Brooke: Imagine the first period of opening night against Buffalo, and your starting goalie just got shelled in warmups. Panic? Or do you trust the kid who’s been waiting in the wings? That is the exact tension hanging over Columbus right now.
Tony: It’s a classic goaltending dilemma, Brooke. But it’s not even the only one. We’ve got centers fighting for ice time, defensemen pushing for top-four spots, and a whole lot of roster spots up for grabs before October 1st.
Brooke: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Brooke, and this is your daily destination for everything Blue Jackets. Joining me as always is our lead analyst, Tony.
Tony: Good morning, everyone. Ready to break down the depth chart.
Brooke: We are three days out from the season opener against the Sabres. Today, we’re doing a full roster battle breakdown. First, we tackle the most critical position group: center ice. Who starts where?
Tony: Second, we look at the defensive corps. With Ivan Provorov and Zach Werenski anchoring the blue line, who is fighting for those last two top-four spots?
Brooke: And third, we give our final predictions on who makes the team and who gets sent down to the AHL. Let’s dive into Segment One.
Brooke: Okay, let’s start with the big one. The center ice rotation. We have Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Charlie Coyle, Sean Monahan, Isac Lundestrom, Cole Sillinger, and Owen Sillinger. That is seven centers for four forward lines plus checking duties. Where does Adam Fantilli start?
Tony: Fantilli is going to be on the top line. It’s almost a given at this point. He has the speed, the shot, and the hockey IQ to play alongside Valeri Nichushkin or Kirill Marchenko. But the question isn't if he plays, it's how much he plays in the first month while he adjusts to the NHL pace.
Brooke: Right. And then you have Kent Johnson. Last year we talked about his development. Now, with Cole Sillinger signed to that three-year, $13.875 million deal, does Johnson get pushed to the second line permanently?
Tony: I think so. Sillinger brings that two-way stability we’ve been craving. He closes down space in the neutral zone, he’s strong along the boards. If Coach Laviolette wants a balanced attack, Sillinger fits perfectly on the second line with Danton Heinen and Conor Garland. It allows Johnson to be more offensive-focused on the second unit or even slide up if injuries hit.
Brooke: But what about Charlie Coyle and Sean Monahan? They are veterans. Are they locking in the third-line roles?
Tony: Coyle is your reliable third-line center. He can kill penalties, he can forecheck. Monahan is there for similar reasons—experience, faceoff win percentage, leadership. But here is the kicker: Isac Lundestrom and Owen Sillinger are breathing down their necks. Isac is incredibly versatile. He can play wing or center. If the team needs grit, Owen Sillinger might beat out one of those veterans for a fourth-line spot because of his physicality.
Brooke: So, basically, the depth is deeper than we thought. But let’s talk about the net. This is the battle we’ve been previewing for days. Jet Greaves vs. Elvis Merzlikins.
Tony: The elephant in the room. Greaves just signed a three-year, $15 million contract. That is a massive commitment. In the NHL, money talks. You don’t sign a goalie to fifteen million dollars unless you intend for him to be your starter. Merzlikins is still here, but his role is now strictly defined as the veteran backup.
Brooke: But Merzlikins has been here forever. He knows the system. Greaves is young. Is there any scenario where Merzlikins wins the job out of camp?
Tony: Only if Greaves struggles terribly in exhibition games. But remember our prediction from Monday? We said Greaves would win the starting job by November. Given the contract and the front office's clear direction, I stand by that. Merzlikins provides stability if Greaves gets hurt or goes cold, but the path to the crease for Opening Night belongs to Greaves.
Brooke: Fair enough. The contract seals it. Okay, moving to the blue line. This is where it gets messy. We have Zach Werenski, Ivan Provorov, Dante Fabbro, Damon Severson, Erik Gudbranson, Brendan Smith, Denton Mateychuk, Jake Christiansen, and Egor Zamula. Nine defensemen for six roster spots. Who gets cut?
Tony: Werenski and Provorov are untouchable. They are your top pair. Then you have Fabbro and Severson. Both are solid, stay-at-home type guys who can move the puck adequately. I see them locking in the number three and four spots. That leaves Gudbranson, Smith, Mateychuk, Christiansen, and Zamula fighting for the last two spots.
Brooke: Gudbranson and Smith are veterans. They bring size. But Mateychuk... remember our prediction from last week? We said he would secure a top-four role by mid-season. Does that mean he starts on the roster?
Tony: I’m sticking with my prediction, but I’ll refine it. Mateychuk starts on the roster. He has the skating ability to match up with faster lines, which Columbus desperately needs. He might not be top-four immediately, but he will be in the top six defensemen rotation. So, he beats out Gudbranson or Smith.
Brooke: That leaves Christiansen and Zamula. Who is the odd man out?
Tony: Zamula. He’s a project defenseman. Great upside, but he needs more seasoning. Christiansen has played in the NHL before. He knows the league. I think he edges out Zamula for the seventh defenseman spot. Zamula likely starts in Cleveland.
Brooke: So, Mateychuk in, Zamula out. Got it. Alright, let’s move to Segment Two. We need to talk about the wingers. Specifically, the left wing depth and the right wing competition.
Brooke: On the left side, you have Ryan Lomberg, Miles Wood, Dmitri Voronkov, and Danton Heinen. Heinen seems locked in as the fourth liner. But Lomberg and Wood? They are both enforcers with some skill. How do you fit them both in?
Tony: You don’t, necessarily. Lomberg brings energy and penalty killing. Wood brings toughness. But Voronkov is the wildcard. He’s huge, he shoots left, and he has potential. If Voronkov looks sharp in camp, he could push one of them down. But realistically, Lomberg and Wood are likely your sixth and seventh forwards unless Voronkov forces the issue.
Brooke: What about the right wing? That’s where the real firepower is. Nichushkin, Marchenko, Garland, Riley Bezeau, Mathieu Olivier. That’s five players for two spots if we assume the top line takes two spots.
Tony: Nichushkin and Marchenko are locks. They are your top-six wingers. Garland is also very likely given his speed and playmaking. That leaves Bezeau and Olivier fighting for the fifth winger spot. Bezeau has more offensive upside. Olivier is a grinder. I think Bezeau wins the spot because Columbus needs scoring depth.
Brooke: So, Bezeau makes the team. Olivier might be a candidate for an emergency call-up or a short-term stint in Cleveland. But wait, what about Owen Sillinger again? Could he slide to wing to make room for someone else?
Tony: Absolutely. Owen Sillinger can play left wing. If the team decides to carry eight centers, he slides to the wing. But if they want balance, he stays at center. It all depends on how the coaching staff wants to construct the lines. I think they prefer keeping him at center to maximize his two-way game.
Brooke: Makes sense. Let’s talk about the power play. With all these skilled players like Fantilli, Johnson, Nichushkin, and Garland, how do they distribute the ice?
Tony: They’ll probably use a diamond formation. Werenski at the point, maybe Provorov or Mateychuk supporting. Up top, it’ll be a mix of Nichushkin, Marchenko, and Fantilli. The key is getting the puck through the neutral zone quickly. If they can avoid turnovers, they have plenty of talent to score.
Brooke: And the penalty kill? That’s usually where teams struggle early. Who are the key PK units?
Tony: Charlie Coyle is your anchor. He’s great at blocking shots and disrupting passing lanes. He’ll pair with either Lundestrom or Sillinger. On the back end, Evan Rodrigues... wait, no, Evans. No, it’s Damon Severson and Erik Gudbranson. They are big, physical, and good at clearing the crease. That’s your core PK unit.
Brooke: Okay, so Coyle, Sillinger/Lundestrom, Severson, and Gudbranson. That sounds solid. But can they handle the pressure of the Metropolitan Division? We know it’s tough. Fifth place last year doesn’t mean much when you’re facing Toronto, Florida, and Carolina every other night.
Tony: Exactly. The division is brutal. But Columbus has improved. Adding Greaves stabilizes the net. Signing Sillinger adds youth and speed to the middle. And Werenski staying long-term gives the locker room a leader. They aren’t contenders yet, but they are no longer cellar dwellers. They are a .500 team trying to climb.
Brooke: I agree. They are building something. But let’s get into the nitty-gritty of Segment Three. Our final roster cuts. Who is definitely going home?
Brooke: We’ve mentioned a few names already. But let’s be definitive. Who is the first name off the bus? Who is going straight to Cleveland?
Tony: I’m going with Egor Zamula. He’s too raw for the NHL right now. He needs regular minutes in the AHL to develop his defensive game. Sending him down gives him that opportunity. Plus, it opens up a spot for someone like Christiansen who can contribute immediately.
Brooke: Agreed. Zamula is the odds-on favorite to start in the minors. What about the goalies? Pheonix Copley is the third string. Does he make the team?
Tony: No. Copley is likely waived or sent to Cleveland. With Greaves and Merzlikins locked in, there’s no room for a third goalie unless there’s an injury crisis. If Copley clears waivers, they might keep him in the system, but he won’t be traveling with the team.
Brooke: Okay, so Copley is out. What about the forwards? We said Bezeau makes it. What about Mathieu Olivier?
Tony: Olivier is the next most likely to be sent down. He’s a depth piece, but Bezeau offers more offense. If the team wants to add scoring, Bezeau is the guy. Olivier might stick if they want extra physicality, but I think Bezeau edges him out.
Brooke: So, your final projected roster: Goalies - Greaves, Merzlikins. Defense - Werenski, Provorov, Fabbro, Severson, Mateychuk, Christiansen. Forwards - Fantilli, Johnson, Sillinger, Coyle, Monahan, Lundestrom, Nichushkin, Marchenko, Garland, Heinen, Lomberg, Wood, Bezeau.
Tony: That looks like a 20-man roster. Solid. It’s balanced. It has speed, size, and experience. The key will be how quickly Greaves adapts to the NHL game. If he’s steady, this team can surprise people.
Brooke: Let’s recap our predictions. Jet Greaves wins the starting job by November. Denton Mateychuk secures a top-four role by mid-season. And Kirill Marchenko scores on opening night against Buffalo.
Tony: I’m standing by all three. Especially the Marchenko prediction. He’s hungry, he’s skilled, and he wants to prove himself after last season. Opening night is a big stage, but he’s ready.
Brooke: Alright, fans, that’s our take. What do you think? Do you agree with the Greaves starting job? Who should make the team? Let us know in the comments below.
Brooke: Thanks for listening to today’s episode of the Beatline Podcast Network. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Share this with a fellow Blue Jackets fan!
Tony: See you tomorrow for another deep dive into the NHL. Go Jackets!
Brooke: Go Jackets!