The uninspiring start to the season in Columbus is starting to get a bit concerning. With the exception of the Sillinger-Coyle-Olivier line, the Blue Jackets haven't had consistent production from any group.
Although the team is juggling healthy scratches, with Dmitry Voronkov, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Danton Heinen, Carson Soucy, Emil Andrae, and Jake Christiansen all seeing the press box already, adding more competition to try to spark this team may be necessary.
The Blue Jackets' success over the next couple of seasons may very well be determined by the blockbuster trade they made just before the start of the season.
While Matthew Knies was obviously the centerpiece of that deal for Columbus, Emil Andrae and even a second-round pick also bring good value. However, a player that appeared to have been a toss-in may be more valuable than we thought.
Steven Lorentz is off to a hot start in the AHL
Through six games with the Cleveland Monsters, Steven Lorentz already has six goals and an assist, as well as a +3 rating. With this being his first AHL appearance since 2020, he's clearly proving that he deserves an NHL roster spot.
So far, he's brought a great veteran presence to an otherwise young group, and has played a solid two-way game while bringing clear offensive skill that definitely surprised me, as I did not expect him to be a realistic NHL option already.
With the Blue Jackets not getting much scoreboard production out of the fourth line, he may be a player the team is looking at in an attempt to desperately try to find something that works.
He already cleared waivers before the trade, so he wouldn't need to clear them again if his NHL time is brief (and likely wouldn't get claimed anyway), so it's a low-risk move that rewards his solid play.
Of course, this would require them to send a player down in his place, but I wouldn't mind Soucy or Christiansen getting the boot (despite the latter having a good game against Toronto).
However, there are other good options also lurking in Lake Erie beyond the 30-year-old, with three younger forwards also starting strong after having varying degrees of NHL experience themselves.
The Blue Jackets have energetic forwards just waiting for the call
Although he missed three games due to injury, Jack Williams remains a dark horse option for the Blue Jackets after almost making the team out of camp.
I actually see Williams as very comparable to Lorentz, but with a bit more burst and creativity. The 24-year-old American has three assists in three games so far after a stellar preseason with Columbus.
There isn't much he can't do, as he has seen time on the power play, penalty kill, and overtime for the Monsters rather often since his professional debut last season. Despite being just a hair on the smaller side at 5'11, he brings plenty of physicality and energy to survive on the fourth line.
Then you have Luca Pinelli, who arguably has the most offensive upside in Cleveland right now. He's also small for a forward, 5'9 and 168 pounds, but like Williams, has grit and a willingness to stand up for himself.
After a strong showing in the AHL last year resulting in 46 points in 68 games, Pinelli has three goals and three assists in the Monsters' six games so far, and is just 21 years old.
He also did play three games with the Jackets last season, and despite not registering a point, he fit right in and made a great first impression on those not as familiar with Cleveland players.
Then you have the most experienced NHLer out of the three, as Mikael Pyyhtia is a player we shouldn't forget about, and he's making sure we don't.
He's also 24 like Williams, but already has 71 games with the Blue Jackets under his belt. He's had streaky, somewhat inconsistent showings in that time, but after an offensive breakout last year, I think he's ready for another extended look.
He has the same three goals and three assists, but in just four games to this point. He's also proven to be a very intelligent, defensively responsible forward after having played three full seasons in Finland's top professional hockey league.
Although all three of these guys are undersized, I don't think that should be a concern at all. When you take one look at the current group of forwards in Columbus, size may be their best and most common attribute.
I think the team could use a smaller forward with more agility and burst, and any of the three younger guys fit that bill. And even if you want to retain some size, Steven Lorentz is 6'4 and 220 pounds, so there's no role that can't be filled.
Don't even get me started on the defensive side, as Guillaume Richard should be in Columbus at this very moment. There are clearly plenty of players who are deserving of a chance to prove themselves over some of the struggling veterans on the current roster.
With the Blue Jackets already struggling to instill confidence with their performance, we should be looking for them to make a change, and perhaps start demanding the accountability that they preach so often.
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