Blue Jackets 2024 season preview, Jet Greaves will get an elevated role
The Blue Jackets need to improve their goaltending from the past couple of seasons. With the stellar play of Jet Greaves in Cleveland, expect to see him more often in Columbus.
Signed as an undrafted player in 2022, Jet Greaves was primarily intended to be a minor league goaltender to help the Cleveland Monsters. However, after 2 seasons with the organization, Greaves has exceeded expectations. This past season, he backstopped Cleveland to 30 wins and was recognized as an AHL all-star with his 0.910 save percentage.
Greaves was a frequent recall from Cleveland in 2023-2024. He played in 9 NHL games, recording a 0.908 save percentage and 3.49 GAA. While those numbers aren’t flashy, he looked good in those appearances and gave the team a chance to win in most of those games. He looked like he was ready to play in the NHL.
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Jet signed a 2-year contract extension this offseason. The 1st year is a 2-way contract, and the 2nd year is a 1-way contract. That means that in year #1, he will have an NHL salary and an AHL salary. In year #2, he will have just an NHL salary and will be paid that money regardless of where he plays. Having a 1-way contract is indicative of being an NHL player is players are not often sent to the AHL on 1-way contracts.
That means that CBJ management view him as an NHL player and expect him to be a full-time NHL player within the next 2 seasons.
One bold prediction: Jet Greaves will play the second most games of any Blue Jackets goalie.
This may be bold on the surface because the Blue Jackets have Daniil Tarasov and Elvis Merzlikins penciled in as the netminders for the upcoming season. However, I don’t think it is out of the realm of possibility.
Jet has been a frequent call-up from Cleveland over the past 2 seasons, playing in 9 games in 2023-2024. If Merzlikins continues to struggle and if Tarasov’s health struggles, don’t be surprised to see Jet play in some additional games for the Blue Jackets.
If he can perform well in those games, it wouldn’t surprise me if Coach Dean Evason rides the better goalie for a portion of the season. That’s why I think it is possible Greaves could play the 2nd most games of any CBJ goalie this season.
Assuming all goalies are healthy, expect Jet to start in Cleveland. But if his stellar play continues, he won’t be there for long. Soon enough, he could be a mainstay on this Blue Jackets roster.
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