The tired cliche that is heard over and over again around the Blue Jackets is the idea of promoting from within and how it is acquisition all by itself.
The thought has never rang more true than with Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Bjorkstrand was a dominant player for the then Lake Erie Monsters in their Calder Cup run. He was a point per game player and someone who looked like he would easily compete at the next level.
Then when 2016 training camp came around multiple players from that Calder Cup team made the NHL squad and surprisingly Bjorkstrand was left off. He wasn't "ready" and he went back to the Monsters.
While back with the Monsters his point per game pace was only challenged by Sonny Milano for best on the team. He put up plenty of shots and quickly outgrew the league.
Even before that, his numbers from the 2015-16 season in the NHL showed a player that was ready for the big time. His 26 games at the end of the 2016-17 season were more of the same.
With forwards that have played more than 400 minutes the past two seasons, only three players have a points per 60 above 2.5 and an individual points percentage over 80%. Those three players? Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
While it is silly to compare a sample size as small as Bjorkstrands to that of two of the best players in the world's game. It does indicate that Bjorkstrand has the ability to be special.
Putting him in an offensively slotted role would be an advantageous move and would allow Bjorkstrand to do what he does best, put pucks in the back of the net.
Maybe the best acquisition is already on the Blue Jackets after all.
