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CBJ - Mood Monday - Future State of Mind

March 13, 2023, 11:30 AM ET [4 Comments]
Zak MacMillan
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Columbus Jackets remain winless in the month of March, and this week begins their five game road trip.

This week, they start in San Jose against the Sharks. Late in the week, the back to back is between Gavrikov and Korpisalo in Los Angeles at the beginning, and Anaheim at the end with Scott Harrington. They also conclude this weeks games with a Sunday afternoon collision with the Vegas Golden Knights with legends row: Jonathan Quick, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, and Keegan Kolesar.

Both San Jose and Anaheim are in the bottom five of league standings. Los Angeles is in the top ten.

The Jackets continue to find their first win of the month. They are the final team remaining to get to 50 points on the season.

Johnny Gaudreau is three points away from 60 on the season.

Boone Jenner is three points away from 40; Jack is four away from 40.

Columbus also has four players within four points or fewer of 20:

1. Kirill Marchenko
2. Eric Robinson
3. Adam Boqvist
4. Emil Bemstrom

Michael Hutchinson is looking to get his first win with the Blue Jackets.

Daniil Tarasov is with the team full time until further notice as Merzlikins continues to be with his family in Latvia.

Columbus also continues to be in the rumor mill this week as the discussion around them and acquiring center Kevin Hayes continues from the Philadelphia Flyers.

Hayes has three years remaining after this one concludes at a cap hit of $7.142M. Next season, he gets paid at $6.5M, and the final two years at $4M.

This would unite Hayes and Gaudreau in the Buckeye state. Hayes and Gaudreau both were part of the same squad with Boston College.

Hayes with Columbus would get the franchise a veteran skill forward to work the other young forwards coming through the system. The depth on the wing in Columbus is a strength, and the addition of Hayes could shift one of Jenner, Roslovic, or Kuraly to the wing. The eventual return of Alexandre Texier also has not been taken into consideration for next season's offense.

If both are added without taken anyone off the active roster, the lineup could look like this:

Johnny Gaudreau--Kevin Hayes--Patrik Laine
Kent Johnson--Boone Jenner--Jack Roslovic
Alexandre Texier--Cole Sillinger--Kirill Marchenko
Eric Robinson--Sean Kuraly--Mathieu Olivier
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