The Columbus Blue Jackets finished December with a 5-5-4 record, their most competitive month of the season.
They scored at an impressive clip, managing 3.57 goals/game, seventh in the NHL in the final month of the year, and trailing mostly teams with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Johnny Gaudreau came alive, posting 4-10-14 in 14 games, and Adam Fantilli officially arrived, tallying 7-6-13. The team seemed to finally find chemistry offensively, with the Russian line of Dimitri Voronkov, Yegor Chinakhov, and Kirill Marchenko becoming a potent line. Even the third line, with Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson, and Emil Bemstrom seemed to find a footing. With the recent absence of Sean Kuraly, Jack Roslovic plugged in alongside Alexandre Texier and Brendan Gaunce to form a fourth line that has been fine.
Folks, Adam Fantilli is a special player. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/5oLXeXzUhD
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 30, 2023
Unfortunately, the good news ends there. While the club was able to score with the NHL's elite, they were unable to keep the puck out of their net, giving up 4.07 goals/game, the 30th place mark in the NHL in December, and ahead of only the San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings.
In the short run, I don't mind this high-event hockey. Clearly, the team is lacking defensively and in goal, but it seems to have plenty of confidence offensively, and that's without its leading goal-scorer (Boone Jenner) and theoretical top offensive threat (Patrik Laine). In fact, I can't help but wonder where Laine fits into the lineup when he does return from injury. He's never been able to conjure any chemistry with Gaudreau, though it does seem like he'll get a chance on the top line. It would be unwise for Pascal Vincent to tinker with the Russian line, and the third line, somehow, is working well. Where does a defensive blackhole like Laine fit into a lineup that is scoring goals fine without him? Similarly, does Jenner simply slot in on Fantilli's wing on the first line? Is this finally the time when he can reduce his heavy workload and play his natural wing?
That'll even things up!
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) December 30, 2023
Cole Sillinger buries the game-tying goal for the @BlueJacketsNHL with a wrist shot from the slot midway through the first period.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/WK7zI8xllK
The Blue Jackets are a team in the midst of becoming what they'll be when they grow up. They're a pre-pubescent team that is finding its way through an unrelenting NHL schedule. And while there have been plenty of warts - the defensive collapses, the inability to hold a lead, the general lack of stability, etc. - there is some room for optimism. In 2024, the club will need to learn to defend better while still managing to score at a dependably high rate. Easier said than done.
