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Five Bold Predictions for the 2022-23 CBJ Season

By Curtis Deem

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 04: Zach Werenski #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal during the game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on April 4, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 04: Zach Werenski #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal during the game against the Boston Bruins at Nationwide Arena on April 4, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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Chinakhov improves vastly, and Marchenko gets Calder love.

Yegor Chinakhov takes massive steps this season and makes future decisions for the Blue Jackets, much more difficult.

Nov 22, 2021; Buffalo, New York, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Yegor Chinakhov (59) takes a shot on goal during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2021; Buffalo, New York, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Yegor Chinakhov (59) takes a shot on goal during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

Some people seem to have written Yegor off, but I think he’s a core piece of this team’s future. We talked about it in our season preview; his two-way game is better than I expected and his shot is, well, lethal. I think a full season in the NHL was the right move for his development, and he now knows what the expectations are over a full 82 game schedule. He’s a super skilled player who has a year in North America under his belt. I think he could be a sneaky difference maker for the club this season.

Joining Yegor is fellow Russian; 2018 second round pick (#49 overall) Kirill Marchenko. Quietly, he has developed into arguably one of the best offensive prospects in all of hockey. His numbers may not make that obvious due to his team in Russia benching him for not signing, but make no mistake: this guy can play.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – JANUARY 21: Kirill Marchenko #86 of the SKA Saint Petersburg skates against the CSKA at the Arena CSKA Moscow on January 21, 2020 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Anna Sergeeva/ Getty Images)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – JANUARY 21: Kirill Marchenko #86 of the SKA Saint Petersburg skates against the CSKA at the Arena CSKA Moscow on January 21, 2020 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Anna Sergeeva/ Getty Images) /

At 6-3 and nearly 190 pounds, this is a guy who has played against men in the KHL for the last three full seasons. He’s 22 years old and comes to the NHL as a developed, well-rounded offensive player who can score goals and create offense in a variety of ways. Kent Johnson is the top prospect in the system, but I don’t think Marchenko is that far behind in terms of productivity upside … and I think he’s more NHL ready.

I think he will not only make this team out of camp; I think he will compete for a role on one of the top scoring lines for the Blue Jackets, slotting in alongside one of Gustav Nyquist or Jakub Voracek; along with whichever center gives them the best chemistry. Marchenko is talented enough to be a 25-30 goal scorer in the NHL; the only question I have is, can he do it this year? If he can, I think he just might be a Calder Trophy candidate.

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