Laine at center and other CBJ thoughts

Équipe: 2023-24 Blue Jackets de Columbus

Date de création initiale: 12 août 2023

Publié: 12 août 2023

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

This idea might sound strange, but Laine played a few games at center last season and he looked alright. Moving him to center gives top 6 time to Chinakhov or Texier. When Fantilli is ready, we move Laine to 2C.

Voronkov starts in the AHL. Sillinger makes the roster. If Jiricek is ready, we might have to trade more d-men, but that shouldn't be problem. I'm still a Boqvist believer, so I'd like to keep him.

Goaltending is a problem. Merzļikins hasn't been the same since Kivlenieks died and I don't blame him, but I think we'll see some improvement with better defense and a new coach. Tarasov has also struggled a bit. Either way I'm not worried, goaltenders are not that expensive to acquire if it comes to that.

I think CBJ has all the rookies we need. Now it's time to develop them. I doubt we make playoffs this season, but we could push wildcard if the rookies make big leaps and goaltending figures it out. I predict KJ and Marchenko are due for a good season, Fantilli, Sillinger, Texier, Chinakhov and Jiricek are still question marks. All I really want from this season is some improvement.