Can Jake Bean make it on an overcrowded blue line?
Another defenseman that may find himself on the outside looking in is Jake Bean. The 25-year-old is entering his 3rd season in Union Blue, and it’s possible he never plays another game for the CBJ.
Jake Bean was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 23rd, 2021. The Hurricanes sent Bean to the Blue Jackets in exchange for a second-round-pick in the 2021 NHL draft. A week later, he was signed to a three-year $7 million contract extension.
Bean played in 67 games in that first season with the Jackets. He scored 7 goals and had 25 points. Last season saw him injure his shoulder, requiring surgery that cost him the rest of the year. He played in 14 games and had 6 points.
Bean is an excellent skater and can move the puck up ice well. He is more of an offensive defenseman, but he’s not one dimensional. He usually works hard every shift and has natural talent. He weighs in at 176 pounds and stands 6-foot-1. His critics will say he needs to get stronger and that’s not necessarily wrong. With that lack of strength comes times where he’s not assertive, and he could improve on that some.
Jake Bean has been known to play both LD and RD, and that could help his cause for not being the odd man out. Currently the Jackets have Ivan Provorov, Zach Werenski and Tim Berni on the active roster. With guys like Denton Mateychuk, Stanislav Svozil, Ole Bjorgvik Holm, and Samuel Knazko waiting for their turn. Bean being able to play both sides could help when guys go down hurt. When healthy, Jake Bean should be playing ahead of Tim Berni and Nick Blankenburg, who can also play both sides.
Bean has tremendous upside, being the kind all-around defenseman teams want. He’s still young at 25 and has only played in 125 NHL games. And if not for his shoulder injury last season, he probably would’ve beat his best season for production.
Jake Bean has one year left on his deal and is then RFA. So, if GM Jarmo Kekalainen wanted to find a new home for Bean, it shouldn’t be too hard. Teams are always looking for young D-men like him. And with his contract status, a team would be able to trade for him and work out and extension easily, like he did when he was traded to Columbus.
It’s hard to tell what a return would be for Bean. Opposing GMs know that Kekalainen must do something about all the extra defensemen and would probably offer very little for him. Now’s the time where Jarmo must work his magic, by finding a way to keep him or shipping him off.
Just another scenario in what’s going to be a busy off-season for the CBJ front office.