Armchair GM - 2025 Offseason Thread

[CBJx614]

Ugh this is the worst part of the off-season. No movement or buzz for another month or so and I'm too salty to watch the playoffs.

 

[majormajor]

Thanks and to be clear, this is just me asking questions, not making challenges, as sometimes it's hard to tell the difference online.

So would you be OK with running back Danforth/Kuraly/ZAR as a fourth line? Would you drop one to allow for promotion from within (i.e. Pyyhtia)? Or a free agent?

Would you take into account salary/contract? Would ZAR be an easier drop than the other two even if he was cheaper?

What about JVR?

JVR higher up in the lineup, though probably not every game.

If everyone is healthy then I could imagine drawing up a 4th line like Nyquist - Danforth - Olivier, and with an injury or two maybe we reprise the ZAR - Danforth - Olivier line that was strong down the stretch.

I would sign like fifteen guys but there are no guarantees going into camp. Kuraly and ZAR could get waived if we are fully healthy and someone like Pyyhtia or LDBB pop. If I had to guess, LDBB will win a spot but we will also have a couple injuries before we even get to game 1. We always do.

I admit that some of these questions come out of my hangup about "what are the slots that we're looking to make improvement," i.e. "if we bring back everyone we have a pretty full lineup so where does the improvement come from?" But I am not (necessarily) looking to be right or wrong, just to have a sub-discussion about next year's fourth line.

The improvement at forward comes mostly from guys like Sillinger and Fantilli learning how to possess the puck.

And for the team overall it's mostly defense and team defense where we can make big gains.

Does it mean nothing to people that we just finished on top of the league in 5v5 goals? If it ain't broke...


** I do think having a veteran play connector like Nyquist would help a lot when the going gets tough. He can model how to play in tight games. So I do suppose I would like to make an improvement there. I'm just pushing back mostly on the idea that guys like Danforth need to be improved upon.

He's 32 and totally replaceable. If he's back, ok. If not, they can sign one of the other few dozen players who can play on the 4th line and get 25 points.

That's how you end up with a Kunin / Greg Campbell type of player as your 4C. Or how about Corey Tropp?

Do you think 25 pts is normal for a 4th liner?

Here are some stats:

There are 32 * 9 = 288 forwards in top 9 roles at any given time in the NHL.

There are not 288 forwards who have 25+ pts. The 288th forward has 21 pts, which Danforth did in just 61 games this year. Having Danforth on the 4th line is an advantage for us.

 

[koteka]

we will also have a couple injuries before we even get to game 1. We always do.

Ah, but we fired Kevin Collins.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Do you think 25 pts is normal for a 4th liner?

Here are some stats:

There are 32 * 9 = 288 forwards in top 9 roles at any given time in the NHL.

There are not 288 forwards who have 25+ pts. The 288th forward has 21 pts, which Danforth did in just 61 games this year. Having Danforth on the 4th line is an advantage for us.

On playoff teams? Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Dallas, Washington...I stopped checking after I checked 7 playoff teams.....all have 10 forwards with at least 21 points. If you want to compare Columbus' 4th line with the other non playoff teams, ok. But I would like their 4th line to be better than the 4th line of non-playoff teams.

And I am not singling out Danforth, I would like a totally new 4th line next year.

 

[majormajor]

On playoff teams? Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Dallas, Washington...I stopped checking after I checked 7 playoff teams.....all have 10 forwards with at least 21 points. If you want to compare Columbus' 4th line with the other non playoff teams, ok. But I would like their 4th line to be better than the 4th line of non-playoff teams.

And I am not singling out Danforth, I would like a totally new 4th line next year.

We had 9 forwards with 21+ points, which includes Danforth. Taking him out wouldn't help there. We probably have 10+ with average health. Jenner, Chinakhov, LDBB, a bunch of guys can pace enough for 21 points if they play enough.

The first team I checked was Tampa and they had 6 players with more than 20 points.

Our 4th line scoring is comparable to many of the best teams in the league. You're much more likely to make it worse than make it better.

 

[ColumbusTrill]

Do we not wanna bring back Danforth because he's going to be too expensive or that he's not good enough? I don't think the answer to either of those is yes

 

[MoeBartoli]

Do you think 25 pts is normal for a 4th liner?

Here are some stats:

There are 32 * 9 = 288 forwards in top 9 roles at any given time in the NHL.

There are not 288 forwards who have 25+ pts. The 288th forward has 21 pts, which Danforth did in just 61 games this year. Having Danforth on the 4th line is an advantage for us.

Great stat to pull. Obviously I’m one who wants Danforth back for 4rh line duty and emergency 3rd line when needed. And bring back JVR even as the 13th forward - a very good 13th forward because he can fill slots on almost any line.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Great stat to pull. Obviously I’m one who wants Danforth back for 4rh line duty and emergency 3rd line when needed. And bring back JVR even as the 13th forward - a very good 13th forward because he can fill slots on almost any line.

JVR is a much better player than Danforth, if it's between these 2, that's a no-brainer.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

The first team I checked was Tampa and they had 6 players with more than 20 points.

Our 4th line scoring is comparable to many of the best teams in the league. You're much more likely to make it worse than make it better.

You named 1 team with less scoring after I named 5 that had much more scoring, that's not comparable. That's 1 out of 6 that are better. Ottawa has 10, Toronto 9, Edmonton 10, Winnipeg 10, so that's 1 out of 10 playoff teams.

Columbus' 4th line was better than most non-playoff teams. Their 4th line is inferior to the majority of playoff teams. Hell, the Red Wings had 10 skaters with at least 21 points.

 

[tunnelvision]

What would you be ready to offer for Willander? Obviously not a veteran but he's an RD and known for strong defense. He was the top D on my 2023 draft list. Could at least be a solid 3rd pair guy next year, I think with proper usage he would look good next to any Jackets D.

Canucks are reportedly searching for 2C. If they're not morons like myself, they might see the potential in Sillinger and think he could be the main piece in Willander trade?

 

[koteka]

What would you be ready to offer for Willander? Obviously not a veteran but he's an RD and known for strong defense. He was the top D on my 2023 draft list. Could at least be a solid 3rd pair guy next year, I think with proper usage he would look good next to any Jackets D.

Canucks are reportedly searching for 2C. If they're not morons like myself, they might see the potential in Sillinger and think he could be the main piece in Willander trade?

I think LDBB as the basis makes sense. Like LDBB + Ceulemans. Promising center for promising right D. Willander was the higher draft pick with better pedigree so we add a former 1st to balance it out.

Vancouver is adding in any Willander for Sillinger trade.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

JVR higher up in the lineup, though probably not every game.

If everyone is healthy then I could imagine drawing up a 4th line like Nyquist - Danforth - Olivier, and with an injury or two maybe we reprise the ZAR - Danforth - Olivier line that was strong down the stretch.

I would sign like fifteen guys but there are no guarantees going into camp. Kuraly and ZAR could get waived if we are fully healthy and someone like Pyyhtia or LDBB pop. If I had to guess, LDBB will win a spot but we will also have a couple injuries before we even get to game 1. We always do.



The improvement at forward comes mostly from guys like Sillinger and Fantilli learning how to possess the puck.

And for the team overall it's mostly defense and team defense where we can make big gains.

Does it mean nothing to people that we just finished on top of the league in 5v5 goals? If it ain't broke...

Yeah I was just trying to sort out the fourth line, not remake the forward group. That just happens top be where most of the uncertainty lies as far as guys who are UFA and what have you. I get focusing on the defense and of course there are fewer starting lineup spots and more improvement that needs made there, but I was just looking at who could and might not be back and as you know my hangup is if you bring everyone back, it's hard to have improvement from a personnel standpoint.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

 

[koteka]

Centers under contract next year:

Monahan, Jenner, Fantilli, Sillinger, LDBB

Are other guys centers?
Kent Johnson? Face offs aren’t his thing
Dmitri Voronkov? The team seems to think not
ZAR? Listed as a center everywhere, but has fewer than 100 face offs in his career

Is Hunter McKown a potential call up if we need a guy? Maybe he could be a 4th line center.

I think we need one of Kuraly / Danforth back. Or a similar kind of player. We also could use a guy in Cleveland that we could pull up to fill in. Like a vet that floats between the AHL and NHL like the role Zac Dalpe used to play. If LDBB is an NHLer, I don’t see a guy in Cleveland we could pull up. I don’t know if Pinelli or Jack Williams will be ready for that role.

 

[LJ7]

Yes coach go gather some intel and make some connections and maybe bring some of our young Canadian guys with you on the roster and get them some experience

 

[GoJackets1]

How the hell do you pick Bylsma over Evason? Sheesh that’s bad.

 

[stevo61]

How the hell do you pick Bylsma over Evason? Sheesh that’s bad.

A Cup win buys you a lot of runway in this league

 

[majormajor]

How the hell do you pick Bylsma over Evason? Sheesh that’s bad.

Friedman reported earlier that there was a big divide in Seattle's FO about the Bylsma hire, and that Ron Francis maybe got sidelined. That and he was maybe also sidelined on the Chandler Stephenson signing.

 

[CarolinaBlueJacket]

Damn, Healy was a nice guy - wonder why he was let go?
Have a nice story about Healy; when I did the 1st Blue Jackets alumni fantasy camp they spelled my last name wrong on my jersey. Innocent mistake, it's commonly misspelled.
Healy felt bad about it, and said he'd correct it; the name plates are made off site so they would keep my jersey after camp was done, and apply the corrected nameplate.
A couple weeks after camp, get a package from Columbus but it seems larger than just a jersey....open it up, and in addition to the jersey there's 2 hoodies, 2 hats, 2 toques/beanies and a golf shirt - with a nice card apologizing for the error.
Amazing gesture.

Hope he lands somewhere else.

P.s. think it was a good move to change the conditioning guy Collins. Maybe those injuries were bad luck, but shit, every year they're breaking 300 man games due to injuries.
Maybe just another way to prepare and train.

I second this. I didn't know him well, but the few interactions I had with him were A+. I am sad he is no longer with the org. I have no idea what actually goes on behind the scenes, but I don't like this one bit.

 

[NotWendell]

JVR is a much better player than Danforth, if it's between these 2, that's a no-brainer.

Why does it have to be?

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Why does it have to be?

Because they missed the playoffs and need better players.

 

[stevo61]

We won't rest until we have 30 goal scorers on the 4th line!

 

[NotWendell]

Because they missed the playoffs and need better players.

... on defense and in goal.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

... on defense and in goal.

And forwards.

They were shut out 9 times last year and scored 1 goal 7 times. That's 16 losses, half of their losses, where the goalie has to be perfect to win. They need better offense and more consistency up front.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

And forwards.

They were shut out 9 times last year and scored 1 goal 7 times. That's 16 losses, half of their losses, where the goalie has to be perfect to win. They need better offense and more consistency up front.

If I counted correctly I think the President's Trophy winning Capitals only scored 1 goal 11 times and were shutout 3 times this season.

We just needed to flip one of those to get in this year. Being shut out 6 times in March and April is what killed us. All of those shut outs would have required us to score at least 4 goals, most would have required 5 or more. There was a lot of frustration and quitting on the ice that let those games spiral out of control.