The big questions facing the Blue Jackets ahead of training camp

It's so close you can almost taste it.
The Blue Jackets are less than a week away from the start of (a very short) training camp, with NHL teams like Columbus permitted to hit the ice for the first time Jan. 3.
That's Sunday, for those who don't have a calendar nearby. And with opening faceoff set for Jan. 14 in Nashville, we're just 16 days away from live CBJ game action.
So what do the Blue Jackets have to figure out in a short time when camp begins over the weekend?

We're glad you asked. Here's the biggest camp questions facing a Blue Jackets team that hopes to continue a four-year postseason streak this year in the newly reconfigured Central Division.

Is this the final roster?

In this weirdest of years, this remains a question as the team gets ready to get things going. Restricted free agent Pierre-Luc Dubois is still yet to re-sign with the club, though neither side has registered any alarm bells and both hope to have pen to paper in the near future. Outside of the current roster, the market has started to move since the return to play announcement, and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has talked about keeping an eye on rosters that have to be salary camp compliant by the opening of the season. A couple of teams still have some work to do to get there, and Kekalainen wants to be someone who can 'help' a team in a cap crunch if a deal can be worked out. Of course, he's far from the only GM in the league who would be willing to do so, so it will be easier said than done. Plus, a handful of free agents remain on the market that can help with depth. Does Columbus have another move up its sleeve?

Who earns the top line wing spot?

Coming into the season, the Blue Jackets seem to have Dubois penciled in as the No. 1 center, likely with Oliver Bjorkstrand to his right. That's a pretty good young duo there, as Dubois brings plenty of skill and puck possession to the line, while Bjorkstrand is maturing into one of the game's top snipers and was on a 35-goal pace in an 82-game season a year ago. The two were dominant when skating together at times a year ago, and they should just keep getting better. But a question remains about who plays on the left side of that line. Nick Foligno did at times a year ago, but the leader in the clubhouse appears to be 21-year-old Alexandre Texier, who stepped up his game in the Toronto playoff bubble and has the skill and competitiveness to complete that trio. He's also played in just 38 NHL games, with a 7-7-14 line. If he's up to the task, it helps the rest of the lineup come together. Other possibilities include Mikhail Grigorenko, Emil Bemstrom and … Liam Foudy perhaps?

How does Grigorenko look?

Coming into camp, he seems like the Blue Jackets' international man of mystery, as the 26-year-old hasn't been seen on NHL ice since compiling a 10-13-23 line in 75 games with Colorado in 2016-17. The No. 12 overall pick in the 2012 draft was signed as low-risk, high-reward option by the Blue Jackets after his game came together in his native Russia, as Grigorenko notched 36 goals and 93 points over 102 games the past two KHL seasons with CSKA Moscow and earned an Olympic gold medal. He's eager to see if that offensive game translates back to the NHL, and if it does, Grigorneko could be a key contributor in the top six, or he could play lower in the lineup and add power-play help. Or he might just be the guy that averaged an 8-16-24 line per 82 games in five NHL seasons from 2013-17. However it shakes out, Grigorenko might be the most interesting man on the roster as camp begins.

Who makes up the bottom of the forward lineup?

If the first line reads Texier-Dubois-Bjorkstrand, the second seems like it will have new acquisition Max Domi centering veterans Cam Atkinson and Nick Foligno while Gus Nyquist rehabs from shoulder surgery. Mikko Koivu appears ticketed to fill a checking line role with Boone Jenner on his left, but then what? There are plenty of options for Columbus to fill out the last four forward spots, with names ranging from Grigorenko to veterans Riley Nash and Nathan Gerbe to youngsters Bemstrom, Foudy, Eric Robinson, Kevin Stenlund, Kole Sherwood and Trey Fix-Wolansky. Add in Ryan MacInnis and Stefan Matteau, who each contributed a year ago, and that's 11 names -- 10 who played for the CBJ a year ago -- for four spots. Nash should be a fourth-line staple while Bemstrom and Robinson became regular lineup pieces a year ago, but where highly touted Bemstrom fits will be up to his play. Foudy also pounded down the door last playoffs and seems ready to contribute. There's different players for different roles, and it feels like many of those names also will stick with the CBJ taxi squad and be counted on at times throughout the year as well.

Have Bemstrom and Texier taken a step?

We've sort of discussed these two already, but the talented youngsters are tremendously important players for the Blue Jackets this upcoming season. Both are just 21, but Kekalainen has talked about how a CBJ team that finished near the bottom of the NHL a year ago in goals should expect to see some production improvement from within. Texier and Bemstrom fit the bill as skilled offensive players who should contribute more on the score sheet as they gain experience; at age 20 a year ago, the two combined for 16 goals while each battling injuries. Now both know what the grind of an NHL season is like and what it's like to compete on a game-in, game-out basis. If they can become somewhat dependable scorers, things start to come together in the goal-scoring department for Columbus.

Will there be any surprises defensively?

To be honest, it seems like the Blue Jackets have a pretty good idea what their three defensive pairs will be to start the season. Of course, it begins with Seth Jones and Zach Werenski at the top of the depth chart, with the shutdown pair of Vladislav Gavrikov and David Savard next. Dean Kukan has played himself from an extra skater into a third-pair role over the past two seasons, while young Andrew Peeke looked ready to be a regular a year ago. Those names will be pushed by Scott Harrington, Adam Clendening, Gabriel Carlsson and Gavin Bayreuther, and any of those veteran blueliners could claim a lineup spot should their game be in order. That doesn't even include Michael Del Zotto, a veteran of 657 NHL games who signed a pro tryout with the team and will report to camp. Even after trades of Markus Nutivaara and Ryan Murray, there's no shortage of blueliners who could see time.

What happens in net?

Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins each had a breakout 2019-20 season in his own way, and given the sprint that will be this upcoming season, it seems likely both will get plenty of action this year. But whoever looks best in the short camp might get more run early, and might have the inside track once things come to a point where one goalie has to step to the fore late in the season. Expect this to be a tandem this year, though, as both have earned the chance to get time.