Columbus Blue Jackets 2023-24 Season Preview: Dmitry Voronkov

Making the jump from Russia this year is hulking center Dmitry Voronkov, who is expected to add plenty of size and grit to the Blue Jackets this fall. We expect him to make the team in some capacity, but the one question we have here is: what is his upside?

C Dmitry Voronkov

6’4″, 190 pounds

2022-23 stats: 54GP, 18G, 13A, 31Pts, +13, 51PIMs (KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 4th round, #114 overall, 2019 NHL Draft

Contract: $925k through 2024-25 (ELC)

Role: Fringe roster candidate

This is a guy that we have had our eye on for what seems like an eternity. Voronkov fills a lot of needs within the CBJ organization: he’s a center that plays well on both sides of the puck; bringing good size, plenty of strength, some toughness, and a scoring touch to his game. Last year in the KHL, he was a solid middle-six player for Ak Bars Kazan, finishing 7th on the team in scoring and continuing to lead the way physically.

The Jackets have been patient with Voronkov, allowing him to develop at a slower pace back home, a move that has paid off nicely with recent Russian-born players like Vladislav Gavrikov and Kirill Marchenko. Like both of those players, he comes over to North America as a mostly polished skater, and I think the adjustment to the smaller rink might come more naturally to Dmitry because he likes to play the game in a rough and tumble fashion.

With that said, he doesn’t have the same offensive upside that came with a guy like Marchenko, and it’s still hard to pencil him into the opening night lineup. After selecting Adam Fantilli, the Jackets are suddenly in pretty good shape down the middle. Joining Fantilli are returnees Boone Jenner, Jack Roslovic, Sean Kuraly, and Cole Sillinger – with others such as Alexandre Texier, Hunter McKown, and maybe even Kent Johnson vying for minutes down the middle. Voronkov will have to stand out early and often at camp, and I do think he’s more than capable of doing so. This means the Jackets will have some really tough decisions coming out of camp this year – a good problem to have.

Three keys to success:

1. Be the bully. Even with the toughness they added last summer, this is still a team that wants to be harder to play against. Dmitry should show up to camp ready to punish everybody else, and show that he can play that role for this team.
2. Big guy, little things. Another area he can help this team: the little things. He has size, as well as experience playing center against men. We’re talking about faceoffs and defensive zone play here – if he stands out by doing the little things well, he can make this team.
3. Accept whatever role you’re given. He may not play center right away, and that’s OK. If he’s willing and capable of playing at least some time on the wing to get his feet wet, that may improve his chances of getting ice time in the NHL early on.

Ultimately, we do have Voronkov written down as one of the 14 players to make this team out of training camp. Whether or not that’s with immediate ice time, or with some time in the press box, will have to wait and be seen. But he did not sign with the Jackets, nor did they bring him over; for him to play in the AHL. This is the likely heir apparent to Sean Kuraly; our future checking/energy line spark plug center. The plan here is probably to get Dmitry under Sean’s wing as much as possible, so he can see what it takes to play this role in the NHL.