The Columbus Blue Jackets conclude their mini road trip to start the 2024-2025 NHL regular season with the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena Puckdrop is at 9pm from Bally Sports stations in Ohio and ALT. The second and final meeting between the two clubs is April 3rd.

The Colorado Avalanche have had back to back early playoff eliminations after winning the 2022 Stanley Cup. Once again, Russian winger Valeri Nichuskin was forced away from the ice. Last year, an alleged off ice incident in Seattle had him vanish. This year, a failed drug test has forced a six month suspension on the veteran.

The Avalanche have tinkered with the depth of the roster after deadline rentals departed for more money elsewhere.

Out

Forward Andrew Cogliano retired.

Defender Jack Johnson signed with Columbus on his wedding anniversary.

Forwards Brandon Duhaime and Spencer Smallman signed with Washington. Defender Brad Hunt signed an AHL deal with the Caps’ affiliate in the defending back to back Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears.

Forward Yakov Trenin signed with Minnesota.

Forward Riley Tufte joined Boston.

Defender Nate Clurman rejected Colorado from college and signed with Pittsburgh.

Defenseman Corey Scheueman inked with St. Louis.

Defender Caleb Jones joined Los Angeles.

Forward Frederick Olofsson headed to Zug in the Swiss league.

Forward Alex Beaucage joined Pascal Vincent on an AHL deal with the Laval Rocket.

Goalie Ivan Prosvetov headed home to the KHL.

The defender from the Alex Newhook trade, Gianni Faibrother, signed an ECHL contract with Utah.

Defender Erik Branstrom was signed by Colorado early in the summer, but was dealt to Vancouver after not making the club out of training camp.

Defender Sean Walker signed a big money deal with Carolina after being traded at the deadline to the Avs for Ryan Johansen plus a first rounder in 2025.

In

Goalie Kevin Mandelose was acquired via trade from Ottawa in a future considerations deal. Forward Parker Kelly signed as a free agent after being with Ottawa last season.

Defenders Calvin De Haan, Calle Rosen, and Oliver Kylington signed as free agents.

Forwards TJ Tynan and Matthew Phillips signed this summer.

Defender Jacob MacDonald returned to the Avs.

Defender John Ludvig was claimed off waivers.

Goalie Kappo Kahkonen was claimed off waivers yesterday from Winnipeg.

Tucker Poolman was acquired via trade as LTIR and a draft pick back for Branstrom.

Preview

Colorado is looking strong. Especially with their pillars in Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. The rest of the team has concerns, especially after an 8-4 loss in Vegas. What an onslaught of offense.

If there’s no help for Nate Dogg and Cale, playoffs is a question, but I don’t sweat this team.

They have the best defensive crop in the west. Their goaltending is shaky.

Keys to Victory

1. Speed — the young legs of the Jackets need to start the season strong and fast.

2. Inexperience — exploit the depth.

3. Injuries — No Landeskog, Nichuskin, Poolman, and Drouin.

Projected Lineups


Colorado Avalanche

Nikolai Kovalenko—Nathan MacKinnon—Mikko Rantanen
Ross Colton—Casey Mittlestadt—Callum Ritchie
Miles Wood—Parker Kelly—Logan O’Connor
Oliver Kylington—Ivan Ivan—Joel Kiviranta

Devon Toews—Cale Makar
Samuel Girard—Josh Manson
Calvin De Haan—Sam Malinski

Justus Annuen
Alexander Georgiev

Scratched - John Ludvig, Kappo Kahkonen

Injured - Jonathan Drouin, Artturi Lehkonen, Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichuskin, Tucker Poolman


Columbus Blue Jackets

Yegor Chinakov—Sean Monahan—Kirill Marchenko
James van Riemsdyk—Adam Fantilli—Kevin Labanc
Mikkael Pyyhita—Cole Sillinger—Kent Johnson
Zach Aston-Reese—Sean Kuraly—Mathieu Olivier

Zach Werenski—Ivan Provorov
Jake Christiansen—Damon Severson
Jack Johnson—Erik Gudbranson

Elvis Merzlikins
Daniil Tarasov

Scratched — Dylan Gambrell, David Jiricek, Jordan Harris

Injured — Boone Jenner, Gavin Brindley, Max McCue, Jordan Dumais, Justin Danforth, Dmitry Voronkov

Players to Watch

Colorado — Nathan MacKinnon — won lots of hardware, but not the cup last season. Mainly the Hart and Ted Lindsay. Career year at 140 points last season. Already had two assists in their first game.

Columbus — Jack Johnson — the 2022 cup winner returns to the ice for the first time at Ball Arena since May to be recognized by the faithful.

Predicted Final Score

CBJ : 2

COL : 5

Obituaries

https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/john-michael-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYM9fikwQbNkPlcwmTBaP2udJZw1oMBCmyXjp-GyttBpDhIoWnqY8lxQSQ_aem_zW3gpaArqsSO7D5ZI-Pdog

https://www.danjolell.com/obituary/matthew-ryan-gaudreau/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ33XNOJYMaSDfXxs3NcH7AY99EWfo9ObneKgMrpds4HwrC3U6Gkj0igr0_aem_qqWUcGWcBFf0sebC0an4RQ

Want to support the Gaudreau family? Here’s several ways how:


https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-madeline-and-baby-tripp-after-tragedy - Donate to Gaudreau Family Fund. At the time of writing it is at $691K

https://youtu.be/7ax8zyd8nk0?si=xoI63iohdyn2vVvD - View Johnny B Goode Tribute - personal touch. Loved this slowed down clip by the voice of Calgary. Skip to the 25 second mark.


https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/giving - Nationwide Children's Hospital (Johnny's widow, Meredith's workplace) support the children today.

https://foundation.ohiohealth.com/ - Ohio Health Foundation (where donations from a joint mental health charity drive from Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine went) Johnny joined the mission after Laine attended the NHLPA assistance club last season

https://www.childrenshospital.ab.ca/ways-to-help/donate/ - Alberta Children's Hospital for those in need and touched by the loss

https://kidsportcanada.ca/donate/ - Donate to the Youth Sporting Charity in Canada (Johnny Gaudreau donated for money each goal he scored to the Calgary chapter)

https://sniderhockey.org/support-snider/ - the Philadelphia Youth Hockey Charity (where Johnny and Matthew are from and started their youth hockey)

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