Dobber’s offseason fantasy hockey grades – Columbus Blue Jackets

For the last 17 years (12 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 18th annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the ~~summer~~…er, winter. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead as well as the foreseeable future. Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worthy of owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are what I take into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

Enjoy!

* * Pick up the 15th annual DobberHockey Fantasy Guide here – always updated * *

Gone – Marko Dano, Alexander Wennberg, Ryan Murray, Markus Nutivaara, Josh Anderson, Jakob Lilja, Devin Shore

Incoming – Mikko Koivu, Max Domi, Mikhail Grigorenko

Impact of changes – In the offseason the Blue Jackets improved their offense and shed some of the dead weight. Wennberg was being paid very well and was severely underachieving for that money. Cutting him loose helps more than it hurts. And while Murray is a solid player, he was only playing half the games. To carry that on your roster, never knowing how long you have him, has to suck for a coach.

While their offense only improved by one player (Domi), I really like the ripple effect here. It means so much to a team with talented wingers to get that second skilled centerman. Oliver Bjorkstrand, Gustav Nyquist (when back from injury), Alexandre Texier and Cam Atkinson will be the wingers in the top six. Pierre-Luc Dubois is the center. The other center was Wennberg. That significantly drags the production down for his wingers. With Domi there in Wennberg's place gives the team options and a secondary threat. It not only ups the output of the wingers on that line, but it makes the other scoring line better.

Ready for full-time – Liam Foudy showed that he belongs in the NHL. His speed already exceeds that of most NHLers. But early on, I don't think the offense that was on display at the junior level will translate. Maybe in his fourth season, but early on you should pencil him in for the third line and he'll be a 30-point player (or 56-game equivalent of that) for the first couple of seasons.

Defenseman Andrew Peeke cut his college career short after two years when he and the team decided that he was close to being NHL-ready. Last season, his first as a pro, he was called up and played the second half in Columbus. He did not get to dress for any play-in or playoff contests, but he should be a regular with the team this season. He has offensive upside, but will be stuck on the third pairing for at least the next couple of years because the first two pairings are pretty amazing (Seth Jones and Zach Werenski; Vladislav Gavrikov and David Savard).

Emil Bemstrom led the SHL in goals in 2018-19 (23) and power-play goals (10), led all teenagers in SHL points en route winning that league's rookie-of-the-year award. He joined the Blue Jackets and posted 20 points in 56 games. But he was scratched a few times in the playoffs and his spot in the lineup is not guaranteed. With the signing of Mikhail Grigorenko, Bemstrom will be fighting to stick. Nathan Gerbe has won the coach's trust with his big heart and nonstop motor, and Kevin Stenlund is a huge 6-4 center who has to clear waivers in order to be sent down. Bemstrom can be sent down without waivers. So could Foudy, for that matter. So it will be an interesting camp. Working Bemstrom's favor is that he had 17 points in 16 games in Liiga (Finland) before the Jackets called him back.

Columbus Blue Jackets prospect depth chart and fantasy upsides can be found here

Fantasy Outlook – To me, Bjorkstrand is a potential game-breaker and has the highest upside in the organization. He can absolutely be a point-per-game player – he tallied 30 points in his last 30 games last year. If he decides to 'ascend' to that level this season from start to finish, then this team will surprise with the offense. Otherwise, they will again struggle to have a 70-point equivalent player. Nyquist will miss the first 30 or 40 games, which puts a dent in their top six, but it will give a chance for one of Bemstrom, Foudy or Grigorenko to step up.

On defense, Zach Werenski and Seth Jones make up arguably the best pairing in the entire league with both of them capable of being 60-point defensemen and Jones capable of winning a Norris. And in net, what can I say? In John Tortorella's coaching system, Joonas Korpisalo becomes a top fantasy own. In any coaching system, Elvis Merzlikins becomes a top fantasy own. Two goalies that will put up ridiculous numbers. But that hurts fantasy owners more than it helps – half the games will be split!

The prospect pipeline is very unimpressive. Very unimpressive. Aside from the players already mentioned, they have a couple of good prospect goalies (a position in which they are already strong), and maybe forward Kirill Marchenko is of fantasy interest. But that's it. The end.

Fantasy Grade: C (last year was C-)

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2020 Offseason Fantasy Hockey Grades

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