The Columbus Blue Jackets started the 2021-2022 season as the youngest team in the NHL, while also having the youngest player in stand-out rookie, Cole Sillinger. Partly due to the front office and coaching staff wanting to test out the younger players to see if they could be a core piece moving forward and partly due to injuries along the way, Columbus has given eight different players their NHL debuts this season.
These rookies are not all extremely young though; they range from the aforementioned youngest player in the league (who will remain 18 through the end of the season) all the way to 29 years old. Let's take a look at each player and how their rookie seasons have gone thus far, starting with the three players that are not currently on the Blue Jackets' active roster.
- Gregory Hofmann
Age: 29 | GP: 24 | Position: C | Stat Line: 2-5-7
The oldest rookie on this list, Hoffman finally made it to the NHL after playing in the top Swiss professional league for over 11 years. He was given a one year one-way contract and played in most of the Jackets' games until late December when he was given a leave of absence to be with his wife for the birth of his child. He then informed the team in January that he was no longer going to report back, and instead stay in Switzerland with his family. With no other recourse and in somewhat of a moot point, Columbus suspended him.
- Trey Fix-Wolansky
Age: 22 | GP: 6 | Position: RW | Stat Line: 1-1-2
Trey was called up from the Cleveland Monsters for five games in February and again for a game in March, due to injuries on the team. He was able to score a goal in his first game for the Jackets and added an assist in his second, but was unable to get on the board again in his next four games with the club. He has been back in Cleveland for almost a month.
- Daniil Tarasov
Age: 23 | GP: 4 | Position: G | GAA: 2.4 ; SV%: .937
Tarasov showed a lot of promise before he went down in January with a right hip injury that ended up requiring surgery. Once he is healthy, he projects to be the back-up goalie next year and possibly the eventual starter in a few years.
- Carson Meyer
Age: 24 | GP: 2 | Position: RW | Stat Line: 1-1-2
A local guy from Powell Ohio, Meyer was called up from Cleveland and has played the past two games for his hometown team. He is expected to be back in the lineup Thursday night against the Flyers. He has two points in his first two games, and hopefully he can continue his streak.
- Jake Christiansen
Age: 22 | GP: 6 | Position: D | Stat Line: 1-0-1
Defenseman Jake Christiansen has been back and forth between the Blue Jackets and the Monsters this season. He was recalled again a few days with Meyer and is currently slated to play Thursday. He has been used sparingly as a third-line defenseman.
- Justin Danforth
Age: 29 | GP: 34 | Position: RW/C | Stat Line: 8-2-10
Also a 29-year-old Danforth is the second oldest Blue Jacket rookie, less than a year younger than Hoffman. He has been a feel-good-story this year, not making it to the NHL till he was 28 as well as not being given an opportunity until November, but making the most of it and earning himself a two-year extension with the club.
- Yegor Chinakhov
Age: 21 | GP: 58 | Position: RW | Stat Line: 7-7-14
Chinakhov has had his ups-and-downs as any rookie will have, but he has shown flashes of promise. He is currently out with an upper-body injury, but will most likely be back soon. He is still young, with plenty of time to work on his consistency.
- Cole Sillinger
Age: 18 | GP: 68 | Position: C | Stat Line: 11-12-23
As mentioned before, Sillinger is the youngest rookie in the league and one of a very few players from this past draft that has already made it to the NHL. He has played in all but three games thus far, showing durability, even if it is a little early to declare him an ironman.
He has also struggled with consistency at times this year, but with flashes of brilliance, has also proven to be a very skilled player. He had his first career NHL hat trick less than a month ago, making him one of the youngest players to ever do it.
Some of these rookies will find a long-term home in Columbus and others will move on, but all-in-all it has been an exciting year getting to see so many debuts as well as firsts of all kinds. There are bound to be many more great moments ahead for each of these players.
