Columbus Blue Jackets: Lucas Sedlak vs. Jordan Schroeder

If you can’t tell I’m really looking forward to the battle for the final center position. The Columbus Blue Jackets fourth line battle is between Sedlak and Schroeder.

It’s pretty clear the top three centers for the Columbus Blue Jackets are set for the 2017-2018 season. Barring any trades or contract negotiations between the Jackets and Wennberg falling apart that is.

Alexander Wennberg will man the top line with Brandon Dubinsky on the second line. Rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois will step up and play on the third line. That leaves the fourth line battle to capture our attention during training camp. And that battle will come down to Lukas Sedlak and Jordan Schroeder.

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The second year Czech player has the advantage coming into camp but will he be able to beat out newly acquired Schroeder? Jordan has age and size on his size but will his performance in camp be enough. Let’s see what we can learn from past performance.

Some Number, But Not A Lot

Lukas Sedlak has only played 62 NHL games in one total season. Jordan Schroeder has compiled 144 games in five NHL seasons. So there isn’t a ton of numbers and play to look back on and project out but we’re going to try.

Jordan Schroeder has an advantage on the offensive side of the puck putting up slightly better numbers in goals, assist and shot generation. These numbers are not leaps and bounds ahead of Sedlak’s though and Schroeder had a significant edge in offensive zone starts

Schroeder started his shift in the offensive zone 69% of the time last season. That’s crazy high. Over his career he is averaging 57% offensive zone starts though giving him far more opportunities than Sedlak. Lukas was clearly a defensive player last year and only started 46% of his shifts in the offensive zone.

So the slight uptick in offensive numbers are masked by the massive difference in offensive zone start differential. And Sedlak clearly has the advantage on defense.

Sedlak is younger, plays better defense and arguable is the offensive equal to Schroeder. Also Schroeder has a better chance to play wing than Sedlak. Schroeder’s years in the NHL and AHL has given him experience at both center and wing that the Jackets could use this year.

Look for both men to make the team but Sedlak to end up at center. He plays the type of game Coach Tortorella wants to see and Schroeder has more versatility. Only a few more weeks until we find out for sure.