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Columbus Blue Jackets: Players to Watch at Traverse City

By William Espy |
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 09: Cleveland Monsters C Jordan Maletta (64) and Grand Rapids Griffins D Dan Renouf (20) fight during the first period of the AHL hockey game between the Grand Rapids Griffins and Cleveland Monsters on April 9, 2017, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland defeated Grand Rapids 4-3 in a shootout. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 09: Cleveland Monsters C Jordan Maletta (64) and Grand Rapids Griffins D Dan Renouf (20) fight during the first period of the AHL hockey game between the Grand Rapids Griffins and Cleveland Monsters on April 9, 2017, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland defeated Grand Rapids 4-3 in a shootout. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced their roster for the annual Traverse City tournament. Let’s check out the guys making the trip to Michigan.

The annual Traverse City NHL prospect tournament has been a successful venture for the Columbus Blue Jackets more often than not in the past few years. They have won the tournament two of the last three years, with many of the players on the roster constantly being moved up to the NHL level. The most recent example would be Zach Werenski, who was a finalist for the Calder Trophy following the 2016-2017 season.

The forward corps for the tournament will be the strongest part of the roster for the Columbus Blue Jackets, at least on paper. Top prospects Pierre-Luc Dubois, Vitaly Abramov, and Paul Bittner will be the biggest names; however there are a few others who are just as important.

Jordan Maletta is coming off of his first season with the Cleveland Monsters which was a fairly decent professional rookie season. His 23 points in 76 games won’t be a substantial game changer, however if you couple that with his physical play (showcased by his 69 penalty minutes, many of which came off of fighting majors) and his defensive capabilities then he becomes a solid bottom six player. He won’t be a flashy player, however a solid tournament could make the former undrafted player a much bigger asset to the Blue Jackets.

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Justin Scott also just finished his first professional season with 23 points, however the fact that he only played in 58 games make it much more impressive. Scott is known to struggle when first moving up to a higher level, in the OHL he only scored 29 points in his first 116 games. However in his next 135 he scored 118 points. While it was not enough to be drafted, Scott’s ability makes him an interesting prospect for the future. If the old formula from the OHL stays true in the AHL, expect him to have a major breakout season. With the tournament ahead, he’ll likely get second or third line time; if he makes the most of it, then he may get an extended look from the Blue Jackets in training camp.

The Defense

The most important defensemen on the roster are undoubtedly Gabriel Carlsson and Ryan Collins. Collins is regarded as a big defensive defenseman, however he has continually struggled since being drafted whether it be at the University of Minnesota or in his short stint with the Cleveland Monsters. He’s getting short on time to make an impression with the Blue Jackets, so this tournament may make or break his future in Columbus.

Much like Scott and Maletta however, Gabriel Carlsson’s showing at the tournament would strictly be an attempt to make an impression for training camp. He’s considered a favorite to make the team as a rookie following his brief stint last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he needs to show that it is sustainable. If he has even a decent tournament, expect him to earn a long, hard look at training camp this upcoming season.

Goalies

In goal, the Blue Jackets will have the tandem of Matiss Kivlenieks and Ivan Kulbakov. Both players spent the last season in the USHL, with the Blue Jackets being the lucky team to earn the right to sign Kivelnieks. Kivelnieks won the USHL player of the year and goaltender of the year last season with a 1.85 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. The Traverse City tournament will be his first competition against NHL level talent, which will set his future expectations from the team.

Kulbakov is on an AHL only deal, however if he can make a strong impression; it is possible that the Belarus native earns himself a two-way contract instead. Although, it will be difficult to do so; considering Kivlenieks will likely earn a majority of the starts.

Next: Top 5 Fighters in CBJ History

The Traverse City roster is not the greatest in Columbus Blue Jackets history, but it is certainly strong enough to compete for the championship once again. Be sure to keep an eye out for these players, as they will definitely be looking to make an impression.

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