Columbus Blue Jackets Mid-Season Award Winners
It's no secret that the 2023-24 edition of the Blue Jackets has been a disappointment, to say the least. From pre-season drama to in-season injuries to on-ice meltdowns, if you're an agent of chaos, this season is for you. But, they still have to play the games. And for those of us who watch every second of every game, it's still fun, even with the above-mentioned causes of heartburn.
So who are your 2023-24 mid-season award winners? Let's take a look.
ART ROSS: Johnny Gaudreau - 32 - Gaudreau has 32 points this season. It's obviously a down year for him, no need to beat a dead horse, but since November 18th he has 26 points.
ROCKET RICHARD: Kirill Marchenko - 15 - Marchenko didn't have a goal until Nov. 2nd. And before that, he had been a healthy scratch for two straight games. He came back from that and immediately scored, and currently has 15 on the season.
HART: Zach Werenski - Werenski has been, when healthy, the most consistent points producer on the team. His 27 assists are tops on the team. He's averaging .73 ppg this season as well. He has missed 12 games due to injury, however, and when he's been out, there is a noticeable difference in the look and feel of his blueline. Since his return four games ago, he has 3 assists, is a +4, and is averaging right around 26 minutes a game of TOI. This team needs Zach Werenski.
NORRIS: Zach Werenski - For all of the reasons above, Werenski is your Norris winner. He also has taken steps in the leadership department as well. He is the first to call out the mistakes of his team on a particular night, is always honest, and is becoming the most vocal leader on this team.
VEZINA: Elvis Merzlikins - 9-10-7 .903% - Merzlikins promised he would be back to form this year and he has been. Although his record doesn't reflect it, he has been lightyears better than his previous two years. The play in front of him has let him down this year, but he has kept them in games when they easily could've been blown out. There is a bit of uncertainty surrounding him lately about him wanting to stay in Columbus or not. Regardless, he is the best goalie on this team and there's no debating that. Merzlikins just recorded his 10th career shutout as well.
SELKE: Cole Sillinger - Sillinger is a +1, and is leading the forwards in blocked shots with 48. He doesn't give the puck away very often and is having a comeback year. After only having 11 points last season in 64 games, he has 19 this season through 50.
CALDER: Adam Fantilli - Fantilli has been fun to watch, and has been as advertised. The 3rd overall pick currently sits 4th among rookies with 27 points, just 5 behind the injured Connor Bedard. He's tied for 4th on the team with Dmitri Voronkov in goals (12) and is 4th in assists with 15. Overall he's third on the Jackets in points. It was a tight race between Fantilli and Voronkov, and many people would choose Voronkov for Calder of the CBJ. It was a tough decision. This was based on mid-season stats and play, but now with him needing to miss the next 8 weeks due to injury, it will likely be Voronkov at the end of the season.
MASTERTON: Alexandre Texier - Ahead of the 2022-23 season, Texier announced he would not be returning to America due to personal reasons. We later learned that Texier had lost two members of his family in quick succession and he simply needed to be with his family. He stayed in Europe and played close to home so he could be with his family. He returned to the Blue Jackets this season, and his fans were extremely happy about it. He has 8 goals for 16 points, and just recently had back-to-back games with shorthanded goals. It's been an up-and-down year for Texier, but he is the clear winner of this award.
LADY BYNG: Yegor Chinakhov - Chinakhov is having the best year of his young career. His 14 goals are double what he had in his rookie year. His shooting % this season is at 17.%, which is more than double his career average. He also only has 6 PIM this season and is averaging .15 PIM per game. This was a close one between him and Johhny Gaudreau, but in 39 games this season, Chinakhov has been outstanding.
There are still some positives to take during a challenging season. Many will say it's all about wins and losses, but sometimes it's about growth as well. Players like Yegor Chinakhov, Kirill Marchenko, Adam Fantilli, Dmitri Voronkov, and Zach Werenski are not only fun to watch but are also fun to watch get better.
More From THN Columbus
Join Jason Newland's Columbus Blue Jacket page on Bunches, a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can watch a new YouTube game show about the Blue Jackets, Around the Fifth Line.