The Columbus Blue Jackets will come out of the All-Star Game the same way they head into it: with three roster players a ways away from playing.
Alexandre Texier (fractured finger), Jake Bean (strained groin), and Eric Robinson (MCL sprain) are all out for at least a few more weeks. Daniil Tarasov, who has started three games this year, has been on IR since New Year's Day with a lower-body injury, and depth forward Justin Danforth also sprained his MCL and has been on IR since New Year's Eve.
Texier and Robinson have played primarily with Sean Kuraly this season, forming a line that brings energy, is defensively responsible, and, thanks to career seasons from all three players, has provided more offense than one may expect from a trio that profiles like (but plays more than) a typical fourth line.
Bean has skated with basically any and all defense partners, and until fairly recently was paired primarily with Zach Werenski on the club's top pair. In recent weeks, we've seen him bounce around more, skating with Gavin Bayreuther, Dean Kukan, and Adam Boqvist.
And while Danforth and Tarasov were more or less replacement players, they were (Danforth) and are (Tarasov) still in consideration for a bigger role going forward.
The Blue Jackets will continue to give young players a look in the absence of (in particular) Texier, Robinson, and Bean. Who may benefit?
Young forwards like Cole Sillinger and Yegor Chinakhov could see a natural increase in ice time, but I'm interested to see if someone like Liam Foudy, who has only played in one NHL game this season (and 27 regular-season games in his young career). The 21-year old has been one of the strongest players in the AHL this season, and, while it's still too early to say he "is what he is", I'd like to see him take a step. This could be a nice opportunity for him.
Another player that comes to mind is Emil Bemstrom. The 22-year old is a pending RFA, and, frankly, I'm not sure what to make of his future. Bemstrom is in a classic predicament where his NHL assets (shot, offensive instinct) haven't led to enough sustained success to have justified a spot in the top-six, and his game doesn't exactly profile to a bottom-six role. Is he talented enough to play in the NHL? Yes, but where in the lineup?
After that, it gets a bit thin, but I'd be interested in seeing someone like Trey Fix-Wolansky get his shot. If not in the midst of a rebuild, when?
Defensively, the Blue Jackets have been playing musical chairs all year. The absence of Bean should allow for elevated ice time for others. Jake Christiansen, 22, is someone I'd like to see get more of a look. All due respect to Gavin Bayreuther and Dean Kukan, but they're 27 and 28 years old, respectively. Put another way, when the Blue Jackets are competing for a playoff berth, it's unlikely that either will be on the roster.
Injuries stink, and nobody is rooting for them to happen. But for a team in the midst of a rebuild, the silver lining is that there are young players who can slot into these roles that can gain valuable experience with a relatively low downside.
