5 Players That Are Ready to Take the Next Step for the Columbus Blue Jackets

In the 21-year history of the Columbus Blue Jackets, they have made the playoffs six times. That is not to say it was not through effort and steady play. The result of most of their misfortunes, regular season and playoffs, has been scoring.

With the defense being pretty solid for the most part, throughout the existence of the franchise, the team has lacked an elite, go-to player.

With that said, the organization has had many good players. However, most of them have left for greener pastures, but this leaves the franchise looking for superstars, scorers, and players that want to be there.

Since then, the Blue Jackets have remained competitive, famously knocking out the Tampa Bay Lightning via a sweep in the playoffs a few seasons back. Columbus has grown to mold a team that does not score a lot but will fight whistle to whistle and takes the game to you.

The Blue Jackets have a few players that are ready to step up.

Over the past few seasons, Columbus has acquired a couple of players, one being recent, that they hope to build around and make the team a Stanley Cup contender.

Patrick Laine and newly acquired Johnny Gaudreau, have joined the Blue Jackets in hopes of making the club a perennial playoff team.

With that said, aside from Gaudreau, who has yet to play a game, there are five players who should be ready to take a step forward and make this team a threat every year.

Columbus has a sneaky good team that could take a few people by surprise. If these five players take the next step and continue upward, then this could be a nice, well-rounded team.

Columbus is ready to turn their fortunes around and win the division first and foremost. With all of the parity and roster changes this off-season inside the division, they just might have a shot this year to do some damage.

Forward Patrik Laine came to the Blue Jackets in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets and has been good for the team. After a slow start, and some disagreements with the coaching staff, Laine has settled down and re-signed with Columbus on a new deal.

He might not be the elite player we thought he was going to be, but he has been a solid player since arriving in the NHL. Laine still has a lethal shot that he can use in any situation and is becoming an all-around good offensive player.

With his defensive game still in question, he will have to continue to work on his passing and may have to hit the 50-goal mark if it means the Blue Jackets sneak into the playoffs. In his short career with the Blue Jackets, Laine has 36 goals and 41 assists for 77 points in 101 games.

While Laine still has the makeup to be an elite offensive force, he has to be consistent enough to be considered a top player in the league. His willingness to get his teammates involved shows he is growing as a player and one that can still compete for the Rocket Richard Trophy.

Laine, along with Gaudreau, can lead the Blue Jackets to the playoffs. It is a matter of how soon and how much roster turnover there is.

Laine is still an asset that is capable of leading the team in goals and points. Now, Laine will most likely have Gaudreau on his line, which could create a dangerous scoring line. That line alone could sneak them into the playoffs this season.

Forward Alexandre Texier is a bright young star who is just learning his way in the Columbus lineup. Entering his fifth season, Texier is looking to make his way up in the lineup.

Primarily a bottom-six forward, he has high potential and a game to go along with it. He has speed, great vision, and knows his way in the defensive zone as well.

Texier has a good shot that he scores goals in tight. Texier can be more useful if he gets a chance in the top six as that seems to be all he needs is more minutes to prove himself.

While he has been productive in the bottom six, he might realize his full potential with a full season on the second line. All this kid needs is a chance to show he belongs higher in the lineup and he could be near the top in team scoring.

He might also benefit from some time on the power play, as he does have a good shot in close. Texier can get into scoring areas and take advantage of the space he creates.

Texier reminds me of Laine in the fact he uses his shot in many scenarios. He has all the skill but needs an opportunity to showcase them.

With Oliver Bjorkstrand being traded to the Seattle Kraken, this could be the opening Texier needs to show the Columbus coaching staff he is worth a promotion to the second line. He is more than capable of providing offense from the wing, and this could be the season he puts it all together.

In his Columbus career, he has 22 goals and 27 assists for 49 points in 123 games.

Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov has been a pleasant surprise in Columbus. After being drafted in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL draft, the 6-foot-3 and 215-pound Gavrikov had as many points last season as he had the two seasons before.

Only in his third season, he is slowly becoming the Blue Jackets’ best defenseman. Blessed with a heavy slapshot, he can join the rush as needed and act as a fourth forward.

Also shining on defense, he already has 307 blocked shots in only three seasons. Not only is he effective offensively, but he is also more effective on the defensive end. He plays a tight, yet simple and effective game in front of the net.

Gavrikov does not get a lot of penalty minutes, yet he plays the game aggressively.

He is certainly making a name for himself, not only in Columbus but the entire NHL.  At 26 years old, he has many years left in the league and is slowly rising up the charts as the best two-way defenseman.

Gavrikov could make serious strides this season and become the most important player for the Blue Jackets. He has already taken strides to be a good player but can he take even more steps to be a top defenseman in the league? He certainly has the pedigree to do so.

As the second-highest scoring defenseman on the team, he could challenge Zach Werenski for that title this season if he gets more power play time.

With Columbus, he has 12 goals and 51 assists for 63 points and 100 penalty minutes in 204 games. The sky is the limit, and he has untapped potential. Keep an eye on him this season.

Adam Boqvist, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks, has grown into a good defenseman.

When he came into the league, he was a stay-at-home defenseman who played a gritty game, cleared the front of the net, and cleared the puck out of the zone. He still has those qualities but he has added some offense as well.

With the Blue Jackets not known for offensive defensemen, Boqvist has them convinced he can do both equally well. Still only 21 years old, he has time to fully grow his game and be the top pairing defenseman everyone thought he would grow to be.

Boqvist is not a big defenseman, but he uses his speed and vision to create opportunities.

With Columbus, Boqvist has played in 128 games, scoring 17 goals and 34 assists for 51 points. In this past season, he posted a career-high 22 points on 11 goals and 11 assists in 52 games. With the additions of Gaudreau and Gudbranson, those point totals could increase to new career highs.

He will be counted on to be one of the Blue Jackets’ point producers from the back end and he could very well lead the blueliners in points this upcoming season.

Although not used to his full potential in Chicago, Boqvist is showing that he can be a useable part of a rebuilding, but soaring, team.

He is not going to be a Norris Trophy candidate but he does the little things that make him and the team successful. That is what makes him an attractive piece to a team on the upswing.