The Columbus Blue Jackets hit a much-needed pause in the schedule with the All-Star Break and bye week.
As you know, things on the ice haven't gone as well as everyone hoped.
Columbus is last in the Eastern Conference and 29th in the overall standings as they gear up for another high-lottery pick.
But amidst the doom and gloom for the on-ice product, a positive storyline has bubbled to the surface.
The rising play of the young guys. Two such players are among the top 10 rookies in scoring.
Adam Fantilli is fourth in points (27), tied for third in goals (12), and tied for sixth in assists (15). Maybe a bit of a surprise, Dmitri Voronkov is the other top rookie in the league and the player tied with Fantilli in the goal-scoring department with 12 tallies.
Among all rookies, Voronkov is tied for sixth in points (25) and tied for eighth in assists (13).
Unfortunately for the Blue Jackets, Fantilli is expected to miss at least eight weeks with a calf laceration, adding to an injury bug affecting the top rookie class. Connor Bedard is recovering from a broken jaw, and Leo Carlsson missed time with a sprained knee. But Fantilli has been everything and more for the Blue Jackets in year one of a promising start to his career.
Voronkov came to the NHL with promise and intrigue and has more than delivered so far. He found early chemistry with Yegor Chinakhov and Kirill Marchenko as the trio has celebrated many goals for the Blue Jackets this season.
In his third year with the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov has emerged in a breakout season. Hampered by injury in each of his first two seasons, Chinakhov has already set highs in points (24), goals (14), and assists (10).
Last season, Marchenko set the Blue Jackets franchise rookie record for goals (21), and after a slow start to this season, Marchenko is right on par with where you'd expect.
In his first game back following consecutive healthy scratches in October, Marchenko responded with a goal in a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 2. That began a stretch of three goals in four games, and he co-led the Jackets in goals (seven) with Boone Jenner for November. Between November and December, Marchenko led the Jackets with 13 goals.
Matching last season's point total (25), Marchenko leads the team in goals (15) to go with ten helpers.
It's been really good to see how well Cole Sillinger has responded after a very tough sophomore season a year ago.
Sillinger has 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 45 games after posting only 11 points (three goals, eight assists) last season. Even when Sillinger isn't scoring, head coach Pascal Vincent has been effusive in his praise for Sillinger's game this year.
Pascal Vincent said he's happy for Elvis Merzlikins and had high praise for Cole Sillinger after the win.
— Bally Sports Columbus (@BallySportsCBUS) January 15, 2024
He said Sillinger has really good leadership skills and he's a great player developing in front of their eyes.
He believes it was his best game playing in the NHL. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/mOhuPhu61D
Kent Johnson was a healthy scratch for opening night against the Philadelphia Flyers and ended up down with the Cleveland Monsters, where he went off. In ten games, he posted 15 points (five goals, 10 assists).
With Columbus, he has 15 points (six goals, nine assists), and he scored his first multi-goal and three-point game in a 6-5 overtime win at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 14.
David Jiricek has been a storyline in the news recently with his desire to be playing games for the Blue Jackets. Over the weekend, he scored a hat trick and had an assist for his first four-point game for the Cleveland Monsters in a 9-0 win on Saturday over the Chicago Wolves.
DAVID JIRICEK HAT TRICK INCOMING@monstershockey | #CHIvsCLE pic.twitter.com/M9iiyd5liJ
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 4, 2024
In 36 games with Columbus, the rookie defenseman has nine points (one goal, eight assists).
Jiricek hasn't played an NHL game since Jan. 9, as he was a healthy scratch with the Jackets during the first part of their five-game road trip before going back to Cleveland. In six games for the Monsters, he has seven points (three goals, four assists).
Whether playing games for Columbus or Cleveland, Jiricek should be playing games and not sitting up in the press box.
This week, Jiricek will be sitting as the Monsters are in their All-Star Break and won't play any games until Feb. 9. Columbus resumes action against the Lightning on Feb. 10.
