2020 Projected Lineups: Columbus Blue Jackets
The @Columbus Blue Jackets made the playoffs again in 2020, the fourth-straight season they’ve done so under John Tortorella.
Since hiring Tortorella eight games into the 2016 season, the Blue Jackets have gone 209-140-42, which is the eighth-best regular season Points% (.588) in the NHL over that span. Aside from upsetting the @Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019, the Blue Jackets have not made it out of the first round, so playoff success is next on their list.
Columbus had a busy offseason, making three trades and a couple of key signings. They swapped RFAs with the @Montreal Canadiens, acquiring @Max Domi for @Josh Anderson. Moved defensemen @Ryan Murray (to NJD) and @Markus Nutivaara (to FLA) to clear $7.3 million in cap space. As of now, they have ≈$10.95 million in cap space but still have to sign RFAs Pierre-Luc Dubois and Vladislav Gavrikov (per PuckPedia.com).
Projected Forward Lines
The pandemic cut the 2020 season short and stopped @Pierre-Luc Dubois short of 20 goals. However, he was on-pace for his third-straight 20-goal season and had a dominant Return to Play. In the postseason he showcased he’s a capable No.1 centre and adding Domi and @Mikko Koivu provides the Blue Jackets with plenty of depth down the middle.
Dubois spent the majority of their playoff run on a line with @Oliver Bjorkstrand and @Alexandre Texier, so they project to be their top-line entering 2021. Moving Texier into the top-6 helps lengthen out their lineup. They had a 55.0 CorsiFor% and 56.7 ScoringChancesFor% in the playoffs but were limited by a 2.7 on-ice SH%. Positive regression will kick-in over a full season. Bjorkstrand was on a 35-goal pace last season and Texier should continue to make positive strides, so this line should carry a lot of the offensive load for Columbus.
After the Dubois line, the Blue Jackets have endless possibilities when it comes to line combinations. However, they went out and acquired Domi and gave him a raise to be their second-line centre. With Bjorkstrand and Texier playing with Dubois, @Cam Atkinson and Gustav Nyquist figure to round out the top-6. Atkinson is coming off of one of the worst seasons of his career but laboured through injuries for most of 2020. When healthy, he will eclipse 200 shots, and that’s the type of player that fits perfectly with Domi and Nyquist, who are more playmakers than they are goal-scorers. With that said, Domi and Nyquist both have 20-goal seasons in their past, so this trio should combine for 60-plus goals this season (power-play included).
Jenner and Foligno are a duo that has spent a lot of time together in the past, including 375 5v5 minutes together a season ago. If Jenner shifts back to the wing and Koivu centres them, this trio averages 6-foot-2, 207 lbs. and all possess great two-way ability. Jenner and Foligno both bring a ton a physicality but also have some offensive upside. They will be deployed in the defensive zone more often than not, which will limit their offensive output, but they could become one of the most effective checking lines in the league in 2021.
Columbus’ fourth line is where things get very interesting, because they have about six players fighting for three spots. The most interesting of those names is @Mikhail Grigorenko. The 26-year-old is a former No.12 overall pick (2012) who flamed out in Buffalo and Colorado. He rediscovered his game after returning to Russia, picking up 36 goals and 57 assists (93 points) in 102 games over the last two seasons. Grigorenko will likely start in the bottom-6 in Columbus but could quickly rise up the depth chart if he hits the ground running. @Liam Foudy is another former first-round pick that could skate on the fourth line. The 20-year-old was picked No.18 overall in 2018 and didn’t appear overmatched during the Blue Jackets’ playoff run. He has world-class speed and paired with Grigorenko, this duo could wreak havoc against the opposing team’s fourth line. @Riley Nash is expected to be the third member and brings two-way stability to the line but also has a little offensive flair to his game.
@Eric Robinson, @Kevin Stenlund and @Emil Bemström will all be in the mix as well and will be the first players called upon if there are any injuries upfront.
Projected Defensive Pairings
Their blueline will look a little different this season but the top-pair remains the same. @Zach Werenski and @Seth Jones may be the best pairing in the entire NHL. In 2020 they were third in GoalsFor% (62.5%), fifth in GoalsAgainst/60 (1.65) and t-19th in GoalsFor/60 (2.74) among D-pairs with at least 400 5v5 minutes together. Jones elevated his game to another level in the playoffs and is viewed as one of the best two-way defensemen in the game. These two will eat up enormous minutes for Tortorella and come in averaging a combined 25.3 goals and 60.7 assists in the last four seasons.
With Murray hurt for most of last season, @Vladislav Gavrikov played in the top-4. Paired with @David Savard, they were among the best second pairings in the NHL. Their 53.4 GoalsFor% ranked 30th in the league while averaging the 25th fewest GA/60. Those are outstanding numbers for a pair that starts in their own-zone 58 percent of the time.
Columbus’ third pair will most likely be @Dean Kukan and @Gabriel Carlsson. Kukan shuffled in-and-out of the lineup last year while Carlsson spent most of the season in Cleveland (AHL). Both stand well over 6-feet and play around 200 lbs. so they’re a big duo that can physical, are both solid puck movers and possess a little offensive upside.
Advanced Stats via MoneyPuck.com and HockeyReference.com
Salary Cap Figures via PuckPedia.com