Tag Archives: Columbus

Jack Gruninger, NHL

15-16 Season Primers: The Columbus Blue Jackets

If there is a team in professional sports that had more bad luck than the Blue Jackets this season, please tell me, because this team felt the wrath of the hockey gods more than anyone. The Blue Jackets lead the league in man games lost due to injury with over 500, with injuries occurring to key players such as Sergei Bobrovsky, Brandon Dubinsky, and Ryan Murray. Despite a strong performance late in the season, the team finished 5th in the Metro Division and missed the playoffs.

Columbus made a big splash in the offseason, acquiring Brandon Saad and 2 prospects from Chicago in exchange for Marko Dano, Artem Anisimov, Corey Tropp, and Jeremy Morin. When I first head about this trade, I couldn’t believe it, and I know I wasn’t the only one. After hearing the full story, it’s understandable why Chicago chose to trade Saad, as he was later signed to a 6 year deal with an AAV of $6m, obviously out of Chicago’s price range.

Key Additions: C Gregory Campbell, LW Brandon Saad, LD Zachary Werenski, LD Dean Kukan, RD Michael Paliotta

Key Subtractions: C Artem Anisimov, C Mark Letestu, C Brian Gibbons, RW Marko Dano, RW Corey Tropp, RW Jack Skille, RW Jeremy Morin

Many of the players I have listed under “Key Subtractions” likely wouldn’t be there if there hadn’t been so many injuries on this team, but I have listed them due to the number of games they have played.

The key exchange here is Artem Anisimov being swapped for Brandon Saad, who is a better player albeit being a winger, rather than a center. Mark Letestu is replaced on the 4th line by Gregory Campbell, I don’t like this swap for Columbus.

I don’t believe that $1.5m is well spent on a player whose CA60 +/- bar is nonexistent.

Columbus also sent promising two-way forward Mark Dano to Chicago in the Saad deal, but they did get back a promising young defender in Michael Paliotta, who is right-handed and could be NHL ready soon.

The Blue Jackets also added young defencemen Zachary Werenski and Dean Kukan, through the draft and free agency respectively. They will help a position of need down the road.

Projected Lines (All Players Healthy):
Brandon Saad – Ryan Johansen – Nick Foligno
Boone Jenner – Brandon Dubinsky – Cam Atkinson
Scott Hartnell – Alexander Wennberg – Oliver Bjorkstrand
Matt Calvert – Gregory Campbell – David Clarkson
Rene Bourque – Jared Boll

Jack Johnson – David Savard
Ryan Murray – Dalton Prout
Fedor Tyutin – Kevin Connauton
Cody Goloubef

Sergei Bobrovsky
Curtis McElhinney

Roster Contenders: C Michael Chaput, C William Karlsson, LW Kerby Rychel, RW Josh Anderson, LD Justin Falk, LD Dean Kukan, RD Michael Paliotta, G Anton Forsberg

Columbus has a solid forward group, led by a very good top 6. The most interesting part of this team is definitely the third line. Oliver Bjorkstrand could start the season in the AHL, Columbus has the depth to do that, but I have him on the projected roster. This third line of Hartnell, Wennberg, and Bjorkstrand could be spectacular. On the 4th line, Campbell is definitely a weakness, and I could see one of Chaput or Karlsson forcing their way into the lineup.

The defense you see here could be quite different by the end of the season. I could see Kukan and Paliotta both forcing their way into this defense, which needs some improvement. As I mentioned earlier, Columbus added several top defensive prospects, but no immediate help. Johnson, Savard, and Prout are all in roles they are not suited for, and Ryan Murray’s first few seasons after being drafted have been plagued by injury. It is unlikely that Kukan and Paliotta take on top 4 roles this season, but they create competition for depth spots.

In goal, Bobrovsky and McElhinney are a reliable tandem, with Forsberg as the #3 goalie. There is solid defensive depth, but more depth on the wings wouldn’t hurt.

I expect that Columbus will compete for a playoff spot this season if they can stay healthy. With a questionable defense, they especially need Ryan Murray to start moving in a positive direction. That will have a big impact on whether or not this team makes the playoffs.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the other parts of the “Season Primers” series:
Anaheim Ducks
Arizona Coyotes
Carolina Hurricanes
Colorado Avalanche
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars

Brennen York, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

8 – Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets are building something special. Not only are the cupboards stocked full with elite prospects in Bjorkstrand, Rychel, Milano; they also have some of their most valuable youngsters in Wennberg and Dano playing a big role on the Jackets. GM Jarmo Kekalainen has only been on the job for about two and a half seasons, but during that time has built a nice core around top line pivot Ryan Johansen. With veterans like Hartnell, Foligno, Tyutin, and now David Clarkson, CBJ prospects have a great leadership core to feed off of. The only issue facing the Jackets is their lack of defensive depth. After the departure of James Wisniewski and the fact that Mike Reilly has chosen to walk, it’s clear the Jackets need to do something to address their blue line. With a deep pool of prospects, a trade is always possible, but if the Jackets are looking at continuing the trend of building through the draft you’d have to think that – much like the Avs and Sharks – they are looking at acquiring a potential top pairing defenceman in one of Werenski, Provorov, or Hanifin. In a case where four forwards are selected with the first four picks, there’s a scenario where the Jackets look at moving up to 5 or 6 in order to grab one of Hanifin or Provorov. They have enough depth at forward where moving a player like Bjorkstrand, Rychel, Anderson, or even Milano are trade options. The name Mikko Rantanen has been tossed around a lot as well, mainly due to the fact he of Finnish descent. Rantanen is a good player, he just doesn’t seem to be a great fit given the amount of forwards already in the organization. In my opinion, it’s defence or trade for the Jackets and it’ll be a very interesting day for Jarmo and all CBJ fans.

Draft Day Gameplan

– Bring in a defenceman via trade. Whether you move out Rychel, Milano, or Bjorkstrand, a defenceman has to be on his way to Ohio.

– If there’s a deal for Dansk consider it. Bob’s not giving up the crease any time soon, so if there’s a deal for a 2nd rounder or defenceman, take it.

– There’s enough high end talent, look for guys like Knott or Dergachyov in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

– Go heavy on defence. There’s a good amount of defence scattered throughout the draft, don’t be afraid to grab around 5 of them.
Jackets Big Board (Without McEichel)

1. Noah Hanifin
2. Ivan Provorov
3. Dylan Strome
4. Mitchell Marner
5. Zach Werenski
6. Mikko Rantanen
7. Pavel Zacha
8. Mathew Barzal
9. Lawson Crouse
10. Jakub Zboril

Who do they take?

There’s a good chance that Zach Werenski is still on the board at 8 so he’d be the obvious pick. Don’t be surprised if the Jackets are picking somewhere other than 8 though, as they are in dire need of defence who can step into the NHL next season.

Darkhorse?

Two names come to mind when I look at darkhorses and the Jackets. Denis Guryanov and Oliver Kylington. Both have huge upside but also come with a bit of risk. Kylington the more likely pick in my opinion.