Where the Blue Jackets might fit 7 new faces next season
The offseason is in full swing this week, and the Blue Jackets should be very busy. Today, we'll look at where 7 new faces could fit into the lineup next season.
GM Don Waddell has already begun making an impact to the Blue Jackets organization; firing head coach Pascal Vincent last week.
But as the search for a new replacement continues, he'll also be looking at ways to impact the on-ice roster. In a recent presser, Waddell mentioned having as many as 7 new faces in the Blue Jacket lineup this fall.
That's a lot of new faces for a roster that was already heavily stocked with NHL contracts last season. Where would they fall fit in? Let's take a look.
Roster impact #1: top-six center...
Last summer, the Blue Jackets drafted their future #1 center. The moment they picked Adam Fantilli third overall, he immediately became the most highly touted player they've ever had at the position.
They could land the second-most highly touted player they've had at that position in tomorrow night's draft, depending on who falls to them. But in the meantime, I think it goes without saying that they need immediate help at center. They can't come back with so little depth again next year.
It's not so much the depth that is the issue. Sean Kuraly, Dmitri Voronkov, and Cole Sillinger are very serviceable players down the middle. Heck, even Boone Jenner can fill in if need be. That's 5 players for 4 jobs, if you've kept track.
But, outside of Fantilli, are any of them truly suited for a top-two line role? Perhaps in time someone like Sillinger or Voronkov can get there, but that's not likely going to happen at the start of the upcoming season. And, what if the worst happens, and they start to run into long-term injuries again?
For these reasons, adding a veteran pivot to the top six and buying time for their prospects, seems to be the right play here. I don't see any viable options via free agency, so a hockey trade probably makes the most sense here. There are other areas of the roster needing adjustments also...
Roster impact #2/3/4: revamping the defense...
I think it's possible we'll see two or even three new faces on defense for the Blue Jackets next season.
Consider this: they've allowed 300+ goals in each of the last three seasons. A lot of that has been due to the scheme (or lack thereof); but at least some of it is due to the players back there as well.
I think we can expect Zach Werenski, Damon Severson, and Erik Gudbranson back with almost 100% certainty. Werenski stood out in a big way (he was probably the team's MVP this season); while Severson and Gudbranson's contracts make them somewhat unmoveable. Which is fine, you just have to work around that.
Outside of those three, who do we really see making a big difference here? Ivan Provorov had his moments, but he struggled in his own end, often making glaring mistakes that resulted in goals against. He's a second pairing/PP2 guy, but I just don't think the fit is right here.
Adam Boqvist hasn't been able to stay healthy, and I would argue that a change of scenery might be good for both the player and team. The Jackets just aren't good enough defensively to have a guy like this on the roster. This is a job that can be filled internally, by top prospect David Jiricek.
And lastly, the Jake Bean experiment needs to end. I've said it before, and I'm pretty sure everyone would agree here. It just hasn't worked. I think a more physical, defensive minded player would be a great change of pace to play on the third pairing.
If you add that all up: I would expect two completely new defensemen. One to replace Bean, and another for depth (a #6/7 guy). If they do move on from Ivan Provorov before the season, another to fill his shoes. That could very well be filled by another top prospect: Denton Mateychuk.
Keeping count, that's a top-six center and at least three defensemen (counting Jiricek) - maybe as many as four. But Don said 7 new faces, so we aren't done yet.
Roster impact #5/6: depth forwards...
This one may seem counter-intuitive because the Blue Jackets have a logjam of depth forwards already on the roster. But, as down the middle, the issue here isn't in numbers: it's in quality.
Just putting this bluntly, they need guys who can play tougher. I don't mean "drop 'em" toughness ... we're talking about guys that go to the boards and win puck battles, block shots, and eat up defensive zone minutes.
They aren't getting that from Alexandre Texier, or Alexander Nylander ... and top-six jobs are going to be harder to come by this season. I can see guys like this being squeezed off the roster.
The Blue Jackets have exactly four guys who can be leaned upon to do a lot of the things you want in a bottom-six forward: Boone Jenner, Sean Kuraly, Justin Danforth, and Mathieu Olivier. If you told me Cole Sillinger and Dmitri Voronkov, sure, I would agree. Gavin Brindley and James Malatesta will get there as well, in time.
But, they're all still learning how to be professional players. I think some veterans to surround them and buy time would be great. For this reason, I think we're about to say goodbye to some of the fringe roster guys in the very near future. The team needs better depth, not just more of it.
Roster impact #7: and in goal...
Don Waddell has been somewhat straight forward when talking about Elvis Merzlikins and his contract. Part of that is to motivate the fiery goaltender. But part of that may also just be brutal honesty.
Merzlikins hasn't been good enough, and in my gut, I think the team looks to add a veteran backup to the roster this summer in case things don't work out. The nuclear option here would be sending Merzlikins and his $5.4m AAV to the AHL, and the Jackets will need someone else on the roster in case Daniil Tarasov runs into injury troubles again.
At first glance, finding jobs for 7 new guys may seem tough. But, when you break it all down, there is plenty of opportunity here. It's just time to move on from the "good enough" phase of this franchise's rebuild.
feed