Blue Jackets' Luca Marrelli: Steady defender joins Columbus
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Marrelli was the 86th overall pick by the Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
A fifth-round pick of Oshawa in the 2021 OHL Draft, Marrelli had a big offensive season (57 points in 67 games) for a Generals team that won the OHL's Eastern Conference. Despite the production, Marrelli lacks dynamic skill, so he's going to have to find another way to make an impact at higher levels. He is very steady and displayed the ability to make plays in all three zones because of his high hockey IQ. He could become a third-pairing NHL regular if everything breaks correctly in the coming years.
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Blue Jackets' Evan Gardner: Selected by Jackets in Round 2
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Gardner was the 60th overall pick by the Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
With very little coming in their prospect pool in terms of goaltending, Columbus was willing to reach for Gardner here. The No. 7 ranked North American goaltender by NHL Central Scouting, Gardner was dominant in the WHL this past season, going 21-5-0 with a 1.91 GAA and .927 save percentage for a loaded Saskatoon team. He reportedly had plenty of interest in this stage of the draft, so Gardner likely wouldn't have lasted much longer if the Jackets hadn't pulled the trigger. He's a long-term upside play for Columbus.
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Blue Jackets' Charlie Elick: Upside play for Jackets
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Elick was the 36th overall pick by the Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
A defender with a ton of natural ability, Elick is still trying to figure out what type of player he will be at the NHL level. He's an excellent skater for a big man and plays hard, but his offensive game is inconsistent. Elick should be able to turn into a depth regular for the Jackets down the road with minimal improvements, which is a pretty nice get at this stage of the draft. If the offense improves just a bit, it's easy to envision Elick as an effective second-pairing defender down the road.
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Blue Jackets' Cayden Lindstrom: Power pivot fourth overall
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Lindstrom was the fourth overall pick by the Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Lindstrom is a big, powerful pivot with elite wheels, aggressiveness and a goal-scoring gift. He put up 27 goals in just 32 games with Medicine Hat of the WHL before missing almost the entire second half with injuries (hand and back). Lindstrom's play has garnered comparisons to Quinton Byfield (speed), Tom Wilson (edge) and Chris Kreider (snipes). Comps are comps, and they often fail to materialize. That back injury was a recurring one, but with good health, Lindstrom will hit the NHL in a couple years. His multi-category value will be strong, but it may take a few seasons to materialize. Byfield has grown into his game relatively fast, but Kreider's big offense didn't come until he was 30. The CHL Top Prospect will be a star, as long as he stays healthy.
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Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Inks two-year extension
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Chinakhov (upper body) signed a two-year, $4.2 millon contract extension with the Blue Jackets on Friday.
Chinakhov missed the last 17 games of the regular season due to the injury. He ended the campaign with 16 goals and 13 assists in 53 contests. Look for Chinakhov to serve in a top-six capacity in 2024-25.
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Blue Jackets' Denton Mateychuk: Reassigned to AHL Cleveland
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Mateychuk was reassigned from WHL Moose Jaw to AHL Cleveland on Monday.
Mateychuk could make his professional debut in Tuesday's Game 3 Calder Cup clash with AHL Hershey, boosting the team's blue-line depth. With junior club WHL Moose Jaw, the 19-year-old Winnipeg native generated 17 goals and 58 assists in 52 regular-season outings before adding another 30 points in 20 postseason contests. Heading into the 2024-25 campaign, Mateychuk should at least have a chance to make the Blue Jackets' 23-man roster for Opening Night.
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Blue Jackets' Brendan Gaunce: Lands on waivers
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Gaunce was placed on waivers Sunday, per PuckPedia.
If he goes unclaimed, Gaunce will probably report to AHL Cleveland ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Hershey on Thursday. He picked up two goals and two assists in 24 NHL appearances with Columbus during the 2023-24 campaign. He also generated 19 goals and 39 points over 46 minor-league outings during the regular season.
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Blue Jackets' Adam Fantilli: Suiting up for Team Canada
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Fantilli (calf) will suit up in Team Canada's pre-tournament opener of the 2024 IIHF World Championship on Sunday.
Fantilli missed the final 33 games of the regular season after suffering a lacerated calf on Jan. 28. Now healthy, the 19-year-old center will look to contribute to Team Canada's run in the IIHF World Championship before preparing for the 2024-25 season. Fantilli finished his rookie campaign with 12 goals and 27 points in 49 games.
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Blue Jackets' Luca Pinelli: Inks entry-level contract
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Pinelli reached an agreement with the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, signing a three-year, entry-level deal beginning with the 2024-25 season.
Pinelli had a fabulous season in the OHL for the Ottawa 67's in 2023-24, registering 48 goals and 34 assists in 68 games. At this point it isn't clear if Pinelli will return to the OHL for one final season or make the jump to the AHL in 2024-25.
Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Four points in finale
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Werenski produced two goals and two assists in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Hurricanes.
The blueliner had at least one point in each period and helped set up Luca Del Bel Belluz for the 20-year-old's first career goal as well as Johnny Gaudreau's game-winner. Werenski had five multi-point efforts in his final 14 games of the campaign, and his big performance in the Blue Jackets' finale gave him his sixth career season season with double-digit goals. The 26-year-old wraps up 2023-24 with 11 goals and 57 points in 70 contests.
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Blue Jackets' James Malatesta: Reassigned after finale
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Malatesta was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Tuesday.
Malatesta scored in the first period of Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Hurricanes. He earned four points over 11 contests at the NHL level. The 20-year-old winger is set to join the Monsters for their playoff run.
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Blue Jackets' Luca Del Bel Belluz: Scores in debut, then sent down
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Del Bel Belluz was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Tuesday.
Del Bel Belluz scored in his NHL debut -- on his first shot -- in a 6-3 win over the Hurricanes. The 20-year-old will return to Cleveland to help its Calder Cup playoff run.
Blue Jackets' Mikael Pyyhtia: Drops back to AHL Cleveland
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Pyythia was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Tuesday.
Pyythia earned an assist in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Hurricanes. The 22-year-old winger will return to the AHL affiliate after posting two helpers across 17 outings at the NHL level this season.
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Blue Jackets' David Jiricek: Sent down Tuesday
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Jiricek was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Tuesday.
Jiricek played in the Blue Jackets' last seven games of the season, picking up just one assist in that span. He had 10 points over 43 outings at the NHL level this year, positioning him well to take a full-time job with the Blue Jackets in 2024-25.
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Blue Jackets' Nick Blankenburg: Drops to AHL
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Blankenburg was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Tuesday.
Blankenburg played versus the Hurricanes on Tuesday in the Blue Jackets' season finale. He'll now bolster the Monsters' defense corps. Blankenburg had one goal and no assists over 12 NHL appearances this season.
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Blue Jackets' Jet Greaves: Sent down after finale
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Greaves was reassigned to AHL Cleveland on Tuesday.
Greaves stopped 38 of 41 shots in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Hurricanes. He'll now head back to the Monsters with the Blue Jackets' season over, giving the AHL team reinforcements for the Calder Cup playoffs. Greaves went 3-6-0 with a 3.49 GAA and a .908 save percentage over nine NHL outings.
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Blue Jackets' Luca Del Bel Belluz: Summoned from AHL
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Del Bel Belluz was recalled from AHL Cleveland on Tuesday.
Del Bel Belluz will make his NHL debut in Tuesday's regular-season finale against Carolina because Dmitri Voronkov (illness) is unavailable. The 20-year-old Del Bel Belluz has nine goals and 30 points in 55 AHL outings this campaign.
