Team: 2022-23 Columbus Blue Jackets

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 24, 2022

Published: Aug. 24, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

My hopes for the CBJ being in the playoff hunt in April are starting to come down a bit now that both Bjorkstrand and Texier are gone. There's still a shot at that happening, but it will depend now on the very young group of Johnson, Marchenko, Chinakhov, Bemstrom and Foudy to step up. Between those 5 players, the team needs to find 2 middle 6 wingers for this season and possibly 3 or 4 middle 6 forwards accounting for possible injuries.

Personally, I still believe that Johnson playing 1C in Cleveland with Chinakhov on his wing would be the best development situation for the season. This is dependent of course on the Jackets still wanting to have KJ playing center going forward. If that isn't the plan then I could easily see him slotting in as a middle 6 winger this year. Chinakhov should be in the minors for one year either way though.

Marchenko seems like the best option available to play at 2LW as a shooter across from Voracek due to his established scoring ability in the KHL.

Bemstrom once again gets a shot at proving he deserves a significant role on the team at the 3RW spot. Perhaps a more reliable role and icetime will finally bring out what we're hoping he's capable of.

Foudy slots in at the 4RW to start the year and gets a shot to prove he can play at the NHL level after his last couple years of injuries and struggles in the minors. He's another guy that really just needs to get some icetime to figure out if he's going to sink or swim.

Danforth and Olivier are ready to slot in as replacements for either of Bemstrom or Foudy if they fail to hold on to their spots in the lineup.

The one positive to the current situation now is that if it comes down to a Nyquist 50% retained trade they can also afford to take back a significant amount of expiring cap to make for a really good return from a cup contender at the TDL.