Line Combos: CBJ Roster Discussion/Line Combos/Injury Report

[thebus88]

• I would like to see Mason McTavish here.
• We could trade Chinakhov (only because of his frequent injuries) to Montreal for its first round pick (they have three) and someone of Armia/Dvorak/Pezzetta... in short, the player they want to get rid of. We could use that to trade McTavish or someone else. Even then, the Habs owe us something.
• I'm under no illusions that we'll get Bjorkstrand back.

We’re not trading Chinakhov.

He’s the best goal scorer/shooter this organization has ever had.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

So where does this go from here?

The Blue Jackets have said that starter Elvis Merzlikins, who served as Greaves’ backup on Thursday, was fatigued and needed a break. That makes sense given Merzlikins’ workload in starting 12 of the 13 games prior to Thursday. But then why not turn to Merzlikins’ backup all season, Daniil Tarasov?

Evason was clear on Wednesday that Greaves had earned this chance with his play in Cleveland, but he also allowed that an opportunity had been “created somehow.”

The Blue Jackets can carry three goaltenders on the roster, sure, but that’s not an ideal situation for any of the three. Greaves is the only one who can be sent to Cleveland without needing to clear waivers, but after Thursday’s performance, it’s hard to see him leaving anytime soon.

Asked if Greaves’ outing will earn him a chance to stay, Evason smiled: “Yup. Sure does.” He declined to elaborate.

Greaves said he has not been told what the Blue Jackets’ plans are for him. He was called up after Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to Philadelphia and raced to Columbus the next morning for practice. He hasn’t asked any questions, either, he said, just focused on getting ready to play.

“For me, my attention is where my feet are, just kind of one day at a time and control what I control and we’ll see what happens tomorrow,” Greaves said.

Asked if he was even sure where he’d be Friday, Greaves chuckled. “We’ll see. Hopefully here.”

The Blue Jackets are off Friday ahead of Saturday’s game versus Anaheim. It doesn’t sound like Greaves is going anywhere for now.

“He’s earned the right to be here,” Evason said. “He’s earned it. And he earned it again tonight.”

 

[MoeBartoli]

Until Chinakov returns, the Jackets should call up DBBL to center Fantilli and Olivier. Drop ZAR to the 4th line and send Pyythia back to Cleveland. Let DBBL know the call up is because of Chinakov being out. Of course if he earns it, he could stay as there’s a spot here for an offensive forward. But doing it this way is a low risk move.

 

[DarkandStormy]

"Why wouldn't the Blue Jackets turn to their .857 goalie??"

-CBJ beat writer

 

[CBJWerenski8]

A club source, reached after practice, said a determination was made by Merzlikins’ play on Tuesday — he allowed five goals on 25 shots — that he is fatigued and “needs a break” after starting 17 of the Blue Jackets’ last 21 games, including seven starts in a row before he had a night off early last week in Edmonton.
The Blue Jackets are giving Merzlikins his latest “break” less than one year since he was demoted to a No. 3 role by then-coach Pascal Vincent after a tough start to the season. That time, in mid-January, it erupted into a public mess with Merzlikins asking for a “change of scenery” while insisting he hadn’t requested a trade.

Later that month, when he returned to action, Merzlikins told reporters he had in fact requested a trade. Then, after a conversation with his agent Gerry Johannson, the agent told reporters that Merzlikins had not requested a trade, that he simply misspoke.

The Blue Jackets, under a new GM (Don Waddell) and coach (Evason), have demanded from Merzlikins first and foremost that he be a good teammate. Evason has raved about his efforts and performance to that end, and it’s been clear that veteran players in the dressing room have tried to embrace him.Who can say how long this current break will last? It could be up to Merzlikins. It could also be up to Greaves, who will be making his first NHL start this season and the 11th of his career. He was an AHL All-Star last season, and this summer signed a two-year contract with Columbus that includes a one-way salary next season. Greaves has probably deserved a better fate, on the whole, so far in his NHL career. He has a 3-7-0 record despite a .912 save percentage.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5988266/2024/12/12/blue-jackets-goalies-merzlikins-break-greaves/

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5988266/2024/12/12/blue-jackets-goalies-merzlikins-break-greaves/

The guy has started 12 of the last 13 games and here he goes again with "Break" in quotation marks for clicks again.

Yes, his play has suffered over the last week after a good stretch but why does this dead horse need to keep being beaten?

 

[DarkandStormy]

Only Connor Hellebuyck (by two minutes) has played more minutes among NHL goalies since November 17th.

 

[Viqsi]

I’m still left to ask if Fabbro is the 1RD solution or bridge.

I think it probable that so long as Werenski is the 1LD Fabbro is the solution. We don't need him to be the unquestioned best RD on the team; we just need him to work well with the best blueliner on our team, and he's doing that.

Oh, and while I'm here, Jusso Parssinen is apparently now on the chopping block. He's not a speed transition guy but he's pretty good at the offensive zone cycle. (Poach More Preds!)