Four games into the season, the Blue Jackets continue to search for consistency within their lineup. While they work things out, offense has not really been an issue. But at some point, we wonder: is the answer to balancing out this lineup sitting in their press box?
Of course, we're talking about Luca Del Bel Belluz here. He's the only skater on the active roster to not have a single shift so far this season. For a team that is struggling to find a line that can generate some secondary offense, he seems like the kind of guy who could help.
It's all about balance.
I'll preface this whole thing by stating the obvious: the Blue Jackets have 12 goals in 4 games, averaging exactly 3 per game. That's not the end of the world by any means. But, in today's NHL, I think that's good enough to do exactly what it has done: keep them around .500 in the standings.
This is especially true when you consider this fact: they have surrendered 14 goals at the other end. With a lineup that is designed to clog up lanes and shut other teams down, this is pretty alarming. It's also exactly what needs to change.
My argument here is simple. The best way to prevent the other team from scoring, is to have the puck yourself. In the games the Jackets have won, they have done that. This is exactly why that third line is so effective, and usually decides whether this team wins a game on any given night, or not.
On Friday night against Pittsburgh, they were tasked with shutting down the Sidney Crosby line. They did a magnificent job, because they simply played in the Penguins' end. It's pretty hard for #87 to do what he does best, when he's having to spend 40 seconds in his own defensive zone.
Seems obvious, right?
So, why aren't the Blue Jackets getting this same level of play from the rest of their lineup? After all, they have three lines that are designed to do the exact same thing. Get the puck in deep, battle for it, maybe take it to the net and get a greasy goal here and there.
Again, I think that's part of the problem. Outside of the top line and maybe Charlie Coyle, can you point to any one forward that has looked dangerous with the puck on a consistent basis? Lets pick on the Sean Monahan line for just a second here. They should be carrying more of the workload.
This line has featured Valeri Nichushkin and Dmitri Voronkov for most of its minutes this season. Those guys are both big, and both have a lot of skill. There is just one problem here: this line has been slow. Really slow.
And I think that's played into Nichushkin's sluggish start. He has shown flashes of skill (I would even call it elite skill), but I've noticed him having to turn up and wait for help more often than not. The fact of the matter is, neither Monahan or Voronkov are going to keep pace with him in that regard. The result speaks for itself, as they have combined for just 5 points in 4 games.
Which brings me to the solution: give Luca Del Bel Belluz a shot on this line. Take Voronkov off of it, and either put him with Charlie Coyle and Mathieu Olivier on the "identity" line, or have him center the fourth line in place of Danton Heinen, who has a 45% CORSI rating (worst amongst CBJ forwards) and is only 44% at the faceoff circle.
I get why Heinen is in the lineup, and he has been fine in his role. Part of that role is taking on the thankless job of getting caved in. But lets be honest here, there isn't anything in his game that this team would miss if he did not play tomorrow. There are plenty of defensively capable forwards on this roster.
Putting Voronkov alongside Conor Garland could also give you some pep on that fourth line, as well. At the very least, we know that this line would be able to give you some good minutes and not get caved in. That can be summed up in one word. What is it? Oh yeah, depth!
At best, Del Bel Belluz sparks some chemistry with Nichushkin, and helps this line get going. At worst, you healthy scratched a guy who cleared waivers last season, and tried something new. What is there to lose?
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