Columbus Blue Jackets defense prospect Denton Mateychuk appears ahead of schedule and is competing for an opening night roster spot.
Heading into training camp, the 19-year-old, who was selected 12th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, was thought to be a longshot, and perhaps he still is. But he's turned heads at training camp and in preseason and it's no longer a surety that he'll be headed back to the WHL.
#CBJ coach Pascal Vincent said Denton Mateychuk has had an amazing camp thus far.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) September 30, 2023
There are two powers working against the left-shot defender. The first is a logjam on the blue line. It's not as prevalent on the left side as the right, but he's realistically at best looking at a third-pair slot behind Zach Werenski and Ivan Provorov, and in competition with players like Jake Bean, to say nothing of righties like David Jiricek, Adam Boqvist, Nick Blankenburg, and Andrew Peeke. Second is the unfortunate reality that he is unlikely to be granted a waiver to play in the AHL. Due to the NHL-CHL agreement, players under 20 are required to play for their CHL club if they are not already in the NHL. The Blue Jackets are reported to have looked into a waiver for Mateychuk and forward Jordan Dumais, stating both have done more than enough in their lengthy CHL careers to justify another season, but are unlikely to get the approval that was recently granted to Seattle's Shane Wright.
Denton Mateychuk finds Emil Bemstrom for his second goal of the night! #CBJ pic.twitter.com/t2hSsCt74j
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) September 27, 2023
Still, there is a way that the Blue Jackets can keep him in Columbus for longer without violating the NHL-CHL agreement. The entry-level slide rule is in place for rookies to play as many as nine NHL regular-season games without burning a year off the player's entry-level contract. If he continues to prove he belongs, it's feasible that the Blue Jackets keep him around for that nine-game tryout, and then make a determination on his best next steps.
A roster spot going to Mateychuk would almost certainly mean having Jiricek and Blankenburg, who are still waivers exempt, in the AHL. It would also likely preclude Mateychuk from joining the NHL club after his WHL season concludes unless the Blue Jackets determine that burning a year of his contract is worth a few games at the end of their season. Then, of course, is the reality that it's possible that even this impressive showing from Mateychuk should justify him being here over the aforementioned defensemen.
Also working against Mateychuk was last night's preseason lineup, which sure felt as close to a dress rehearsal as we'll see before next week's season opener. He is in the lineup tonight, however.
#CBJ lines this morning ahead of tonights clash with Buffalo
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) October 4, 2023
Marchenko-Laine-Gaudreau
Texier-Jenner-Bemstrom
Danforth-Fantilli-Johnson
Robinson-Kuraly-Sillinger
Werenski-Peeke
Provorov-Severson
Bean-Gudbranson
Merzlikins/Cajan
Sending Mateychuk back to the WHL is hardly a bad outcome. He'll continue to develop in a highly competitive league, likely play for Team Canada in the IIHF World Junior Championship this winter, and almost certainly captain (again) his Moose Jaw Warriors team.
Still, the fact that Mateychuk is still on the roster is notable. As of this writing, there are only 16 defensemen left in camp, and teams carry either seven or eight. While it's still unlikely that he'll be one of those left standing when the season starts, he's shown well for himself, and his stock is clearly on the rise.
