Brooke: Alright, Jackets fans, the roster is stacked, the cap is tight, and there are more centers than spots. It's a full-on battle for jobs in Columbus, and we're breaking down every single fight.
Tony: That's right, Brooke. We're talking about the battles that'll decide opening night.
Brooke: This is the Beatline Podcast Network. I'm Brooke, and alongside my guy Tony, we're your Columbus Blue Jackets daily show.
Tony: And we're diving straight into the good stuff. Today's agenda: the most intense position battle, two more depth-chart questions, and who's trending up and who's trending down as cuts loom.
Brooke: Stick with us because this is going to get spicy. Let's go.
Brooke: Tony, let's start with the biggest elephant in the room: the goaltending. Jet Greaves just signed a three-year, fifteen-million-dollar deal. Elvis Merzlikins is still here. What does that tell you about the crease?
Tony: It tells me the organization is putting their chips on Jet Greaves. That contract, fifteen million over three years, that's a commitment. But Elvis is still on the roster, and he's not going to just hand over the net.
Brooke: We talked about this on the fan Q&A the other day, and you said the competition would be real. Has the Greaves contract changed your mind at all?
Tony: Not one bit. The contract shows they believe in him long-term, but the crease is won in training camp and preseason. Elvis has the experience, but Jet has the momentum and the new deal. This is a genuine battle.
Brooke: And don't forget Pheonix Copley is in the mix too. Three goalies on NHL deals. That's a logjam.
Tony: Exactly. Copley's a solid veteran, but he's likely the odd man out or could be waived. The real question is who starts opening night against Buffalo.
Brooke: I'm leaning Greaves. He's young, he's hungry, and that contract says they want him to take the reins.
Tony: I agree, but I want to see how he handles the pressure of being the guy. That's a big step.
Brooke: We'll be watching. Now, let's talk about that center depth. It's absolutely loaded.
Tony: It's a good problem to have. You've got Fantilli, Monahan, Sillinger, Johnson, Coyle, Lundestrom... That's six guys who can play center. Something's gotta give.
Brooke: And Cole Sillinger just signed that three-year deal to avoid arbitration. That probably locks him in. So who's odd man out?
Tony: I think Lundestrom could be the one who gets moved or maybe he plays wing. But Coyle's a veteran, Monahan's a veteran. It's going to be a tough call.
Brooke: We'll dig into that more in the next segment. But first, let's take a quick break. Stick with us, Jackets fans.
Brooke: Welcome back. We're continuing our roster battles breakdown. Tony, let's look at the blue line. There are nine defensemen on the roster. Who's earning a spot?
Tony: The top four seems set with Werenski, Provorov, Severson, and Fabbro. But the bottom pair is wide open. You've got Gudbranson, Smith, Christiansen, Mateychuk, and Zamula all fighting for those spots.
Brooke: Mateychuk is the one everyone's excited about. We predicted he'd become a top-four defenseman by season's end. Do you think he cracks the opening night lineup?
Tony: I think he forces his way in. He's too talented to send down. But the question is, who sits? Gudbranson brings physicality, Smith brings experience. It's a logjam.
Brooke: And Zamula is an interesting name. He's got offensive upside, but he's still young. Could he be a surprise cut?
Tony: Maybe, but I think Christiansen is the one who might be on the outside looking in. He's a solid player, but there's just not enough room.
Brooke: Let's shift to the wing. There are a ton of names there too. Marchenko, Nichushkin, Garland, Voronkov, Heinen, Wood, Olivier, Lomberg... That's crowded.
Tony: You've got Nichushkin, who's a big addition. And Garland, who's a proven scorer. Voronkov is a beast. That's a solid top six. The bottom six is where it gets interesting.
Brooke: Olivier brings toughness, Lomberg brings energy. But what about Riley Bezeau? He's a young guy. Does he have a shot?
Tony: He's a long shot, but you never know. If someone gets injured in camp, he could sneak in. But I think he starts in the AHL.
Brooke: So who's your surprise cut in the forward group?
Tony: I think Owen Sillinger is the guy. He's a good player, but with all those centers ahead of him, he's the odd man out. He might get claimed on waivers.
Brooke: That would be tough for the Sillinger family, but it's the business. Now, let's get into our roster-cut predictions and who's trending up and down.
Brooke: Tony, let's make some bold predictions. Who's the biggest surprise cut from this roster?
Tony: I'm going to say Jake Christiansen. With the logjam on defense, I think he gets waived. He's a good player, but he doesn't have a spot.
Brooke: That's bold. I'm going to go with Owen Sillinger. I think he gets traded or waived before opening night.
Tony: And who's trending up? I've got to say Denton Mateychuk. He's going to force his way into the lineup and be a top-four defenseman by the end of the year.
Brooke: I'm going with Jet Greaves. He's the future in net, and I think he wins the starting job out of camp.
Tony: Who's trending down? I think Elvis Merzlikins. With Greaves getting that deal, Elvis might be on his way out.
Brooke: And I'll say Erik Gudbranson. He's a veteran, but the game is getting faster, and he might lose his spot to a younger guy.
Tony: We'll see. Camp starts soon, and these battles will be decided on the ice.
Brooke: Before we go, we need to check on our Marchenko opening night prediction. We've been saying he scores against Buffalo. Are we sticking with that?
Tony: Absolutely. Marchenko is going to be a star this year. That's a lock.
Brooke: Alright, that's the show. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network. Share this episode with your Jackets fans.
Tony: And remember, the future is bright in Columbus. Go Jackets!