In any sport, "what have you done for me lately" is standard practice.
Although Columbus Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner has a 30-goal season on his resume, it doesn't mean that he can coast.
Jenner's 2017-18 campaign has mostly been a disappointment. In 63 games, he's scored eight goals and pitched in 16 assists for a total of 24 points. This won't be his worst season, but it isn't going to be his best, either.
It was trending in the direction of a poor season before the Blue Jackets adjusted their lines after the trade deadline. Why would that matter?
Adding depth and shuffling the lineup completely re-focused Jenner's role and put him into a spot that best utilized his assets as a player. It's a small sample, but one to monitor as the Blue Jackets close out the regular season.
Since the trade deadline (Feb. 26), Jenner has played eight games and delivered two goals and three assists. He isn't setting the world on fire, but the offense is coming at a much better pace than it was previously. What may be helping Jenner is a simple solution and a usage difference that works better with his skill set.
For a large portion of the season (50-plus games worth of sample), Jenner was starting almost 60% of his shifts in the defensive zone. That has now shifted to a near 50/50 split and he's now with line mates like Alexander Wennberg and Thomas Vanek...not a bad adjustment.
The belief has always been that Jenner is a defensive stopper, but none of the numbers bare that out. He starts in the defensive zone and allows a lot of shots. His scoring chance rates are a tiny bit better than his regular shot rates, but still not enough evidence to show that he should be relied upon to suppress.
Using him as an offensive weapon in a bottom-six role allows him necessary freedom. He isn't eating up big minutes in such a role, and has a greater chance to shine as a net-front presence. Jenner has gone from 16 minutes a night before the trade deadline to 14 minutes after the trade deadline – far more reasonable, and in the decreased ice time, he has excelled.
Jenner may not be the 30-goal scorer that he was pegged to be, but he can still contribute if deployed properly. With only a few additions at the deadline, the Blue Jackets have been able to slot players into more sensible spots and it's balanced their lineup, and Jenner may have benefited the most of anyone.
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