OCTOBER 2, 2023 • HOCKEYBUZZ.COM
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS 10-9-3 · 6TH IN EAST, METROPOLITAN
10-9-3 · 6TH IN EAST, METROPOLITAN
HockeyBuzz.com - Zak MacMillan - CBJ P5 v St Louis Blues NHL Hockey Trade Rumors
HockeyBuzz.com - Zak MacMillan - CBJ P4 Results / Duchene Deal Wash NHL Hockey Trade Rumors
OCTOBER 1, 2023 • HOCKEYBUZZ.COM
Patrik Laine - Lights lamp twice Saturday Laine scored two goals in Saturday's 4-3 preseason loss to the Sabres.
Impact Centering a line between Kirill Marchenko and Emil Bemstrom, Laine found the back of the net in the first and second periods. The Blue Jackets are taking a long look at the possibility of using Laine at center during the regular season, and performances like this would seem to make that more likely to happen. The 25-year-old hasn't played more than 56 games in a season since 2018-19 due to injuries, but in the last two years for Columbus, he's maintained an 82-game scoring pace of 35 goals and 80 points.
OCTOBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Dmitri Voronkov - Out clause in contract Voronkov has a clause in his contract that would allow him to return to the KHL if he's not on an NHL roster by the end of December, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Impact The 23-year-old center measured at a massive 6-foor-5, 240 pounds in training camp with the Blue Jackets and could give them a physical presence in a bottom-six role, but the team's depth at forward could also cause Voronkov to begin the season with AHL Cleveland. GM Jarmo Kekalainen believes he'll make the Opening Night roster, however. "I'll say this... when he's in front of the net trying to screen the goalie, I kinda like his size right now," Kekalainen said this weekend.
OCTOBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Daniil Tarasov - Start of season in doubt Tarasov (knee) may not be ready for the start of the regular season, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Impact The Blue Jackets were hoping Tarasov would be healthy enough to back up Elvis Merzlikins when games begin to count Oct. 12, but his uncertain status prompted the team to claim Spencer Martin off waivers from the Canucks. "We don't have a timeframe on Tarasov's injury right now; it's a work in progress," GM Jarmo Kekalainen said after making the claim. "We just wanted to make sure that we don't have to go into the season with not enough quality goaltenders who have experience and ability to play in the NHL." If Tarasov's absence does extend into the regular season, he could end up getting a rehab assignment at AHL Cleveland before rejoining the NHL roster.
OCTOBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Kent Johnson's BACKHAND SPINNING PASS behind the net finds Justin Danforth for a GOAL 😳 WOW! 💥💥💥
SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 • YOUTUBE
Emil Bemstrom - Good start to preseason Bemstrom has scored two goals, including one on the power play, and added an assist in two preseason games as he fights to secure a spot on the Blue Jackets' Opening Night roster,...
Impact The 24-year-old winger hasn't been able to develop into a consistent offensive force in the NHL since his arrival in 2019-20, although he did manage a career-high 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 55 games last season. The Blue Jackets' forward ranks got even more crowded this offseason, especially with the arrival of 2023 third overall pick Adam Fantilli, and Bemstrom could be pushed off the roster as a result, especially if new head coach Pascal Vincent isn't convinced he's a good defensive fit for fourth-line duty.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Cole Sillinger - Not guaranteed roster spot Sillinger could begin the season back with AHL Cleveland due to the Blue Jackets' roster crunch, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports.
Impact The 20-year-old was the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and is still very much in the Blue Jackets' future plans, but Sillinger is one of a handful of players on the roster who can be sent to the AHL without needing to clear waivers, which gives him an extra hurdle to overcome in training camp. He's also coming off a rough sophomore campaign -- after scoring 16 goals and 31 points in 79 NHL games as an 18-year-old rookie, Sillinger backslid to three goals and 11 points in 64 games in 2022-23 before a late-season demotion to Cleveland, where he managed two goals and six points in 11 games. With Adam Fantilli now in town as the Jackets' franchise player, the pressure is off Sillinger to develop into a future No. 1 center, but regaining his confidence in Cleveland before returning to Columbus could help him secure a middle-six role down the road.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
HockeyBuzz.com - Zak MacMillan - CBJ P4 @ Buffalo Sabres - Sabres Are In the Wild Card? NHL Hockey Trade Rumors
SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 • HOCKEYBUZZ.COM
HockeyBuzz.com - Zak MacMillan - CBJ P4 @ Buffalo Sabres NHL Hockey Trade Rumors
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • HOCKEYBUZZ.COM
HC Pascal Vincent on Alexandre Texier's IMPACT for the Blue Jackets | Media Availability
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • YOUTUBE
Nicolas Meloche - Released from PTO Friday Meloche was released from his professional tryout with the Blue Jackets on Friday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Impact Meloche played 57 games with San Jose from 2020-22, scoring twice and adding six assists. Meloche had four goals and 21 points in 64 games with AHL Calgary last season.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Spencer Martin - Claimed by Columbus Martin was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jackets on Friday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Impact The Blue Jackets needed help between the pipes as they have Elvis Merzlikins as their starter, but had only Daniil Tarasov (knee) and Aaron Dell as the backups. While Martin struggled last season, going 11-15-1 with a 3.99 GAA and .871 save percentage for the Canucks, he could help the Blue Jackets in a backup role.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Patrik Laine - Seeing time at center in practice Laine skated at center between Johnny Gaudreau and Kirill Marchenko during Wednesday's practice and hasn't been ruled out as an option up the middle during the season, Aaron Portzl...
Impact "He's shown a lot of interest in playing center," new head coach Pascal Vincent said. "Like I told him, he has to do the right things. His conditioning has to be way up there. Skating and practicing, pushing himself has to be there. So far, I'd like to say that he's been doing all of this, so we're going to see how it goes, and if we like it we will continue the project... If it works, great, we all benefit. He's a 6-foot-5 right shot. If it works, it changes the picture of our group up front. But if it doesn't work, that was a good try and we'll move forward." The Blue Jackets have more depth at center than at any time in recent memory with the additions of 2023 third overall pick Adam Fantilli and Dmitri Voronkov from the KHL, but if Laine can handle the assignment, he could end up anchoring the team's top line and taking some pressure off Fantilli in his rookie campaign. Having Laine at center would also allow Boone Jenner to move back to a wing, where he's a better fit at this stage of his career. Laine is still looking to put together a full healthy season in Columbus, but over the last two years he's racked up 48 goals and 108 points in 111 games.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Mathieu Olivier - Practicing Friday Olivier (lower leg) is practicing Friday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Impact This is the first practice Olivier has participated in during training camp as he suffered the injury in the offseason. Olivier is projected to play on the fourth line in 2023-24. He had five goals and 15 points in 66 games last season.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Ivan Provorov - Returns to practice Friday Provorov (soreness) returned to practice Friday after missing a couple of days, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports.
Impact It's a new beginning for Provorov, as he was dealt from the Flyers on June 6. Provorov had six goals, 21 assists, 162 blocked shots and a minus-24 rating last season while playing in all 82 games. Look for a big improvement this season, as he will be on a better Columbus team.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
THN On The 'A': Discussing Edvinsson, Cuylle and New Blue Jackets Coach in Training Camp Jacob Stoller and Patrick Williams discuss what former AHL coach Pascal Vincent brings to the Columbus Blue Jackets and NHL training camp pe...
SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
THN On The 'A': Discussing Edvinsson, Cuylle and New Blue Jackets Coach in Training Camp Jacob Stoller and Patrick Williams discuss what former AHL coach Pascal Vincent brings to the Columbus Blue Jackets and NHL training camp pe...
SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Emil Bemstrom Scores Twice but Jackets Fall to St. Louis Blues | Postgame Media (9/26/23)
SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 • YOUTUBE
Sean Kuraly and the Blue Jackets head to St. Louis for third preseason game | CBJ Today (9/26/23)
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 • YOUTUBE
Kirill Marchenko - Back at practice Marchenko (back) returned to practice Tuesday and feels good go, per Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch.
Impact Marchenko had been unavailable for the start of training camp because of a strained back. He accounted for 21 goals, four assists and 131 shots on net over 59 games during his rookie campaign in 2022-23. Going into this season, Marchenko will be in the mix for a spot in the top six as well as a position on the first power-play unit.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
HockeyBuzz.com - Zak MacMillan - CBJ P3 @ St. Louis Blues — Mark Recchi is CBJ NHL Hockey Trade Rumors
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 • HOCKEYBUZZ.COM
'I'm not done here': Blue Jackets' Elvis Merzlikins, outspoken as ever, ready for bounce-back season The Blue Jackets' goalie promised to get back to being "cocky and arrogant" in his quest to prove critics wrong.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Blue Jackets hire Mark Recchi as assistant coach Recchi served as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2017 to 2020) and with the New Jersey Devils (2020 to 2022).
SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Nate Schnarr - Released by Columbus Schnarr was released from his professional tryout agreement with the Blue Jackets on Saturday, per CBS.
Impact Schnarr split between AHL Laval and AHL Ontario last year, picking up nine points in 45 appearances. It wouldn't be surprising to see him secure a two-way contract with another team prior to the start of the 2023-24 campaign.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
