Columbus Blue Jackets: 6 takeaways from CBJ's first 6 games
It’s still a tiny sample size, but a lot has happened in the Blue Jackets' six games.
They’re down four lineup regulars with shoulder injuries, including captain Boone Jenner and playmaking winger Kent Johnson, but the Jackets are a solid 3-3-0 heading into a road tilt Saturday against the Nashville Predators.
More: Columbus Blue Jackets race past Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 takeaways
Here are six notes about the Blue Jackets six games into the season:
Surgery not expected for Dmitri Vorokov, Kent Johnson
Those looking for optimism on the injury front can find it. Forwards Dmitri Voronkov and Kent Johnson are both expected to return this season without surgical intervention. Voronkov, who injured his left shoulder in the preseason, could return by the end of November, and Johnson might not be far behind.
“We’re waiting to hear more, but we don’t think it’s surgery at this point,” general manager Don Waddell said of Johnson. “It’s rehab, so we don’t have any kind of timetable yet because he hasn’t started his rehab. He’s seen two specialists and, as of right now, it’s recommended just to rehab and not have surgery.”
Voronkov is also rehabbing and already skating on his own in full gear. Getting both back this season, without surgical procedures, would be a giant sigh of relief, especially after Johnson already had surgery last March to repair his left shoulder.
“I’m not just worried about this year, but also his future,” Waddell said. “He’s already had one shoulder worked on already. So, it’s good news that he didn’t need surgery, and hopefully, the rehab does what it’s supposed to do to get him back, and he doesn’t have any issues going forward.”
Columbus Blue Jackets’ Adam Fantilli not ‘pressing’ over point production
Scoring goals and racking up points wasn’t a problem for Adam Fantilli at the University of Michigan or with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League. Fantilli, however, is an NHL top-six center now. He’s also, essentially, still a rookie after missing the bulk of his rookie season with a severe calf laceration.
Goals and points are a lot harder to generate in the NHL, so he’s going through a mental adjustment required of all young players – regardless of talent. Having a “good game” isn’t only about goals or assists, which are still important but not an end-all, be-all measurement.
Fantilli has two goals, no assists and two points in the first six games, but nobody is fretting about a slow start – including him. He’s playing well overall.
“I’m not trying to change anything because I haven’t had a point in two games or whatever it is,” Fantilli said. “If I keep playing the way I play, eventually (goals and points) going to fall with the way I’ve learned to play the game.”
Fantilli has two new wingers in Yegor Chinakhov and Mikael Pyyhtia, who were put with him during coach Dean Evason’s recent line juggling. The goal was to give Fantilli a couple of linemates who might help spark a hot streak for their entire line.
Columbus Blue Jackets have increased puck possession
It’s still too early to make sweeping statements based on statistics, but there is an interesting trend developing for the Blue Jackets.
They’ve had the puck more frequently than in the past few years, which is a main tenet of Evason’s systems and structure. The only time the Jackets struggled with possession was during an ugly 3-1 loss Saturday to the Minnesota Wild. Otherwise, the Blue Jackets have successfully gained and retained possession in their five other games, including a season-opening loss to the Wild on Oct. 10 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Blue Jackets rank 15th in the NHL in 5-on-5 shot-attempts percentage (50.5%), 13th in unblocked shot attempts (51.7%), ninth in shots-on-goal (51.8%) and eighth in goals-for (57.6%). Their scoring chance percentage is under 50% at even-strength, but in 73:47 they’ve been tied, the Jackets are almost at the top.
They rank sixth in shot attempt percentage while tied (56.3%), second in shots on goal (58.3%), third in scoring chances (58.7%) and tied for second in high-danger chances (63.6%). Those numbers help explain how the Blue Jackets, despite their injuries, have set a franchise record for goals (24) in the first six games of a season.
Dean Evason wants Columbus Blue Jackets to stay aggressive
One of the biggest changes since Evason took over this season is how the Blue Jackets have played with leads. Under previous coach Pascal Vincent, they tended to shift into a defensive shell when ahead, which gave opposing teams the puck for long stretches.
Evason prefers more aggression.
“As long as you’re on the right side of pucks and people, then you can be as aggressive as you want,” he said. “If you’re on the wrong side and try to be aggressive, then you’re going to start having odd-man rushes and what have you. So, we’ve asked our group, even when we’ve had leads here, early in the year, just to stay as aggressive as we possibly can to put pressure on people.”
What’s going on with Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom?
The Blue Jackets’ first pick in last summer’s draft, fourth overall, is still in Columbus. Cayden Lindstrom is working in the gym, skating on his own and rehabbing a back injury that sidelined him most of last season with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League.
Lindstrom is tentatively expected to remain in Columbus until mid-November after the Blue Jackets return from a West Coast trip. The goal is to make sure Lindstrom’s back is fully recovered by utilizing the Blue Jackets’ NHL training staff and facilities.
“We’re going to get to a point, probably, when we get back from that West Coast trip where we’ll need to make a decision about sending him back to juniors,” Waddell said. “The junior team agrees. They travel so much, so they don’t have the rehab (ability) we have. It’s best to keep him here until he’s ready to go.”
Once Lindstrom is cleared, he’ll return to practice with Medicine Hat prior to rejoining the Tigers’ lineup. Waddell said back surgery isn’t necessary and that contract discussions will pick up after his rehab is complete.
Columbus Blue Jackets not using set goaltending rotation
Some NHL teams use defined goaltending roles and set workload shares. That doesn’t apply to the Blue Jackets, as Evason and goaltending coach Niklas Backstrom apply the same mantra to goalies Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov that skaters face.
Playing time is earned.
“I don’t change my philosophy because it’s the goalies,” Evason said. “It’s game-by-game and it’s earned. There’s no long-term plan.”
Tarasov has started the past three games, including the first two in that stretch while Merzlikins was out with a hand or wrist injury. Merzlikins has returned to practice and should be available to start in Nashville if chosen to play.
Get more on the Columbus Blue Jackets with our Cannon Fodder podcast
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: NHL news: 6 Columbus Blue Jackets notes 6 games into the season
