Columbus Blue Jackets: Lukas Sedlak 2018-2019 Season Expectations

Columbus Blue Jackets fourth line center Lukas Sedlak is entering the most important season of his NHL career. Competing with enormous forward depth, what can we expect from the gritty Czech in 2018-2019?

A restricted free agent at the end of the 2018-2019 season, now is the time for center Lukas Sedlak to prove his worth. The Columbus Blue Jackets have more talent depth than any other time in the history of the franchise. As exciting as this is for CBJ fans and management alike, it is sure to apply substantial pressure to “Sedsy”.

Showing promise in 2016-2017 with 13 points (7G, 6A) in 62 games, Sedlak began to make a case for himself as the team’s fourth line center. A relatively young prospect, one would expect to see signs of growth or improvement in #45’s sophomore campaign.

The 25-year old centerman had an opportunity to lock down his role with the Jackets for the upcoming season and perhaps going forward. Statistically speaking, he failed to do so. Scoring just 8 points (4G, 4A) in 53 games, Sedsy’s points per game (PPG) actually fell. With similar time on ice, Sedlak’s PPG fell from .21 in 16-17 to .15 in 17-18.

There is more to Sedlak’s game though and the Jacket’s updated roster further complicates his potential role on the team this year.

A developing penalty kill specialist, #45 will look to seize more ice time with the departure of PK wizard Matt Calvert. If the Czech can refine his special teams game, he could solidify a spot on the fourth line.

Contrarily, Sedlak will find himself in the middle of a hotly-contested battle for a full-time spot on the Jackets deep bench. As much as his gritty game is beloved in Columbus, the depth swarming Nationwide is a threat to Sedsy’s permanent role at the NHL level.

Additions of center Riley Nash and winger Anthony St. Clair are likely to take up two slots on the third and fourth lines. Rising star Vitaly Abramov (who now plays center and wing) is too dynamic a scoring threat to get stuck in Cleveland. Everyone knows the story with Brandon Dubinsky‘s outrageous contract and hopes to redeem his 2016-2017 campaign. Sonny Milano is going to play in a Jackets sweater all year.

On the upside for Sedlak, rental fourth line center Mark Letestu won’t be back in Columbus. Apparently CBJ brass believe they have what they need in the middle of the ice. Also, center depth has notoriously been the achilles heel of the Jackets.

All of this forces the question, where does this leave Sedlak? Does he slowly fade into the mist of death by depth? There are a lot of if’s here, but let’s take a look at best and worst case scenarios for the lefty-center.

Sedlak’s Ceiling: 2018-2019

With injury to any centerman or a move of Dubinsky to wing, Sedlak can find regular ice time. Maxing out at 18 points in the AHL, the Czech has proven that he is never going to be a scoring threat, but he can prove his value off the stat sheet. Not afraid to get his hands dirty, Sedlak should continue to fight for pucks in the paint and check aggressively.

On a team that finished 26th in the league on the face-off dot (48.4%), Sedlak posted a respectable 51.5%. Although the number might not jump off the page, it could provide a boost to the penalty kill’s likelihood of success. Of course Dubinsky, new addition Riley Nash and Boone Jenner will also push for these kill chances.

Since the 2017-2018 Columbus Blue Jackets played very few games with their ideally-healthy roster, depth players were called up nightly. This is where I see Sedlak’s role. The first one off the AHL bench isn’t a terrible role considering he’d then be likely to see plenty of games with the CBJ.

I would never wish for a player or team injury, but we are talking about hockey. It’s a violent game and most great rosters flaunt quality depth. Even if that seems like a demotion for Sedlak, it’s a good thing to have NHL-level players with experience to fall back on.

As mentioned above, this is Sedlak’s RFA year. He has 82 games to prove to the Columbus Blue Jackets that they should re-sign him, or let him move on to another team. Best case scenario, Lukas improves just slightly above his rookie season and stars on a much-improved penalty kill.

Sedsy also has an opportunity in 2018-2019 to play between more talented wingers, which could lead to more assists. He also could be shifted to the wing himself, having showed versatility to do so in his first two seasons.

Without drawing specific numbers, I would consider it a success for Sedlak to post similar numbers to his rookie season. With the added talent in Columbus, that would mean he’s fending off competition and playing meaningful minutes.

Sedlak’s Floor: 2018-2019

It is highly possible Lukas Sedlak is squeezed down to playing most of his hockey this season with the Cleveland Monsters. An argument can easily be made that he failed to seize his chance at becoming indispensable last season while on the ice with the Blue Jackets. Depth additions and prospect development threaten Sedlak’s role if the team stays healthy.

Even at the AHL level, Sedlak’s career high of 18 points in 54 games might not be enough to get him re-signed in 2018-2019. Center depth and versatility could be his saving grace, but it won’t stop the Blue Jackets from putting more point-centric forwards on the ice ahead of him.

If players like Abramov and St. Clair prove too electric to stay in Cleveland, expect it to greatly impact #45’s role with the CBJ. His limited ice time in Nationwide could be minimized further if Brandon Dubinsky can reestablish himself and find his game.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Again, injuries are more likely to determine Lukas’ ice time more than anything, but he will turn 26 before the end of the season and he has very possibly already hit his ceiling. Some players find a new gear in their game into their early thirties, but Sedlak’s profile doesn’t match here.

Worst case scenario, I can genuinely see Lukas playing more than 50% of his games with the Monsters this season. Yes, that is a demotion, but for Columbus Blue Jackets fans, it is the kind of demotion you want to see because the needle is moving forward. It is up to Sedlak to raise his own bar and push management’s hand to keep him in Columbus this year, and in the future.

Final Expectations:

I expect to see Lukas Sedlak playing as next man up for the Columbus Blue Jackets throughout the 2018-2019 campaign. Since most NHL teams play the bulk of their season with at least one key player injured, this means Sedlak could see another 50-60 game season.

As unsexy as it might feel, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the exact same version of #45 that we saw in 2016-2017. I think Sedsy underwhelmed last year, but perhaps mostly because his ceiling isn’t as high as he is likable. It sounds unfair and cliche to say, but he is who he is at this point.

I would expect #45 to come out this year as a more polished penalty killer with the same limited offensive skill set that we’ve seen from him since his AHL debut in 2013.

After last year’s injury debacle, don’t be surprised if Sedlak sees more ice time this season than some of the team’s more premier players. The feisty Czech center won’t stuff any stat sheet or move up the lines, but his versatile depth should be greatly appreciated. It’s something Columbus has wanted for almost two decades now.