How would a fully healthy Columbus Blue Jackets lineup look?

The Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the biggest surprises in the NHL this season. Currently jockeying for a playoff spot as February nears, the team is exceeding expectations even without some of their key veteran players. So, that begs the question: how good would this team be if they were fully healthy?

The Jackets currently have four players on injured reserve, three of them being forwards. Captain Boone Jenner has yet to play a game this season. First line center Sean Monahan landed on IR last week after suffering an apparent setback in his recovery from a wrist injury. Winger Yegor Chinakhov hasn't played since November 27th; while defenseman Erik Gudbranson has gotten into just three games this season.

There is some good news on the injury front. Jenner is travelling with the team on its current four-game road trip, which means he's very close to a return. Chinakhov has also been skating recently, though it's worth noting that he left practice early yesterday and we aren't sure why.

Gudbranson and Monahan look to be out until sometime in March however, which is bad news. If the Jackets are going to seriously make a playoff push, they will need all hands on deck as soon as they can get them. It's hard to see this team continuing to compete when the games get harder, without some of these key names in the lineup.

If everyone returns, who comes out of the lineup? And, where do they all fit in?

It's important to note right away: the Jackets are not likely going to get fully healthy at any point this season. So, even if all four of these guys come back, I think the team will have some decisions made by (bad) luck. But, if they were fully healthy, this is actually a pretty darn good roster, with the way some of their young players have stepped up this season.

If the team got back all three forwards, they would only need to pull two players out of the every day lineup because they have been using an extra defenseman. In my opinion, this one is pretty easy to work out because Luca del bel Belluz, though he's been terrific in his short audition, can still be sent back to the American Hockey League with no risk. Jenner's impending return most likely prompts Luca's demotion.

Should the team get both Monahan and Jenner back, they could also option Mikael Pyyhtia to the Cleveland Monsters with no risk. As for Chinakhov, He fills the spot voided by the seventh defenseman. Which leads us to some tougher decisions, especially if we write Gudbranson into the lineup as well. More on that in a moment.

Unfortunately, an unintended result of this team getting full health: Kevin Labanc. Labanc has spent many nights sitting out of the lineup, with the team opting to use seven defensemen rather than putting him in the lineup. He may hit waivers if the team gets fully healthy.

The situation on the blue line has been complicated by the early arrival and standout play of Denton Mateychuk. Six weeks ago, I think we would have been able to pretty easily slot Gudbranson right back in without moving too much around. But, to our pleasant surprise, Mateychuk looks calm and confident. He's staying, which pushes someone else out. This could be really easy, if the team can't extend his partner.

What does the team do with Ivan Provorov?

This is the kicker, in my opinion. If they're confident in getting Gudbranson back before the end of the season, they may trade Provorov to the highest bidder and roll with the group they have otherwise. If not - or, if Provorov is willing to sign an extension here that makes sense - they'll have to shuffle some bodies around on the third pairing.

In my opinion, everyone being fully healthy means Jack Johnson and Jake Christiansen both come out of the lineup and spend most nights in the press box. This also means Jordan Harris likely being placed on waivers. Or, perhaps, one of these three gets traded.

With all of that in mind, here's how a fully healthy Blue Jackets lineup would look:

Extras: Justin Danforth, Jack Johnson, Jake Christiansen

If they trade Provorov, you can slot one of Johnson, Christiansen, or Jordan Harris onto the third pairing and move Mateychuk up one.

Obviously, the team will rely on Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov to tend the goal. With that lineup in front of them, I could see this team making a serious push at a playoff spot. And, if they did get in, they would make life miserable for whatever team drew them in the first round. It's a long shot, especially as injuries have mounted. But, it is fun to see them playing meaningful games this late in the year again.