Metro Moves: Columbus Blue Jackets

Who can even care about the games at a time like this?

This week we’re focusing on the Penguins’ opposition within the Metropolitan Division.

Metro Moves: New York Rangers
Metro Moves: Carolina Hurricanes
Metro Moves: New York Islanders
Metro Moves: Washington Capitals
Metro Moves: Philadelphia Flyers
Metro Moves: New Jersey Devils

Now we’re left with the Columbus Blue Jackets and this is going to be one of the most difficult and challenging seasons a team has embarked on in the NHL. The shock and sadness of the passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother still hasn’t worn off for the Blue Jackets. It’s unfair these people even have to turn attention to a sport in a time of tragedy. But as humans, moving on is what we have to do — so the Columbus organization and their fans will do what they can to carry on while taking heavy hearts with them.

Other than that, it doesn’t feel right to spend a lot of time analyzing or imagining how CBJ might get to the cap floor or any potential moves out there to fill Gaudreau’s spot on the roster. That is a secondary concern now, and might be for a long time, as are the other off-season moves (adding Sean Monahan and Jack Johnson in free agency, wiping the slate clean to move on from Patrik Laine in a trade).

New head coach Dean Evason won’t have an easy task ahead of him. Which is understating the situation, because it’s an impossible one. The Blue Jackets weren’t expected to be much of a playoff contender this season as they continue their building process. Now it’s worse, they’re not to looking build right now but simply pick up the pieces from their best player’s death, while the rest of the team suffers acutely from the loss on personal levels.

That’s not something to be overcome so much as survived. Evason, 60, is an experienced coach and his regular season resume with a .639% points% from Minnesota is very impressive (for reference, Mike Sullivan is at .616% with the Penguins). But this year will be the type of challenge that no coach or person could ever prepare for.

Potential lineup, via NHL.com (in July):

– Sean Monahan – Yegor Chinakhov

Boone Jenner – Adam Fantilli – Kirill Marchenko

Kent Johnson – Cole Sillinger – Dmitri Voronkov

Justin Danforth – Sean Kuraly – Mathieu Olivier

Also in the mix: Gavin Brindley, Hunter McKown, Mikael Pyythia, Luca Del Bel Belluz, James Malatesta, Trey Fix-Wolansky, Dylan Gambrell, Owen Sillinger, Cayden Lindstrom

Zach Werenski – David Jiricek

Ivan Provorov – Damon Severson

Jack Johnson – Erik Gudbranson

Also in the mix: Jake Christiansen, Denton Mateychuk

Elvis Merzlikins/Daniil Tarasov

Also in the mix: Jet Greaves, Zach Sawchenko

Like a football team running a play with 10 players on the field as a tribute, we’re not going to try and replace Gaudreau for this silly little exercise. There’s no point at a time like this.

Columbus does have a trio of young Russian wingers worth watching. Kirill Marchenko produced 23 goals and 42 points last season. Dmitri Voronkov, as an NHL rookie, scored 18 goals and 34 points in 2023-24 with a 6’5” 240 pound frame that stands out. Yegor Chinakov is coming off of career highs in goals (16) and points (29) himself.

The Blue Jackets are beginning to have a solid core of young talent to build around in the years ahead. Denton Mateychuk and David Jiricek are pushing for breakouts on the blueline. Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson are forwards with potential. Adam Fantilli’s rookie season ended in January when Jared McCann’s skate accidentally cut Fantilli’s calf, but he scored 27 points in 49 games before that as one of the top newcomers to the league. Cayden Lindstrom, the fourth overall pick this summer, also has a bright future ahead. He might not be immediately NHL-ready but it shouldn’t take long, ditto Gavin Brindley.

But at this point their upcoming season is unimportant compared to the tragic loss that so many will be feeling for so much longer.