Columbus Blue Jackets 2018-2019 Midway Point MVP’s

18-19 Most Valuable Forward

This might have been the toughest decision to make out of all of our prestigious Union and Blue midway MVP’s to hand out. The top line has three great candidates for the most valuable forward so far for the Jackets but the hardware goes to Cam Atkinson.

The winger is eight in the NHL in goal scoring with 24 in only 40 games played. Cam also has tacked on 18 assist for 42 points, second only behind his fellow top line winger Artemi Panarin. Cam’s two hat tricks this year have given him the franchise record for three goal games. And he has done all this with the Jackets owning the worst power play percentage in the NHL.

Cam had been consistent all year long and hasn’t suffered from the usual goalless game droughts that have always prevented him from reaching 40 goals. That number is certainly attainable this season and the real question is whether or not he will get to 45 or even 50 goals.

Cam is set to break Rick Nash‘s franchise mark of 41 goals in a year as well as even strength goals in a year. That mark, also held by Nash, is 29 goals. Atkinson currently has 19 even strength goals.

While Artemi Panarin is set to have a career year and Pierre-Luc Dubois has been a force, this choice was clear. Cam Atkinson has been the most valuable forward for the Jackets in the first half of the season.

18-19 Most Valuable Defenseman

The Columbus Blue Jackets blue line no doubt has been the better of the two units. Outside of the top line, the forward group has been wildly inconsistent and, at many points, a liability. The same can not be said about the blue line whose biggest flaw has been an underperforming Zach Werenski who has really turned it on in the month of December and is really finding his game.

More from Union and Blue

• Blaming Columbus Blue Jacket Players for Babcock Fallout is Unfair
• The Mike Babcock Experiment in Columbus Has Failed
• Blue Jacket Prospects Win Traverse City Tournament: Who Stood Out?
• Mike Babcock Resigns as CBJ Head Coach: Reaction
• New Claims Bring Higher Level of Concern to Babcock Situation

This pick though came down to Seth Jones and Ryan Murray. Jones, after missing seven games to start the season has been the unit’s rock. He is logging insane minutes and is second only to Drew Doughty in time on ice this year. He is contributing on the offensive end with seven goals and 18 assist and is poised to break the 50 point mark yet again. Jones also is an overtime killer as we’ve seen as recently as Saturday night’s winner against Florida.

Ryan Murray has been a revelation and is starting to fulfill the promise that the second overall pick once showed. Murray has been a top pair defenseman all year and is eating huge minutes, averaging over 21 minutes a game. He is doing all this while only taking four minor penalties in the first half of the year.

His offensive numbers aren’t eye popping (1G, 19A) but he is on pace for a career high 40 points. He is only five points shy of his previous career high so he is set to smash that record.

Murray is finally staying healthy (knock on wood) and his high level of play has allowed the Jackets defense to not nosedive during Zach Werenski’s slow start. It has also given the team increased flexibility in their pairings.

Although Murray has been fantastic and might be the team’s biggest surprise this year, Jones is just too good not to be named the most valuable defenseman for the first half. Jones will be in the Norris conversation yet again and if the power play can get any production in the second half, should be in the top three in voting this year.

18-19 Most Valuable Prospect

While most impressive prospect is a more accurate title for this award, well go with most valuable to stick with the theme. Although the Jackets haven’t been drafting high in the first round lately and even traded their 2017 1st round pick away, the prospect pool is fairly impressive considering the average pick position.

This year it has been great to see the success of 2018 7th round pick Trey Fix-Wolansky with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. He is second in the league in scoring and as team captain, is leading a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in two season to an impressive 21-14-4-3 record.

In Europe, Alexandre Texier is playing top line minutes for Liiga’s Kalpa and was a key cog in their Spengler Cup win in Davos. Fellow Liiga player Veini Vehviläinen has dominated in net for Karpat and is looking like a steal as a 6th round pick. His 1.40 goals against average and .940 save percentage are tops in the Finland.

But the title has to go to 2017 4th round pick Emil Bemstrom. Bemstrom has shined in the SHL this year for Djurgardens. His 12 goals in 24 games are tops amongst players under 20 in the competitive Swedish league and tied for third in the entire league.

Bemstrom also was Sweden’s best forward at the World Junior Championship. Although the team was ousted by Switzerland in a quarterfinal upset, Bemstrom scored four goals and two assist over the tournament to lead the Swedes. He was the team’s second best player after defenseman Erik Brannstrom and one of the best goal scorers in the entire tournament.

Bemtsrom now returns to Stockhom where he will look to continue his great season alongside fellow Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Jonathan Davidsson. the 19-year-old has had a true coming out to start the 2018-2019 season and is well deserving of the top prospect of the first half award.

The first half has been a good start to the season for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Who do you think will be the team’s second half MVP’s? Let us know in the comments.