Blue Jackets’ Youth Producing After 10 Games While Waiting for Depth Scoring to Arrive

The Columbus Blue Jackets were in control of things after 20 minutes of play Tuesday night. They scored more goals (3) than the Philadelphia Flyers had shots (2) in the first period. With a 3-0 lead in hand and the crowd booing the Flyers off the ice, things appeared to be heading for an easy win.

But as has been tradition for the Blue Jackets of late, nothing is ever easy. The Flyers turned up the heat and eventually tied the game with under 10 seconds to go in regulation when Jamie Drysdale drove the net and beat Cam Talbot to make it 3-3.

In season’s past, an ending like that spelled doom for the Blue Jackets. At least so far in 2026-27, they’ve been able to find ways to win to rescue themselves from disasters. Their 4-3 overtime win on Tuesday night showed that.

As we reflect on the Blue Jackets’ first 10 games, their young core has been able to produce enough to cover some major blemishes. It’s one of the major reasons the team sits at 5-5-0.

Young Core Producing

Games past regulation for the Blue Jackets were an adventure last season. While they went 7-2 in shootouts, they went just 5-10 in the 3-on-3 portion of overtime.

The Blue Jackets couldn’t win enough draws. That led to limited puck possession. Teams were able to make a play consistently enough to earn the second point. That lack of finish in extra time was one of the factors that hurt the Blue Jackets in 2025-26.

At least to start out, the Blue Jackets have enjoyed success beyond regulation. Thanks to Kent Johnson‘s second goal of game on Tuesday night when he finished off a 2-on-0 rush with Adam Fantilli, the team improved to 4-0 this season beyond regulation.

Johnson’s two goals and an assist put him on top the Blue Jackets’ leaderboard in points at the 10-game mark. He is a point-per-game player with 10 points including six goals. He scored seven goals all of last season.

Johnson has produced in some key moments this season. He scored the shootout winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored the game-winner in overtime against the New York Rangers. He also helped setup the play in which Fantilli scored the overtime winner against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.

Beyond the goals, Johnson’s playmaking is shining. His assist to Fantilli on the 1-0 goal Tuesday night was just the latest example of his brilliant passing ability. His ability to see the ice and make tough plays has been a gamechanger so far in 2026-27.

The Blue Jackets and Johnson both wanted to get back to him making plays this season after a rough 2025-26 season. He’s been a difference maker. But the impact of the youth goes beyond him.

Fantilli now has three goals in his last four games. He’s second on the Blue Jackets with four goals this season. Now add in Cole Sillinger and Denton Mateychuk each chipping in three goals and you see how youth is being served in Columbus.

The group of Johnson, Fantilli, Sillinger and Mateychuk have accounted for 16 of the Blue Jackets’ 25 goals this season. This young core has generated 64% of the goals at the 10-game mark. Considering the overall state of the offense, it’s not a stretch to say that their early emergence has kept the team afloat as they figure the rest of their game out.

Depth Scoring Missing

As encouraging as the young core has been, it’s equally as discouraging to not see the depth scoring arrive to the level it needs to be. The Blue Jackets’ offense has suffered as a result.

The team’s 2.50 goals per game is the fourth-worst mark in the NHL. Couple that with the Blue Jackets allowing 3.30 goals per game (22nd in NHL) and you get the picture. Too many guys haven’t produced.

Zach Werenski hasn’t scored a goal this season on 29 shots. That’s the farthest into a season in which he hasn’t lit the lamp. But he does have eight assists and remains near the top of the team scoring list. He’s been able to contribute in other ways.

Charlie Coyle is off to another strong start not only playing against the opposition’s best, but adding a goal and seven assists in production. Valeri Nichushkin has a goal and five assists in the early going as he continues to get used to his new team.

But it’s at this point in which we see the depth scoring start to dry up. Here’s a look at that situation.

• Matthew Knies: 2-3-5 in 10 games.
• Sean Monahan: 1-2-3 in 10 games.
• Mathieu Olivier: 2-1-3 in 10 games.
• Dmitri Voronkov: 0-2-2 in 8 games.
• Conor Garland: 0-0-0 in 10 games.

The Blue Jackets’ fourth line which has included Ryan Lomberg, Danton Heinen and Luca Del Bel Belluz among others have yet to find the back of the net this season. There has to be more consistency in this area.

That’s especially true in the cases of Voronkov and Garland. The Blue Jackets’ “second line” continues to be an area in which they’re searching for answers. That line’s been shuffled trying to find a spark. Yet, based on the above numbers, it remains a sore spot.

If the Blue Jackets are going to be competitive and stay in this race, their depth scoring must start to produce. A big question they must consider is what role would unlock Garland and Voronkov? Both have seen time on the fourth line but that isn’t their most ideal role.

The Blue Jackets need to start trending towards a three goals per game average. Being stuck at 2.50 goals per game just isn’t going to get it done in an 84-game season. If they hope to achieve that goal, their depth scoring needs to kick it into high gear sooner rather than later.

Some Quick Takes

• Outside of Johnson, does anyone on the Blue Jackets have more of a team MVP case than Talbot? He’s come up big in the team’s last two games. Both he and Jet Greaves have played five games this season. Talbot has the better early numbers. The team will need both goalies as this season wears on.
• The Blue Jackets have their 5-5-0 record without Ivan Provorov. He’s getting close to a return. Now we know what the team looks like without him. They had trouble finding consistency in their pairs below the top pair. That only solidifies Talbot’s team MVP argument plus the impact of the young core to be at .500 so far.
• Once Provorov returns, that’s nine defensemen. Someone will be the odd-man out. That third pair has openings for those who are most consistent. Let’s see who steps up.
• One trend that must improve? Playing with a lead. The Penguins game. The Flyers game. The Blue Jackets won those games but after blowing a multiple-goal lead in both. Teams are able to turn up the heat and pressure the Blue Jackets. They haven’t responded well to this point. They must find a way to keep the foot on the gas at all times. Head coach Rick Bowness said his team played a bad 40 minutes on Tuesday. Then he said “we’ll respond” indicating a confidence that will get turned around. It better. This aspect could be one of the biggest storylines from a game perspective the rest of this season.