New coach, roster changes could push Columbus Blue Jackets forward in 2023-24
The Columbus Blue Jackets fluttered out this season despite making crucial roster change, highlighted by the addition of Johnny Gaudreau. As a result of the failed season, the Blue Jackets parted ways with former head coach Brad Larsen.
The Blue Jackets are a well-rounded squadron with a chance to move forward in the short term. Today on Daily Faceoff Live, Frank Seravalli and Mike McKenna discuss how a simple coaching change and a roster tweak could benefit the Blue Jackets for the 2023-24 NHL season.
Mike McKenna: Now we go back to the Blue Jackets, and they are still searching for a head coach, and names have been swirling on who that could be. I think that will tell us a lot about how they view the next season. Do you have any other indication of how they may approach this off-season?
Frank Seravalli: Yeah, I think the Blue Jackets are thinking they can bounce right back into being a playoff team next season. I think probably some of the candidates they’re speaking to, like I’ve heard Mike Babcock’s name over the weekend, Peter Laviolette, Pascal Vincent, has been in the mix, and he’s someone they know well. But if you’re looking for any further indication of how aggressive the Blue Jackets might be this summer, I’m told that their second first-round pick is in play. That’s the one they got from the Los Angeles Kings, and it’s currently slated to be 22nd overall. That was from the Gavrikov and Korpisalo deal.
Frank Seravalli: That’s in play, and they’d like to use that puck to try and improve, if they had their choice, the backend. That’s something that is a focal point, and obviously, getting Zach Werenski back to full health is a priority. They’ve got some excellent young pieces on the way, like David Jiricek, for instance, and some guys down in the AHL who are making waves. But to use that first-round pick, I’m told the Kings’ 22nd overall pick is certainly in play as they will try and leverage that and maybe use their own pick at the very top, 3rd overall, but after that, they’d like to improve and be a playoff team for next season. So evidence enough by having Babcock, Laviolette and those guys in the mix, they also want to improve right away after a big summer of spending.
You can watch the full episode here…