The regular season has arrived for the Columbus Blue Jackets in their first game of the 2023-2024 year. The lucky draw is on John Tortorella and the Philadelphia Flyers at 7pm on Bally Sports Ohio.
The Flyers begin the season with regular season returns of forwards Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson, who missed the majority of the 2022-2023 regular seasons.
Philadelphia has also continued the tear down this summer after beginning some changes at the trade deadline.
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Garnet Hathaway signed as a free agent on the bottom six offense.
Sean Walker, Helge Grans, and Cal Petersen were acquired via trade.
Massimo Rizzo was acquired via trade.
Ryan Phoeling signed as a free agent.
Marc Staal signed as a free agent.
Rhett Gardner signed.
Troy Grosneck joined as a free agent.
Matiev Michkov and Oliver Bonk were drafted in Round 1.
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Ivan Provorov was traded to Columbus in a three team trade.
Kevin Hayes was dealt to St. Louis at half his salary.
Anthony DeAngelo was bought out.
Brendan Lemieux was left go.
David Kase was traded to Carolina.
James van Riemsdyk was dismissed.
Justin Braun retired.
The Flyers are continuing the rebuild with shopping Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, and Carter Hart. They’re years away from competing, let alone the Cup.
Right now it’s the road to the drafts of 2024 and 2025. If ownership continues to trust new general manager Daniel Briere, they will go far.
From my Predictions blog
8. Philadelphia Flyers - worst team in the Eastern Conference. They need to rebuild and move out of the Fletcher era. Ownership rushed this team and it cost Hextall. Too rushed cost Fletch. Briere and Torts need the top dogs to relax. 2025 is the year they need Misa. Lottery team.
This is the first regular season Columbus games for Pascal Vincent as head coach; Mark Recchi as asssitant; Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson on defense; Alexandre Texier’s first NHL game in a year; and Adam Fantilli’s first career NHL game. A lot riding tonight for the hosts in a four game home series.
Projected Lineups
Philadelphia Flyers
Joel Farabee—Sean Couturier—Bobby Brink
Owen Tippett—Morgan Frost—Cam Atkinson
Scott Laughton—Noah Cates—Travis Konecny
Nicolas Deslauriers—Ryan Phoeling—Garnet Hathaway
Travis Sanheim—Can York
Marc Staal—Sean Walker
Egor Zamula—Nick Seeler
Carter Hart
Cal Petersen
Injured — Rasmus Ristalonen, Ryan Ellis
Columbus Blue Jackets
Cole Sillinger—Patrik Laine—Johnny Gaudreau
Alexandre Texier—Boone Jenner—Emil Bemstrom
Kirill Marchenko—Adam Fantilli—Justin Danforth
Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Jack Roslovic
Zach Werenski—Andrew Peeke
Jake Bean —Erik Gubdranson
Ivan Provorov—Damon Severson
Elvis Merzlikins
Spencer Martin
Scratched - Kent Johnson, Adam Boqvist
Injured - Yegor Chinakov, Cameron Butler, Daniil Tarasov, Jordan Dumais, Mathieu Olivier
Players to Watch
Philadelphia - Cam Atkinson - first healthy game of the season and what better way against his former team in front of the old faithful. Dust off the old #13 tonight.
Columbus - Ivan Provorov - first game against his former team. Minutes and points his way tonight without a doubt. Decent preseason when he got in after a minor injury.
Fodder for Victory
1. Fire Under Vincent - new coach debut, new players in town, the fuel for the fire is there to produce. Just do it.
2. Healthier Days - this is the healthiest the team has been since the beginning of last season, it is time to perform while everyone is together.
3. Defensive Depth - the new offseason adds have stacked the defensive depth of the Blue Jackets and is having them sit a multimillion dollar defender every game. The best will stay. It’s a showcase, sure, but an opportunity to prove who can stay.
4. Will the Preseason Carry Over? Patrik Laine is starting the year centering Johnny Gaudreau. Puck battles are a must win for him as the first line center. The performances of the depth forwards must carry for success - Texier/Bemstorm/Fantilli.
Predicted Final Score
PHI - 2
CBJ - 5
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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