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Blue Jackets 2024 Season Preview, Mikael Pyyhtiä got his shot, and he'll try to make the most of it

Mikael Pyyhtiä became a surprise final addition for most fans to the Blue Jackets' 23-man NHL roster at the end of training camp. However, looking even briefly into his game tells you that the former fourth round pick has a skillset that can make him a great utility forward at the NHL level right now.

By Mike Stump |
Sep 28, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The NHL Unity and Equality sticker on the helmet of Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mikael Pyyhtia (82) is seen as he skates during warmups prior to the game against the Buffalo Sabres at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Sep 28, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The NHL Unity and Equality sticker on the helmet of Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mikael Pyyhtia (82) is seen as he skates during warmups prior to the game against the Buffalo Sabres at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images / Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

As the Blue Jackets finalized their NHL roster following the long-term surprise injuries of Dmitri Voronkov and Boone Jenner, it became clear that they would need to add additional forwards. Whether through trade, free agency signees, or waiver claims, they needed to finalize their big league roster and not rush their young prospects to the top level.

However, even after the additions of Zach Aston-Reese and Kevin Labanc, the team needed to add one or two forwards to the NHL club to round out their lineup. Easily the biggest surprise of these for most fans was that of 22-year-old forward out of Finland: Mikael Pyyhtiä.

Pyyhtiä, or "Tuna" as he has become known around the club, is not a new face in Columbus. The 6'0", 175 pound former fourth round pick is in the final year of his ELC, which he signed in 2022. He has spent 19 games with the big league club over parts of the last three seasons, totaling 0-3-3, a -7, and 2 PIM. Before that, Mikael spent time in the top level of Finnish hockey with TPS Turku, where he was a near 0.50 PPG player despite being in the league as a young man under 20.

In my observations of watching his time in the NHL and in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters, I've begun to see Pyyhtiä as a "Swiss Army Knife" type player. Last season in the AHL, he saw time on both the top powerplay and penalty kill units for Cleveland. Under head coach Trent Voglehuber, he was effective in both situations while also spending time on the top line in Cleveland during even-strength situations.

I think, at his peak, Mikael could end up being an effective fourth-liner in the NHL, who specializes in being an effective winger on a second penalty kill unit in the defensive zone especially, but who could also add a bit of a scoring touch when required and perhaps give you a shorthanded goal now and again.

While it's clear that Mikael is only getting the time at this level due to the Jenner and Voronkov injuries, I have no doubts that he'll earn his playing time regardless and earn his next contract to stay in Columbus for a few years to come.

One bold prediction: when in the lineup, Pyyhtiä will average 17:00 minutes TOI and score at least 10 points this season.

While this is on the lower end, it's difficult to predict precisely what role Mikael will play initially in Dean Evason's system. I think he fits it quite well: an aggressive forward that plays his side of the wings well, can take a faceoff when needed, and can be used in all icetime situations.

However, it's difficult to see him beating out guys like Aston-Reese, Olivier, and Gambrell for ice time right out of the gate; due to his youth and relative rawness as a prospect. However, if/when he's in the lineup, I have no doubts about his ability to play well within the new systems and become a practical part of the squad.

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