After two consecutive relegations to last place in the Metropolitan Division, the Columbus Blue Jackets hope to finally emerge from the cellar in 2024-25. Despite some hopes that the team could take the next step forward last season, the roster was plagued by injuries and general bad luck.
Patrik Laine played just 18 games before having shoulder surgery and ending his season under the NHL/NHLPA Player’s Assistance Program. Captain Boone Jenner broke his jaw and missed 24 games himself, while sensational rookie Adam Fantilli, selected No. 3, played just 49 games after suffering a calf injury on January 28.
By the time 2024 rolled around, it was pretty clear in Ohio that this club wasn’t going to get anywhere close to a postseason berth. When the dust settled, they had an atrocious 27-43-12 record and a fourth straight year without a Stanley Cup playoff appearance. But heading into the new season, the Blue Jackets made a few nice roster moves – most notably signing Sean Monahan as an NHL free agent. Still, there are a few glaring concerns for this roster on paper. Let’s talk about them.
Will Patrik Laine still be a Blue Jacket in training camp?
The first and most important problem with this roster is that Laine is still in the mix. The 26-year-old requested a transfer from Columbus, and now that he’s out of the Player Assistance Program, potential suitors have the green light to inquire about the former 44-goal scorer.
Several teams are reportedly interested in the Finnish striker’s services, although new general manager Don Waddell has yet to sign a deal. It’s certainly a difficult transfer, as Laine is coming off surgery and will earn $8.7 million each of the next two seasons.
If the sharpshooter is indeed moved, at least one player from the roster would certainly return to Ohio, although that’s all speculation at this point. It will be interesting to see if Laine gets a change of scenery before the start of the year, but whether that happens or not, he’s still a candidate for a comeback in the 2024-25 season.
The former No. 2 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft is a former point-per-game player; he scored 56 points in 56 games with Columbus in 2021-22 and followed that up with 52 points in 55 games the following year. His best season remains his 2017-18 season as a sophomore, when Laine scored 44 goals and 70 points in a full 82-game streak.
While the player himself is not a problem, it is uncertain how much effort Laine will put in if he is still around in training camp. For this reason, Waddell should try to trade him before mid-September so that whoever returns can fit in with the rest of the team before the season.
“We might end up losing some money,” the GM recently told The Columbus Dispatch. “If I wanted to lose half of that, I could have sold him, but that’s not my first choice.”
Certainly a storyline to keep an eye on during the dog days of the NHL offseason.
Johnny Gaudreau urgently needs to get back to his old form
If the Blue Jackets want to have any success alongside Laine, they need to make their best player their best player. And Johnny Gaudreau is far from that. He followed an incredible season with the Calgary Flames, in which he scored 40 goals and 115 points, with two consecutive unsuccessful seasons.
After surprisingly signing with Columbus two offseasons ago, Gaudreau posted a solid 74 points in 80 games during the 2022-23 season, but scored just 21 goals. It wasn’t a bad season by any means, but probably not what anyone expected in the first season of a massive seven-year, $68.25 million contract.
And last season was even worse. Gaudreau scored a measly 12 goals and dished out 48 assists in 80 games, his lowest point total in half a decade. He was also a -27. The New Jersey native will have to get a lot better if the Blue Jackets want to climb out of the Metro basement. The good news is he now has one of the teammates who helped him have a career season with the Flames in 2021-22. Waddell signed Monahan as a free agent, reuniting him with his good friend and former teammate on a five-year deal.
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“I’m really excited to be back on the team with Johnny,” Monahan told NHLPA.com. “Johnny is motivated to have a great season and be a key part of the team, and I’m excited for the opportunity to rekindle the chemistry we’ve had for nearly a decade. He’s a great teammate, person and friend. I’m excited for the next five years.”
Those two are expected to lead the first line and power play unit starting opening night, and Monahan could be just the player to help Gaudreau rediscover his former form. As it stands, Gaudreau’s declining performance and his massive contract are a serious concern in Ohio. But if he rediscovers his form, that would be a huge question mark.
Can Elvis Merzlikins get back on his feet after several tough seasons?
On paper, the Jackets have a solid group of young players looking to make an impact in the NHL – Fantilli, Kent Johnson and David Jiricek, to name a few. These guys will be relied upon as the club tries to emerge from the restructure, but an absolute key is play between the posts.
After a solid performance as a rookie in 2019-20, Elvis Merzlikins struggled mightily in Ohio. He won just 13 of his 41 games last year and posted a disheartening 3.45 goals-against average and .897 save percentage on a bad Blue Jackets team. The year before that, he was even worse, posting a 4.23 goals-against average and .876 save percentage while winning just seven games. If Columbus wants to take a step forward, the 30-year-old Latvian will have to improve a lot.
On the plus side, Daniil Tarasov looks ready to step into a starting position if Merzlikins continues to struggle, and the two should battle for the job in training camp. But as it stands, the Blue Jackets will need a much better goalie if they want to finally move past eighth place in the division.
