Next up in our 2023 fantasy hockey team previews are the Columbus Blue Jackets from the Metropolitan Division. The Blue Jackets had a year to forget in 2022-23, finishing with a 25-48-9 record and 59 points. Although it was a horrendous year for Columbus, severe injury trouble from the very start of the season can be blamed. Furthermore, after making some significant additions to their blueline, they should be better in 2023-24.
Although the Blue Jackets look better on paper this season, expecting them to make the playoffs is a tall order. The Metropolitan Division is stacked, with teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Islanders leading the way. However, they still have players worth selecting in your fantasy draft. Let’s look at three positions and discuss the players with fantasy value this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets Fantasy Hockey Preview
Blue Jackets Forwards
The Blue Jackets did not have a single player produce at a point-per-game pace last season, but they had players who had strong offensive totals. For example, star forward Johnny Gaudreau led the club in points (74). It was a productive first season for him with the Blue Jackets, and he should have a stronger year in 2023-24. This is because he will be more acclimated to the team.
Patrik Laine is another Blue Jackets star who had a strong 2022-23 season. Had it not been for injuries, he would have been neck and neck with Gaudreau in the points race. Limited to 55 games, the 25-year-old posted 22 goals and 52 points. He also recorded 56 points in 56 games the season before, so he’s a player to add in fantasy. The talent is there, but the real question is if he can stay healthy.
Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner warrants consideration, too. The 30-year-old center is a scoring forward who also never shies away from the physical side of the game. In 68 games last season, he had 26 goals, 45 points, and 129 hits. He is a player worth snagging in the later rounds when the stars are off the board.
Other young Blue Jackets forwards with great upside worth taking a shot at include Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Kirill Marchenko, Yegor Chinakhov, and Cole Sillinger.
Blue Jackets Defensemen
The Blue Jackets focused on improving their defensive group this summer, and it’s quite a deep group because of it. They added Damon Severson, and he will have a big role on their roster. The 29-year-old plays a steady two-way game and had a strong season with the New Jersey Devils last season while playing limited minutes. In 81 games, he posted seven goals, 33 points, and a plus-9 rating. With his role expected to be bigger with Columbus, his production should go up.
Ivan Provorov is the other big-name defenseman the Blue Jackets added this summer. Provorov needed a change of scenery, and now he has a fresh start with the Blue Jackets. Provorov showed in the past that he can be a star, but he struggled these last few seasons. In 82 games with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2022-23, he had six goals, 27 points, and a minus-17 rating. He is due for a bounce-back season, so he is worth taking in your fantasy draft.
Star defenseman Zach Werenski is an obvious pick for your fantasy team. He is a legitimate top-pairing defenseman who plays an excellent two-way game. Adam Boqvist is also worth some consideration, as he’s a young defenseman with upside and produces well offensively. Andrew Peeke is also worth considering in later rounds because of his immensely impactful physicality.
Blue Jackets Goalies
When it comes to goaltending, the Blue Jackets do not provide the best options for your fantasy team. Starter Elvis Merzlikins struggled noticeably this past season, posting a 7-18-3 record, a 4.23 GAA, and an .876 SV%. It was a year to forget for the 29-year-old, and he is now looking to bounce back in 2023-24. When noting that he had past NHL success, he has the potential to turn things around. Yet, even with this being so, do not consider him until much later in your draft, if at all.
Daniil Tarasov also did not have a good season for the Blue Jackets in 2022-23. In 17 appearances, he had a 4-11-1 record, a 3.91 GAA, and an .892 SV%. However, when noting that he is still just 24 and has upside, he may be worth taking a chance on much later in the draft for insurance.
Overall, the Blue Jackets are not the deepest team to choose from in fantasy. Yet, they have some good options, led by Gaudreau, Laine, and Werenski. Stay tuned for the next team in the series, the New Jersey Devils.
Make sure to check out all of our Fantasy Hockey Team Previews as they roll out over the coming weeks!