHL Cleveland.
Denton Mateychuk: They don’t need to do it. Waddell and Evason would actually admire it if there have been seven higher defensemen in camp than Mateychuk, permitting them to ship the 20-year-old to AHL Cleveland for at the very least a half-season of growth.
However let’s get actual: Mateychuk completely seems like he’s among the many Blue Jackets’ six greatest defensemen.
“He’s younger, so we’ll see what shakes out right here. We nonetheless have some video games,” Evason stated after Monday’s sport. “However what he has proven … clearly he’s been that man for a very long time. He’s going to be an NHL participant for a very long time.
“If he begins right here, great. If he doesn’t, his growth goes to proceed regular due to what we’ve seen. He’s gotten higher and higher, and his profession goes to go like that as effectively.”
Jordan Harris: The Blue Jackets have been initially on the lookout for a ahead as a part of the return for Patrik Laine, however Montreal’s abundance of protection made Harris expendable. He’s an intriguing participant, although he has but to actually outline himself within the NHL.
If the Blue Jackets preserve Gudbranson on the suitable facet of the third pair, both Harris or Mateychuk make sense as his associate.
If Harris doesn’t declare a lineup spot initially, it would make sense to maintain him as a seventh defenseman relatively than expose him to waivers, which he’d have to clear to hitch AHL Cleveland.
Jake Christiansen: It helps that Christiansen can play on each side of the ice, however it’s laborious to see him leaping over the primary three guys on this listing to assert a spot. He’s an All-Star within the AHL, a significant level producer and a power-play level man.
He’d have to clear waivers to return to AHL Cleveland.
(Photograph: Geoff Burke / Imagn Pictures)
