Identifying the Core Pieces for the Columbus Blue Jackets
We talk quite a bit about the future core of the Columbus Blue Jackets. That core is at least a couple of years away from being a serious contender. Who do we consider to be a part of it?
Even in a down season, it's been somewhat easy to scope out players who are building blocks towards the future in Columbus - and the players who are not.
It's also easy to say that there are brighter times ahead for this franchise. At least in part, that's because they're at one of the lowest points of their history.
But, that isn't the only reason we say the future is brighter. I don't think I can recall seeing a better pool of young players here. For the first time in their existence, they have pieces in every position that could become top contributors; perhaps with the exception of a standout young goaltender.
Some of those pieces are already contributing in the NHL. Others are still playing at lower levels. When it all comes together, it could be magical. It will just take (a lot) more time than we hoped.
Since I mentioned standout young goaltenders, let's start in the net. Elvis Merzlikins is signed for three seasons after this one, and is paid to be the starter. While he's been openly displeased lately, I don't see his situation changing. The team needs him, and he needs the team (reportedly, there wasn't much interest in him on the trade market).
After that, well, things are less than exciting. Daniil Tarasov continues to try to find his way at the NHL level, with mixed results. Jet Greaves has burst onto the scene this season - and has even been well better than expected at the NHL level. But, he's undersized; and as an undrafted free agent, he's a little bit hard to project as the future #1 backstop of the organization. Time will tell.
Perhaps more intriguing is Russian netminder Sergei Ivanov. He's been dominant in the KHL, and if he ever comes over to North America, could be a good one to keep an eye on. But like Greaves, size is a concern. After these guys are late round gamble out of Sweden, Melvin Strahl; and another undrafted free agent, Nolan Lalonde.
It may be time for the Jackets to send some assets away for a true future starting goaltender. Or maybe, just use a higher draft pick to find someone with more upside. If they do decide to make a trade though, it shouldn't include the future core players; who should be taking this roster over by the time the 2025-26 season starts. Let's start with the defense corps.
The Blue Jackets are going to be deep and talented on defense - assuming they develop some of their young players properly.
We'll start with the obvious ones here: Zach Werenski (signed through 2027-28) and Damon Severson (signed through 2030-31); are both anchors here for the next half decade or so.
Werenski is a legitimate top pairing defenseman in this league, when healthy. You can build around him. Severson is versatile, but probably best utilized on the second pair. Idealy, this is your #1 and #3 defenseman, in two years' time.
David Jiricek may be unhappy with his current situation, but the team has to find a way to keep him around. He's the obvious future partner for Werenski, with the potential to become a dominant two-way threat in the NHL. He can be the #2 guy.
Denton Mateychuk could also be a top pairing guy in the NHL, and will almost certainly work his way into the top-four at some point. But, will he be ready for second pairing duty by 2025?
The depth options are great for the Jackets, also. Look no further than the next tier of top prospects for the team: Stanislav Svozil and Corson Ceulemans. And, we cannot overlook Adam Boqvist in all of this - let's not forget that he was an 8th overall pick himself. When healthy, he's looked really strong alongside Werenski.
That gives this team a pretty solid group of 7/8 defensemen, two or three years down the road. It's just going to take some time and the proper development (I know, I know).
The future is just as bright up front. We'll talk about how the forward pieces come together on the next page.
The situation up front is a little less linear. Obviously, there are twice as many forward spots available compared to the defense. I also expect a lot of movement here over the next couple of seasons.
The Blue Jackets have just four players currently on the NHL roster, who are signed beyond next year. Johnny Gaudreau (through 2028-29), Patrik Laine (2026-27), Boone Jenner (2025-26), and Adam Fantilli (2025-26).
This will change this summer, as the team has six(!) restricted free agent (RFA) forwards they'll need to deal with. I expect them to keep at least four of these guys around: Kent Johnson, Yegor Chinakhov, Kirill Marchenko, and Cole Sillinger are all positively part of this team's long-term core. Also surely fitting into the future plans: 2025 RFA Dmitri Voronkov.
The other two RFAs this summer are Alexandre Texier and Emil Bemstrom. I would not be surprised to see the team extend Texier, especially if he's inexpensive. He's carved out a niche for himself in the bottom-six; acting as a two-way threat and PK specialist. I do think they will move on from Bemstrom.
Jack Roslovic is the lone unrestricted free agent (UFA) on the roster heading into this spring. It's likely he'll be moved at the trade deadline, as the team looks to recoup some assets for a player that doesn't seem to be part of the solution here. They will also have to move on from Sean Kuraly, Mathieu Olivier, and Justin Danforth at some point - all three are UFAs in 2025.
There good news is, are some good pieces in the prospect pool that we can still be excited about, who should be primed to take the jobs vacated by Roslovic, Kuraly, Olivier and Danforth. Jordan Dumais, Gavin Brindley, and Luca del bel Belluz; should all be ready to make an impact in the next few seasons.
James Malatesta, William Whitelaw, Luca Pinelli, and Hunter McKown all seem like future NHLers as well. The future for the Columbus Blue Jackets is filled with skill and depth at every forward position.
Where do the pieces all fit, and what might be missing? Let's put together a future roster on the next page.
Players who could conceivably still be here, but are noticeably missing from our 2025-26 lineup: Patrik Laine, Jake Bean, Andrew Peeke, and Daniil Tarasov.
I think Bean and Peeke will be on their way out this summer. These are the two players on defense, who are most heavily contributing to the logjam in Columbus.
At some point, the team will also have to make a decision on Daniil Tarasov. Yes, they have a lot invested in him. But, if he's not fully in control of the starter's crease by this time, they'll have to move on. It's not him and Elvis. It's him or Elvis.
Which brings us to Laine. In an ideal world, Patty will come back from his current leave of absence refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to be an elite sniper in the NHL again. He has the ability. The question for me here is; whose spot does he take in that future top-six?
His age puts him in an odd spot, where he's not quite a veteran leader - or a part of the next young core. I could see this going either way, really. But, it starts with him coming back strong and pushing someone out of their role. If he does that, maybe they could shuffle someone else out for assets elsewhere in the lineup. The good news here is, if Patty is kept around, it will be because he's an elite goal scorer.
One other thing we have to mention: the Jackets are going to have yet another top-10 (top-5?) pick at this summer's draft. That player will be pushing for a job on the 2025 roster as well, and could make for some really interesting decisions.
Ultimately, as we said at the beginning of the article; the pieces are mostly here. It's just going to take time for them to develop.
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