4 Big Questions for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020-21

There’s four big questions facing the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020-21.

We continue with our 2020-21 NHL Season Previews for all 31 teams today by looking at what lies ahead for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Very much the National Hockey League’s version of the little engine that could, the Blue Jackets continue to be competitive year in and year out despite losing a swathe of star power.

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However, despite waving sad goodbyes to the likes of Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene and Sergei Bobrovsky in the last couple of years alone, the Blue Jackets continue to relentlessly march on under Head Coach John Tortorella.

It helps too that they boast two absolute studs on the blueline in Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, while Columbus also has a legit high-end tandem between the pipes in Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo, and they do have some talent in their forward group too.

So, without further ado, let’s delve into the 4 Big Questions facing the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2020-21 NHL season…

4. How will the Pierre-Luc Dubois drama unfold?

The Columbus Blue Jackets finally signed RFA Pierre-Luc Dubois to a new deal on New Year’s Eve, but it didn’t come without drama as the forward put in a trade request before putting pen to paper.

So, while the Blue Jackets technically have Dubois under contract for the next two years with a $5 million AAV, time will tell if the center actually fulfils the entirety of that contract.

Of course, both player and team are saying all the right things right now but, given the history of young stars wanting out of Columbus, it isn’t too far-fetched to predict that Dubois could well be the next one out of the door.

There will be a boatload of teams interested too, with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reporting that up to 25 teams will want to kick the tyres on Dubois before the end of the 2020-21 NHL season.

After all, Dubois is that unique mix of size and skill for a center and, given his young age coupled with his high upside, there will be teams weak down the middle that will give up a hell of a package in order to add the 22-year-old to their franchise.

Therefore, this storyline will continue to be a talking point all season-long and, depending on how the year pans out, don’t be surprised if we get a blockbuster trade involving Pierre-Luc Dubois as early as the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline with Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen probably not wanting any distractions for his team if they are in Playoff contention again.

3. Can Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo be elite again?

There were real alarm bells rung in Columbus when the Blue Jackets lost elite goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky in Free Agency in 2019, with many feeling that the wheels would come flying off with no high-end starter between the pipes.

However, those people didn’t count on the emergence of not one, but two stud netminders who look to be the future for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Yes, we are talking about Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins.

Both established themselves as huge cogs in this well-oiled Blue Jackets machine, with the emergence of the duo testament to the work done by GM Jarmo Kekalainen and his team.

Merzlikins in particular took the NHL by storm in 2019-20 with a 13-9-8 record to go along with a .923 Save Percentage and a 2.35 Goals Against Average with five shutouts in what was his rookie year.

Korpisalo, who had limited exposure to the NHL prior to last year, was equally impressive with two shutouts, a 2.60 GAA and a .911 SV% in 35 starts, while he put up a .941 Save Percentage and a stellar 1.90 Goals Against Average in nine Stanley Cup Playoffs games.

And, who can forget that incredible, unforgettable and clutch 85-save performance in that Game 1 five-Overtime thriller against the Tampa Bay Lightning?

Due to Korpisalo’s heroics in the postseason, it wouldn’t be surprising if he starts the 2020-21 season as the No. 1 starter for the Blue Jackets but, in what will be a sprint to the finish line in a condensed 56-game schedule, Columbus will need both of their new stars in net to play up to and beyond the level they reached in 2019-20.

If Elvis Merzlikins, who is signed through the 2021-22 season, and Joonas Korpisalo, who is also signed through 2021-22, can both continue to play at an elite level in goal, then the Columbus Blue Jackets will have an excellent chance at being one of the top teams in the Central Division in 2020-21.

2. Can Max Domi finally unlock his potential in 2020-21?

It is fair to say that Max Domi probably hasn’t unlocked his full potential yet, showing flashes with both the Arizona Coyotes and the Montreal Canadiens, but never really putting it all together with either franchise.

Granted, there was a 72 point (28 G, 44 A) outburst in the 2018-19 season for the Canadiens but, after things went north in Montreal, Domi was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the offseason before swiftly signing a two-year, $10.6 million contract.

A change of scenery can really benefit some players and Domi will hope that is the case in Columbus, where he’ll likely start the 2020-21 NHL season as the second-line center behind want-away star Pierre-Luc Dubois.

And the Blue Jackets will also need Domi to finally unlock his undoubted potential, given that they are in dire need of star power and a real scoring punch in this lineup.

Domi, who has recorded at least 40 points in each of his last three seasons, can provide just that and he will no doubt be motivated to prove that he’s a legit top-six forward in the NHL, so that will only work in Columbus’ favor too.

Plus, Domi could strike up a lethal partnership with winger Oliver Bjorkstrand, who recently signed a five-year, $27 million contract, and that kind of secondary scoring from the second line is something the Blue Jackets have missed, and it could be the difference between a big postseason run or not.

Oh, and let’s not forget that Domi is also a chip of the old block in that, like his famous dad, Tie Domi, he is built like a featherweight but can sure hit and fight like a heavyweight, which should go down well with his new Head Coach John Tortorella.

Overall, Max Domi has a real opportunity to revive his career with the Columbus Blue Jackets and if he can get back to the player that put up over 70 points just two seasons ago, then this could well prove to be a match made in heaven for both sides.