Breaking Down the Traverse City Roster for the Columbus Blue Jackets
It’s the best time of the calendar year if you’re a hockey fan. As the temps cool off and the leaves begin to turn, we start looking for pucks to hit the ice in the dawn of a new season. With training camp for the Columbus Blue Jackets a little less than two weeks away, we first turn our attention to the annual Traverse City Prospects Tournament. And this year, for the third year in a row, the Jackets are sending a stacked squad.
Two seasons ago, the Blue Jackets sent a really strong group to the tournament and came away with the championship trophy. That team included players like Cole Sillinger and Yegor Chinakhov – who both played in the NHL that season. Last year, they sent another strong forward duo that would play in the NHL – Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko.
This year though, this team feels really special. Led up front by recent third overall pick Adam Fantilli, and on the back end by last year’s sixth overall pick David Jiricek, the Jackets have a star-studded lineup chocked full of high-end future NHL stars. I think at least 10 of these players will be in the NHL – a few of them as early as this year. They should be a really fun group to watch.
Projected lineup:
Pyyhtia – Fantilli – Dumais
Malatesta – Voronkov – McKown
Peddle – del bel Belluz – Pinelli
Rysavy – ??? – Butler
Extras: Sean McGurn, Oasiz Wiesblatt, Justin Pearson, Kocha Delic
Mateychuk – Jiricek
Svozil – Ceulemans
Knazko – Roger
Extras: Gunner Kinniburgh, Nicholas DeAngelis
Cajan
Lalonde
This will be our first look at Adam Fantilli in game action for the Blue Jackets. I fully expect him to steal the show and dominate at this tournament – he’s the highest profile player heading to Traverse City. If he and reigning QMJHL MVP winner Jordan Dumais can develop any chemistry, 2020 fourth round pick Mikael Pyyhtia will have the enviable job of banging in easy goals all weekend long.
QMJHL playoff and Memorial Cup MVP winner James Malatesta helps form what should be a nasty second line that we’ll love to watch. He’s undersized, but he’s a pest who loves to get under the opponents’ skin and score goals. Hulking, physically imposing center Dmitry Voronkov should be a nice fit alongside him. I think he’ll be on the opening night roster, so keep a close eye on #10. Hunter McKown is a natural center, but I could see him being used on the wing in this tournament to give him a better look. His two-way acumen and shot should make him an interesting player to watch; these linemates should give him space to get that shot away pretty often.
2022 second round pick Luca del bel Belluz highlights what should be a strong third line, alongside two late-round picks from this year’s draft. LDBB is another player we should have a keen eye on as a future Blue Jacket; he’s solid at both ends of the ice; and has the hands and finish to be a solid secondary producer in the NHL. Tyler Peddle brings the requisite size and physicality that you would like to see from a late round pick – but also, high end goal scoring ability. I’m interested to see him play in this kind of tournament; he could be a late round gem. Luca Pinelli is undersized, but similar to Malatesta in that he can score some goals and surprise you with his all-around game.
Martin Rysavy is a player we’ve kept our eye on for quite some time. After earning an ELC with another strong year in the WHL, the physical two-way winger will play with the Cleveland Monsters this year. He’s joined by a UFA signing from this summer, Cameron Butler – whoever centers this line will have plenty of time and space with the puck. Both of these guys like to play in the tough areas of the ice, and both have the size to do so.
On defense, the team returns their top pairing from last year’s tournament: Denton Mateychuk and David Jiricek. It will be interesting to see how they have both progressed over a full year of hockey. Jiricek has a track to playing in the NHL this year, so standing out in this tournament could be a kick-starter to a big year for him. Mateychuk is still at least a year away, but if you can watch the games, you’ll be very entertained by his ability to hold onto the puck and make passes all over the ice. Aside from Fantilli, I’m more excited to see how these guys play than anyone else.
2021 first round pick Corson Ceulemans makes his debut at the tournament this year. The “toolsy” defenseman is a really good skater with size, who could be an eventual middle pairing guy in the NHL. He’s joined by another future middle pairing guy: 2021 third round pick Stanislav Svozil, who finished last season with the Blue Jackets. This should be another fun pair to watch; both of these guys can chip in offense and Svozil loves to throw the body around.
Samuel Knazko is the last CBJ drafted player on the back end. He also spent some time in Columbus at the end of last season, and quietly, I think this guy is a really good prospect with NHL upside. Most likely, I think big right-hand shooting UFA invitee Ben Roger joins him on the third pair, which should help prevent the smaller Knazko from being bullied around the ice. In goal, the Jackets bring UFA signees Pavel Cajan and Nolan Lalonde to the tournament. If the team in front of them performs up to their ability, their jobs will be relatively easy.
The tournament kicks off on Thursday as the Jacket prospects will play the Toronto Maple Leafs prospects at 3:30 Eastern Time. They also play prospect teams from Detroit (Saturday, 3:30 Eastern), and Dallas (Sunday, 11:00 Eastern). The games are usually streamed on the team website; and if you can watch, I highly recommend it – you’ll get to know the names of some future NHL stars.
Next. Statistical Prediction for the 2023-24 Blue Jackets. dark