Columbus Blue Jackets: 18-19 Season Expectations Markus Hannikainen

The 2018-2019 season will be make or break for Markus Hannikainen with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Columbus Blue Jackets took a small gamble on Markus Hannikainen in 2015 and signed the Liiga player to a three year entry level contract. In that time, Hannikainen helped the Lake Erie Monsters claim a Calder Cup Championship. He has played 47 games in the NHL. But it seems as though that will be ceiling for the 25-year-old.

This year is the final year Markus is under contract with the CBJ and likely his last unless he smashes expectations. Based on his past performance and the current roster, it will be tough for him to do so.

Heading into the 2018-2019 season, Hannikainen is likely to only get a handful of games with the big club. The depth at winger in the franchise is overwhelming and there are only eight skaters that play that role every game.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets added Anthony Duclair this offseason who, at the age of 23, is worth taking a risk on. The former 44 point scorer has a ton of potential yet and is two years younger than Hannikainen.

Another winger Hannikainen will have to compete against is Lukas Sedlak. Sedlak is returning from an injury that ended his 17-18 season but has shown more promise then Hannikainen. Although Sedlak will be competing for the fourth line winger role, he can easily play the wing and take a slot away from Hannikainen.

These two players represent a significant obstacle for Hannikainen to overcome as he tries to make the Jackets squad. That isn’t taking into consideration the rookies that could make the team such as Jonathan Davidsson, Vitaly Abramov, and Eric Robinson. All have higher ceilings in my eyes and are likely better suited to play on the fourth line this year.

That said, I expect Hannikainen to be either the first or second healthy scratch for every game for the Jackets, or the top producer for the Monsters. He has likely shown us his ceiling and that is a fringe NHL player better suited for the AHL.