CBJ Training Camp Thread

[BB88]

After watching the pre-season games, here’s how I see opening night forwards:

Gaudreau -Laine- Marchenko
Texier -Fantilli -KJ
Roslovic -Boone- Danforth
Kuraly and some combo of Foudy/Robby/Olivier/Bemstrom

In the top6 I’d swap Gaudreau and Johnson.
That 2nd line is too green, Gaudreau takes the pressure off of Fantilli

 

[A1LeafNation]

What are your expectations for KJ this year? I'm not saying he will top out at this, but I think he can get 65 points this season.

Too aggressive?

 

[Farmboy Patty]

What are your expectations for KJ this year? I'm not saying he will top out at this, but I think he can get 65 points this season.

Too aggressive?

If he stays healthy, I can see him hitting those numbers. It will also come down which linemates he plays with, since he’s a fantastic playmaker, but that only shows up on the scoresheet when the receiver puts the puck in the net

 

[MoeBartoli]

In the top6 I’d swap Gaudreau and Johnson.
That 2nd line is too green, Gaudreau takes the pressure off of Fantilli

I’d have no problem with that. My listing was really more about indicating who I think will be in the top 9/roster locks at forward. The 4th line is where roster decisions need to be made and I think Kuraly is the one lock. But as the season progresses, Voronkov or Sillinger could make Kuraly a TDL candidate IMO.

 

[Doggy]

I know this isn't going to happen so I feel safe starting this conversation. Elvis is clearly the most athletic goalie on this roster but I am feeling less and less confident he is ever going to overcome his mental hurdles and will forever be wildly inconsistent. He talks a great game but never backs up his words. Tarasov might have had a bright future but it does not appear he will be reliable (we never know when a save will be his last due to injuries).

Jet doesn't have the upside either of those players have but he shows up game after game and puts in a workman-like performance. I could see him being a .895 - .905 goalie with a 3.00 GAA but he would be mostly even keeled. He's probably not stealing games but he's probably not melting down either.

I am being selfish, I am thinking of my own sanity here...Elvis is going to give me heartburn night after night while Tarasov is the Ryan Murray of goalies and never confident he's actually going to dress for a game. I would not be upset if the CBJ gave Jet a more serious look on a longer term basis because I honestly don't see the team going anywhere with the two guys ahead of him on the roster (or Dell or Martin).

This organization looks like an absolute disaster in goal. My optimism for this season is already disappearing. Even if the forwards and defense look better the goalie situation is the worst in the NHL.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

I know this isn't going to happen so I feel safe starting this conversation. Elvis is clearly the most athletic goalie on this roster but I am feeling less and less confident he is ever going to overcome his mental hurdles and will forever be wildly inconsistent. He talks a great game but never backs up his words. Tarasov might have had a bright future but it does not appear he will be reliable (we never know when a save will be his last due to injuries).

Jet doesn't have the upside either of those players have but he shows up game after game and puts in a workman-like performance. I could see him being a .895 - .905 goalie with a 3.00 GAA but he would be mostly even keeled. He's probably not stealing games but he's probably not melting down either.

I am being selfish, I am thinking of my own sanity here...Elvis is going to give me heartburn night after night while Tarasov is the Ryan Murray of goalies and never confident he's actually going to dress for a game. I would not be upset if the CBJ gave Jet a more serious look on a longer term basis because I honestly don't see the team going anywhere with the two guys ahead of him on the roster (or Dell or Martin).

This organization looks like an absolute disaster in goal. My optimism for this season is already disappearing. Even if the forwards and defense look better the goalie situation is the worst in the NHL.

From 10,000 feet, I agree. This team has five guys (basically) in net, none of whom should be starting for an NHL team.

It could be fairly argued that the biggest unknown is Greaves, and maybe he develops into that, so do what you suggest.

But the one of the five who has ever in his life been a legitimate starting NHL goalie is Elvis. And what you'll see this season is, I believe, the last chance to see if he can be one again. I think the expectation is most is that the answer is no, but I believe we will see a last-gasp attempt. It might not be anyone here's preferred plan, but I believe it is the plan.

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

But the one of the five who has ever in his life been a legitimate starting NHL goalie is Elvis. And what you'll see this season is, I believe, the last chance to see if he can be one again. I think the expectation is most is that the answer is no, but I believe we will see a last-gasp attempt. It might not be anyone here's preferred plan, but I believe it is the plan.

Oh, I think there was a couple of folks who had this as a plan, even a preferred one (given the contract/buyout + this season being growing pains anyway). Myself included.

But a big part of that plan was that he'd come to camp a changed man, if not a changed goalie, and show some signs of being a capable NHL goalie. I don't want to write him off yet based on one preseason game (and I did feel like he did genuinely play a little bit calmer, maybe, perhaps, please?). But I was expecting a bit more and it's hard to keep up the faith if he falters in the first few proper games.

Right now I'm most confident in Greaves. I wonder if simply making Elvis #2 would help him (by playing Jet more), worth a shot if nothing else works and if we can't/won't send him to the AHL.

 

[MFRONE]

We still have way too many players in camp considering opening night is 9 days away.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

We still have way too many players in camp considering opening night is 9 days away.

I am very surprised they didn’t cut some players after yesterdays game. Have to assume it’s coming soon. I saw Cleveland has only 3 defenseman right now.

 

[stevo61]

I am very surprised they didn’t cut some players after yesterdays game. Have to assume it’s coming soon. I saw Cleveland has only 3 defenseman right now.

Im assuming they have guys up to handle the 2nd game of the 2 games in 2 nights and then make a big wave of cuts

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Oh, I think there was a couple of folks who had this as a plan, even a preferred one (given the contract/buyout + this season being growing pains anyway). Myself included.

But a big part of that plan was that he'd come to camp a changed man, if not a changed goalie, and show some signs of being a capable NHL goalie. I don't want to write him off yet based on one preseason game (and I did feel like he did genuinely play a little bit calmer, maybe, perhaps, please?). But I was expecting a bit more and it's hard to keep up the faith if he falters in the first few proper games.

Right now I'm most confident in Greaves. I wonder if simply making Elvis #2 would help him (by playing Jet more), worth a shot if nothing else works and if we can't/won't send him to the AHL.

Understood but this is a ride it out situation.

 

[Cowumbus]

After watching the pre-season games, here’s how I see opening night forwards:

Gaudreau -Laine- Marchenko
Texier -Fantilli -KJ
Roslovic -Boone- Danforth
Kuraly and some combo of Foudy/Robby/Olivier/Bemstrom

Need to move on from him

 

[Cowumbus]

Assuming Sillinger, Chinakhov, Jiricek, Mateychuk, Svozil all do not make the team:

15 Forwards
Gaudreau, Laine, Roslovic, Jenner, Kuraly, Robinson, Texier, Oliver, Danforth, **Voronkov, **Fantilli, Johnson, Marchenko, Bemstrom, Foudy

8 Defenseman
Werenski, Severson, Provorov, Gudbranson, Peeke, Boqvist, **Blankenburg, Bean

2 G
Merzlikins
Tarasov

Need to get it down to 23 so 3 cuts resulting in 2G, 7D, 14F

F
Voronkov is the easy choice to send down until injuries, as he is waiver exempt

D
Blankenburg is the only waiver exempt D, so unfortunately he probably gets the boot

So there is one more cut to be made at that point. Who are you willing to lose?

My prefered order of cuts

Roslovic (not happening)
Robinson
Olivier
Foudy
Bemstrom

Robinson makes the most sense, because you lose him at the end of the season anyway; however if you think he returns something decent at the TDL, send Olivier away. You get the same toughness added through Voronkov long term.

 

[tunnelvision]

So there is one more cut to be made at that point. Who are you willing to lose?

Going along with your premises, my order would be: Roslovic, Foudy, Robinson.

Robinson makes the most sense, because you lose him at the end of the season anyway; however if you think he returns something decent at the TDL, send Olivier away. You get the same toughness added through Voronkov long term.

So you say Roslovic getting cut ain't happening but the guy who just signed a two year extension (Olivier) isn't necessarily making the team?

Robinson and Foudy are very similar players to me, Robinson is a more effective checker while Foudy possesses better puck skills. I used to be a fan of Robinson but I don't think he's that valuable to the team at this point, other than being JG's buddy.

 

[majormajor]

Assuming Sillinger, Chinakhov, Jiricek, Mateychuk, Svozil all do not make the team:

15 Forwards
Gaudreau, Laine, Roslovic, Jenner, Kuraly, Robinson, Texier, Oliver, Danforth, **Voronkov, **Fantilli, Johnson, Marchenko, Bemstrom, Foudy

8 Defenseman
Werenski, Severson, Provorov, Gudbranson, Peeke, Boqvist, **Blankenburg, Bean

2 G
Merzlikins
Tarasov

Need to get it down to 23 so 3 cuts resulting in 2G, 7D, 14F

F
Voronkov is the easy choice to send down until injuries, as he is waiver exempt

D
Blankenburg is the only waiver exempt D, so unfortunately he probably gets the boot

So there is one more cut to be made at that point. Who are you willing to lose?

My prefered order of cuts

Roslovic (not happening)
Robinson
Olivier
Foudy
Bemstrom

Robinson makes the most sense, because you lose him at the end of the season anyway; however if you think he returns something decent at the TDL, send Olivier away. You get the same toughness added through Voronkov long term.

Did you miscount?

There's 25 players in your first list, so I think they only need to cut two.

 

[majormajor]

Robinson and Foudy are very similar players to me, Robinson is a more effective checker while Foudy possesses better puck skills. I used to be a fan of Robinson but I don't think he's that valuable to the team at this point, other than being JG's buddy.

Robinson had a down year by his standards but still was the best player on his line and much better than Foudy.

That unit had the hardest zone starts in the league. I just checked and Foudy was outscored 15-3 when he was on that line. He's not as bad as that looks but it shows how difficult Robinson's job is.

I don't think Foudy's puck skills are better. He thinks more like a skill player but the actual puck skills are bad. If the puck is an inch off, he loses it. He isn't a one-gear speedster like Robinson but Robinson's style fits a role for us. I'm not sure Foudy has a role he can play here. He doesn't have the strength in his stride to fight through checks, a stick in his lane and he isn't getting through. Very little agility. He's probably a better fit on scoring lines but there is no need for him there.

 

[thebus88]

Oh, I think there was a couple of folks who had this as a plan, even a preferred one (given the contract/buyout + this season being growing pains anyway). Myself included.

But a big part of that plan was that he'd come to camp a changed man, if not a changed goalie, and show some signs of being a capable NHL goalie. I don't want to write him off yet based on one preseason game (and I did feel like he did genuinely play a little bit calmer, maybe, perhaps, please?). But I was expecting a bit more and it's hard to keep up the faith if he falters in the first few proper games.

Right now I'm most confident in Greaves. I wonder if simply making Elvis #2 would help him (by playing Jet more), worth a shot if nothing else works and if we can't/won't send him to the AHL.

Does anybody remember how Elvis handled any talk of the AHL, or being looked at or getting playing time as the #2 behind Korpisalo, from the very beginning??

The interviews and quotes from 4 years ago and the ones from this summer pretty much show he’s delusional and can’t handle even being looked at as “the backup”.

“Old Elvis” is “New Elvis” is “Always Been Elvis”

 

[Ippenator]

Robinson had a down year by his standards but still was the best player on his line and much better than Foudy.

That unit had the hardest zone starts in the league. I just checked and Foudy was outscored 15-3 when he was on that line. He's not as bad as that looks but it shows how difficult Robinson's job is.

I don't think Foudy's puck skills are better. He thinks more like a skill player but the actual puck skills are bad. If the puck is an inch off, he loses it. He isn't a one-gear speedster like Robinson but Robinson's style fits a role for us. I'm not sure Foudy has a role he can play here. He doesn't have the strength in his stride to fight through checks, a stick in his lane and he isn't getting through. Very little agility. He's probably a better fit on scoring lines but there is no need for him there.

I feel exactly the same about Foudy. I was never a big fan of him. He’s not really good enough for a scoring line role, unless there’s a lot of injuries. And there are better players for the bottom six role as well. He is definitely a good AHL player, and might work well in some situations in the NHL. But generally I see him as a good AHL player, and that’s pretty much it in the long run.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

 

[majormajor]

Hallelujah.

I've been waiting for him to say this all camp.

This is what it has looked like on the ice. Can we stop overemphasizing center v wing?

 

[Viqsi]

Hallelujah.

I've been waiting for him to say this all camp.

This is what it has looked like on the ice. Can we stop overemphasizing center v wing?

Nope. Because even if some of us here figure it out, outside hockey fans are going to look at our lineups and go "WTF" and bombard us about it. It doesn't end.

 

[Jackets Woodchuck]

I am very surprised they didn’t cut some players after yesterdays game. Have to assume it’s coming soon. I saw Cleveland has only 3 defenseman right now.

I was at Monsters practice yesterday. Surreal is putting it lightly.

 

[Jackets Woodchuck]

Nope. Because even if some of us here figure it out, outside hockey fans are going to look at our lineups and go "WTF" and bombard us about it. It doesn't end.

Then we tell them "Welcome to Columbus Blue Jackets hockey, where center and wing designations are made up and positioning doesn't matter."

 

[THE Green Man]

Is Fantilli a lock for season opener? No idea how he's shown, just need to do some digging before my fantasy draft tomorrow...

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Is Fantilli a lock for season opener? No idea how he's shown, just need to do some digging before my fantasy draft tomorrow...

Yes.