We are just about two weeks away from the start of training camp, so it's time to ask some more burning questions.
The Blue Jackets scored a franchise-record 258 goals in 2021-22. They signed the NHL's second-leading scorer from last season, Johnny Gaudreau, to a seven-year contract but had to trade leading goal-scorer Oliver Bjorkstrand to Seattle for pennies on the dollar.
What questions need to be asked ahead of the upcoming season?
Can Gaudreau replicate last season's success?
Aside from 2021-22, Gaudreau's highest point total was 99, which came in the 2018-19 season. That's not a slight on him, but the fact of the matter is that unless your name is Connor McDavid it's going to be hard to duplicate a 115-point season. And while he'll have brand-new line-mates, he's displayed how elite of a player he is that he'll still be able to produce at a high level. How high that level will be in Columbus remains to be seen.
Check out these @johngaudreau03 moves from last season. #NHLFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/LooNHA4J2G
— NHL (@NHL) July 14, 2022
Kent Johnson: Center or winger?
Johnson showed he doesn't shy away from the big stage as he capped off a fantastic performance at the World Juniors by scoring the golden goal for Team Canada. Last season, he played in nine NHL games and registered three assists. He's played both center and winger throughout his career and with the abundance of centers on the Jackets' roster, he may be playing winger this season and beyond.
The goal that made Kent Johnson a Canadian legend forever. #CBJ #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/qj94yvRoqn
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) August 21, 2022
Will Patrik Laine score a career-high in goals?
The last time Laine played 82 games in a season, he scored 30 goals. The time before that, he scored 44, his current career high. He'll likely be playing with Johnny Gaudreau, one of the best passers in the league, for a decent chunk of time this season. All signs point to Laine having the best season of his career if he can play most if not all of the 82 games.
#CBJ Laine goal pic.twitter.com/m2cDBbXokM
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) April 14, 2022
What will we see from Kirill Marchenko and Yegor Chinakov?
Marchenko's 6-foot-3-inch stature makes him an intriguing prospect on the wing. Will he even be on the NHL roster come opening night? Last season, Chinakov scored seven goals and 14 points. What does his role look like?
Yegor Bomb pic.twitter.com/8voDjYkAQn #CBJ
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 18, 2022
Kirill Marchenko sneaks one home #CBJ pic.twitter.com/GJltLhxlag
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) July 12, 2022
For more burning questions, check out this piece by my colleague Will Chase.
