Columbus Blue Jackets 2024-25 full roster breakdown and predictions

Goaltenders: Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov

The Blue Jackets run it back with last year's tandem. The hope here is that the team's improvements elsewhere in the roster - combined with an almost all-new coaching staff, will help both of these guys make more saves.

One thing I think that is different this year: we will not see this team name a true #1 goaltender at any point. Dean Evason used a tandem approach in his tenure with the Minnesota Wild, rolling with the hot hand on any given night.

I think we will see a true split, with neither guy exceeding 45 starts this season. That is, unless one of them clearly stands out ahead of the other.

I believe Evason when he says that playing time will be dictated by performance. This will hold true with the skaters' ice time, but the goaltenders as well. Which means that if a certain you-know-who gets an attitude if he doesn't get the lion's share of the starts, he's going to have to play his way back into the job. Complaining to the media won't do it with this head coach.

If true, that approach will be refreshing. This team's goaltending hasn't been up to par for at least three seasons. Even middle of the pack goaltending will help this team win more hockey games, which we so desperately need to see.

With contracts and feelings set aside, an honest approach should help both guys compete harder. Competition can either make guys better, or make them worse. If they improve, great. If not, well, at least after this season we'll know where things stand with both of these guys. Assuming good health, anyway. Then, the team can make final decisions on their goaltending moving forward.

Let's start diving into the defense corps on the next page.

Zach Werenski is one of the best blue liners in the entire NHL. Who steps up to play with him?

Not much changes in the core of the defense corps (say that three times fast), which isn't really surprising. The Blue Jackets gave up 300 goals last season, but I don't think this group is really that bad. There are good NHL names here; I'm just not sure the scheme or usage was correct.

Led by Zach Werenski, the Jackets have a pretty serviceable top-four including Ivan Provorov, Damon Severson, and Erik Gudbranson. They supplement this group with newcomer Jordan Harris, veteran Jack Johnson, and (likely) top prospect David Jiricek. On paper, this should work.

If the team does keep Jiricek, I don't see him spending too many nights as the 7th man. Don Waddell has talked quite a few times about the importance of prospects playing games rather than sitting out. So, I think he probably takes a full-time spot if he's kept around.

With that in mind, it's easy to pair everyone off because the Blue Jackets would have three right-hand shooters in the regular lineup. I have the pairings like this:

Werenski-Severson
Provorov-Jiricek
Harris-Gudbranson

Placing Severson alongside Werenski gives the Blue Jackets a viable 20-25 minute per night two-way pair. They can eat up heavy minutes in any situation. Harris and Gudbranson could roll out as a shutdown pair; while Jiricek and Provorov could eat up easy (offensive zone) starts and be used in matchups against secondary competition.

This would leave Jack Johnson as the 7th man, which is what I believe the team brought him in to be. He'll serve as a mentor in practice, with the ability to step in and play minutes if need be. Others in the mix here include Jake Christiansen and Denton Mateychuk. I could see the team keeping 8 full-time defensemen (retaining Christiansen) to keep everyone fresh. Especially with their shortage of NHL forwards, pending any roster additions before the season.

Mateychuk is the wild card for me. He was really close to making the team last year, and has only improved. Could he shock the system and force the team to make some really hard decisions? This is probably the most interesting battle to watch in this year's training camp.

There are some battles to be won up front, though. Let's break down some forward line combos.

The Blue Jackets have a lot of players with NHL chops up front - but how will they all fit together?

I think the easiest approach to the forward group is to start at the bottom and work our way up. After all, this team's fourth line is two thirds of the way complete based off of contract situations and typical usage.

Sean Kuraly reprises his role as this team's fourth line center. I don't think I'm stretching the truth when I call him one of the best in the entire NHL at that job. He wins faceoffs, competes hard on both sides of the puck; and plays a simple up and down game. Joining him on the right wing is Mathieu Olivier, who stood out last year as a glue guy. His toughness and leadership are going to be much needed for this young team this year, given their tragic circumstances.

My prediction for the third member of the fourth line: newly signed left wing James van Riemsdyk. I do think JVR has some gas left in the tank, but it's hard to see him rolling out in the top-9 consistently. At 35 years old, he's never been a great skater, and his two-way game has never been terrific. But, in depth minutes, he will be fine - especially on a line with these two reliable veterans. He can play up and down the lineup as needed.

Predicting the top-9 is a little bit tricky. For the first time in a long time, the Jackets actually have some good quality centers competing for jobs. No fewer than 5 of them, by my estimation. Which means that some of them will have to play on the wing.

For the third line, that someone is going to be Dmitri Voronkov. I think Cole Sillinger is the perfect type of two-way center to play under Dean Evason, and I think he's also due for a big year. Voronkov's size and two-way capabilities could be an excellent fit down the wing here, and these two could be a matchup nightmare for the opposition if their offense pops.

The only thing missing? Speed. Enter Justin Danforth. Assuming he's healthy to start the year, Danforth is the perfect fit alongside these two. He brings plenty of speed, some more physicality, and a touch of skill. In theory, this could be the best third line the Blue Jackets have had in several years.

This leaves us with some very skilled (but young) forwards in the top-six. I have one really bold prediction for the top line.

The Blue Jackets are going to have a very skilled group of top-six forwards this year, but if it comes together, look out...

Rather than continuing to work our way up through the second line, let's just rip off the band-aid. Here's how I have the top-two lines shaking out:

Fantilli-Monahan-Marchenko
Johnson-Jenner-Chinakhov

Yes, I believe Adam Fantili will start the year on the wing. This is my hottest take ahead of the season. That doesn't mean he'll be there all year, or even full-time. But, with the loss of Johnny Gaudreau, the Blue Jackets have to piece together a top line. Fantilli is the highest upside player on the entire roster.

And, what better way to develop our future #1 center, than to play him in heavy minutes alongside a veteran two-way pivot like Sean Monahan? Fantilli can ease into faceoff situations and see what it takes to play in that top center role, up close and in live action. With Kirill Marchenko on the other side, I could see this being a really productive top line.

This also allows the team to keep a veteran between the two youngsters on the second line. Boone Jenner won't be forced to play 20+ minutes per night, now that the team has added Monahan to the roster. So, he can settle into a middle-six mentorship role here, eating up the responsibilities while Kent Johnson and Yegor Chinakhov do their thing offensively.

I'm sure there will be lots of shuffling done here. And, over time, Fantilli is going to be a full-time center on this team. This probably moves Jenner into a role on the wing. Maybe even Fantilli's wing - with Monahan assuming a mentoring job in between Johnson and Chinakhov.

The battle for the 13th forward spot is something we'll have to pay close attention to as well. Dylan Gambrell, Owen Sillinger, or perhaps even Trey Fix-Wolansky could be in line to win that job. Lest we forget Waddell's promise to add another forward to the roster before the season, as well. Lots of things could still happen here.

The Jackets have some interesting options for line combinations. If early usage in camp is any indication, my predictions will be very, very wrong. But, it's always interesting to see different perspectives and ideas on where guys might fit in.