Through just three games, John Tortorella has made his fair share of line adjustments.
From dropping Alexander Wennberg and Sonny Milano down, only to push them back up again, to seeing Josh Anderson return to the lineup, this first week has seen more line combinations than one may have imagined. To further complicate matters, Boone Jenner is still out of the lineup and doesn't appear close to a return.
Suffice it to say, the fourth line has more questions than answers despite having played reasonably well.
The only constant has been the steady play of center Lukas Sedlak, and he's got a lock on the fourth-line center role. After that, there's a revolving door at wing; Markus Hannikainen, he of the worst turnover in this young season, will be out of the lineup tonight when the Blue Jackets host the New York Rangers.
Tortorella elaborated on that decision:
"It's unfortunate he turns one over, but that line deserved to be out there. Having said that, Hanny's (Markus Hannikainen) out tomorrow, not because of that play, because I think (Zac) Dalpe's had a really good camp, too, so there's going to be some interchangeable parts here. Because I think Dalpe should play, and I'm not going to ice him for a whole bunch of games."
Adding another monkey wrench to this ordeal is the return to health for Jordan Schroeder. Schroeder was brought in to provide veteran depth in a bottom-six capacity but was injured in the preseason. He'll be heading to Cleveland on a conditioning assignment and could be back in Columbus in a week or so, if not sooner.
With Schroeder in the minors and Hannikainen a healthy scratch, Dalpe has a real opportunity to gain some traction in the lineup. He'll likely be flanked by Pierre-Luc Dubois on the other side as Milano will start the game with Nick Foligno and Oliver Bjorkstrand.
When asked if he wants to "get a look" at Dalpe, Tortorella went to bat for his former player, when he was coach of the Vancouver Canucks:
"Not get a look at him, I think he's practiced really well the past couple days. I think he's had a very good camp, and it could have been either, or, him or Hanny (Hannikainen) as far as going in. So he doesn't deserve to sit four games. Dalps (Dalpe) deserves an opportunity and he's going to get it."
It appears Milano has played his way into more ice time, but Tortorella expects him to play a committed game at both ends of the rink in order to maintain that responsibility. Tortorella said Dubois added stability on the fourth line, leaving the surprisingly strong puck-possession duo of Matt Calvert and Brandon Dubinsky intact with Josh Anderson on the right side.
"There's three or four players, that's the lay of the land for them. One may be down in the minors, may call him up, no one's really earned that spot, as far as really - I would think - two forward positions, so we'll see where it goes in each and every day." - John Tortorella
The season is still young and there's no rule against changing lines. Heck, it should be encouraging that the Blue Jackets have the depth to rotate a handful of players even with the likes of Jenner and Schroeder working back from injuries.
The fourth line was a revelation for the Blue Jackets a year ago, and, despite the revolving door on the wings, looks to be capable in its own right this season.
