Columbus Blue Jackets Options at Fourth Line Center

The Columbus Blue Jackets need a first line center man, This is well documented, but today, we take a look at who can fill the fourth line center position.

William Karlsson was lost in the expansion draft to the Vegas Knights, and he could have played the fourth line role this year if Pierre-Luc Dubois is able to take over the third line role. While Karlsson is not a huge loss, he could have been a great fourth line center for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Jackets top centers are Brandon Dubinsky and Alexander Wennberg. These two should take over the top two lines with Wennberg leading the top line. Dubinsky is a gritty center that will most likely man the second line if the Blue Jackets do not add a true number two center.

Boone Jenner can also play center, but the Blue Jackets would like to keep him on the wing. With that being said Pierre-Luc Dubois will have to step up and claim his role on the third line. If he does, Columbus will have a competition for the fourth and final spot.

There are two main candidates for the fourth line position and that is between Lukas Sedlak and Jordan Schroeder. These two are going to have to battle it out. Sedlak seems to have the edge with already playing in John Tortorella’s system for a whole year.

Assuming Dubois takes the third line position, Sedlak will have to earn the spot by being versatile. Karlsson was a true penalty killer last year, so Sedlak will have to help fill this void. Sedlak will also have to add fourth line scoring after posting 13 points last year in 62 games.

Dark Horse: Jordan Schroeder

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The dark horse in the race to crack the line up as the fourth line center is Jordan Schroeder. Schroeder was acquired in a draft day trade from the Minnesota Wild. Columbus must see his worth for them to give up assets.

Schroeder tallied 13 points in 37 games, so his offensive output is the same as Sedlak in fewer games. While Schroeder played in fewer games, he has played in 144 total NHL games compared to Sedlak’s 62 games.

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This battle will be for a spot in the Blue Jackets line up if Dubois is able to make the team out of camp. While very likely with Dubois playing in the NHL, he still has to bring it in camp to force this battle for the fourth spot. Either way, camp will be very competitive, a problem the Jackets haven’t had for a long time.