Columbus Blue Jackets: the Defense is Set, are Centers Next?

After making two big offseason splashes before the Stanley Cup Finals are even finished, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen would be wise to turn his attention to the center ice position next. And he’ll almost certainly fill one spot at the draft later this month.

We talked last week about this team’s new-look defense corps. This group should be able to keep this team in a lot of games – they’re suddenly a deep, experienced team on the back end, with some durability and solid defenders added.

Still, hockey is a team sport, and that is evidenced further in the defensive zone than any other place on the ice. You can have players like Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby, who can produce offense regardless the situation, line mates, or competition. But to have an effective defense, there is no one player that is good enough to defend against entire opposing teams.

Sure, some guys are better than others – but if you pair an elite defender like Jaccob Slavin with someone like Gavin Bayreuther, and run out Jack Roslovic for defensive zone starts … it’s going to be tough. After correcting the blue line shortcomings, another key component the Jackets were missing last year: depth and experience down the middle. Here are the three ways they can correct that issue this summer.

The NHL Draft: With the third overall selection, the Columbus Blue Jackets select…

Our expectation here is that this pick will be Leo Carlsson. Barring any surprises in the top-two picks, he’ll be the best player on the board when the Jackets come up to make their pick. They took him, Adam Fantilli, and Will Smith all out for meals this week – and one of those three will be their selection at third overall, I’m confident enough to say it’s 100% at this point.

Fantilli will likely go second to Anaheim, which has been well discussed. I do think there’s a chance the Jackets take Smith over Carlsson, but what it comes down to for me is projecting these guys at the pro level. Carlsson is three inches taller, already with a year of experience under his belt against men. He doesn’t have the flashy offensive upside that Smith does, but he projects more as a strong, all-around skilled two-way center – and he does still have top line scoring potential.

The Jackets have Johnny Gaudreau and Kent Johnson, who will both be long-term puck distributors here. Does adding another guy like that really make a lot of sense? Carlsson would be an excellent compliment to add to a line with either one of those guys, and he could become the big, heavy minute 200-foot center they have long desired.