The Columbus Blue Jackets will be playing the 2024-25 season for one reason. That one reason is to honour the legacy of ‘Johnny Hockey.‘ It was only just on August 29th that Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew had their lives tragically taken from them too soon. That feeling of playing for something and retribution will weigh heavily on the hearts and minds of the 23 men skating for the Blue Jackets in 2024-25. Unfortunately, some members of the Blue Jackets have been here before. Back in July 2021, their Latvian netminder, Matiss Kivlenieks, died a hero, as he dove in front of an errant firework headed for Elvis Merzlikins’ pregnant wife. So, as we embark on our Puck Drop Previews, we at Last Word on Hockey will likewise keep in mind that we are all playing for something more than just a game.
Columbus Blue Jackets Star Johnny Gaudreau and his Brother Matthew Have Passed Away
To Start the 2024-25 Columbus Blue Jackets Preview a Review of 2023-24
With the outpouring of respect for Johnny Hockey, it’s hard to imagine that he will not be on the ice, dazzling us with his stickhandling or feathering saucer passes through the seem. In just two short seasons with the Blue Jackets, Gaudreau poured in 101 assists totaling 134 points in 161 contests. The young players and veterans alike will have big shoes to step up and fill. Gaudreau led the team in scoring both seasons. Last year’s number two in scoring with 57 points, a defenceman, Zach Werenski, will be a suitable candidate to step up. A couple young players, in Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko still haven’t tapped into their potential. Those two had 27 and 42 points, respectively, and look for those totals to grow majorly in 2024-25. All-in-all, the lack of support in scoring hurt the Blue Jackets bottom-line in 2023-24, as they fell short finishing eighth in the Metropolitan Division with a 27-43-12 for 66 points.
It was a difficult year on multiple fronts. In late January, one of their most skilled forwards, Patrik Laine, entered the NHL’s player assistance program. Just a couple weeks later, their general manager, Jarmo Kekalainen, was relieved of his duties. With these issues, and young players still needing time to develop, it was a long season for Columbus.
The Blue Jackets Tumultuous 2024 Off-Season
Now as we move to discuss the Columbus Blue Jackets off-season, it has been difficult. However, we are all hoping from the dark, comes the light. Don Waddell joined the organization as the president of hockey operations and general manager. He has since replaced the overwhelmed Pascal Vincent with proven head coach Dean Evason. Furthermore, Waddell was able to allow Laine a fresh start, as he traded him to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a young, athletic, defensively responsible defenceman in Jordan Harris.
Another underrated move by Waddell was bringing in Johnny Hockey‘s former Purple Gatorade linemate Sean Monahan. Monahan will undoubtedly be playing the 2024-25 season with an extra purpose to his stride. Between Harris, Monahan, and the group’s collective point-to-prove and the legacy of Johnny Hockey, the Blue Jackets will be a fun group to watch in 2024-25.
Projected Lineup
One aspect of the Columbus lineup for the season ahead is that there will be lots of variability. It starts right at the top, among the top-six forward group. No one is going to be guaranteed a spot, and it will likely be a by-committee type of season. Even how we have the lines laid out, there is one line from last year that could easily be reunited. That line is the Russian trio of Yegor Chinakhov, Kirill Marchenko, and Dmitri Voronkov.
Moreover, of the trio, the one unknown is Voronkov. Can he prove to be a regular, contributing NHLer? Or is he destined for another year of development with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters?
We fully expect inspiration from certain players to help carry them through the season. We have already mentioned Monahan. He’s coming off a big 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points. Given the extra opportunity, including lots of power play ice time, look for him to fill the goal sheet in 2024-25. Furthermore, the third overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Adam Fantilli, is looking to prove that his leadership and complete game put him in the conversation to be the best player from the 2023 draft with Connor Bedard.
Top-Six
Monahan – Jenner – Marchenko
Chinakhov – Fantilli – Voronkov
This has the potential to be a fun group, that has the skill to put the puck in the net. They are young and will struggle with consistency, especially if it is in high-pressure situations. However, look for each of them to get solid point totals this coming season. If the consistency is there, it will be an important determining factor if the Blue Jackets have compete to their game in 2024-25.
Bottom-Six
Kuraly – Johnson – Danforth
Sillinger – Olivier – Fix-Wolansky
The bottom six are also looking to show that they can perform at a competitive level. Kent Johnson, Cole Sillinger, and Trey Fix-Wolansky will each look to become regular contributors at the NHL level. If they can, it would make a world of difference to the Blue Jackets as a whole. These players still have high expectations as organizational prospects, and it will be interesting to see if they need any more AHL development time or not. Again, similar to the top-six group, having them perform as reliable depth forwards will really boost the club’s competitive level in 2024-25.
Top-Four
Werenski – Severson
Provorov – Jiricek
The top-four is like the rest of the team thus far, chaulked with potential. Zach Werenski is the type of player that will challenge for a Team USA position, say at the 4 Nations Face-Off. His skating and all-around game, make him a great player to play the matchup with for coach Evason. Damon Severson is a veteran on the backend, that adds a lot of insurance. Ivan Provorov is also a guy who gives you reliable minutes back there. Therefore, the only unknown really lays in the 20-year-old Czechia native, David Jiricek. If he can use his size and skating, he would really help round out the top-four in Columbus. This group isn’t a strength of the team. However, if they all play up to expectations, don’t expect them to be any kind of weakness either.
Bottom-Pairing
Harris – Gudbranson
Johnson
The bottom-pairing should for all intents and purposes, have good competition. They have veterans and youngsters. Which really seems like a general theme for the Blue Jackets as a whole. If someone like Jordan Harris can play to his ability in 2024-25, it really rounds out the club’s roster. Again, similar to the theme with players throughout our discussion. Erik Gudbranson or Jack Johnson are excellent veteran options to have at your disposal as well. If either is playing well, they have shown throughout their own careers, they can be an impact on a team. How they do that might change, but the know-how of how to contribute is a welcoming intangible.
Goaltenders
Merzlikins
Tarasov
Minding the net will be Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov. It’s been tough to judge the goaltending in Columbus with a team that has been so bad in front of them. Merzlikins and Tarasov have similar numbers, which is enough of an indication that it does have to do with the team in front of them. Furthermore, Merzlikins has shown to be a very good goalie, at times, throughout his five-year career with Columbus. For example, he finished fifth in Vezina Trophy voting in his 25-year-old, NHL rookie campaign. If the team in front of these two is playing up to expectations, don’t count on them as holding them back. All-in-all, the goaltending goes as far as the rest of the players want to carry the team.
Players to Watch
As for players to watch for the Blue Jackets, a forward and a defence come to mind. Kent Johnson upfront for the Blue Jackets is looking for a breakout season. Don’t be surprised if he does it. He’s proven to be an offensive threat at previous levels, including the AHL. His 16 points in 42 NHL games last year, in only 13:33 a game, hints at the former fifth overall pick might be ready to take that leap. Combined with a possible emergence of Marchenko and Fantilli, that would really elevate the forward group as a whole.
As for the defender to watch, that would be David Jiricek. Like Johnson, Jiricek is a fellow high draft pick by the Blue Jackets organization. In 2022, Jiricek went sixth overall. Now we are all curious if the 6’3″ Czech native is ready to fulfill some of that untapped potential. If he can get involved in the play, play regular minutes, he will become a difference-maker. This would really help balance out the defence pairings.
Prediction
Goal scorers tend to be streaky. That might be a good analogy for the Blue Jackets. If their young players can find a way to put the puck in the back of the net with any sort of regularity, they might string together some wins. However, when they go on a slide, just how quickly will the veterans be able to encourage the young lineup, and turn things around? Don’t look for them to be a playoff team in 2024-25. In contrast, if their young players play to their potential, they could be an exciting team to watch, one that might sneak out some tough wins. In the end, win or lose, they play 2024-25 and beyond, for one reason still weighing on the greater hockey communities minds, that is the legacy of Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau.
Main Photo Credit: Adam Cairns – Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY Network
