4 Columbus Blue Jackets to Watch in the 2018 Preseason Opener

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 23: Vitaly Abramov #79 of the Columbus Blue Jackets advances the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during a preseason game at the United Center on September 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blue Jackets defeated the Blackhawks 3-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 23: Vitaly Abramov #79 of the Columbus Blue Jackets advances the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during a preseason game at the United Center on September 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blue Jackets defeated the Blackhawks 3-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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Columbus Blue Jackets
COLUMBUS, OH – FEBRUARY 16: Dean Kukan

The Columbus Blue Jackets are rolling out an interesting lineup against the Buffalo Sabres. Here are four players to keep an eye on.

Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets open up their preseason slate of games against the Buffalo Sabres. The Jackets are in the midst of their most intriguing training camp to date.

There are questions regarding the franchises best two players and a crop of young players looking to score a spot with the big club. Not to mention veteran players looking for redemption after a less than stellar season in 2017.

That makes tonight’s roster selection interesting and can give us a slight insight to what the team is thinking early on in camp. As reported by Alison Lukan of The Athletic, tonight’s Jacket lineup will look like this.

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Sonny Milano – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Anthony Duclair

Markus Hannikainen – Sam Vigneault – Vitaly Abramov

Alex Broadhurst – Ryan MacInnis – Oliver Bjorkstrand

Calvin Thurkauf – Brandon Dubinsky – Jonathan Davidsson

Tommy Cross – Adam Clendening

Dean Kukan – David Savard

Markus Nutivaara – Scott Harrington

Mattis Kivlenieks

Brad Thiessen

The roster is fairly well balanced with returning veterans and young players looking to make their mark. The distribution of ice time will be interesting to watch but the composition of the roster gives us some look into what the coaching staff thinks of this squad already.

As you watch tonight keep your eyes on these four Columbus Blue Jackets.