Columbus Blue Jackets Team Spotlight | In Depth Analysis and Players Who Could Make an Impact on Your Fantasy Hockey Roster

Do you have any Columbus Blue Jackets on your fantasy hockey team? Have you gotten a trade offer with one coming back your way, or looking to pick up a waiver wire streamer? Well then let’s talk about this anomaly of a hockey club and how it might impact your fantasy roster.

What are the Blue Jackets, really? I think it is safe to say that they are outperforming expectations. Look, I am not saying that they are contenders - no, not at all. But nobody was calling for them to be one point outside of a wild card spot coming into 2025.

Remembering Johnny Hockey and his Brother Matthew

Before we get into what this team is this year, I do want to send my thoughts and prayers out to the Gaudreau family. Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau will forever be remembered, and this article is dedicated to the family, friends, and fans who were impacted by the tragedy that happened over the summer. We miss you, Johnny Hockey.

Johnny Gaudreau led the Blue Jackets in assists (48) and points (60) last year. He was easily their best player, and the heart of the team. Coming into this season without their best player - and given the circumstances of his departure - was detrimental to the team, and morale.

How could the Jackets bounce back from this? Fans projected they couldn’t, and prepared themselves for 82 games of pain. This season they were poised to be reeling and prioritize stabilizing the roster. Things couldn’t get worse for them, until their captain, Boone Jenner, was ruled out to start the season and will be out of action until March due to shoulder surgery. 

Statistical Analysis

Two major key pieces out before the season has even started. That’s bad, right? Well, it should be - and while this is a .500 team at 18-17-6, they shouldn’t be. Here is why they have been keeping their head above water.

The Columbus top line has been lethal. Their depth is an issue for line sustainability, and their defense core is generally a “Do Not Draft” beyond Zach Werenski, there are a small handful of players that looked to peak early then plummet but have somehow sustained up to this point. Let’s take a look and I have put them into a few categories for your convenience:

The “Elite” - Potential Keeper

Werenski is the top defensemen for the Blue Jackets, and he has been an absolute beast this year. He is second in the National Hockey League in scoring this year, and without much help. He is a must roster, and a clear target for your team.

Werenski has 12 goals, 34 assists, 18 powerplay points, 160 shots on goal, and 70 blocked shots. All of this with an underwhelming 10 hits, but the rest of his peripherals are impressive for a roster with the Jackets’ record. Also of note, he leads the Blue Jackets in points, which is very uncommon for a defenseman - this speaks volumes to the caliber of play Werenski has displayed this season so far.

The “Stars” - Trade Targets and Definite Holds if Already Rostered

Kirill Marchenko is a surprise addition to this list this year. With Phil Kessel’s departure from the league, the obvious “Thrill” is the Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, but a budget version with similar numbers this season and top line deployment - Marchenko started the season as a late draft or potentially a post draft waivers pick up. He now is a must roster and so long as his production holds he will be a key to any fantasy team’s success.

Marchenko has a team-leading 17 goals, 28 assists, 15 powerplay points, 120 shots on goal, and 34 hits. He also solidified himself a spot on the first powerplay unit. He is on pace for a career season in points, and added two assists last game.

Sean Monahan is a new addition to the Blue Jackets this year, and has been a resurgence in the veteran's career. His play has earned him a spot down the centre of the top line, and a spot on the top powerplay unit. He is on pace to match his point per game effort in the 2018-2019 season with the Calgary Flames.

Monahan has 14 goals, 27 assists, nine powerplay points, 105 shots on goal. His peripherals aren’t the best, but as long as he is producing points he will remain a hold and high value even in points only leagues.

The “Depth” - Potentially Available on Waiver Wire and Performing Strong (Great Streamer Options)

Dmitri Voronkov is enjoying success in his sophomore year with the Blue Jackets. He is on pace to nearly double his point total from last year, and is enjoying top line minutes and first powerplay unit time.

Voronkov has 17 goals, 11 assists, eight powerplay points, and 65 shots through 32 games - having missed some at the start of the season. If nothing else, his deployment on the Blue Jackets is elite and is worth a look for this alone on your fantasy squad. He added two goals in both of his last two games!

Kent Johnson is having his breakout season. Out for a length of time after only a couple games to start the season, Johnson has quickly become the future this team needs. He is playing at nearly a point per game, and holds a steady spot on the first powerplay unit. 

Johnson has 10 goals, 13 assists, and eight powerplay points through 27 games. Noteworthy is the complete absence of his peripheral stats. If you are in a bangers league, then beware the games Johnson isn’t on the score sheet.

The "Starter" - Streamer Only or Bench Warmer for Deep Leagues

Elvis Merzlikins has played average at best, but he is the lone starter for the Blue Jackets. He should only be rostered in very deep leagues, or if you have a tendy on injured reserve and need short-term relief.

Merzlikins has 27 starts and 14 wins, with only an .887 save percentage and 3.17 goals against average. An impressive win rate considering his save percentage. Merzlikins can be used to stack starts and saves, but should not be relied on as a main goalie on your roster.

The "Trap" - Do Not Roster, Drop if You have Him, or Find a Columbus fan to Dump Him On

Damon Severson has had a wild year. He has been the fastest picked defensemen in the league, and is now the fastest dropped defenseman in the league. Severson saw huge success for the first half of the year, earning a spot on the top powerplay line and putting up monster points. Since, he has been benched for two consecutive games, and three times in the last seven.

In the games he has played since his first healthy scratch, he went from playing 22 minutes per night, down to as low as 11. He has a bad contract, and no longer has the trust of his coaching staff or the franchise. Look for him to be traded before the deadline, or sent to the AHL. Stay away, at all costs. Severson is a ticking time bomb.

In Closing

We will keep an eye on the Blue Jackets, and will check in for a follow up spotlight closer to the trade deadline to see if you need to sell to pick up some unlikely depth pieces for your team that might help you cross the finish line.

Some final thoughts to consider is the imminent return of Jenner, up and coming winger Yegor Chinakhov, and veteran defenseman Erik Gudbranson, as these returns will significantly affect icetime and deployment of the Blue Jackets roster.