The exhibition season begins Monday, with the Columbus Blue Jackets kicking off the preseason in Buffalo for a 5:00 p.m. start against the Sabres. Here's what to keep an eye on in preseason game #1:
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| CBJ @ BUF |
MONDAY, 9/23/24
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Seven players in the lineup Monday are a lock to make the roster, barring injury. They are: forwards Adam Fantilli, Mathieu Olivier, Cole Sillinger, and Dmitri Voronkov, as well as defensemen Jordan Harris, David Jiricek, and Jack Johnson.
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Seeing Fantilli on the ice in an NHL game for the first time since January is going to be cathartic, both for fans and for the soon-to-be 20-year-old. Fantilli got plenty of ice-time in practice on the power play, so we'll see what he does in game action.
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While those seven will work to get into regular-season form, there are several other players that have a chance to shine and push for a roster spot. Dylan Gambrell is a 28-year-old forward who was originally drafted in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks. He has 17 goals in 233 games, a mix of appearances with the Sharks and with the Ottawa Senators. The Blue Jackets signed him this summer to be in the mix for that "13th forward" position, and he's a toss-up to make the roster.
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To go with Harris, Jiricek, and Johnson are defenseman Corson Cuelemans, Charlie Elick, and Stanislav Svozil. Behind Jiricek and Denton Mateychuk, these are probably the three best blueline prospects in the Blue Jackets organization. None of them will make the roster for opening night, but this is a great opportunity for the trio of youngsters to get NHL experience.
- Evan Gardner and Jet Greaves will split time between the pipes. Gardner was a second round (60th overall) selection by the Blue Jackets, and they moved up six spots to get him. Greaves was impressive last season in Cleveland and in limited action while in Columbus, so it will be interesting to see how he looks in his first action of the 2024-25 campaign.
