Analysis

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 20: Cleveland Monsters goalie Matiss Kivlenieks (35) makes a stop during the second period of the American Hockey League game between the Chicago Wolves and Cleveland Monsters on March 20, 2018, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Chicago defeated Cleveland 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets Prospect Expectations 18-19: Matiss Kivlenieks

Columbus Blue Jackets and the Metro in 18-19 Part VIII: The Rangers

Columbus Blue Jackets and the Metro in 18-19 Part VII, The Islanders

Columbus Blue Jackets and the Metro Part VI, The Hurricanes

TUCSON, AZ - MAY 02: Tucson Roadrunners center Ryan MacInnis (72) and Texas Stars defenseman Dillon Heatherington (3) fight for the puck during a hockey game between the Texas Stars and Tuscon Roadrunners on May 02, 2018, at Tucson Convention Center in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets Prospect Expectations 18-19: Ryan MacInnis

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 27: Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save upon Montreal Canadiens left wing Charles Hudon (54) during the third period of the NHL game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Montreal Canadiens on November 27, 2017, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC(Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets Contract Negotiations with Sergei Bobrovsky Stall

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 15: Lineman Mark Shewchyk #92 drops the puck on a face-off between Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers and Boone Jenner #38 of the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 15, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets and the Metro Part V, The Flyers

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 5: Goaltender Matt Murray #30 of the Pittsburgh Penguins defends the net as Cam Atkinson #13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets attempts to redirect the puck on April 5, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Murray;Cam Atkinson

Columbus Blue Jackets and the Metro in 18-19, Part IV

HERNING, DENMARK - MAY 15: Elvis Merzlikins #30, goaltender of Latvia celebrates after the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Group B game between Latvia and Denmark at Jyske Bank Boxen on May 15, 2018 in Herning, Denmark. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets Prospect Expectations 18-19: Elvis Merzlikins

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 20: Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils flips over Brandon Dubinsky #17 of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period on February 20, 2018 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets and the Metro in 18-19: Part III

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: A general view of the Columbus Blue Jackets draft table is seen during Round One of the 2017 NHL Draft at United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets Prospect Expectations 18-19: Carson Meyer

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 23: Calvin Thurkauf #83 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks to pass under pressure from Patrick Sharp #10 of the Chicago Blackhawks during a preseason game at the United Center on September 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Ranking the Top 3 Rookies that could make the Columbus Blue Jackets

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 23: Zach Werenski #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets shakes hands with T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals after the end of Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Washington defeated Columbus 6-3 to win the series 4-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zach Werenski;T.J. Oshie

Columbus Blue Jackets and the Metro in 18-19: Part II

BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 05: Marek Zachar #6 of Czech Republic battles with Andrew Peeke #20 of United States during the second period of play in the IIHF World Junior Championships Bronze Medal game at KeyBank Center on January 5, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets 18-19 Prospects Expectations: Andrew Peeke

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 7: Eric Robinson #50 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the Nashville Predators during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on April 7, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra /NHL/ Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets 18-19 Prospects Expectations: Eric Robinson

LONDON, ON - OCTOBER 9: Kole Sherwood #67 of the London Knights skates with the puck against the Sudbury Wolves during an OHL game at Budweiser Gardens on October 9, 2015 in London, Ontario, Canada. The Knights defeated the Wolves 6-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets 18-19 Prospects Expectations: Kole Sherwood

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 20: Iowa Wild defenceman Hunter Warner (4) and Cleveland Monsters center Sam Vigneault (21) fight during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the Iowa Wild and Cleveland Monsters on December 20, 2017, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland defeated Iowa 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets 18-19 Prospects Expectations: Sam Vigneault

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 19: Zach Werenski #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets knocks over T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals while battling for control of the puck in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zach Werenski;T.J. Oshie

How the Ryan Ellis Contract effects Zach Werenski

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 05: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ryan Murray (27) controls the puck in the first period of a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 05, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets: Ryan Murray 2018-2019 Season Expectations

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 10 : Riley Nash #20 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the TD Garden on November 10, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets: Riley Nash 2018-2019 Season Expectations

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 20: Chicago Wolves left wing Teemu Pulkkinen (3) and Cleveland Monsters center Calvin Thurkauf (27) follow the puck into the corner during the third period of the American Hockey League game between the Chicago Wolves and Cleveland Monsters on March 20, 2018, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Chicago defeated Cleveland 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets 18-19 Prospects Expectations: Calvin Thurkauf

COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 22: Markus Nutivaara

Columbus Blue Jackets: Markus Nutivaara 2018-2019 Season Expectations

Austria's Dominic Zwerger (L) and France's Alexandre Texier vie for the puck during the group A match France vs Austria of the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 11, 2018. (Photo by HELMUT FOHRINGER / APA / AFP) / Austria OUT (Photo credit should read HELMUT FOHRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets: Texier’s Final Season in Finland?

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 26: President of Hockey Operations of the Columbus Blue Jackets John Davidson (L) and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen of the Columbus Blue Jackets look on from their draft table during Round One of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center on June 26, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets Front Office, Coaches, Still Without Contracts

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 5: Artemi Panarin #9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets warms up prior to the start of the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 5, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Artemi Panarin

Columbus Blue Jackets: Artemi Panarin 2018-2019 Season Expectations

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 25: Cleveland Monsters center Kevin Stenlund (82) collects the puck during the first period of the American Hockey League game between the San Diego Gulls and Cleveland Monsters on March 25, 2018, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. San Diego defeated Cleveland 2-1. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets: Kevin Stenlund 2018-2019 Season Expectations

COLUMBUS, OH - FEBRUARY 16: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard (58) looks on in the first period of a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Philadelphia Flyers on February 16, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.(Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets: David Savard 2018-2019 Season Expectations

COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 22: Alexander Wennberg #10 of the Columbus Blue Jackets takes the ice before a game against the Florida Panthers on March 22, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alexander Wennberg

Columbus Blue Jackets: Alexander Wennberg 2018-2019 Season Expectations