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The Blue Jackets' annual public open practice and scrimmage went well for an organization in transition

Whether they were ready for it or not, the Blue Jackets were confronted by the beginning of the hockey season. Training camp is well underway, and the annual public open practice has come and gone once more. Here are some of my observations from it.
ByMike Stump|
Sep 4, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Mourners gather for a candlelight vigil to remember Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau at Nationwide Arena. Gaudreau, along with his brother, Matthew, died in a bicycle crash last week. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-Imagn Images via Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network
Sep 4, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Mourners gather for a candlelight vigil to remember Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau at Nationwide Arena. Gaudreau, along with his brother, Matthew, died in a bicycle crash last week. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-Imagn Images via Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network | Adam Cairns-Imagn Images via Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network
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Who else stood out?

Amateur tryout players Pano Fimis and Jacob Oster both impressed me before they were released back to their junior clubs this afternoon. Oster performed well during the PP and PK drills, while Fimis scored yet another goal during this training camp season and was a fan favorite while he did so. While they are both free agents again as of the time of writing, I wouldn't be surprised if the Jackets loop back around on them both before the end of the CHL season. Both players looked like they had talent and maybe decent assets to have in the pipeline.

The scrimmage occurred just after noon for two periods, ending in a 2-2 tie. The goals for the White Jersey team were scored by Denton Mateychuk and Cleveland Monsters invitee Curtis Hall, and those scored by the Blue Jersey team were done so by Fimis and Jake Christiansen.

Christiansen and Mateychuk's especially stand out in my memory. Mateychuk finished a nice shot in front of the net, which was set up by some decent playmaking and an aggressive forecheck set up by a Mathieu Olivier-led line. On the other hand, Christiansen went end to end and sent a laser past Evan Gardner that drew a reaction from our socials.

Finally, one player that stood out to me in the scrimmage that others may not have noticed: Stanislav Svozil. I feel like I might be leading the one-person parade, beating the drum for Svozil to make the main team roster in the near future. Still, I feel strongly about the young defenseman's extremely underrated hockey IQ and defensive intelligence, adding to what could be an NHL-level potential and full-time role in the future.

The Jackets will travel to Buffalo, New York, again on Monday to take on the Sabres. Their lineup will be led by Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, and others. This game will be the first time the Jackets have played a full-regulation game since April. Plenty of the young guns in that lineup have more to prove, and it'll be exciting to see who earns the last few roster spots ahead of the season opener coming soon in October.

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