Columbus Blue Jackets 2023-24 Award Winners

Columbus Blue Jackets 2023-24 Award Winners

This was a difficult season for both the team and the fans. From pre-season drama to in-season drama, there was never a shortage of things to talk about when it came to the Columbus Blue Jackets. But the games still had to be played, so let's take a look at how they did. 

Who are your 2023-24 season award winners? 

ART ROSS(most points): Johnny Gaudreau - 60 - Gaudreau led the team with 60 points this season. It was a down year for Gaudreau, but had he not had 154 different linemates this season, his numbers may have been higher. 

ROCKET RICHARD(most goals): Kirill Marchenko - 23- He beat Boone Jenner by one goal. Jenner however played 20 fewer games than Marchenko. Had Marchenko not had an almost 30-game goal drought, he probably would've hit 30 this season. He now has back-to-back 20-goal seasons to start his career. He also had a few highlight reel goals, including a between the legs goal, and one he banked off of the goalies face and in. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6aoD6nryVU[/embed]

HART: Zach Werenski(MVP) - In my opinion, this one wasn't even close. Werenski set a few different records this season. Most assists in a season by a defenseman(46), most points in a season by a defenseman(tied-57), most assists by a defenseman in a career, most assists by a defenseman in a game(4), and tied a few others he had already set. He was third on the team with 130 blocks and had 12 power-play points. He also finished the year with a +- of 0, which on a team that was a combined -63, is pretty good. Had he not missed 12 games due to injury, he most likely would've led the team in points. 

NORRIS: Zach Werenski(best defenseman) - No other defenseman even came close to what Werenski did this season. See notes above. 

VEZINA: Daniil Tarasov(best goalie) - Elvis Merzlikins held onto this award until the surge that Tarasov put on at the end of the season. Although the team couldn't find many wins to back up his stellar play, Tarasov shined in most games and kept them in them at least. He finished with a record of 8-11-3 with a GAA of 3.18 and a save % of .908, which were both the best on the team. 

SELKE: Boone Jenner(best defensive forward) - It was close between Jenner and Cole Sillinger, but I went with Jenner because he put up the same numbers in fewer games. He and Sillinger both had 119 hits and 74 blocks, but Jenner played in 19 fewer games. Jenner also had 35 points, including 22 goals, which was second on the team.

CALDER(best rookie): Dmitri Voronkov - Voronkov had a stat line of 18-16-34 to end the season. His 18 goals were 5th amongst rookies and his 34 points were 8th. He also had 8 power-play points and two game-winning goals. Adam Fantilli missed the final 33 games due to injury or he would've most likely won this award. 

MASTERTON(dedication): Zach Werenski - Werenski was picked by the local PHWA as the Masterton nominee. He was also given the CBJ Foundations Community MVP Award on the final night of the season. The next day, he was chosen as the club's nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. 

LADY BYNG(sportsmanship): Yegor Chinakhov - Chinakhov had the best year of his young career. Despite only playing in 53 games, he managed to score 16 goals and total 29 points. Chinakhov showed that given the proper ice time, he can punish goalies with his nasty shot. He routinely had the hardest shot of the game from either team on any given night. He also finished the season with only 6 penalty minutes. His PIMs have dropped every season since he came to North America. 

There were still some positives to take from man otherwise down year.

Would your award winners look any different?

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