While the Columbus Blue Jackets introduced Artemi Panarin to the media today, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic adds that GM Jarmo Kekalainen remains hopeful that Brandon Dubinsky will be ready for the start of the season. Dubinsky had wrist surgery back in May and was originally given a three month timeline. That date has come and gone, and Dubinsky is still likely to miss most if not all of training camp.
If Dubinsky were to miss the first few weeks of the season, there would be an interesting opportunity in Columbus. Top prospect Pierre-Luc Dubois, who went through an up-and-down season in the QMJHL last year, could see his contract slide one more year if sent back to junior before playing 10 games in the NHL. They could potentially let Dubois start the year and see what they have in him at the highest level, with little risk in wasting a contract year.
There is also Tyler Motte, another piece the Blue Jackets acquired from Chicago. Motte didn’t play center while up with the Blackhawks last season, but does have experience there and could log some minutes in the middle. He’s a completely different player than Dubinsky, but does provide some depth at the position.
If Dubinsky is healthy and ready to go to start the year, the Blue Jackets will have one of the deepest forward groups in the league once again. Even after losing Sam Gagner, Brandon Saad and William Karlsson, the team should be able to roll four effective lines on any given night.