What is Next for the Columbus Blue Jackets?
Photo from FTSPORTSNEWS
The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently last place in the Metro division and are not future contenders for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. With the NHL All-Star break (Feb. 1-3) looming, and the trade deadline coming up, the Blue Jackets can gain some leverage with Elvis Merzlikins confirming that he has requested a trade.
If a possible trade were to happen, the Blue Jackets would have to figure out what teams are interested and what their level of interest is. Even though Merzlikins has put in a trade request, he still has a lot to prove, and it shows in his stats. He had a 4.23 goals-against average and .876 save percentage in 30 games last season. This season he is at 3.22 and .906 in 24 games. Due to this, Columbus might wait for Merzlikins to play better and trade him when his value is higher.
The 2022-2023 season for the Blue Jackets wasn’t ideal due to, significant injuries, poor goaltending, and inconsistent scoring. They were planning to turn things around when they acquired Johnny Gaudreau from the Calgary Flames to a seven-year contract. The plan was to pair him with offensive threat Patrik Laine on the team’s top line. This hasn’t really worked out for them, however, considering Gaudreau hasn’t been meeting certain expectations. Before coming to the Blue Jackets, Gaudreau tallied 74 points during the 2022-23 season after achieving a career high 115 points in 2021-22 as a member of the Flames. Gaudreau has recorded only 22 points in 35 games this season and Laine has been out of the lineup with a fractured clavicle. This has set them back even more. They also haven’t done the best job with developing their young talent on the team.
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In terms of performance this season, the Blue Jackets currently sit in 29h place in the NHL, and last in the Eastern Conference. For the second straight season, their chances of making the playoffs have dwindled quickly.
Since they are most likely out of the playoffs this season, they should focus on developing the young talent they have acquired on this team. Players like Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Cole Sillinger, and Kirill Marchenko are crucial for the Blue Jackets’ future. Getting that consistent ice time will allow them to prove what they are capable of.
