Columbus Blue Jackets Line Combination Options with Artemi Panarin
The addition of Artemi Panarin to the Columbus Blue Jackets will reconfigure the top line. Who will join the Breadman on the first line?
The Columbus Blue Jackets fans will see some shuffling of the lines next season. With prospects moving up and the loss of some older players, Coach Tortorella has plenty of options going into 2017.
The biggest question is obviously around the top line and who will join newly added Artemi Panarin. The stud sniper has posted 70 plus points in the last two seasons. The elite scorer will be on the top line certainly.
He will be joined by the Jackets number one center Alexander Wennberg. This has all been confirmed by Torts already in an interiview with Jeff Rimmer.
The question then is who will compliment these two on the right wing? The Jackets have plenty of options but who will step up and take the spot won’t be known until camp.
Nick Foligno
The captain can do it all. Nick Foligno plays better on the left wing but is a great option to join Wennberg and Panarin on the right wing.
Foligno still has the speed to not drag down the young guys. At the same time he adds a physical factor to the line that the other two don’t carry.
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And it’s not as if the guy is an offensive anchor that would limit production. He had 51 points last season after all. Foligno meshes well with most people on the team and would probably be the easiest, quickest addition to the top line.
Cam Atkinson
Panarin-Wennberg-Atkinson. This potential line put up 195 points last season! This line if it worked well together could quite possibly be the best scoring line in the NHL. Fantasy values for these players would soar.
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But would it work? Atkinson didn’t spend a lot of time playing with Wennberg last season. He seemed much more comfortable with Dubinsky as his center.
Also this makes for a pretty poor back checking line. The Atkinson option would leave the team exposed on the back end too much in my opinion.
Oliver Bjorkstrand
The most intriguing option. With the young Dane on the right wing, the line would have some of the same issues it has with Atkinson. Bjorkstrand is not a physical specimen and had issues with getting manhandled last season, including illegally by Roman Pollock.
But dang, this kid can score. Bjork came off a solid second half playing solid time in the NHL. He is poised for a breakout season and is a sexy pick for breakout offensive player of the year.
Playing along Wennberg and Panarin would certainly help. Although there would be early growing pains for Bjorkstrand trying to keep up with the top flight guys, I think this line should be what Torts goes with. Adding Bjorkstrand to this line would also allow players like Cam Atkinson and Nick Foligno drop down to create stronger second and third lines.
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There are certainly other options like the newly acquired Jordan Schroeder, who could play both center or right wing. You may also see Boone Jenner play on the wing. Torts has plenty of options that will certainly shake out over training camp. I can’t wait to see who ends up playing with the newest Columbus Blue Jacket.