Blue Jackets Overall Rebuild Grade: A+
Core: A+
Overall Roster: B
Prospect Pool: A
Head Coach & General Manager: A+
Why The Blue Jackets Have The NHL’s Best Rebuild
When Johnny Gaudreau tragically passed away late last summer, there seemed to be no hope for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The conversation was whether they’d be a lottery pick team and if a top pick could turn around a franchise with a legacy of failure and bad luck. They came just a few points shy of a playoff spot and became one of the best stories in sports as the Blue Jackets rallied together to try to make the playoffs against all odds.
What was overshadowed in the story that was last season was first-year GM Don Waddell’s vision for the Blue Jackets and the culture being set by both him and head coach Dean Evason. Culture is often an overused word in sports but this was a team without it and needed stable leadership. In one season, the two changed how this team was viewed, going from a punchline to a team nobody could take lightly.
The Blue Jackets also have a roster with the ideal balance of star power, veterans, and young players hitting their strides. Zack Werenski leads the way and has rounded out his game to become one of the best defensemen in the game. He’s the reason the Blue Jackets have the best rebuild, as he’s arguably the best player on any of the 12 teams in the rankings. Werenski is seen as a player who might regress this season, or some view him as a good player on a bad team who beats up on weak competition. That’s not the case, and his great play in the Four Nations Faceoff removed all doubt.
Werenski bursting on the scene as a top-of-the-league defenseman is one thing. The young skaters finding their footing in the NHL is another. That’s what happened last season. Adam Fantilli proved he can be a force as a top-line center while Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson continued to contribute to the offense at a high level.
The roster has its weaknesses. Goaltending is a question mark with Elvis Merzlikins needing someone to split starts with, and the bet is that Jet Greeves, a 24-year-old who has only played 21 games at the NHL level, can provide that. Likewise, depth remains an issue on defense. That said, the team on the whole looks great.
Outsider’s Perspective
The overall theme is that the Blue Jackets and the fanbase went through some unimaginable pain. And now, they are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. There’s hope for a team that needs it, and it won’t be long until the Blue Jackets are one of the best teams in the NHL. “The tragedy with Johnny & his brother set them back a year, but they made all the right moves when they were trying to get back into contention. There’s still a giant question mark between the pipes, but they have done extremely well, and should be able to fight for a playoff spot next season.”
The Bottom Line: Blue Jackets on the Rise
There’s a good chance the Blue Jackets make the playoffs this season in a weaker Metropolitan Division. They can slide in as the three seed. They’re also set up to go on a playoff run. Better yet, Waddell, who built the Carolina Hurricanes into a perennial contender, is only beginning to make his mark as the GM. The subtle moves like claiming Dante Fabbro off waivers to unlock Weresnki’s game will soon become big trades that turn this team into one that can go up against the best in the NHL.
The Blue Jackets only have one playoff series victory in their franchise’s history. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2020. After years of rebuilds and failed rebuilds, they have a team set up for success in the long run. The hope now is for Evason and Waddell to get this team over the finish line.
Go Columbus Go
Rubey?
Great insight Mike. Columbus has some very good pieces but the goaltending definitely needs to be addressed. Monahan was a steal of a signing as he’s starting to look like the old Moneyhands that Flames fans loved. Would love to see this team make the playoffs.
Goaltending remains the question mark for this team but otherwise, they look like they can not only make the playoffs but, with a move or two, look poised for a playoff run as well. It’s a credit to the culture and vision brought by Waddell and Evason.
It’ll be interesting how your list pans out. The top 3 teams on your list had solid seasons.
Werenski has so much trouble staying healthy, and they really have no one on the blue line who can step in and perform the way he can.
He’s one of those players who the team goes with. The same can be said about Quinn Hughes in Vancouver and even Makar in Colorado. It shows how valuable an elite defenseman like Werenski is and why the Blue Jackets are so close to contention.
That’s why I’m very optimistic about the Blackhawks rebuild, Rinzel who looked fantastic in his 9 games, the uber talented Levshunov but still raw, and the very athletic great first pass i have to put some weight and strength on Korchinski.
I know you have them 8th but i think that’ll change soon.