As we are in the dog days of summer aka August 2024, this piece is predicting the lineup of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ opening night roster as of today. With Laine cleared and Sillinger being the main RFA left to be signed, comment your lines.
Forward Line One
LW - Johnny Gaudreau
The richest man has to be on the top line and find his scoring touch again.
C - Sean Monahan
Calgary reunion. Fully rehabbed. Showed his worth to the Jets in the playoffs.
RW - Patrik Laine
This is if he is still here. Could see him and Jenner flipped.
Forward Line Two
LW - Boone Jenner
The captain. Could be flipped to center or wing on any line. Special player.
C - Adam Fantilli
Him setting up Laine or being protected by Jenner will help him this season.
RW - Kent Johnson
Michigan magic with Fantilli would be magical.
Forward Line Three
LW - Yegor Chinakov
Great year with Voronkov and got the extension.
C - Dmitry Voronkov
Got Calder votes between the Russian wingers.
RW - Kirill Marchenko
Self explanatory to keep the Russian line together until Laine moved. Then move him up.
Forward Line Four
LW - Cole Sillinger
Dilemma. Try him on the wing and roster with Kuraly. They’re getting too deep at center and still don’t have a top line center. Will move up when Laine is dealt.
C - Sean Kuraly
Pin to the fourth line and don’t take him out. Great at faceoffs and penalty kill.
RW - Justin Danforth
Depth scoring. Can be flipped to the spares
Defensive Pair One
LD - Zach Werenski
Easy ace. Best defender in franchise history
RD - Damon Severson
The supporting cast. Still needs to prove himself on the contract Kekalainen gave him.
Defensive Pair Two
LD - Ivan Provorov
Could be moved at the deadline, a solid Top 4 defender
RD - David Jiricek
He needs every minute owed back to him after the past season or so being thrown back and forth. Keep. Him. Here.
Defensive Pair Three
LD - Jack Johnson
The veteran. The cup winner. Can be flipped for the spare youth in Cleveland. May get into the US Hockey Hall.
RD - Erik Gudbranson
The Pitt reunion of Johnson and Gudbranson in Columbus is comical. May just be a trail run before he protects the kids.
Goaltenders
Starter - Elvis Merzlikins
He wants out. Waddell needs to move him.
Backup - Daniil Tarasov
Needs to be the starter. He’s at the age to prove it. Needs all the minutes.
Spares
RW Mathieu Olivier
The enforcer. Will be on the main roster all year.
D Denton Mateychuk
Must call him up first. Christainsen is the dark horse.
G Jet Greaves
First goalie call up.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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