Every team has a 50 man roster due to the NHL CBA, and additional reserves for unsigned prospects to continue their development, in leagues including CHL; NCAA; SHL; LIGA; KHL; DEL; or Swiss. Anywhere where there is professional or junior developmental hockey.
In a perfect hockey season, there is a 20 man skating roster — 12 forwards over 4 lines; 6 defenders over 3 pairs; and 2 goaltenders as one starts and one sits.
On the 23 allowed, the spare 3 are extra skaters that can practice and/or travel with the team to have available when needed, as long as the club team is under the hard salary cap of $82.5M.
With the way injuries and illness have gone this season for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the organization has had 35 skaters out of the 50 under contract dress and compete on the ice in their 51 games played in the 2022-23 season.
This exercise is to grade and evaluate every skater that has dressed for the Blue Jackets this season; plus the coaching staff and management of the players.
The only player I will throw into the grade who has yet to dress for the Jackets is Lane Pederson, who has split the season with Carolina and Vancouver.
The evaluation will go from first line winger on the offense to the third string goalie for the skaters evaluation; then each coaching staff; and management personnel.
Offense
Johnny Gaudreau — A
Consistent forward; healthy; point per game player; lone All Star representative.
Boone Jenner — B-
Injuries take him down, has grit and skill to remain in top 6 full time. Easy to analyze the leadership as he is the C. Isn’t a true goal scorer or point producer, but helps ensure the points to the top guys.
Patrik Laine — B
Injuries ruined the beginning of his season, but is nearing a point per game. Easily could be convinced to move him to A-
Gustav Nyquist — A-
When healthy, a productive rental veteran. Consistent when with Detroit.
Jack Roslovic — C-
Healthy scratch around Thanksgiving. Struggles early and gets better as season goes.
Jakub Voracek — A
Will be missed, a skill and finesse player. MVP Twitter account.
Kent Johnson — B
Dark horse rookie of the year canidate
Cole Sillinger — D
Definition of sophomore slump
Yegor Chinakov — C
One dimensional player; injuries in season hurt grade.
Eric Robinson — C
Injured in middle of season.
Sean Kuraly — B
One of the best players of the season.
Mathieu Olivier — C
Feisty. Underrated asset.
Kirill Marchenko — B+
Skillful. Absolute pure goal scorer
Liam Foudy — C-
Under utilized. Foudy needs the ice time and proper development; worrying a potential change of scenery.
Emil Bemstrom — B
He is becoming skillful and an under utilized asset. Shouldn’t be going back and forth between Cleveland and Columbus.
Justin Danforth — C+
Injury early cannot make it in the season.
Brendan Gaunce — C
Veteran forward that has produced in short run this season
Joshua Dunne — D
Should stay with Cleveland
Trey Fix-Wolansky — C
Needs to be full time; leading scorer in Cleveland.
Carson Meyer — D-
Did not produced in NHL; injured.
Lane Pederson — C-
Yet to play in Columbus; depth player.
Defense
Zach Werenski -- B
8 points in 13 games; injuries in the season has kept him at this level even though he is the best defenseman in house.
Adam Boqvist -- C
Injuries and a healthy scratch. Needs developed
Vladislav Gavrikov -- B
Best defenseman despite the injuries
Andrew Peeke -- C
Keep around 4/5 to get best results. Is a full time NHL defenseman
Jake Bean -- C
Injuries; did produce when Werenski was out first.
Erik Gudbranson -- C-
Slow; physical; barely produces; overload; if at $1-1.5M, maybe a higher grade
Gavin Bayreuther -- C
Need the ice time to get best evaluation
Nick Blankenburg -- C
Played on a broken ankle; need more minutes
Tim Breni -- D
Need more development in Cleveland
Marcus Bjork -- C
Had early good showing, could be top defender in Cleveland
David Jiricek -- B-
Should play the full 9 on main roster, Cleveland AHL All Star
Jake Christiansen -- C-
Needs Cleveland minutes
Goalies
Elvis Merzlikins -- D
What a confusing and troubling season. Isn’t the same. I just hope he is ok. Needs the summer.
Joonas Korpisalo -- C
Best goalie this season, could be trade piece
Daniil Tarasov -- D
Needs more development; goalie of the future
Coaching Staff
All coaching staff not up to snuff this season, may need the start of 23-24 before next steps for their future.
Brad Larsen -- D
Kenny McCudden -- D
Pascal Vincent -- D
Steve McCarthy -- D
Manny Legace -- D
Nicklas Backstrom -- D
Kevin Collins -- D
Dan Singleton -- D
Derek Dorsett -- D
Mark Letestu -- D
Jarkko Ruutu -- D
Brad Thissen -- D
Jared Boll -- D
Medical staff doing everything right, just too many injuries
Joseph Ruane, DO -- B
Larry Watson, MD -- B
Jason Dapore, DO -- B
Greg Bellisari, MD -- B
Ben Burkam, MD -- B
Gregory Rekos, DDS, MS -- B
Management
Management needs shakeup; development internally needs pursued most. Kek is the right person, but they need to contend
Jarmo Kekalainen -- C
Basil McRae -- C-
Josh Flynn -- C-
Rick Nash -- C
Chris Clark -- C-
Josef Boumedienne -- C
President
Refer to the management.
John Davidson -- C
Ownership
Without the money and buy in, there’s no Gaudreau here this summer, and no team here in Columbus. Just get a winner.
Michael Priest -- B
John P. McConnell -- A
What say you? More to come…
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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