Here's an interesting Columbus-Toronto series preview from The Hockey News:

 

https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/2020-nhl-qualifying-round-playoff-preview-toronto-maple-leafs-vs-columbus-blue-jackets

 

It's a classic offense vs defense and finesse vs grit matchup when Toronto and Columbus face each other tonight.  Normally, defense and grit gain an edge in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Because in a normal season, the playoffs come after a grueling 82-game season where players are worn down and/or injured, and then need to find that extra gear to advance.

 

But of course, this is no normal season.  These playoffs come after a four-month break.  A break as long as a typical off-season break.  So it also feels like the start of a new season.  And at the start of a new season, teams usually need to round into shape and gel together.  But with a best-of-five series looming, there isn't any time for that.  In this season restart, the teams need to come out strong in the first two games or find themselves on the brink of elimination.  So, who does this situation favor?  Columbus or Toronto?

 

ADVANTAGE TORONTO -- Shutdown defenses like the CBJ need precise teamwork and co-ordination.  The long layoff might affect that.  Talented offenses like Toronto's can sometimes get by with instinct and ability.  If their top talent gets rolling, that's bad news for Columbus.

 

ADVANTAGE COLUMBUS -- The long layoff allowed the CBJ to its many injured players back into the lineup.  Especially Seth Jones, their best defensive player, and Bjorkstrand, their best offensive player.  The CBJ also have three talented rookies in the lineup - Texier, Bemstrom and Foudy.  Having a full season of experience plus some extra coaching is a bonus for these youngsters.  Particularly with Foudy, who only could play in the OHL this season (except for two emergency injury replacement starts with the CBJ).  Foudy looked good in the exhibition game.

 

Ultimately, I think all the pressure is on Toronto.  They were expected to be a Stanley Cup contender this season and they struggled before finding their way.  Also, playing in Toronto isn't necessarily an advantage.  They get the media/fan pressure of being in Toronto, but without the home ice advantage of the home fans.

 

On the other hand, nobody favored Columbus to return to the playoffs this season.  With the free-agents they lost, almost everyone thought they would struggle.  But this chip-on-the-shoulder mentality has been beneficial to the team, and plays into the Torts style of coaching.

 

The CBJ have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Which sounds alot like the prelude to last season's Opening Round matchup with Tampa Bay(!)

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/8/2/21351958/stanley-cup-qualifiers-game-one-recap-columbus-blue-jackets-toronto-maple-leafs

 

Jackets take Game 1 in their best-of-five against Toronto.  FSO dropped the ball early on playing the Reds game and POSTGAME in their entireties before finally switching to hockey.

 

It was a low scoring affair with Cam Atkinson netting the eventual game winner early in the third period.  Wennberg added an empty netter late to make it 2-0.

 

Joonas Korpisalo earned his first career postseason win and notched a shutout to boot.  That's the first postseason shutout in CBJ franchise history.

3 hours ago, DarkandStormy said:

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/8/2/21351958/stanley-cup-qualifiers-game-one-recap-columbus-blue-jackets-toronto-maple-leafs

 

Jackets take Game 1 in their best-of-five against Toronto.  FSO dropped the ball early on playing the Reds game and POSTGAME in their entireties before finally switching to hockey.

 

It was a low scoring affair with Cam Atkinson netting the eventual game winner early in the third period.  Wennberg added an empty netter late to make it 2-0.

 

Joonas Korpisalo earned his first career postseason win and notched a shutout to boot.  That's the first postseason shutout in CBJ franchise history.

That was a fun game to watch if you were a CBJ fan.  But it must've been a frustrating game for Leafs fans.  The CBJ put on a defensive clinic last night - active sticks to break up chances and blocking shots before they reach Korpi.  And anything that got though, got ate up by Korpi.  The Toronto goalie Andersen had an outstanding game and the Leafs defense was good.  But Game 1 was played the way Torts and the CBJ wanted it played.  Low-scoring and avoiding an up-and-down track meet.  Let's do it again in Game 2!

 

Two of the best highlights from Game 1:

 

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/8/4/21354362/stanley-cup-qualifiers-columbus-blue-jackets-toronto-maple-leafs-game-two-recap-nhl

 

The CBJ dropped Game 2 with a 3-0 loss as the Maple Leafs turned the tables on the Jackets.  Despite the turnaround on the scoreboard, the CBJ played a similarly strong defensive game and Korpi had another great game in net.  But Toronto came out with more jump than Game 1 and was finally able to cash in on one of their scoring chances to take a lead.  That lead came with 4 minutes left in the second period on a beautiful give-and-go scored by Auston Matthews.

 

Because of that one-goal lead, the Jackets pressed forward for a tying goal in the third period.  Early in the third, the Jackets had a fine scoring chance that saw both d-men Jones and Werenski pinch in on the offense.  But Werenski's one-on-one chance with the Toronto goalie got knocked from his stick and was long-passed down the ice to an unmarked John Taveres, who scored Toronto's second goal 4:56 into the third.

 

Toronto managed to give Columbus a lifeline with two power-plays in the final 6 1/2 minutes of the game.  But the Jackets couldn't cash in.  The Jackets pulled their goalie at the start of their last power-play with 2:50 remaining in the third.  During that last power-play, Toronto d-man Jake Muzzin had an awkward head-first fall where he his head hit the back of Bjorkstrand's leg.  He attempted to get up but couldn't and sat down on the ice before laying down facing up.  Play was stopped with 1:52 remaining in the third while Muzzin was evaluated.  After a 10+ minute delay, his head was immobilized and he was taken from the ice on a stretcher.  Fortunately, Muzzin never lost consciousness and was able to move all limbs.  He is reported to be resting comfortably at a nearby hospital while being further assessed.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/defenseman-jake-muzzin-toronto-maple-leafs-status/c-317877236 -- This article about Muzzin's injury also has a video of the incident.

 

After that lengthy delay, the Jackets couldn't get a goal with remaining power-play and pulled goalie advantage.  Toronto added an empty-net goal with 43 seconds left to finish the game 3-0.

 

The CBJ defense was still stout in Game 2, but they allowed Toronto 39 shots vs 28 in Game 1.  However, it didn't help that the Jackets also gave up five power-plays to Toronto in Game 2 after only one in Game 1.  Even though the Jackets killed off all five power-plays, it messed up their ability to roll four lines while specialty players were killing off penalties.  Korpi had another outstanding game, stopping 36 of the 38 shots he faced.

 

Playing the same defensively sound strategy, but with more offense and staying out of the penalty box, seems the goal for the CBJ in Game 3 on Thursday night at 8 PM.  The series is now tied 1-1.

18 hours ago, Columbo said:

Toronto d-man Jake Muzzin had an awkward head-first fall where he his head hit the back of Bjorkstrand's leg.  He attempted to get up but couldn't and sat down on the ice before laying down facing up.  Play was stopped with 1:52 remaining in the third while Muzzin was evaluated.  After a 10+ minute delay, his head was immobilized and he was taken from the ice on a stretcher.  Fortunately, Muzzin never lost consciousness and was able to move all limbs.  He is reported to be resting comfortably at a nearby hospital while being further assessed.

 

https://www.nhl.com/news/defenseman-jake-muzzin-toronto-maple-leafs-status/c-317877236 -- This article about Muzzin's injury also has a video of the incident.

 

An encouraging update about Toronto's Jake Muzzin.  He has been discharged from the hospital and resting in his team hotel room.  Because of the NHL covid protocol, Muzzin will be quarantined for a minimum of 4 days, while he takes a covid test each day.  If he tests negative for four straight days, then he can rejoin his team.

 

LEO!!!

 

And something I've wondered about those dasher board ads in these bubble games:

 

GAME 3:  WOW - what a game!  Too tired for a full recap right now - so here's the mini-cap with a link in the twitter post below.

 

CBJ gives up three straight goals to Toronto.  CBJ scores three straight goals to send Game 3 into overtime.  PLD scores game-winning goal in OT.  And its a hat-trick for PLD(!)  Jackets up 2-1 in the best-of-five series with Game 4 tomorrow night at 8 p.m.

 

We're up three goals with four minutes to go.  It's in the bag(!)

 

 

AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some comments from the JacketsCannon recap of Game 4:

 

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/8/8/21359557/recap-columbus-blue-jackets-blow-3-0-lead-fail-to-eliminate-toronto-maple-leafs

Quote

 

Anyone else just feel… dead? this morning? Like, I’m not mad, not disappointed, not pissed or sad, just… dead. Numb. It’s weird, I’ve never felt this way after a game before. Is this how Maple Leaves fans normally feel?

Posted  by BurkusCircus52  on Aug 8, 2020 | 9:18 AM

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Saturday. Win or lose having hockey back has markedly improved my day to day. I don’t want to wallow in a loss today.

Posted  by walterc1  on Aug 8, 2020 | 9:19 AM

 

Looking on the bright side, if we lose tomorrow, the worst we can pick in the draft is 13th.

Posted  by Dale B.  on Aug 8, 2020 | 9:23 AM

 

 

Three hours and counting until Game 5 tonight ... and here is the lineup (maybe) for this deciding game plus some injury updates:

 

Late Game 5 lineup change for the CBJ:

 

Going into the third:

 

JACKETS WIN!!!

 

 

And I would add this to the tweet below -- Panarin's new team (NY Rangers), Bob's new team (Florida) and Duchene's new team (Nashville) all were eliminated in their qualifying round games(!)  Show some respect indeed:

 

Brutally funny(!)?️

 

Life comes at you fast.  Apparently, so do these 2020 NHL playoffs.  The CBJ dispatched the Maple Leafs in a thrilling game 5 at about 10:30pm on Sunday.  And now the CBJ begin the next round against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday with a 3pm afternoon start(!)

 

But that's what happens when you play the final game of the qualifying round and then get scheduled for the very first game of the next round(!!)  C'mon NHL, you couldn't give us a little more time to celebrate the win over Toronto?

 

Aw, well.  Here it is anyway.  The real deal Stanley Cup Playoffs.  The final 16 teams.  The 4 of 7 series'.  But without fans and in the quarantine bubble of Toronto (because 2020).  And we're facing Tampa Bay.  You may remember a little something about the Jackets sweeping those Lightning in the first round last season.  You can bet that TBL remembers it and will be looking to avenge that embarrassment.

 

The CBJ won't surprise the Lightning this year.  And the Lightning aren't exactly in the same situation they were last season.  They didn't tie the NHL regular-season record for wins this season.  In fact, they struggled a bit out of the gate before playing quite well down the stretch until this season was suspended.  They added some grit to their offensive glamour and play a more rounded game than last season.  However, TBL's defense in front of outstanding goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy is still an issue.

 

Also an issue for TBL going into this series is the availability of Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman.  Stamkos is one of their best offensive players and Hedman is by far their best defensive player.  The loss of Hedman - who seemed to suffer a leg injury in their final round robin game last weekend - would be a huge blow to the Lightning.

 

Here's a game one preview from the JacketsCannon:

 

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/8/11/21363177/game-1-preview-the-jackets-needs-to-bring-the-thunder-against-tampa-bay-lightning

 

Here's the upcoming series schedule:

 

CBJ vs TBL SERIES SCHEDULE

Game 1: Tuesday August 11 at 3 PM
Game 2: Thursday August 13 at 3 PM
Game 3: Saturday August 15 at 7:30 PM
Game 4: Monday August 17 at 3 PM
Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday August 19 TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): Friday August 21 TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday August 22 TBD

 

According to JacketsCannon, all the CBJ/TBL games will be televised locally on Fox Sports Ohio.  Those 3pm afternoon starts will be rough for those of us who are still working regular hours at a regular at-work environment.  But it might be great for those of us working from home.

Trending...

 

Still trending...

 

That was a playoff game for the ages.

Too bad it wasn't a playoff win for the ages.

 

GAME 1 - 5OT RECAP:  https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29642830/brayden-point-gives-lightning-win-blue-jackets-5-overs-joonas-korpisalo-makes-85-saves

 

Some records and amazing etc. from yesterday's 5OT game:

-- Fourth-longest playoff game in NHL history at 150 minutes, 27 seconds.  Another playoff game went a few minutes longer in 2000, and the two longer playoff games were held in the 1930's.

-- At 150 minutes and 27 seconds, this 5OT game was the equivalent of two full games plus another full half of another. 7 full 20-minute periods and just over 10-minutes of the 8th period.

-- During the one mid-period ice scraping in the fourth overtime period, the jumbotron in the fanless Scotiabank Arena announced it was time for a seventh-period stretch.  By the fifth overtime, a new message appeared: "Sorry if you had other plans tonight."

-- The CBJ/TBL game started at just after 3PM and ended just before 9:30PM.  A Western Conference playoff game held in Edmonton started at 5:30PM and finished a full hour before this Eastern Conference playoff game ended(!)

-- The nearly 9:30PM finish of the CBJ/TBL game meant the BOS/CAR playoff game scheduled for an 8PM start on the same ice got postponed to the next morning for an 11AM start(!)  The NHL estimated 90 minutes of cleaning protocols and ice prep for the next game, so the BOS/CAR game would've started at around midnight if not postponed until this morning(!)

-- Seth Jones set a new playoff record for ice time with 65:06, which beat the previous record of 63:51 set by HOF defenseman Sergei Zubov in 2003.

-- Joonas Korpisalo set a new playoff record for saves with 85 -- shattering the previous mark of 73 saves set in 1987 by Islanders goaltender Kelly Hrudey.

-- The Blue Jackets were playing their sixth game in nine days, including two that went into overtime from the previous qualifying round.

I can't post all the amazing and humorous twitter takes about yesterday's epic 5OT classic.  So here's a recap from ESPN:

 

https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29642400/sports-world-reacts-tampa-bay-lightning-columbus-blue-jackets-five-thriller

 

Oh, and one more thing.

 

As great as that game was - and as great as the players on both teams played yesterday (Jones with 65:06 of ice time; Z with 61:14 ice time; Hedman with 57:38 and was questionable prior to the start(!); Vassy's 61 saves; and of course Korpi's 85 saves) - the refs were not:

 

But finally . . .

 

... and Game 2 is just over 26 hours until puck drop on Thursday at 3PM.   WHEW(!)

 Ya gotta love today's CBJ twitter page:

And they did keep it under 5OT today -- winning 3-1 in a measly 60 minutes to even the series 1-1

 

Both the CBJ and TBL playing an exhausting 150+min 5OT game on Tuesday.  But the team that wins should get some kind of boost - with the idea that "yeah we're tired, but at least we got the W".  And after TBL scored five minutes into Game 2, CBJ fans probably thought "well, here we go".

 

But it didn't go like that.  Instead the CBJ fought back to get an equalizer by Murray(!) off a sweet pass from PLD:

 

Then a power-play goal by Bjorkstrand off another nice PLD pass to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission:

 

And then the CBJ put the defense clamps on the Lightning until a Wennberg goal(!) set up by a long cross-ice pass from Foudy added a much welcome third goal in the third period:

 

And now the series is tied.  Game 3 is Saturday at 7:30pm.

GAME 3:  TBL wins 3-2; TBL up 2-1 in the series

 

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/8/15/21370642/recap-lackluster-effort-exposes-columbus-blue-jackets-in-loss-trail-tampa-bay-lightning

 

  Game Four - Monday at 3PM:

 

GAME 4:  TBL wins 2-1; TBL now up 3-1 in the series

 

GAME 5:  TBL wins 5-4 in OT; TBL wins series 4-1

 

Hard fought game and series, but a tough loss.  Is Coach Torts salty?  You darn right he is.

 

Enjoy his post-game comments.  All 56 seconds of it(!)

 

^ The salty side of Coach Torts may have been on display during our 2020 playoff exit - and his sometimes fiery personality and old-school coaching style is a point of debate among hard core CBJ fandom.  But you have to respect the team's success under the five seasons he's been head coach.

 

Since taking over the head coaching position 7 games into the 2015-16 season, the CBJ have reached the NHL playoffs four of those five seasons.  And the one season we didn't reach the playoffs was that first season where he replaced Todd Richards after the CBJ lost their first 7 games(!)  After that initial season, it's been four straight playoff appearances for the CBJ.

 

Now the critics of Torts will rightly point out that three of those four playoff appearance ended with first round eliminations.  Only in 2019 did the CBJ advance to the second round with that stunning four-game sweep of a 62-win TBL squad. (You could possibly add the CBJ advancing in this season's special qualifying round over TOR.)

 

And failing to advance in the Stanley Cup playoffs is an issue.  However, some context is helpful in examining those early exits.  Below are the last four teams that eliminated the CBJ from the playoffs.  In every instance, the team that eliminated the CBJ went on to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.  And in 3 of those 4 times, the team that eliminated the CBJ ended up winning the Stanley Cup(!):

 

2020: TB (won the cup)

2019: BOS (cup finals)

2018: WAS (won the cup)

2017: PIT (won the cup)

 

The condensed NHL off-season is already upon us.  The first round of the 2020 Draft is tonight, with rounds 2-7 also being held tomorrow under COVID conference call conditions instead of the pageantry of a draft in an NHL arena.  In addition to the condensed time frame between the end of the 2020 playoffs and the start of the 2020-21 season, the league salary cap has held flat instead of the increase that was planned prior to COVID attendance restrictions.  This will likely effect some of the roster decisions for many teams.

 

The CBJ won't be losing a bunch of UFA players to free-agency this off-season.  But they do have a number of RFA players to make decisions on.  As the first phase of the RFA process, the CBJ extended qualifying offers to 8 of those RFA players:

 

https://www.traderumours.com/Blue-Jackets-submit-qualifying-offer-to-8-players-25792

 

Forwards Josh Anderson, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Ryan MacInnis, Kevin Stenlund, Calvin Thurkauf, defensemen Gabriel Carlsson, Vladislav Gavrikov, and goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks were players who received a qualifying offer.  

Forwards Devin Shore, Jakob Lilja (signed in KHL), Max Fortier, Justin Scott, Paul Bittner, Marko Dano (signed in Slovak Extraliga), defenseman Michael Prapavessis and Ryan Collins did not receive a qualifying offer and will all become unrestricted free agents.

 

Of those players that received QO's, first-line center PLD is the top offensive player to work out either a bridge-deal or a longer-term contract.  Gavrikov is the top defensive player to work out a new deal.

 

How to handle 26-year-old power winger Josh Anderson is a real question mark.  The CBJ might sign Anderson to new deal; he might accept the one-year QO and become an UFA next season; or they might deal him to another team.  Dealing Anderson to another team seemed like the most likely option before COVID.  But with Anderson coming off a serious shoulder injury, the COVID restrictions of verifying his health and not being able to meet face-to-face with other GM's complicates this.

 

Another roster question mark is how to handle 26-year-old center Alexander Wennberg.  Wennberg has 3 years remaining on a $4.9 million-a-year cap hit.  This looked like a great long-term signing when Wennberg was rising 23-year-old.  But with his productions falling off dramatically since, his contract is now an albatross.  There is talk about buying out the remaining 3 years of Wennberg's contract to save some cash and gain cap space.

 

With the 2020 draft beginning tonight, the NHL deals are starting to heat up.  We'll see what GM Kek has in store for this unusual off-season.

A couple more bits of players news:

 

https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/cbj-loan-bemstrom-texier--vehvilainen-to-trio-of-liiga-clubs/c-318937186 - Because of the delayed start to the 2020-21 NHL season, the CBJ has loaned a trio of young players to Finnish teams that will begin their season before the NHL in 2020.  21-year-old center Texier and 21-year-old winger Bemstrom, who both played for the CBJ last season, and 23-year-old goalie Vehvilainen, who played in Cleveland last season, were loaned to separate teams in Finland with the condition that they will rejoin the CBJ when the next NHL season begins.

 

https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/cbj-right-wing-kole-sherwood-accepts-club-qualifying-offer/c-319290742 - 23-year-old winger Kole Sherwood, who played in Cleveland last season, excepted a one-year, two-way QO and was loaned to a Chinese ice hockey club that plays in the KHL.

And one more item:

 

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2020/10/5279/blue-jackets-unveil-20th-anniversary-logo

 

Has it really been 20 years?

4 hours ago, Columbo said:

How to handle 26-year-old power winger Josh Anderson is a real question mark.  The CBJ might sign Anderson to new deal; he might accept the one-year QO and become an UFA next season; or they might deal him to another team. 

 

Welp.  Got that posted just in time:

 

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/10/6/21504765/columbus-blue-jackets-trade-josh-anderson-to-montreal-canadiens-for-max-domi-third-round-pick

CBJ deals coming fast and furious yesterday and today:

 

Yesterday, the Jackets signed newly acquired center Max Domi to a two-year contract extension:

 

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2020/10/5288/center-max-domi-signs-two-year-deal-with-columbus-blue-jackets

 

The two-year deal is for an AAV of $5.3 million/year - a good amount but reasonable if Domi continues his past production at the 2C spot for the CBJ:

Today's deal - a buyout of Wennberg's contract:

 

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/10/8/21505223/columbus-blue-jackets-move-to-buy-out-alexander-wennberg

 

With the acquisition of Max Domi to be the team's 2C - the writing was on the wall for a Wennberg buyout.  Wennberg was signed to a 6-year, $4.9 AAV deal after the 2016-17 season, when he was a promising and improving 23-year-old center.  The signing (and his play in three previous seasons) set Wennberg on track to be the team's top-line center of the future.

 

But that didn't happen, as Wennberg's production dropped off dramatically after the big contract signing and never recovered:

 

The Domi signing and the pending deals for PLD and Gavrikov also meant that the CBJ needed some additional cap space.  Wennberg's contract buyout became an obvious way to achieve this.  Although teams prefer not to buyout contracts because, (1) it's an admission of a mistake, and (2) you're paying someone not to play for your team - the amount of cap relief was significant with this buyout (see below):

 

For the next three seasons, the CBJ would get $4,458,333 in cap relief vs keeping Wennberg.  In the three seasons starting with 2023-24, the team would have an additional $891,867 cap hit because of the way the buyout is spread out.  However, the assumption is that the league salary cap will rise year after year - and that the natural cap rise would negate this additional cap hit.

Another deal today to free up more cap space:

 

- https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/10/8/21508278/columbus-blue-jackets-trade-markus-nutivaara-to-florida-panthers-for-cliff-pu

- https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2020/10/5295/blue-jackets-send-defenseman-markus-nutivaara-to-florida-for-winger-cliff-pu-freeing-up-valuable-cap-space

 

Nuti traded to Florida for (hopefully) a 22-year-old forward reclamation project.  Although it's more likely that it was just a straight salary dump to free cap space for the Jackets to be a buyer in tomorrow's noon opening of free agency -with rumors suggesting that the CBJ are primarily left winger Taylor Hall.  It also could have been a "favor-trade" to Jarmo's former asst. GM Bill Zito, who is now the Florida GM.

 

Sad to see Nuti go.  He was a late-round lottery ticket that paid off big for the CBJ - an overage 2015 7th-round, 189th-overall pick who had three very productive seasons from 2016 to 2019 on the second and third bluelines.  But injuries hampered Nuti in 2019-20 and other CBJ d-men overtook him on the depth chart.  At 26 and with two years left at $2.7 million/AAV on his contract, Nuti became a tradeable extra defender to free up additional cap space.

Yet another deal from today:

 

24-year-old goalie Matiss Kivlenieks signed to a two-year, $725,000 AAV deal -- Bargain rate deal for a goalie who was middling in the AHL until he was brought up mid-season last year to serve as an emergency backup - and played pretty well.  Should be part of the goalie tandem in Cleveland unless needed again at the NHL level.

And we haven't even gotten to the 2020 NHL Draft which had first-round selections on Tuesday and Rounds 2 thru 7 on Wednesday:

 

- https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/10/7/21500983/recapping-columbus-blue-jackets-2020-21-nhl-draft

- https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2020/10/5290/cbj-draft-tracker-columbus-blue-jackets-2020-nhl-entry-draft

 

ROUND 1, 21ST OVERALL:  YEGOR CHINAKHOV

DOB: February 1, 2001 (19)
BIRTHPLACE: Omsk, Russia
SIZE: 5-11/179
POS: Right Wing
SHOOTS: Left

 

The Jackets shocked a lot of observers, taking 19-year-old Russian winger Yegor Chinakhov with the 21st overall pick in the draft.  But this pick kinda sums up the Jarmo drafting philosophy.  “We have our scouts for a reason and that's who we believe in,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said of the surprise pick. “Chinakhov has very high skill.”

 

Chinakhov is an overage pick (he was eligible at age 18 to be chosen last year but went undrafted).  However, his stock has been rising after a strong junior season in Russia last year and a strong start in the KHL this year.  Still, Chinakhov wasn't a consensus first-round pick for 2020 - most had him in the late-second or third-round.  The biggest criticism is why didn't Jarmo trade this #21 pick for some additional later picks, and still select Chinakhov?  It seems like Jarmo doesn't want to play that game and possibly lose out on the player they "really wanted" instead of going with the "best available player" on the prospect boards.

 

Time will tell if Chinakhov turns into the high-level NHL player that Jarmo and his scouts believe him to be.  But bonus points for baffling the NBCSN broadcast crew - and extra bonus points for picking a player during the COVID-19 pandemic whose name looks like "China-cough"(!)

 

ROUND 3, 78TH OVERALL:  SAMUEL KNAZKO

DOB: August 7, 2002 (18)
BIRTHPLACE: Trencin, Slovakia
SIZE: 6-1/191
POS: Defense
SHOOTS: Left

 

This draft spot was acquired from Montreal in the Anderson-for-Domi trade.  Kekalainin used this pick more conventionally to choose a well regarded puck-moving defenseman with a solid frame and room to grow.  Knazko has played in the Finnish junior leagues for two seasons, putting up good numbers, until joining a Finnish U20 team this season. 

 

ROUND 4, 114TH OVERALL:  MIKAEL PYYHTIA

DOB: December 17, 2001 (18)
BIRTHPLACE: Turku, Finland
SIZE: 5-11/174
POS: Center
SHOOTS: Left

 

Center Mikael Pyyhtia is a junior and U20 teammate of the Jackets' third-round selection, Samuel Knazko, and has put up some fine scoring numbers last season and the start of this season in Finland.

 

ROUND 5, 145TH OVERALL:  OLE BJORGVIK-HOLM

DOB: May 23, 2002 (18)
BIRTHPLACE: Oslo, Norway
SIZE: 6-3/201
POS: Defense
SHOOTS: Left

 

Columbus continued to add defensive depth, selecting Norwegian defenseman Ole Bjorgvik-Holm with their fifth-round selection.  Bjorgvik-Holm played the 2019-20 season with the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL in Canada, where he registered 2-17-19 in 57 games.

 

ROUND 6, 176TH OVERALL:  SAMUEL JOHANNESSON

DOB: December 27, 2000 (19)
BIRTHPLACE: Sweden
SIZE: 5-11/176
POS: Defense
SHOOTS: Left

 

More defensive depth, selecting Swedish defenseman Samuel Johannesson with their sixth-round selection.  Johannesson was promoted from the Swedish junior league to the top-tier SHL in the 2019-20 season and registered 1-10-11 in 44 games.  To start the 2020-21 SHL season, he has posted 1-1-2 in four games.

 

And then the Jackets traded their 2020 seventh-round pick (207th overall) to the Anaheim Ducks for an additional seventh-round pick in either 2021 or 2022 (CBJ choice).

 

And yet another deal to clear cap space for the CBJ to possibly be a buyer in the NHL's free agent frenzy, which begins today at Noon - which would be ... right ... about ... NOW!

 

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2020/10/5298/blue-jackets-trade-ryan-murray-to-devils-for-a-2021-fifth-round-pick

 

"The Columbus Blue Jackets traded defenseman Ryan Murray to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.  They received a fifth-round pick in 2021 in return."

 

"GM Jarmo Kekalainen continues to clear cap room, presumably in attempt to land a big-time offensive player either through trade or free agency.  On Thursday alone, the Blue Jackets cleared $11.8 million in salary cap room with the buyout of Alexander Wennberg, the trade of Markus Nutivaara, and finally the Murray deal.  Murray makes $4.6 million against the cap and will be an unrestricted free agent after next season."

On 10/9/2020 at 12:02 PM, Columbo said:

And yet another deal to clear cap space for the CBJ to possibly be a buyer in the NHL's free agent frenzy, which begins today at Noon - which would be ... right ... about ... NOW!

To quote The Smiths, "How soon is Now?" -- We just don't know when it comes to the CBJ using all that cap space they created to hunt for a big-time free-agent player:

 

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2020/10/5296/what-to-do-with-the-cap-space-the-blue-jackets-may-be-going-big-game-hunting

 

Free-agency opened Friday at Noon - and as of Saturday afternoon about 26.5 hours after opening - there's been no news.  Not just for the CBJ, but for the entire NHL on the biggest free-agent targets available.

 

It appears that the COVID impact on the salary cap is looming large.  Next season's salary cap is flat.  And it's likely that the following season's salary cap will also be flat.  So the NHL might be looking at the 2022-23 season until the salary cap rises again.  Because of this, we're seeing alot of 1, 2 and 3-year deals for lower-level free-agents, but very few of the 5, 6 and 7-year max deals for the higher-level free-agents yet.

 

With the financial uncertainty while COVID reigns unchecked, teams are likely hesitant to offer the max deals that big-fish FA's (like rumored CBJ target Taylor Hall) are accustomed to seeing.  At some point big-fish FA deals will get done.  But it looks like it will take longer than usual in this environment.

 

But then, nothing else during this COVID-era has been "normal", so why should NHL free-agency be any different?

So, the CBJ cleared out nearly $12 million in cap space to go big name hunting on the 2020 FA market.  Yesterday, they got a "big name":

 

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/10/10/21510793/columbus-blue-jackets-sign-veteran-center-mikko-koivu-for-the-2020-21-season-minnesota-wild

 

The CBJ signed 37-year-old center Mikko Koivu to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.  For the past 15 years and in 1028 games with the Minnesota Wild, Koivu has been the face of their franchise - beloved by their fans and a team captain for the past 11 seasons.  But the Wild are rebuilding and let his previous 6-year $5.5 AAV deal with the team expire without re-signing him.  So, Finnish-born CBJ GM Jarmo Kekalainen brought on Finnish-born Center Mikko Koivu this one-year bargain FA deal.

 

I don't hate this deal (even if it isn't a mega Taylor Hall deal).  Ideally, Koivu can be veteran 3C to slot behind Domi (2C) and PLD (1C).  He's like a more consistent veteran version of Wennberg (the previous 3C whose contract was bought out) - defensively responsible, good on faceoffs, contributing some offensively.  With Koivu at the 3C, Jenner and Foligno can play wing (which they are more suited).

 

Reasons for concern include, obviously, his age at 37.  Plus, Koivu is coming off ACL knee surgery that cut short his 2018-19 season and delayed the start of his 2019-20 season.  He ended up with 4 goals and 17 assists for 21 points in 55 games with the Wild last season.

 

But, Koivu is only signed to a low-price one-year deal - much like 26-year-old Mikhail Grigorenko, who might also vie for the 3C spot.  So Koivu is some insurance if Grigorenko doesn't pan out, and some additional depth if he does.  Not a mega-deal that propels the team to the top of the SC favorites in the East - but a low-risk deal that helps with center depth.

As for the really big name of Taylor Hall, it looks like the CBJ won't be signing him.  In Kekalainen's interview with reporters yesterday, he said they did make Hall an offer - but that "we had a price and term in mind".  So, not the mega-deal that he was likely looking for.  Although, to be fair, it seems like very few teams are offering the traditional mega-deals during this 2020 FA, with the flat cap and Seattle expansion draft in the near future - as Hall and most of the other top-tier FA's are still unsigned.

 

Clearing out the nearly $12 million in cap space will allow them to easily re-sign PLD (the team's 1C) and Gavrikov (a key second-line d-man), which will probably eat into about half of the newly available cap space.  However, Kekalainen did also mention the possibly that another team might "offer sheet" PLD, as another reason for the additional cap space.  Jarmo did "offer sheet" Toronto's RFA forward Mitch Marner this off-season - which Toronto quickly matched to retain him.  It is possible that another team might try the same with PLD this off-season, and the CBJ would need enough cap space to match it.

 

Some are skeptical of that explanation and wonder if an internal salary cap, or team budget, was placed on Kekalainen to meet.  This is also possible given the lost revenue from the COVID restrictions.  Kekalainen has denied this, but then this is not something any GM would publicly admit.

 

So, barring any other deals before the start of next season - whenever that officially is - the off-season moves have weakened the defensive depth but strengthened the center depth.  Getting Domi fills a big roster gap.  Getting Koivu and Grigorenko could strengthen the bottom-6 center depth and mitigate the loss of Wennberg.  Losing Murray and Nutivaara will hurt the defensive depth, but the defensive top-4 remain intact.  And they've retained their 1A-1B goalie combo of Korpisalo and Elvis.

 

The main gap in the roster left unaddressed was additional top line scoring.  For that, the CBJ are once again looking to build from within.  Last season saw a trio of young forwards - Texier, Foudy and Bemstrom - show good promise.  It's possible another trade could address this, but it won't be addressed via free-agency.

 

And ultimately, the CBJ are in the position of most NHL teams (and particularly the smaller-market teams) of growing from within.  That means drafting well, developing well, and retaining those players - with trades and free-agency to improve and fill in roster gaps.

CBJ OFF-SEASON UPDATE:

 

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2020/11/5365/blue-jackets-ink-rfa-vladislav-gavrikov-to-three-year-84m-contract

• The Jackets signed 24-year-old defenseman Gavrikov to a 3-year, $2.8M AAV contract.  This returns the solid second d-line with Gavy and Savy.  The only RFA remaining unsigned is top-line center Pierre-Luc Dubois - which is the biggest deal to finish before next season starts (whenever that is).

 

https://www.capfriendly.com/signings/bluejackets

• Other RFA signings include:  Two depth forwards, 24-year-old Ryan MacInnis and 23-year-old Calvin Thurkauf, who saw some playing time with the CBJ last year as injury replacements, but will fill out the Monsters roster otherwise.  24-year-old forward Kevin Stenlund, who might get some playing time in Columbus, if a spot is available.  And 23-year-old defenseman Gabriel Carlsson, who has a chance to live up to his late-first round pick status with a spot available on the third pairing in Columbus.

 

https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/11/04/gustav-nyquist-surgery-a-blow-to-blue-jackets-push-for-more-offense/

• On Wednesday, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced that left-winger Gustav Nyquist underwent surgery to repair a labral tear of his left shoulder.  Apparently this is an injury that Nyquist has been playing through for some time (they were non-specific as to how long though).  But it would explain Nyquist's disappointing playoffs - he had 0 goals and only 2 assists in 10 playoff games.  Recovery time is estimated at 5-6 months, so Gus will miss a significant portion of the upcoming season - which probably won't begin until January.

The 2021 NHL season is officially on(!)  Jackets are scheduled to start training camp on January 3rd.  Then no pre-season games before the January 13 start to a 56-game regular season.

 

Because of Canada's covid border protocol, all seven Canadian teams will be in an all-Canada North division.  This caused the NHL to realign all the remaining 24 U.S. teams into three new 8-team divisions (see below).  Teams will only play teams within these new divisions for the entire 2021 season:

For the CBJ's 20th anniversary season, they're going back to their original "Central Division" (sort of).  Old rivals Chicago, Detroit and Nashville will be in this new Central Division - plus four southern teams in Carolina, Dallas, Florida and Tampa Bay.

 

Barring anything really unusual, the top two teams in this division should be Tampa Bay and Dallas.  No surprise, since they just faced each other in the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals(!)  And the bottom two teams should be Detroit and Chicago (quite the change from the CBJ's early seasons).

 

For 2021, the top four teams in each division will advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  So this leaves Carolina, Columbus, Florida and Nashville fighting for the last two playoff spots.  I think the Jackets chances are good but not great among this group.  Carolina is likely the best in this group, with Nashville and Florida as potentially strong teams depending on their goaltending.  The Jackets can hang with this group, but they'll need improved offensive production to finish in a playoff position.

 

But the good news is - HOCKEY IS ON THE WAY 🏒

The 2021 CBJ schedule has been released.  All games within the newly formed 8-team Central Division - almost all games in two-game series at the home/away location to reduce team travel.  Season opener at Nashville on January 14.  Home opener on January 21 against Tampa Bay:

 

It's a happy new year for the CBJ as 22-year-old first-line center Pierre-Luc Dubois signed a two-year/$10 million contract extension on the last day of 2020:

 

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2020/12/31/22208463/never-any-doubt-pierre-luc-dubois-signs-two-year-contract

 

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2020/10/5299/blue-jackets-sign-rfa-pierre-luc-dubois-to-contract-extension

 

When the off-season started, there didn't seem to be any doubt that PLD would re-sign with the Jackets.  As an RFA, he didn't have any leverage except to refuse a deal and hold out into training camp and/or the regular season.  But with only a few days until the Jan. 3 training camp start, rumors started to circulate that they might not reach a deal.

 

Word is that the CBJ wanted to sign PLD to a long-term deal (up to 8 years), while PLD's side wanted a shorter term deal.  With the two-year deal, PLD's side got their wish.  And although the $5 million AAV is a good deal for the CBJ, the year-by-year payout is also a win for PLD's side.  At $3.35M for the upcoming season and then $6.65M for 2021-22, the new deal sets up PLD for a big raise in summer 2022.  Although PLD would still be an RFA, the Jackets would need to offer him a $7 million-year contract to retain him, or offer a long-term extension.

 

This two-year deal also sets up a real contract log-jam in summer 2022 for the CBJ.  In addition to PLD, defenseman Seth Jones will be an UFA, along with newly acquired center Max Domi and the goaltender tandem of Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo.  Plus defenseman Zach Werenski's contract comes due as an RFA.  That's alot of key player contracts coming due at once - unless deals are made before the summer of 2022.

 

It also sets a two-year window for the Jackets to compete until all those affordable contracts become higher priced contracts.  So, the time is now for the CBJ with their current roster.

After the contract drama with PLD, this extension came seemingly easily:

 

https://www.jacketscannon.com/2021/1/6/22216943/columbus-blue-jackets-sign-oliver-bjorkstrand-to-five-year-extension

 

https://www.1stohiobattery.com/columbus-blue-jackets-news/2021/01/5562/blue-jackets-sign-oliver-bjorkstrand-to-five-year-extension-worth-27-million

 

Bjorkstrand has been a steadily rising offensive force since netting 40 points in his first full season of 82 games in 2017-18.  Then scoring 23 goals in 77 games in 2018-19 and then 21 goals in only 49 games last season before a high-ankle sprain ended his regular season.  He then returned to the 2020 post-season with 3 goals in 10 games.  The 25-year-old right winger will turn 26 in April.  This extension will lock him up until the 2025-26 season.