Columbus Blue Jackets: Early Prediction of Protected Forwards

The Columbus Blue Jackets will almost certainly lose a good player in the Seattle expansion draft.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will have a lot of changes occur between now and the time that Seattle selects their player from the team. For the sake of this prediction and as a result of not knowing the future, we will assume every player re-signs with the Blue Jackets between now and then.

Using the Capfriendly expansion tool to enforce the rules, I selected seven forwards I would protect if the draft were today.

1. Artemi Panarin

There’s a good chance Artemi Panarin won’t be with the Columbus Blue Jackets by the time the expansion draft comes around, but if he is then he’ll certainly be protected by management. He’s a superstar and exposing him would be essentially re-signing from the job of general manager.

2. Cam Atkinson

Cam Atkinson will be up there in age by the time this comes around, but if he continues on the same pace he’s shown this season then he’ll have one of the best contracts in the NHL. As a result, it would be foolish to let his team friendly deal slip to the Seattle franchise.

3. Nick Foligno

Nick Foligno is the captain of the Blue Jackets and odds are he’ll remain that way unless he gets exposed in this expansion draft. He’s certainly borderline, however he puts up roughly a point every two games and has a lot of versatility being able to play all three forward positions. The biggest issue with Foligno when the draft comes around will be his age, however if he’s still producing at that point he’ll be worth keeping.

4. Alexander Wennberg

Alexander Wennberg may not be a favorite among the Blue Jackets fan base, however he’s still putting up assists despite not scoring many goals. He’s one of the best pure playmakers in the NHL, and if he develops a shot he can turn into a legitimate first line center. That’s a big if, however he’s still young enough for there to be a chance of it happening.

5. Boone Jenner

Boone Jenner is one of the more borderline players on this list. He certainly could be good enough to be protected, however if someone steps up their game substantially then either him or Nick Foligno could find themselves being exposed in the expansion draft.

6. Josh Anderson

Josh Anderson is in the midst of a breakout season and was one of the borderline players in the Vegas expansion draft, prior to showing what he could really do. He’s still young enough to continue developing and he’s already one of the Blue Jackets best pure goal scorers.

7. Pierre-Luc Dubois

Pierre-Luc Dubois is the Jackets top line center and a former 3rd overall pick who is still nowhere near his full potential. There’s simply no reason he’d be exposed under any circumstances.

Next. Who the Columbus Blue Jackets Should’ve Drafted 29th in 2015. dark

Jarmo Kekalainen and company will have a difficult job when it reaches time for the second expansion draft since the Blue Jackets have joined the league, third if you count when the Jackets were on the benefiting side of the draft. Things will certainly change between now and then, it’ll be interesting to see how the team develops as time goes on.

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