A Look at a Fit Between Mike Hoffman and the Columbus Blue Jackets

Mike Hoffman remains a UFA nearly a month into the free agency. While he still waits for a contract offer that suits him. There could there be a possible fit with the Columbus Blue Jackets, as it has been reported. Not only Columbus is showing interest, but six or seven teams have also shown interest in the left-winger. Offers are not lacking and they are not the issue. In fact, his agent Rob Hooper has stated: “The offers have been bargain city”. However, he has no issue with signing a one-year duration which has been sourced from a tweet from Pierre Lebrun. Hoffman and his agent are waiting for a deal that is worth his value. Quite possibly something similar to his last contract. Which indeed is relatively suitable for a player of his calibre. The 30-year-old is coming off of a four-year deal this offseason worth 20.75 million.

Mike Hoffman Looking for a New Fit

Early History of Mike Hoffman

Mike Hoffman was drafted in 2009 13oth overall by the Ottawa Senators. He is a nine-year veteran, who turns 31 in November, who still remains a UFA. His first big NHL contract worth 20.75 million was with Ottawa back in 2016. This would carry him through to this past offseason. Two seasons later Ottawa Senators traded the left-winger in 2018 to Florida. The trade involved the San Jose Sharks, whom which then turned him over to the Florida Panthers in a multi-player deal. Only in a year like 2020 would a power play specialist, a true sniper remain a UFA looking for a new fit.

Stats

In the two seasons played with Florida he had a career-high of 36 goals. He recorded a total of 70 points in 82 games played during his 2018-19 campaign. Last season he was on pace to beat his previous stats. A shortened season by the pandemic would put that on hold though. However, he ended with 29 goals and a total of 59 points in 69 games played ( 13 fewer games). Over his career, he has 172 goals 187 assists totaling for 359 points. Hoffman averaging 16:54 minutes per game over the course of his career and 0.73 points per game guy, with an average 11.8 shooting percentage. Just three other players in the league hold more powerplay goals than Hoffman’s 60 over the past five seasons. Consistency is key, through the last six years he has scored 20-25 goals each season.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets could fill the need to go after a skillful left-wing forward to fill in for the injured Gustav Nyquist who scored 15 goals, 17 assists summing a total of 42 points in 70 games last season. Columbus Blue Jackets top-six forward Gustav Nyquist will miss five to six months, due to shoulder surgery. This leaves a massive hole to fill on the left-wing first forward line. This team already lacks scoring and can not afford to lose offence. Their power play was near awful last season, it ranked 5th worst in the league at 26th.

While the team assesses the need to fill in for the missing offence this upcoming 2020-21 season let’s look at some numbers. According to capfriendly Columbus currently has 9,225,875 million available in cap space and this is without yet assigning Nyquist to LTIR. This would provide Jarmo Kekäläinen with the Blue Jackets GM an extra 5.5 million, combining the total available cap space at 14,230,875 million to disburse. That matter explained, the Blue Jackets still have Pierre-Luc Dubois their number one centre to sign, who’s currently an RFA.

Breaking down the fit with Columbus

Hoffman is one of the more skilled offensive wingers left on the market. Scoring twenty or more goals for six consecutive seasons. Which were seventeen more points than Nyquist last season, who was second in team points. That leaving Pierre-Luc Dubois to finish first with recording 49 points. Oliver Bjorkstrand lead the team in goals with 21, playing 21 fewer games. With no doubt, the addition of Hoffman would help contribute offence to the players surrounding him. One name in particular, I believe is Bjorkstrand this kid really found his game. Dubois would excel in his game and get that big break out season that he and the Blue Jackets have been striving for. Offensive consistency from the Jackets game would be far less of an issue with this addition. Not only would it help bring their goals for up from the bottom as they finished the season fifth-last in the league with 180 this previous year. With the troubled powerplay last season adding a powerplay specialist would give the Blue Jackets a chance to add more depth and success in that area.

Inserting the Sniper on the first line next to Pierre-Luc Dubois and Oliver Bjorkstrand would be dangerous. Columbus has been missing a star left-winger to play with Dubois since the departure of Artemi Panarin. With this addition, it would help create more opportunities and offence. He recorded 21 power-play points last season, which was 8 more Columbus Blue Jackets leader Zach Werenski (13 PP points). Here is a look at what Columbus’s starting forward line up could be if signing in the opening 2020-21 season.