With an all new coaching staff leading the way, the Jackets will look to revamp a power-play that has been mostly dormant for the last several seasons. They have the talent to make it work.
PP1:
Jenner
Laine – Marchenko – Gaudreau
Werenski
PP2:
Fantilli
Severson – Bemstrom – Johnson
Provorov
This is how the team was practicing to finish the preseason, and in theory, it should work. I’m a little bit surprised to see two defensemen on the second unit; but maybe I shouldn’t be, when you consider the fact that two of the three forwards are still extremely young – and the third one is pretty inexperienced. The biggest question I have here is: how long will it take the team to swap Fantilli and Jenner on those units?
PK1:
Kuraly – Robinson
Provorov – Severson
PK2:
Jenner – Danforth
Werenski – Peeke
These PK units would give the team a veteran center, as well as a speedy veteran on the wing – as well as some pretty stout defenders. Really, the PK could be the biggest area of improvement for the Jackets this season if they can stay healthy and get better goaltending.
Ultimately, it will come down to execution and whether or not these lines can gel early on. I do think we’ll see Roslovic soon rather than later – and the same can be said for Adam Boqvist on the back-end. They won’t want him in the press box for too long. The only question I have there is; who comes out of the lineup?
The puck drops on the regular season Thursday night at Nationwide Arena, with the Jackets hosting the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:00. Stay tuned to unionandblue.com for plenty of news, notes, opinions and rumors throughout the season!