Reviewing how Blue Jackets players fared at world championship in Finland
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Hockey season is officially over for the Blue Jackets.
After the conclusion of the men’s world championships this past weekend with host Finland winning the gold over Canada, all Columbus players and staff can delve into the offseason. It’s going to be another busy summer for the Jackets, who own two high draft picks and have a gaggle of pending free agents to sign, but what happened at worlds is worth a review first.
Here’s a look at how players who played in Columbus this season fared:
Emil Bemstrom, forward, Sweden
This is an interesting offseason for Bemstrom, who turned 23 on Wednesday and has yet to carve out a regular role in Columbus through his first three seasons. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued the young forward, who hoped to showcase his skills while playing for Sweden in the world championships.
Bemstrom began the tournament at right wing on the top line and finished on the same side of Sweden’s second forward group. He finished with one goal, four assists and five points in eight games, helping Sweden advance to the quarterfinal round.
Sweden did not earn a medal after losing in overtime to Canada in the quarterfinals.
Nick Blankenburg, defense, U.S.
After an impressive NHL debut with 1-2-3 in seven games for the Blue Jackets following the conclusion of his collegiate career, the undersized defenseman hoped to keep that momentum going in Finland.
Blankenburg, 24, played the first four games for the U.S., logging time on the third pairing in the first three, before a knee injury in pool play sent him home. The injury isn’t believed to be a threat to his availability for training camp, which is good news considering the opportunity he’ll have waiting to earn a significant role.
Blankenburg didn’t get on the scoresheet in the tournament for the U.S., which lost to Czechia in the bronze medal game.
Kent Johnson, forward, Canada
Johnson had a fascinating season after being selected fifth overall in last year’s NHL draft by the Blue Jackets.
He played his sophomore year for the University of Michigan, made his NHL debut with a nine-game stint to close out the season in Columbus and played for three Canadian national teams — including a bottom-six role in Finland.
Johnson started out at left wing on the third line for Canada, but dropped to the fourth line by the gold medal game. That didn’t stop the skilled playmaker from notching seven points on four goals and three assists, including 3-1-4 at even strength and 1-2-3 on power plays.
In all, Johnson’s output for Hockey Canada was 6-7-13 in 17 games between worlds, the Beijing Winter Olympics and a world juniors tournament cut short by a COVID-19 outbreak. He also tallied 8-29-37 in 32 games for Michigan and 0-3-3 with the Blue Jackets.
Dean Kukan, defense, Switzerland
After playing in just three of the Blue Jackets’ final 12 games, it wasn’t a surprise to see Kukan on the Swiss roster at worlds. Kukan, 28, was a pending free agent (unrestricted) and wasn't in the Jackets’ plans for next season.
It also wasn’t a surprise Kukan announced at worlds that he was headed “home” next season to play in Switzerland's NLA — the country’s top professional circuit. The surprise arrived Wednesday, when the ZSC Lions announced they’d signed the Blue Jackets defenseman to a five-year contract that could keep him in Switzerland for the remainder of his playing career.
Kukan, who played parts of seven seasons with the Blue Jackets, showed why he’s worth a long-term deal for ZSC during the tournament. He finished with 2-4-6 in eight games, helped Switzerland go undefeated in pool play and was named one of the top three Swiss players in the tournament.
Switzerland’s lone defeat was to the U.S. in the quarterfinals.
Elvis Merzlikins, goaltender, Latvia
Following a season filled with personal challenges and on-ice growing pains, Merzlikins was looking forward to playing for his country at worlds for the first time since 2018-19 — the offseason that preceded his arrival in Columbus.
The 28-year old goalie also showed off some flashy new Latvian themed gear prior to the start of pool play that was roundly applauded in social media circles. That, however, was the highlight of the tournament for Merzlikins, who was under siege from the outset in a pool that included Sweden, Finland, the U.S. and Czechia.
Merzlikins started five of Latvia’s seven games, finishing with a bloated 4.26 goals-against average and frigid .862 save percentage. After losing close friend Matiss Kivlenieks last summer in a fireworks incident — a fellow Blue Jackets netminder from Latvia — Merzlikins had a tough task this past season.
He also became a father for the first time and purchased a home in the Columbus area with his wife, Aleksandra.
Merzlikins probably needs this summer to reset himself more than any player on the Blue Jackets’ roster.
Andrew Peeke, defense, U.S.
A year ago, Peeke was basically an afterthought in the minds of most Blue Jackets fans. Former coach John Tortorella expressed concerns that Peeke was off course in his development and might not make it in the NHL as a lineup regular. Peeke was also going into free agency for the first time and didn’t have the kind of offer he'd hoped to get from the Jackets.
Fast forward to the present and Peeke had one of the biggest breakthrough seasons on the team. He logged time on all three defense pairings, stepped up his physical presence and played extensively as Zach Werenski’s partner on the top pairing.
Peeke could’ve called it a season and headed to the golf course in May, but instead he agreed to play for the U.S. in Finland. Just as he did in Columbus, Peeke became an integral defensive presence for the national team after injuries to Caleb Jones, Jon Merrill and Blankenburg left the U.S. with just five healthy defenders.
Peeke played on the second pairing and soaked up a lot of key minutes. He also chipped in a scoring line of 0-6-6 in 10 games and helped the U.S. advance to the medal rounds before losing to Czechia in the bronze medal game.
All in all, it was another impressive showing for a defenseman the Jackets will count on again next season.
Cole Sillinger, center, Canada
Sillinger is another one who could’ve called it a season in late April.
The league’s youngest player had an outstanding rookie campaign, playing 79 games and finishing with an impressive 16-15-31 scoring line.
The 12th overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft also played center the entire season, getting experience in the middle of all four forward lines and finishing the season as the Jackets’ second pivot. Choosing to play for Canada was no surprise after Sillinger missed out on chances to wear his country’s colors at the 2021 under-18 worlds (COVID infection) and the 2022 world juniors (continued NHL service).
The Canadian roster was filled with experienced centers, so Sillinger settled into a role at left wing on the second line during the tournament. He finished with three points, all goals, and nearly helped Canada win its second straight gold medal.
Taking home silver wasn’t a bad way to end a memorable season for a teenager who turned 19 on May 16, the same day he helped Canada defeat Czechia 5-1 in pool play with his second goal.
Alexandre Texier, center, France
How Texier did in the world championships pales in comparison to the fact he played at all.
After missing the second half of the Jackets' season with a broken finger and personal losses within his inner circle in France, it was unknown when the young forward would get back into a game. He spent most of the final 41 games in France and there wasn’t a timetable for his return.
Rather than complaining about his extended absence, the Blue Jackets gave Texier an “indefinite” span to grieve his losses and welcomed the news he was prepared to play for France.
Despite his team being outmanned in the majority of matchups, Texier netted three goals, two assists and five points in seven games before France was eliminated.
Similar to his breakout season in Columbus prior to the finger injury, Texier started out at center and had more success after a move to the wing against Kazakhstan in the second game.
Getting him back into the Blue Jackets’ lineup is the next step.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets impacted IIHF world championships
