Columbus Blue Jackets Preseason Game #2: Four Players to Watch
The Columbus Blue Jackets host the Chicago Blackhawks in the second game of their preseason.
Another game, another chance to catch some intriguing players trying to make an impression in the preseason. Yesterday, Anthony Duclair was a player to watch for the Columbus Blue Jackets and he certainly delivered. Duclair had an assist on the lone goal for the Jackets and stood out during his 18:14 of ice time.
Tonight the Jackets will be rolling out a lineup that has a few more NHL regulars in it than last night. Alexander Wennberg, Nick Foligno, Cam Atkinson, and Seth Jones will all make their preseason debuts tonight. But we know what these guys bring to the table.
As you watch the second preseason game of the year keep your eyes on players that have more to prove like center man Kevin Stenlund. The 21-year-old Swede is taking part in entering his first full season in North America after playing for HV71 the last four seasons.
Stenlund dominated the Traverse City Prospect Tournament and led the Jackets to the title. Stenlund led the tournament in goals with five and was second in scoring with seven points in four games.
Related Story. 18-19 Expectations for Kevin Stenlund. light
He will likely play center tonight and ideally he gets a chance to play with one NHLer on his wing. Seeing what the former 2nd round pick can do with a Boone Jenner or Nick Foligno on his wing is what the fans and the front office want to see.
Liam Foudy
How can you not be fired up to see Liam Foudy play? The Columbus Blue Jackets first round pick from this year’s draft will make his debut in a sanctioned NHL game tonight against the Blackhawks and look to show us why the Jackets took him 18th overall.
The pick was a surprise to many but in prospect camp and the Traverse City tournament it has been easy to see why the Jackets took Foudy. He has incredible speed that can’t be taught and is a freak athlete. He has a great hockey sense and makes solid plays on the offensive and defensive ends of the ice.
Related Story. Draft Profile- Liam Foudy. light
Foudy came on strong in the second half of his OHL season in 2018 and has kept the momentum rolling. Tonight will be a great test of how far away from being NHL ready he is. He should play with an NHLer on his wing, if not two.
The big thing to look for is how his finishing abilities and face-off skills look. Those are the two biggest knocks on his game at the moment. He is so fast that his hands have a hard time keeping up with his feet and that leads to trouble finishing around the net.
The conventional wisdom around the NHL was that Jarmo and company reached for the center Foudy. We know how that worked out with the last center the league thought Jarmo reached on. Foudy will look to continue the trend of surprise young centerman in Columbus. Get excited to see the Jackets 1st rounder out on the ice in union blue tonight.
Riley Nash
The Columbus Blue Jackets biggest offseason signing didn’t grab headlines or turn heads in the hockey world, but it will certainly be noticed in the long run. The Jackets sured up the center position by signing Riley Nash to a three year deal worth $2.75 million per season. That is a steal for the seven year pro who scored 41 points las year with the Boston Bruins.
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Nash filled in for Patrice Bergeron as the B’s top line center when the All-Star Bergeron went down with an injury. He filled in exceptionally well alongside of Brad Marchand and David Pasternak.
Tonight he will continue his march toward becoming the teams third line center. If Nash can fill that role and play like he did for the Bruins last season, the Jackets will be very deep down the middle. Nash’s arrival will allow Brandon Dubinsky or Lukas Sedlak to become the fourth line center, an enviable situation for the team.
Nash can play in all situations and will be on the team’s penalty kill tonight. Seeing how he handles his business defensively and in the face-off dot will be key. If he shows an offensive flashes, that is all icing on the cake.
Fans will have to remind themselves all season that when they see a “Nash” skating around Nationwide Arena in union blue, its Riley, not Rick. The Columbus faithful will like what they see though tonight, and for many more nights to come, out of the new “Nash”.
Gabriel Carlsson
We have chronicled the battle for the 6th and final defensive slot that opened up this offseason when Ian Cole and Jack Johnson left. Although there are some intriguing options with some of the offseason signings the Jackets made, the final spot will come down to one of three Jackets.
Last night two of them, Scott Harrington and Dean Kukan, took the ice against the Sabres. Tonight, it’s Gabriel Carlsson’s turn.
The former first round pick had a rough season in 2017-2018 as he suffered a back injury that hampered him for most of the season. Carlsson, 21, is still growing and the back injury made it difficult for him to skate at all.
This year the high end defenseman is looking to bounce back and fight his way toward a roster spot in Columbus. The organization is high on Carlsson and he could become the third NHL defenseman drafted in the 2015 draft by the Jackets along with Markus Nutivaara and Zach Werenski.
Carlsson has always had a great first pass so keep an eye out for how he is snapping the puck around. Also keep an eye on how he is moving out there. He is a smooth skater but not elite. His back issues made his movement all the more difficult. It’ll be important to see him moving well tonight if he hopes to crack the opening night roster.
Next. Toughest 5 Game Stretch in 18-19. dark
Another preseason game means another opportunity for players to make an impression. Who do you have your eyes on tonight? Let us know in the comments.