Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell worked to add depth to the organization this summer by signing some more experienced players to play for the Cleveland Monsters. Dysin Mayo is one example, and he could be a recall option for the Jackets if they run into injuries.
Any GM around the NHL will tell you that you need at least 10 defensemen to get through a full season. Every team loses players due to injury, especially on the back-end. Defensemen tend to take a hit every time they touch the puck, after all.
It's important to have depth within the system to cover for those injuries. You can never have too many guys capable of bouncing between the AHL and NHL, and you don't want to rely on prospects to fill in too many of the gaps. They are better suited playing heavier minutes and focusing on development. For that reason, players like Dysin Mayo can be underrated across the league.
Having spent parts of 11 seasons at the professional level, the former 5th round pick hasn't established himself as an NHL player. In fact, he's gotten into just 82 career games - all in two seasons with the Arizona Coyotes (2021-22, 2022-23). But, he has become a reliable player at the AHL level, with 426 career games under his belt, accruing 29 goals and 97 points.
At 6'0" and 190 pounds, he's made a name for himself by playing a steady all-around game, though he doesn't have any one trait that stands out. He likes to play a physical game and will not take any nonsense from the opponent - as evidenced by his 344 career penalty minutes in the AHL. In that regard, he'll be a little bit of a protector for the younger players in Cleveland. And, he should be a good veteran presence for them to learn from.
Dysin isn't likely to start the season in Columbus, but he could be one of the early recall options for the team should injuries arise. As a right-shot defenseman, he'll have a leg up over some of the other players in the system; as the faster pace of today's game makes having players play on their strong side far more important.
One bold prediction: Dysin Mayo will set career highs across the board. In the AHL.
Coming into a CBJ system that has its roster pretty well set will make it tough for Mayo to do much at the NHL level. But, the Monsters should have a good team this year, and I think he'll be an important piece in Cleveland. He should fit right into the system that is in place, which matches the one Dean Evason uses in Columbus. His career highs in goals (8), assists (20) and points (25) are certainly within reach, especially if he can pair up with someone like Stanislav Svozil inside of the top-4 on defense.