Another week goes by in the NHL season and I am here to answer your mailbag questions. As always, you can tweet us your questions or send us an email at [email protected]
LET’S GO!
@BuckeyeStHockey Is RyJo gonna be here around Christmas?
— Phil R (@PostGradPhil) October 27, 2015
A lot has been made of the benching of Ryan Johansen, as it was a surprising development. Later we found out that Johansen was dealing with an unknown illness. Any thought that Johansen won’t be on this team in the short or long term is a ludicrous one. It took the Blue Jackets thirteen years to find a number one center and they aren’t going to let him go so easily.
@BuckeyeStHockey Who will be the breakout star this season?
— chuck analytics (@ChuckAnalytics) October 27, 2015
I think you could point towards someone on defense for that award. The pairing of Murray and Goloubef seem to be pretty good candidates. Murray was hyped this offseason to no end, but after having a solid rookie year and an injury riddled second season, he needs to prove himself. Murray is logging above twenty minutes a game and is tied for the defensemen lead for points at four. He is doing what he needs to do at the moment and is a prime candidate for the “breakout star”.
A little more under the radar is Cody Goloubef, at 25 years of age is finally coming into his own and fitting in nicely with Murray. He only has two points on the season but is getting some increased time on the power play which could add to his point totals significantly. It doesn’t hurt either that both Murray and Goloubef have seen some good possession numbers when together.
@BuckeyeStHockey is karlsson the 3rd line center of the present/future? Does that make Wennberg expendable? Not saying they should…
— Daniel Dukart (@daniel_dukart) October 28, 2015
While I enjoy Karlsson thus far, he hasn’t shown anything offensively that says that he is anything more than a replacement level player. What is surprising is Karlsson’s usage; he has seen some time on the penalty kill. Does that make Campbell expendable? I wouldn’t even begin to think of trading Wennberg, Tortorella has taken a liking to him and Wennberg was even centering Saad and Foligno late in the Devils game. Wennberg’s dependability and versatility is too valuable to the Jackets as they transition to the Tortorella era.
@BuckeyeStHockey can Jenner score 30 goals this year?
— Brett Sidoryk (@iamTwigggy) October 28, 2015
This is a fun question. It is so, so tough to score thirty goals in the NHL. Johansen has done it once. Foligno barely did it last year and that was with an absurdly high shooting percentage. Boone could do it, but would I put any money on it? Nah. Too many variables at play, and until Boone consistently scores twenty goals I wouldn’t bet on that high of an output.
@BuckeyeStHockey Do we have a power play problem? CBJ looks fairly discombobulated save for a goal here and there.
— Sports Cbus (@SportsCbus) October 28, 2015
I don’t think so. Compared to years past this team has plenty of weapons. They are currently 9th best in the league as of last night (at 22.2%). The past couple games haven’t looked great but they are missing one of the maestros of their power play, Ryan Johansen. I mean hell, Boone Jenner scored a goal against the Avalanche on the power play, so no you shouldn’t be concerned with the power play. Ask me again come game thirty.
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