Last season, the Blue Jackets had one of the most effective puck possession top lines in the entire NHL. Kirill Marchenko and Sean Monahan drove a lot of that play, but Dmitri Voronkov was an important part of that as well. This year, the team will need the big man to bring even more to the mix.
In his sophomore season, Dmitri really discovered his game under Dean Evason. While playing in a much more cohesive situation, the big man had to quickly settle in after missing the start of the season to a shoulder injury. It took him a few games to find his offense, but once he did, he never looked back.
"Vronk" scored 23 goals and 47 points in 73 games overall, with all but one goal coming in a 67 game stretch after he took a couple of weeks to adjust. That's a 53 point pace over an 82 game schedule, which is really good - but it's not exactly what you hope for out of a top line winger. The question I have is, will he be a permanent fixture on the top line? I think he will need to bring more to hold onto that job.
This trio was extremely effective because all three of them play a similar brand of hockey. They're all responsible defensively, and at all times there was an F3 who was waiting above the puck, looking to turn the play back into the offensive zone. This is exactly where I thought Dmitri was at his best.
If I'm stealing a football term here, I'd describe him somewhat like a high safety. A "puck hawk", if you will. At 6'5" and 240 pounds, he's not the most fleet afoot; but he's a smart player who plays responsible hockey. He understands where the play is heading and is often in the perfect spot to intercept a breakout pass. As a result of his size, he's also really effective in front of the net, with soft enough hands to bury rebounds and score off of deflections.
Still, despite his breakout campaign and the fact that I think we've seen him near his offensive peak, I feel like there's more for him to give. Early in his rookie season, we saw a punishing physical player who brought a little snarl to the ice. You can never have too much of that.
While I don't think he needs to be a Mathieu Olivier or Erik Gudbranson, willing to drop the mitts at any given moment; I do think the team would benefit from a more physical version of Dmitri Voronkov. When he wasn't on his game, he was guilty of being a bit of a "cardio merchant", floating around the ice and looking for the play to come to him. Sometimes, the best way to get back onto your game is to plant a defenseman firmly against the glass.
With a fresh new 2-year contract with a $4.175m AAV, I'm certain of two things. First, as the now third-highest paid forward on the team, there are bigger expectations for him. And second, he's going to be hungry to earn an even bigger contract when he gets another crack at it. Big Boss will want bigger money.
One bold prediction: Dmitri will join an exclusive club with 30 goals and 100 penalty minutes.
Over the past three NHL seasons, this is a feat accomplished only four times. Twice by Brady Tkachuk, once by his brother Matthew; and last season only by Tom Wilson. This year, I'll predict that Dmitri will rediscover his physical game while also potting a few more goals. As a result, he will establish himself as one of the most impactful power forwards in the sport.
A healthy start to the season would give him a better go at things. And, hopefully enough confidence to make his game stand out even more. Whether he's a long-term fit on the top line or not, this is a guy who should be part of this team's competitive core moving forward.