Two CBJ defense prospects get a golden opportunity to showcase themselves tonight

The Blue Jackets have their final home game of the preseason, as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at Nationwide Arena. For two defense prospects, this is their last opportunity to make an impact during in-game action. Both of them have a golden opportunity to showcase themselves.

The Jackets are throwing out a more NHL-heavy lineup this evening, but the notable thing to take away is more about the other guys in the lineup. Especially on defense, and even more so when you see what the defense pairings will look like.

As you can see, there are two NHL regulars on the blue line tonight. Zach Werenski and Erik Gudbranson both have their place on the opening night roster. However, they will not be paired together this evening. Each of them will be paired with guys who are seemingly right on the cut line.

Per line rushes at the morning skate, Werenski will be paired with Corson Ceulemans; while Gudbranson will skate alongside Guillaume Richard.

Richard is a player that we have touted all summer as having a chance to crack this team's lineup. And that was even before the injuries started to pile up. Tonight, he gets a chance to showcase himself directly where we figured he could spend this season: alongside Gudbranson.

These two could form a very reliable third pairing, so I'm interested to see how they work together. Richard played 20:15 in his first preseason game on Monday; the third-most minutes on the team that night. He will probably get a similar kind of workload this evening.

Meanwhile, Ceulemans will have an even greater opportunity. He gets to skate alongside the NHL's reigning Norris Trophy winner, on the team's top pairing tonight. Corson has the lone regulation goal the Blue Jackets have scored so far this preseason. It's a deserved chance.

They could both make the cut.

As of this moment, with the availability of both Dante Fabbro and Damon Severson up in the air, there is plenty of opportunity for both Richard and Ceulemans to start this season in Columbus. If both of those vets start the year out of the lineup, I could see these two being the #6 and 7 defensemen for the Blue Jackets when the puck drops.

Of course, that all hinges on whether or not the team decides to sign Carson Soucy off of his PTO. But, even if that does happen, at least one of them has a chance to be here.

We have to mention the third pairing tonight, as well. Veteran journeyman Colton White joins prospect Charlie Elick, and it feels like this could be the makings of a top-two defense pairing for the Cleveland Monsters this season.

The Penguins are icing a lineup that is barely even compliant with the NHL's preseason roster rules. So, there will be no excuses for anyone wearing the Union Blue tonight. Lets see how some of these guys handle the heavier workload in an NHL environment.

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