There’s a logjam brewing on the blue line.
Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson are the new additions. Zach Werenski returns from injury. David Jiricek has a shot to make the team this season.
That leaves Adam Boqvist, Jake Bean, Nick Blankenburg, Andrew Peeke, Tim Berni, and Erik Gudbranson. And suppose there was going to be a move, one figures it’s from the surplus of Boqvist, Bean, Blankenburg, and Peeke as the team eventually makes way for prospects including Denton Mateychuk, Corson Ceulemans, and others.
Peeke has been among the more durable Blue Jackets each of the last two seasons having played 162 of a possible 164 games. Peeke broke out in 2021-22 and has proven willing to sacrifice the body, being among the leaders in hits and blocked shots. He led the club with 197 blocked shots last season.
Evolving-Hockey, Andrew Peeke
It could be that Peeke is among the first players to go even though he signed a three-year contract extension before last season with a cap hit of $2.75 million through 2025-26. Gudbranson was the next closest player on the team with 137 blocked shots last season and there is a value to being able to eat pucks.
Boqvist has shown offensive value and is still just 22 years old. In 46 games last season, he recorded 24 points (five goals, 19 assists). However, injuries have wreaked havoc each of his first four NHL seasons, including the last two seasons in Columbus as he's only played in 52- and- 46 games respectively. Across four NHL seasons, he has played in 76 games.
Evolving-Hockey, Adam Boqvist
Boqvist signed a three-year extension last summer and has a cap hit of $2.6 million through 2024-25. He'll still be an RFA with arbitration eligibility following his current contract.
Similar to Werenski, Bean’s season was over soon after it began with a shoulder injury in November, as he only played in 14 games.
Evolving-Hockey, Jake Bean
Bean's current three-year contract runs out at the end of the upcoming 2023-24 season and carries with it a $2.33 million cap hit. In four NHL seasons, he has played in 125 career games.
Blankenburg essentially became a fan favorite from day one with his hard-nosed play and crushing hits. He played 36 games in what would be his first full season last year and was limited to injuries including a fractured ankle in November. He even finished that 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on the ankle fracture, scoring an empty-netter.
Evolving-Hockey, Nick Blankenburg
Blankenburg signed a two-year contract last summer and will make $825,000 this season before he's RFA eligible.
Berni, an RFA, made his NHL debut last season, playing in 59 games. He accumulated three points (one goal, two assists). Jake Christiansen signed a one-year, two-way contract extension earlier this month. Christiansen played in 24 games last season and has 32 NHL games under his belt. He had four of his five career points last season (four assists).
Stanislav Svozil is among those knocking on the door. He made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins, picking up his first career point (an assist), and played against the Buffalo Sabres in the season finale.
The Blue Jackets also have Billy Sweezey, who put up an assist in nine games and is a UFA after the 2023-24 season, and Marcus Bjork, who is an RFA right now, and put up 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 33 games. Both made their NHL debuts this past season.
With lots of time left before opening night, we'll see who will stay and who could go.
