NHL Training Camp Preview: Columbus Rejuvenated, Stars Remain Stagnate

NHL Training Camp Previews roll on. The National Hockey League will begin its 106^th season in early October. There are a number of clubs looking to unseat the Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche. While other teams are preparing to make a run at getting the best odds to select the presumptive first overall pick, Connor Bedard.

With the NHL salary cap going up only $1 million, many clubs had to make difficult roster decisions. Nearly half the league is currently over the $82.5 million limit. Those teams will be using the long-term injured reserve to get under the cap ceiling. While the budget clubs will use their cap space to add draft capital.

In this edition of our NHL Training Camp previews, we look at a club that made the most surprising free acquisition of the summer and a Western Conference squad that squeaked into the postseason.

NHL Training Camp Preview

Columbus Blue Jackets (37-38-7 – 6th place in the Metropolitan Division)

Who’s Out – Oliver Bjorkstrand

Who’s In – Johnny Gaudreau, Erik Gudbranson

The Blue Jackets had a year of transition following the trade of defenseman Seth Jones to Chicago and the swap of Cam Atkinson to Philadelphia for Jakub Voracek. Columbus was a middle-of-the-pack offensive club. They finished near the bottom in goals allowed. Columbus went from the defensive-minded John Tortorella to first-time bench boss Brad Larsen.

GM Jarmo Kekalainen surprised many as the winner of the Gaudreau sweepstakes. Columbus signed the All-Star winger to a seven-year, $68.25 million contract. The Jackets had to jettison Bjorkstrand to Seattle for cap relief but were successful in getting sniper Patrik Laine locked up for four years while solidifying their blueline by signing veteran Gudbranson for four years.

2022-23 Potential impact prospects

C – Kent Johnson

G – Daniil Tarasov

D – David Jiricek

Johnson had the international trifecta in 2022, playing for Canada at the World Junior, World Championships, and Beijing Olympics. After averaging over a point-per-game at Michigan, the 19-year-old signed a contract with Columbus and played nine NHL games at the end of the season. Tarasov played in Finland and the KHL before shifting to North America full-time last season. Signed to a three-year deal, the Russian netminder could be in the NHL mix as soon as next year. Jiricek was selected sixth overall at the 2022 NHL Draft and played for Czechia at the World Junior and World Championships.

Around Full Press Hockey

NHL: Assessing The Philadelphia Flyers’ Depth At Center And Defense

NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, New York Rangers

NHL: The Most Pressured Men in Maple Leafs Land This Season

NFL: Best Bets For 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year

Full Press Bets: Early 2022 NFL MVP Odds: Bills’ Josh Allen Favored

PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly: Ep 37: NHL Free Agency Recap

Dallas Stars (46-30-6 – 4th place in the Central Division – lost to Calgary in the first round)

Who’s Out – John Klingberg, Alexander Radulov, Vladislav Namestnikov, Andrej Sekera

Who’s In – Mason Marchment, Colin Miller

The Stars chose not to move Klingberg at the deadline and his offence was needed to get Dallas into the postseason. However, the cost of not getting anything in return was huge. The veteran blueliner left via free agency to sign a one-year deal with Anaheim. Marchment’s breakout year with Florida earned him a four-year, $18 million contract. Needing depth on defence with the departing Klingberg and Sekera, the Stars signed proven defenceman, Colin Miller. The most critical off-season work for GM Jim Nill was half completed on Thursday, as goalie Jake Oettinger was signed to a three-year extension. However, 41-goal scorer Jason Robertson remains unsigned.

2022-23 Potential impact prospects

C – Wyatt Johnston

C – Mavrik Bourque

C – Logan Stankoven

Johnston was the Stars top pick in 2021 and exploded after a year off the ice due to the OHL COVID shutdown. Returning to the ice, he scored 124 points for the Windsor Spitfires leading them to the Memorial Cup Final. Bourque had 68 points in just 31 QMJHL games for Shawinigan and impressed in a brief AHL stint. Stankoven also eclipsed the 100-point mark with Kamloops of the WHL and was a key contributor for Canada in their World Junior victory.

That does it for this edition of the NHL Training Camp Previews stay tuned for another edition this weekend.