Photo Credits: Michael Miller. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Authored by: Adrian Rosati

If it hasn’t crossed his mind yet, John P. McConnell, the owner of the Columbus Blue Jackets, should have Don Waddell on the hot seat.

After a slew of trade requests were submitted by Kirill Marchenko and Zach Werenski, it has not been a pretty offseason in Columbus. Werenski later walked back his trade request after the Blue Jackets tried to send him to Dallas for defenseman Thomas Harley, and the deal was ultimately nixed.

Marchenko, on the other hand, did not walk back his request for a trade. He is with the team for one more year, with an additional option for him to sign a bigger long-term deal next season when he becomes an RFA. His remaining team control, if he gets his wish of getting out of Columbus, should drive significant value from potential trade suitors.

Major Moves From This Offseason

Additions

• F Valeri Nichushkin — Acquired via trade from Colorado
• F Ryan Lomberg — Signed as a free agent
• G Pheonix Copley — Signed as a free agent

Subtractions

• F Boone Jenner — Left as a free agent
• F Mason Marchment — Left as a free agent

Evaluation of the Offseason

It was a whirlwind of an offseason, and there is so much uncertainty surrounding the organization at this point.

Mason Marchment was always in somewhat of a bottom-six forwaard role consistently, and losing him is not that big of a deal. Marchment has been around the league at this point in his career, and replacing his production shouldn’t be too difficult.

The big loss is Boone Jenner.

I have no doubt this is at least somewhat related to comments from coach Rick Bowness regarding “guys in the room that aren’t trying their hardest,” or perhaps having to deal with the shenanigans surrounding the trade requests throughout the offseason.

When a team loses its captain, it can have a negative impact on team culture and continuity. A team that is already middling like Columbus cannot afford that.

As for their acquisitions, the Blue Jackets got some decent returns, but they are primarily wildcards.

Nichushkin is coming off a 49-point season and is just one season removed from off-ice issues that cost him time away from the NHL while participating in the Player Assistance Program. Assuming he can stay healthy and play north of 70 games, he could provide some decent depth scoring.

Nichushkin is slated to be the second-line right winger, although he could potentially flip-flop to the third line. After all, around 50 points is a relatively weak total for a second-line winger in today’s NHL.

Lomberg is coming off a 57-game season in which he was frequently a healthy scratch for the Calgary Flames. He put up nine points last year, which is certainly more than the average Joe, but if Columbus wants to turn things around, they need a star.

In his defense, Calgary wasn’t trying to be a playoff team last year. That said, Lomberg hopes to make more of an impact in a prove-you-belong environment in Columbus. Maybe a change of scenery can help boost his production.

Copley, on the other hand, is a minor-league goaltender brought in to provide depth. I assume Jet Greaves takes the lion’s share of the starts, with Copley only being called up when there is a goaltending injury.

He is currently slated as the backup on PuckPedia.com, but I expect that when Elvis Merzļikins returns healthy, Copley will eventually be bumped to the AHL.

With Greaves locked up to a sweetheart deal — assuming he can continue his success from last season — the eyes now turn to Adam Fantilli.

Fantilli remains unsigned, and Columbus still has roughly $12 million in cap space. It is very likely another move is on the way based on the contracts handed out this offseason.

First 10 Games

The Blue Jackets open their season October 1st at 7 p.m. against the Buffalo Sabres, which will also serve as their home opener.

Buffalo got worse this offseason, but not as badly as the Blue Jackets have at this date and time.

The intriguing question is: How is the crowd going to react to the entrances of the team, particularly Werenski and Marchenko?

Will that work in Buffalo’s favor if the reaction is negative?

Possibly.

The only non-playoff teams they play in their first 10 games are St. Louis, the New York Rangers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Seven of their first 10 games are at home, which could help balance out the difficult strength of schedule.

I think they will still start poorly, though, going around 4-6, plus or minus a win.

The Utah Mammoth game, coming after a rough start against Buffalo, could serve as a rallying cry to play one of their best games of the first 10. They could potentially carry that momentum into the next few games against Pittsburgh and St. Louis.

That momentum will likely come to a halt against Florida.

Vegas and Minnesota are simply so good that I’m not sure Columbus can find wins against either team.

My Prediction

I expect the Blue Jackets to finish 7th in the Metropolitan Division.

There are teams below them that I expect to rise up the standings. Additionally, Columbus hasn’t made any seismic moves that put them in the conversation with the teams at the top of the division.

They aren’t going to be a traditionally tank-esque team. There will be plenty of good games to watch, but they give me the vibes of a team that will consistently lose those tight, one-goal games — and that could ultimately be the difference between making the playoffs and missing them.

The problem isn’t necessarily in their own zone. It’s a lack of scoring.

It’s also the distractions surrounding the somewhat tiring trade requests from two of their key star players.

Hot Take

Rick Bowness will be the first coach fired this season.

The way Columbus left last season, combined with everything that has happened this offseason, makes me question whether there is a fit between Bowness and this team.

If the Blue Jackets get off to the slow start I expect, I could see the organization making a coaching change sooner rather than later.