Tomorrow is the conclusion of the 23-24 season for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The club has concluded their road games for the season, losing their final four in a row all to playoff teams. The final game of the year is against the Carolina Hurricanes.
This is the end of the Jeff Rimer era in Columbus. The trade deadline was the end of the Jarmo Kekalainen era in Columbus after 11 years and 2 days.
With today being club picture day at the Nationwide Arena, is this the end of this iteration of the Jackets?
The Blue Jackets have forwards Alexandre Texier, Kirill Marchenko, Cole Sillinger, Yegor Chinakov, Kent Johnson, Alex Nylander, Carson Meyer, Tyler Angle, Josh Dunne, and Brendan Gaunce expiring.
Jake Bean and Nick Blankenburg on defense have their contracts finish with Jakub Zboril, Marcus Bjork, Jake Christiansen, and Billy Sweezey in Cleveland.
Jet Greaves and Malcom Subban in the pipes also could depart with done deals.
We have also witnessed at the deadline potential trade rumors surrounding Boone Jenner, Patrik Laine, and Ivan Provorov. Elvis Merzlikins could be dealt first.
With Babcock not joining there’s thought out there that John Davidson and Pascal Vincent could also have their ties cut with the organization.
A lot could happen here if ownership is active. We could see the Hunters come in and run Columbus like London and bring their guys in with their system. We could see a Columbus crew system of the former players that dawned the sweater run the team. Veteran leaders and winners could see the prospect pipeline and morph it to their liking. New players and leadership could happen after tomorrow’s final game.
Speaking of tomorrow, Boone Jenner is expected in the lineup for Game 82.
Additionally, Gavin Brindley reunites with best friend Adam Fantilli and signs his entry level contract with the Blue Jackets. Great work by Brindley in college and the brass to lock up a first round talent in the second round.