Line Combos: CBJ Roster Discussion/Line Combos

[AnonCommentary]

The news regarding captain Boone Jenner and power forward Dmitri Voronkov at the end of the week was not good. Both players will open the season on injured reserve, and one source said that each player’s absence might best be measured in months, not weeks. “It’s gonna be a while, for sure,” Waddell told The Athletic. “Boone is going to see another specialist next week. But they’re both going to be gone for a while, for sure.”

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[AnonCommentary]

• Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom began light skating this week, not with the group, but on his own. Waddell watched him skate on Saturday and said “it’s going well.” The Blue Jackets have been extremely patient with Lindstrom, and he’s likely to remain in Columbus for several weeks until he’s able to power skate, take contact, and simulate play without discomfort or setback. He won’t be sent to his junior club, Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League, for a while yet. “We’re not going to throw him into a situation where he’s going to have a setback.” • Waddell said in August that Lindstrom would be signed to an entry-level contract at some point during training camp, but that’s not going to happen. “The agent (Daren Hermiston) and I did talk (recently),” Waddell said. “He’s not pushing it. He knows my feelings. I want to get this kid healthy. A signing isn’t going to happen in the next day or so.”

 

[Viqsi]

So, Porty reported that the waiver wire could be revealing w/r/t any next moves by Waddell, in the sense that some of his targets might end up on it otherwise so he'd just have to put in a claim:

There could be more moves coming over the next two days, but by 2 p.m. on Sunday, Waddell will know if the waiver wire is going to bear fruit. That’s the last day for clubs around the league to put players on waivers and get them cleared (or claimed) before Monday’s deadline.

Waddell has been talking to his fellow GMs throughout training camp in his search for an NHL forward, but that’s gone into hyperdrive the last few days. He’s not in the best position to make a trade, obviously, but there’s some poker play involved here, too.

The trade talks have presented some intriguing names, Waddell said, but he’s not sure he wants to part with any significant future commodities (think draft picks) to secure a player, especially if that player could become available on the waiver wire later Sunday.

Well, now we have the complete list:

Waivers today:

VAN: Brannstrom
NYR: Robertson
NYI: Skarek, Hogberg, Hutton, Bolduc, Karlstrom, Foudy, Fasching, Engvall
OTT: Jenik, Gaudette
VGK: Rondbjerg, Laczynski, Aston-Reese
TOR: Rifai, Murray
STL: Tucker, Schueneman
BUF: Reimer, Rousek, Clague
PIT: Imama, AHo
BOS: Patera, Bussi, Sweezey, Viel, Brown
CGY: Schwindt, Cooley, Pelletier
DET: Holl, Lagesson, Rafferty, Snively, Dries
WSH: Shepard
EDM: Lavoie, Caggiula, J Brown, Rodrigue
WPG: Anderson-Dolan
NSH: Del Gaizo
NJD: White, Foote, DeSimone, Bowers
CHI: Phillips
CAR: Suzuki, Smith, Josiah Slavin
UTA: Villalta
LAK: Studnicka, Copley, Fagemo
TBL: Ylonen, Santini, Goncalves

Any names stand out to anyone? The ones that first caught my eye (but are still kind of meh, as befits the waiver wire) were Ryan Suzuki (CAR), Jakob Pelletier (CGY), and Jaret Anderson-Dolan (WPG). But there's so many I'm probably overlooking some folks.

EDIT: For example, we could bring back Liam Foudy if we really wanted to.

EDIT 2: I think I looked right past Edmonton somehow. Lavoie and Caggiula might be interesting for completely different reasons.

EDIT 3: Zack Aston-Reese. Because defensive forwards pls kthx.

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

So, Porty reported that the waiver wire could be revealing w/r/t any next moves by Waddell, in the sense that some of his targets might end up on it otherwise so he'd just have to put in a claim:


Well, now we have the complete list:



Any names stand out to anyone? The ones that first caught my eye (but are still kind of meh, as befits the waiver wire) were Ryan Suzuki (CAR), Jakob Pelletier (CGY), and Jaret Anderson-Dolan (WPG). But there's so many I'm probably overlooking some folks.

EDIT: For example, we could bring back Liam Foudy if we really wanted to.

EDIT 2: I think I looked right past Edmonton somehow. Lavoie and Caggiula might be interesting for completely different reasons.

Högberg has been a pretty damn good goaltender in the SHL for a few years, one of the best in the league, but that doesn't really mean anything.

 

[Viqsi]

I came this close to thinking "hmm, maybe Engvall" before remembering his contract.

That said, I'm hypersensitive about contract term of late and his isn't crippling, just excessive ($3m/year, six years left). So who knows.


EDIT: f*** it. Given my feelings on Waddell (read: he keeps making moves that aren't inherently egregiously objectionable but I still find them distasteful), I'm predicting he's someone Waddell had in mind when talking to Porty.

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

Samuel Fagemo of LAK had 43 goals in the AHL in 50 games last year for Ontario Reign. 4 games in the NHL, no points. I have no idea what kind of a player he is but 40+ goals is pretty good (I think this was mentioned in some local podcast, that he'd be someone to look for a breakout if it's ever going to happen). Would be my pick for a waiver wire pickup. But of course we're pretty full anyway.

Also interesting the Penguins are waiving Sebastian Aho (the other one). It really started to seem like he had solidified his career in the NHL. But he is a bit older already (28) so maybe not that interesting in the end, he's "only" played five seasons.

Jesse Ylönen was somebody I hoped could carve a spot in Montreal after a couple of years there - didn't realize he had been moved to Tampa. He's 25 and had some hockey IQ in my limited viewing of highlights last year. But probably not anybody who'd make a difference with the Jackets.

Edit: And Brandon Bussi was close to being Boston's backup goaltender. He seemingly had a good preseason, didn't get lit up too bad. But we don't really have room for goalies anyway.

 

[Jovavic]

Should we make a new thread for the injured players? Seems like we're missing a bunch already

 

[NotWendell]

I think it's fun to look at all the former CBJ prospects that have been put on the waiver wire.
I also think it would be fun to claim Adam Foote's kid.

I think it's fun to look at all the former CBJ prospects that have been put on the waiver wire.
I also think it would be fun to claim Adam Foote's kid.

That's probably how I'd run the franchise if ever given the opportunity.
"Hmmm. This will REALLY piss somebody off! CLICK!"

 

[MoeBartoli]

Foote’s Kid? Lee, you’re fired.

 

[CannonFire1]

I would probably go with Aston-Reese. More of a defensive option (esp. with Labanc already in the fold), 1 yr. Contract, league minimum.

 

[majormajor]

I would probably go with Aston-Reese. More of a defensive option (esp. with Labanc already in the fold), 1 yr. Contract, league minimum.

Evason's options right now to play defensive minutes are limited to non-existent. ZAR should help that.

 

[Cowumbus]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843265087706108167

 

[GoJackets1]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843265087706108167

Do we know what the injury is? If not, then based on this I can only assume he re-injured his back pretty badly.

 

[LJ7]

With so much room in the lineup this is a great season to try for some "reclamation project" buy low guys. Evason in theory being a far better coach for us would give guys like that a chance to potentially pop off here. That's the only silver lining really.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

 

[ViD]

The units look interesting on paper, although I would have Chinakhov on the right side for the one timer

 

[spintheblackcircle]

 

[MoeBartoli]

My gosh….these forward lines are depressing though you could scramble them all possible ways and I’d feel the same. Moving KJ up with Fantilli might improve my disposition slightly.

 

[majormajor]

To me Jenner didn't look right at any point in camp. I have not thought of him as a slow player in recent seasons, although I know many of you have. He looked really slow to me in this camp. It could be that he was nursing something from off-season training, or maybe just deflated for obvious reasons.

Do we know what the injury is? If not, then based on this I can only assume he re-injured his back pretty badly.

Could be, could be any of a dozen other things.

 

[majormajor]

I am looking forward to seeing Silly in front of the net. He's got great hands for whacking in pucks. Just don't let him carry on entries.

Jenner's injury inadvertently made the topline better. They needed speed and Chinakhov will help a lot with that.

I've liked what I've seen with Pyyhtia. Smart player who ties things together well.

I'm happy to see Christiansen get a shot and I'm fine seeing how Provorov does with Werenski. I'm scared of that third pair. Honestly I expect any combination of Johnson-Gudbranson or Johnson-Jiricek to get absolutely picked apart. Like -50 at the end of the year, that bad.

 

[LJ7]

That top line is cool. Interesting that they're still trying to balance the lineup without Voronkov and Jenner. I have no idea what to expect of those two middle six lines.

Don't like the defense lineup at all solely because of Johnson-Gudbranson. Gudbranson isn't even that bad imo but he does NOT need Jack Johnson beside him.

 

[GoJackets1]

With how much offense KJ provided in the preseason, and in general how good he looks, it’s wild to me that he gets saddled with Pyyhtia and Sillinger for the time being lol.

That being said, I’m excited for Pyyhtia to get a shot. I’ve been higher on him than most- it’s always fun when a late pick makes the NHL squad. But I also acknowledge that his extremely small frame is likely to render him more ineffective than he otherwise could be. He seems like a smart player otherwise.