Columbus Blue Jackets 2023-24 player review, Dmitri Voronkov made an immediate impact

The Blue Jackets had to wait four years for Voronkov to come to North America. The patience appears to have paid off, as Voronkov was one of the better players for the CBJ this past season.

He put in a solid rookie season, scoring 18 goals and showing talent that the CBJ desperately needed. He utilized his impressive size (6’5”, 240 lbs) in combination with his high hockey IQ to play a well-rounded game. He looks right at home in front of the net. If he continues to build upon his rookie season, there is no reason why he cannot become one of the better power forwards in the NHL.

Voronkov thrived playing with Yegor Chinakhov and Kirill Marchenko. The trio made what was known as the Russian line for the CBJ this past season. The three worked well together, which seemed to elevate each player’s game. The familiarity with his fellow countrymen seemed to make Voronkov comfortable and allowed him to play his style of game.

Early in the season, there were rumblings that Voronkov was homesick and was looking to go back to Russia. Fortunately, his teammates helped him settle into Columbus and make him feel comfortable. By all accounts, he seems happy now and is here to stay.

The CBJ selected Voronkov with the 114th pick (4th round) in the 2019 NHL Draft. The Blue Jackets only selected three players in the NHL 2019 Draft due to their trade activity ahead of the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline.

At the time, many fans were not very excited about the 2019 NHL Draft because of the few draft picks owned by the CBJ and the fact that those picks were not very high. However, Voronkov’s play is showing that the CBJ may have found a hidden gem. Credit goes to the CBJ scouting staff for finding Voronkov and selecting him later in the draft. That pick is turning out to be a steal.

Voronkov is signed through next season (2024-2025) at $925k AAV. He will definitely be signed by the team to an extension after next season, especially if he improves upon his solid rookie campaign.

If he has a big year next season, don’t be surprised if the new general manager signs Voronkov to a long-term deal. He is showing that he is an important piece of the core for the CBJ and locking him into a long term deal soon would be in the best interest of the organization.

In his rookie season, Voronkov showed everyone why the CBJ were high on him. He is a big player with skill and plays a physical game. He gets an A for a great rookie season.