The Columbus Blue Jackets are in their second game of three for their first home series of games.
Nashville is coming into the season with plenty of changes to win now with roster.
The Predators traded forward Luke Kunin to the San Jose Sharks for forward John Leonard and a draft pick. They also moved defender Phillipe Myers and winger Grant Mismash for defender Ryan McDonagh. Forward Mathieu Oliver was also moved to Columbus for a draft pick.
They also let the services of defenders Matt Tennyson; David Farrance; Jeremy Davies; Matt Benning; wingers Matt Luff and Nick Cousins; and goalie David Rittich to new teams in free agency. New additions include wingers Nino Niederreiter; Zach Sanford; Kiefer Sherwood; and Mark Jankowski; defenders Kevin Gravel; Jordan Gross; and Ronald McKeown; and goalie Kevin Lankianen.
In terms of the lineups for tonight, Cody Glass and Kiefer Sherwood come in for Zach Sanford and Michael McCarron. Jusse Saros is in for the Preds. For Columbus, all the lines have been adjusted for more balance.
Projected Lineups
Filip Forsberg—Mikael Granlund—Matt Duchene Nino Niederreiter—Ryan Johansen—Eeli Tolvanen Yakov Trenin—Colton Sissons—Tanner Jeannot Cole Smith—Cody Glass—Kiefer Sherwood
Roman Josi—Alexandre Carrier Ryan McDonagh—Mattias Ekholm Jeremy Lauzon—Dante Fabbro
Juuse Saros Kevin Lankinen
Scratched — Zach Sanford, Michael McCarron Injured — Mark Borowiecki
Columbus Blue Jackets
Johnny Gaudreau—Boone Jenner—Gustav Nyquist Kent Johnson—Cole Sillinger—Jakub Voracek Justin Danfroth—Jack Roslovic—Yegor Chinakov Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Mathieu Oliver
Zach Werenski—Andrew Peeke Vladislav Gavrikov—Nick Blankenburg Jake Bean—Erik Gubdranson
Elvis Merzlikins Daniil Tarasov
Scratched — Liam Foudy, Adam Boqvist Injured — Patrik Laine, Joonas Korpisalo, Joona Luoto
Players to Watch
Nashville — Matt Duchene — the leading goal scorer in a single season and former Blue Jackets forward. The top center has 3 points in 5 games (1 goal, 2 assists).
Columbus — Mathieu Oliver — Mathieu Oliver — the former Predators’ forward has one assist in 4 games with his new team. His toughness will help his team win.
Reverse Retro All 32 teams unveiled New Unifroms for the season:
The old with the new. Remixed for 2022.#reverseretro
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 20, 2022
Get yours 11.15#CBJ x @adidashockey pic.twitter.com/bUOKkkkDzO
Compared to the Red and White, these are a different spin with the “Back in Black… marketing and selling for the Jackets. It’s a different spin on a modern look.
Thoughts?
More to come …