What’s Next for Blue Jackets, Texier?
The Blue Jackets announced today that forward Alexandre Texier would not be joining the team this upcoming season, citing the NHL/NHLPA substance abuse and behavioral health program. This news is surprising, in spite of the fact that Texier missed half of last season due to an injury, followed up by personal matters. Many had the young Frenchman in a larger role, some pegging him as being a potential solution to the team’s top line center question this season. That obviously will not be the case.
Most importantly, before we dive into what this means for the club moving forward, I’d like to wish nothing but the best to Texier. I hope he gets the help he needs, and that his personal situation is resolved soon.
Texier was signed through this season and is set to be a restricted free agent next summer. Where that road leads is anybody’s guess. I won’t speculate too much at this time; I’ll only raise the question of whether or not he will be re-signed by the Blue Jackets, or do they move on? If Dmitry Voronkov makes the move to North America next season, does that change any of the plans? There’s just too much to think about at this time, and it’s unfair to speculate too much on a player who is going through tough times.
For the main purpose of this article, I wanted to take a look at how that affects the team’s forward depth this season.
The Locks
Each of these nine players will surely be on the team: Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine, Boone Jenner, Jakub Voracek, Gustav Nyquist, Jack Roslovic, Sean Kuraly, Eric Robinson, and Cole Sillinger. My gut tells me that Yegor Chinakhov, Kirill Marchenko, Justin Danforth, and Kent Johnson will be front-runners for the remaining three daily spots; and I have a hard time seeing any of these players spending a lot of time in the AHL this year. That gives us 13 names for 12 spots in the lineup.
On the Cusp
The above list leaves just one more roster spot, should the team carry 14 forwards. Emil Bemstrom, Mathieu Olivier, Liam Foudy, Carson Meyer, and Brendan Gaunce seem to be in line to compete for this spot. Tyler Angle and Trey Fix-Wolansky could also play their way into this mix, but it’s quite a log jam to push through. My money would be on Olivier being kept around as the 14th forward. Bemstrom, Foudy, Angle and Fix-Wolansky all need to be playing and developing nightly; and I don’t think Meyer or Gaunce move the needle all that much for the NHL club. Olivier brings sorely needed toughness and physicality.
Where Does it Go?
While losing a player like Texier for a full season is quite a blow, I think the Blue Jackets are set up well to absorb this loss. They will be counting on bigger seasons from some of the younger players on this list, but each one of these guys has the talent to do it. As I write this article, speculation is that Texier will be signing in Switzerland this season. The best outcome to this situation, for all parties involved, would be a dominant season by Texier overseas. The Blue Jackets could welcome back a more polished, confident version of #42 next season. Read: Grading Every CBJ Prospect at the World Juniors