Are you brave enough to try your hand at predicting lines?

Yesterday, Jeff Svoboda, the team reporter for the Blue Jackets put out a lineup prediction on what it might look like in October, and it’s not an easy task. With so many young guys chomping at the bit to play, its nearly impossible to predict.

With the offense, it really is a fluid situation, and we could wind up with many different combinations, but the defense is where most think it’s going to be the most interesting. There are a few guys that will start from day 1, and a few that will be on the fringe.

In Svoboda’s mock line-up he had Werenski, Severson, Provorov and Gudbranson, four guys that will always be in the line-up unless something bad happens. Then he had Adam Boqvist and Jake Bean, and this is what sent a small number of CBJ fans into a frenzy.

So where is Andrew Peeke, Nick Blankenburg and David Jiricek? These three fan favorites could very well be in the line-up for an extended period at some point, but honestly, I don't think it's happening on opening night. GM Jarmo Kekalainen has said many times publicly in interviews, that with the additions of Provorov and Severson, there is no need to rush David Jiricek to the NHL. So, if I’m reading the not-so-subtle hints from Jarmo, expect to see David Jiricek in the AHL to start the season. And this is not a bad thing. He tore the AHL up last season, so let the 19-year-old continue to do that at the beginning of the season in my opinion.

Andrew Peeke has some value and that’s why I think people are leaving him off. With the glut of right-shot d-men that the CBJ have, Severson, Boqvist, Gudbranson, Marcus Bjork, and then Peeke and Blankenburg as Svoboda points out, there are only so many guys you can play in a game. If the Jackets see Adam Boqvist as having a higher upside and can contribute more long term to the CBJ’s future, Peeke would most likely be traded. Even Jake Bean, who is still really young could beat out Peeke for the spot. Bean can play both sides and adds value to the blue line in that way. Peeke will most likely be the odd man out.

And now we get to Nick Blankenburg, the diminutive defenseman that everyone loves. Fans love him and for good reason. The 5-foot-9 177-pound d-man plays hard every shift, blocks shots and throws hits, but should he? In 22-23 he only played in 36 games for the Jackets. He missed a lot of games due to injury, and if anything holds him back, this will be the issue. Last season saw him come back from a knee injury that happened at the World Championships in May of 2022. During the 22-23 season, he suffered an upper-body injury early, a broken ankle, a lower-body injury, an upper-body injury, and then another lower-body injury in March of '23. Nick Blankenburg himself said that he “needs to start putting himself in better positions to avoid these types of things”. A player can have all the heart and talent in the world, but they’re no good to the team if they’re unavailable to play due to injuries. And again, based on the moves that the CBJ made to solidify the blue line, I think Blankenburg gets squeezed out of the mix, most likely playing the bulk of his time in Cleveland. The only thing that gives me hesitation on this prediction is Mike Babcock. Is this the type of player Babcock wants to see playing on a regular basis?

There are some fans, me included that love Jeff’s prediction for the defense. Even though Zach Werenski is the leader of this defense and highest scorer, I really want to see Adam Boqvist running the top power play. His vision is elite, his shot is elite and if he’s on the ice with Gaudreau, Laine and Marchenko, Boqvist could have a massive year. Even if he’s not on the top power play unit I can see him having a big year. He must avoid those silly injuries to make this happen though. And that is why I feel Jarmo and Co. want to keep Boqvist and Bean. They both are still so young, especially for defensemen and their upside is through the roof of Nationwide Arena. But both have been plagued by injuries.

Predictions will continue to be put out until the season starts, and they will continue to be scrutinized, but that’s what makes the off-season so fun. If you’re brave enough to create one and put it out there for people see, go ahead, have some fun with it. Much respect to Jeff Svoboda for putting his out there.