Blue Jackets Back Alright!

We are back from the lengthy NHL All Star break with a home battle with the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7pm from Nationwide Arena, and then again tomorrow night from Scotibank Arena. This is their first time in the 2022-2023 facing off against one another.

With that, as per usual Columbus reviews done here, let’s review what the Leafs did over the summer.

The goaltender controversy continues to center around the Toronto crease, swapping out Petr Mrazek and Jack Campbell for Ilya Samsonov and Matt Murray. Nicolas Aube-Kubel (now with Washington), Zach Aston-Reese, and Calle Jarnkrok were called to reset a younger bottom six offensive group with the retirement of Jason Spezza and aging out of icons Wayne Simmonds and Kyle Clifford.

The biggest loss away from the crease was Ilya Mikheyev, signing long term with Vancouver. The loss of speed was made up in grit and possession down the lineup.

Defensively, the Leafs swapped Connor Timmins for AHL forward Curtis Douglas; and also added defenders Jordan Been and Carl Dahlstrom. Jake Muzzin’s career is over.

The Leafs are elite, and are a cup contender. In the stacked eastern conference, they’re one of four teams I can see going all the way. Having the roster they have, they are where should be. Only thing missing is a ring.

Columbus is rocking the reverse retro, and hoping to get a win in their first game of the second month.

Projected Lineups

Toronto Maple Leafs

Michael Bunting—John Tavares—Mitch Marner
Calle Jarnkrok—Alex Kerfoot—William Nylander
Pierre Engvall—David Kampf—Joey Anderson
Zach Aston-Reese—Pontus Homberg—Alex Steeves

Morgan Reilly—TJ Brodie
Mark Giordano—Justin Holl
Rasmus Sandin—Timmothy Liljegren

Ilya Samsonov
Joseph Woll


Injured — Auston Matthews, Matt Murray, Jake Muzzin, Nicolas Robertson


Columbus Blue Jackets

Johnny Gaudreau—Boone Jenner—Patrik Laine
Kent Johnson—Cole Sillinger—Kirill Marchenko
Liam Foudy—Jack Roslovic—Emil Bemstrom
Eric Robinson—Sean Kuraly—Mathieu Olivier

Vladislav Gavrikov—Andrew Peeke
Tim Breni—Erik Gudbranson
Gavin Bayreuther—Adam Boqvist

Joonas Korpisalo
Elvis Merzlikins

Scratched — Nick Blankenburg

Injured — Zach Werenski, Jakub Voracek, Jake Bean, Justin Danforth, Yegor Chinakov, Gustav Nyquist


Players to Watch

Toronto (Friday) — Mitch Marner

All star, pure skill player, 60 points in 52 games this season, passer before shooter.


Toronto (Saturday) — William Nylander

Shooting the lights out, should’ve been an All Star. 4 goals in last 5 games and 59 points in 52 games.


Columbus (Friday) — Patrik Laine

1 goal and 5 assists in last 6 games, he is having a strong 2023 start. 15 points in 16 games in the month of January.


Columbus (Saturday) — Vladislav Gavrikov

Trade rumors have had him connected to Toronto


Predicted Final Score

Fri — 5-3 for Leafs

Sat — 3-2 (OT) for Leafs

More to come

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