Blue Jackets roster already seems to be split up into NHL and AHL groups

We're less than a week into training camp, and the Blue Jackets roster already seems to be split up into NHL and AHL groups. We really shouldn't be surprised that this is the case.

Dean Evason said that it would be important for the team to get down to business quickly, even mentioning having an apparent NHL roster as early as this week. Here we are, after just one preseason game, and things seem to be pretty clear already. There are 20 skaters in the main group:

Naturally, a lot can change before the season. The team still has seven more exhibition games, which will give everyone a chance - or multiple chances - to showcase themselves for a job. But, as it stands, this really looks a lot like our expectations for this year's team, just minus injured forward Justin Danforth.

If you add Danforth into the mix, you get a 23 man roster (adding in the two goaltenders). Which is exactly where the team has to be at the start of the NHL season. If things don't change, the Jackets will carry 8 defensemen and 13 forwards; something we pointed out as likely in our own roster predictions last week.

The only real surprise on the roster would be Dylan Gambrell. This is a player that I expected to see in Cleveland this season, taking over the mentorship role vacated by Brendan Gaunce.

From a wider perspective however, it's not surprising at all. Keeping Gambrell around, even if just for the time being; will allow the Blue Jackets to keep their young forwards in the AHL. Which should be the most important goal for this team right now.

It does little good to keep a player like James Malatesta or Gavin Brindley on the NHL roster if they aren't going to play consistent minutes. Likewise, on defense: while Denton Mateychuk has been really impressive, if the goal is to keep David Jiricek around, he's better suited in the AHL. Two full-time rookie defensemen in the NHL is a recipe for disaster; from both an immediate perspective, and a developmental perspective.

The Jackets may also look to add another roster player before the season. In fact, Don Waddell talked about needing one more body just last week. We'll keep a close eye out for an add, or movement in these roster groups as training camp rolls on. It will be interesting to see how players are shuffled around.