Union and Blue
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Five Columbus Blue Jackets Ready to Shine in 2019

By Lansing Murphy

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 23: Oliver Bjorkstrand #28 of the Columbus Blue Jackets celebrates his goal against the New Jersey Devils at 5:31 of the first period at the Prudential Center on December 23, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 23: Oliver Bjorkstrand #28 of the Columbus Blue Jackets celebrates his goal against the New Jersey Devils at 5:31 of the first period at the Prudential Center on December 23, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Columbus Blue Jackets
Austria’s Dominic Zwerger (L) and France’s Alexandre Texier vie for the puck during the group A match France vs Austria of the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 11, 2018. (Photo by HELMUT FOHRINGER / APA / AFP) / Austria OUT (Photo credit should read HELMUT FOHRINGER/AFP/Getty Images) /

Alexandre Texier

This one has me très excité. The Columbus Blue Jackets traded Keegan Kolesar for the Vegas Golden Knight’s second round pick. With the 45th selection the Jackets took French forward Alexandre Texier who was playing in Grenoble for the famed Fire Wolves.

For the last two years the 19-year-old has played in the SM-Liiga in Finland against men and he has developed very well. His 18-year-old season was one to acclimate to the much bigger and faster finish league, all the while Texier managed to put up 13 goals in 53 games.

This year he is breaking out. He is playing top line minutes for KalPa and is fourth in the league in scoring for players under the age of 20. The players he trails are all top 40 picks or soon to be, in the case of the likely number two overall pick, Kaapo Kakka.

Texier is coming off of a dominate Spengler Cup performance where he helped KalPa take home the title. It was the first for an Finnish team in Spengler Cup history. Texier will head back for the second half of the year in Finland primed to explode offensively and get prepared for the transition to North America.

Texier’s contract with KalPa is up at the end of the year and he should be expected to compete for a roster spot next training camp with the Jackets. With a likely opening on the left wing, Texier could be a prime candidate to turn into the next top line winger the Jackets need in 2019.

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