The Blue Jackets have cut 7 players from training camp so far, where are these guys headed?
Training camp started one week ago, with 55 players on the training camp roster. The Blue Jackets began on-ice drills last Thursday, with the team holding practice for the first time this fall. One week later, they have already re-assigned seven players back to juniors. Lets look at each of their situations individually, and what we can expect.
Pano Fimis and Jacob Oster were both free agent invitees by the Jackets, after impressing at the team's rookie camp and prospect tournament in Buffalo. I was a little bit surprised to see them both sent back in the first round of cuts, but only because it was without contracts in hand. I thought they looked good.
That doesn't mean they won't be signed at some point this year. Fimis in particular looked like he would be a nice addition to the organization. He has NHL potential, with all of the requisite skill, good speed, and a high motor.
Oster could be a future NHLer as well, though goaltenders are a lot tougher to get a read on. Especially with the short viewing window we had in camp. I would not be surprised to see one or both of these guys brought into the organization, once their 20 year old seasons are finished in junior.
Also cut this week are five players whose rights are owned by the Blue Jackets. Another undrafted goaltender was involved in thate first round of cuts - Nolan Lalonde - though he's already under contract with the team. He was returned to the Ontario Hockey League's Kingston Frontenacs, where he will spend his final year of junior eligibilty. Expect him to turn pro after this season.
Defenseman Luca Marrelli was the last player cut on Sunday. The 2024 third round pick was sent back to the OHL's Oshawa Generals, where he should be a massive point producer this season. He wasn't making the CBJ roster this year, not by any stretch; so sending him back early was the right move. Let him settle into what should be a magnificent junior hockey season.
The second round of cuts saw three Blue Jacket draftees returned to their junior clubs. We'll run through those on the next page.
The second round of cuts came on Tuesday, with the Jackets returning both of their 2024 second round picks - defenseman Charlie Elick and goaltender Evan Gardner - as well as 2023 seventh rounder Tyler Peddle. As with the first round of cuts, these were all expected.
Elick will play for the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings this season. He stood out in camp for good and bad reasons. He played in Monday night's preseason opener in Buffalo, and threw a massive hit on Sabres forward Zach Benson. But it was obvious that he has a lot of learning to do, so like Marrelli; sending him back early was important.
Don't expect big offensive numbers from Elick in Brandon. More importantly, I'd like to see him weed out the odd missed check that takes him out of the play. Focus more on defending with his feet and stick, rather than hunting for the big hit at every turn. The hits will still come, he just needs to choose his spots more carefully.
Gardner will also play in the WHL this season - as the starting goaltender for the Saskatoon Blades. He came on in relief for the Jackets on Monday, and while the game was well out of reach; it became quickly apparent that he would be headed back to junior this season as well. I think Gardner will put up gaudy numbers this season. He has the talent, and should be the backbone of his team.
Peddle will head to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he'll play for the Saint John Sea Dogs this year. I would love to see some growth in his goal scoring game. Otherwise, at this point, he looks like a long-shot to play in the NHL. At his highest potential, he's probably just a fourth line player - but being big and physical is no longer enough in today's NHL. He needs to show that he can finish.
The fact that the Blue Jackets had these kinds of high potential players involved in their earliest cuts, speaks to the volume of talent in the organization. Hopefully all of these guys will have big seasons in junior hockey, making them much harder to cut next season and beyond.
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