Jake Christiansen is quietly playing at a high level for the Columbus Blue Jackets

Lots of questions are being asked about the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. One of those questions: who fits into the defense corps for the long-term? While it's still early on, Jake Christiansen is quietly playing at a high level; possibly making a name for himself as a fixture for this team's back-end.

If it seems like Jake has been hanging around the organization forever, that's probably because he has. Signed by the Blue Jackets as an undrafted free agent all the way back in March of 2020, he's spent most of his professional career in the AHL, starring for the Cleveland Monsters.

In four seasons with the Monsters, Christiansen compiled 211 games, scoring 40 goals and 100 assists (140 points) in that time. Pretty impressive numbers for a young defenseman. This was capped off by his career-best 13 goal, 46 points (62 games played) season in 2023-24. This was just one point higher than his previous best, but it was his all-around game and leadership that stood out for the Monsters last year.

Jake was up against the numbers game coming into camp...

Even with the impressive AHL career, it was hard to place him in this team's top-six, with so many guys vying for ice time. I thought he would likely be the team's 7th or 8th defenseman. Instead, he started the year on the team's second pairing, alongside veteran stalwart Damon Severson. Somewhat surprisingly, the two have looked really strong together through the first six games.

Christiansen has picked up 4 points - all assists - in that time, but more importantly; he hasn't looked out of place very often, even without the puck on his stick. Sure, he's had some easy tallies, such as his first assist (this was all Kent Johnson's magic). Two of his other assists have been a direct result of him making strong plays in his own end.

Here, he blocks a shot that leads to a rush the other way. And on this play, he makes a quick breakout pass that creates an odd-man rush. His other point comes from a shot through traffic, that is tipped home by Zach Aston-Reese:

It's not all offense, which is great to see...

Christiansen has averaged 15:43 for the Jackets so far, basically second pairing ice time. He and Severson have played a total of just under 70 minutes together with relatively strong results. In fact, they are 1-2 in plus/minus amongst CBJ defensemen (Severson +4, Christiansen +3). The deep stats aren't perfect, but clearly this pairing is working for the team; and not in sheltered minutes.

When you put his NHL experience all together, Christiansen is quietly up to 11 points in 50 games played. That's not bad for a guy who hasn't really been given an honest look. Maybe he just needed a head coach willing to deploy him properly?

As a group 6 unrestricted free agent, this season was going to be Jake's last chance to make a name for himself with the Columbus Blue Jackets. If his early season play is any indication, I would not be surprised to see him get a contract extension with a hefty pay raise from the club.