Breakout Candidate: Jet Greaves, G
Several forwards took major steps forward last year, which is why they don’t appear here. I am taking a little bit of a flier here going with Greaves. Elvis Merzlikins is far from set in stone between the pipes. Greaves went 7-2-2 with a 1.91 GAA and a .938 save percentage over 11 games, including winning five straight to close out the regular season with both of his shutouts for the year. That performance provided Columbus enough confidence to deal Daniil Tarasov to Florida. Graves also went 21-11-6 with a 2.62 GAA and a .920 save percentage in 40 games with AHL Cleveland
Buy Low Candidate: Yegor Chinakhov, W
Chinakhov started the 2024-25 season well, lighting the lamp seven times and posting 14 points in his first 21 outings. However, he missed 39 straight games afterward due to a back injury and couldn't find his footing after returning to the lineup in early March. Chinakhov requested a trade this offseason but should open the campaign back with the Blue Jackets. He has the talent to rebound and post a 35-point or more campaign.
Riser: Adam Fantilli, C
Fantilli, the third overall pick in 2023, took a step forward last season. He collected 31 goals and 54 points over 82 games, recovering from a sluggish start by generating 24 tallies and 15 assists in 44 outings to end the regular season. Sean Monahan is the team’s “first-line” center, but Fantilli showed last year when Monahan was sidelined that he can fill that role and will be in that spot before too long.
Faller: Boone Jenner, W
Jenner, the captain and heart and soul of the Blue Jackets, has seen his game played and production drop each of the last two seasons. Columbus would be smart to deploy Jenner on the third line, affording Chinakhov top six minutes. If that does happen, Jenner’s offensive value stays static compared to last year but his value to the team spikes.
All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.