At the start of the season, a few Columbus Blue Jackets were in need of a good season.
And while some haven't quite lived up to their expectations, others have flourished and proving they have the ability to be an integral piece of the franchise for years to come.
Here's a look at three Columbus Blue Jackets who have exceeded expectations in year one of the rebuild-retool:
#3: Andrew Peeke
Peeke had just 33 NHL games under his belt entering this season, but has already surpassed that with 47 games thus far this season. The numbers aren't lofty — one goal and nine assists — but that's okay for the type of player that Peeke is showing he can be: a rugged, stay-at-home defenseman.
Peeke's newest spot — with Zach Werenski on the top pairing — has an expected goals against of 2.92. Of Columbus' six different defensive pairings with 100+ minutes together this season, Peeke and Werenski rank second, behind only Werenski and Adam Boqvist's 2.51.
He's used his 6'3", nearly 200lb frame to his benefit this season, showing a tough side of him that didn't seem to be a part of his game in limited action with the Blue Jackets the last two seasons. He's second on the team in hits (113) behind Sean Kuraly (128), and is well ahead of the third-ranked Vladislav Gavrikov (75). He's also blocking shots at a strong clip — his 88 leads the team, against well ahead of Gavrikov, who is second at 69.
A look at Peeke's time on ice shows that the coaching staff's trust in Peeke has increased as the season has went on:
- First 12 Games (1-12): 16:35
- Next 12 Games (13-24: 19:20
- Next 12 Games (25-36): 19:37
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Last 11 games (37-47): 24:36
That's an impressive leap. At 24:36 for the season, Peeke would rank 17th in the NHL for average time on ice per game. There's still a lot to learn for the youngster — especially when he's routinely going up against opposing teams' top lines — but Peeke has proven that he's a long-term defenseman in the NHL, and not just a fringe, third pairing fill-in.
#2: Patrik Laine
Since returning from an oblique injury after the extended holiday break, Laine has been a point-a-game player. He's played in 19 games, has ten goals, and has added eight assists. That's roughly a quarter of the season that would extrapolate to a 43 goal, 35 assist, 78 point season — not bad, and remember, he's still only 23 and just one month older than the defenseman above him on this list.
For those thinking that's a decline from his days in Winnipeg, think again. Here's Laine's 82-game average, season-by-season:
| Season | Goals | Assists | Points |
| 2016-17 | 40 | 31 | 71 |
| 2017-18 | 44 | 26 | 70 |
| 2018-19 | 30 | 20 | 50 |
| 2019-20 | 34 | 42 | 76 |
| 2020-21 | 21 | 21 | 42 |
| 2021-22 | 43 | 35 | 78 |
| Career | 35 | 29 | 64 |
Over six seasons, this season would be on pace to be his second-best in goals, second-best in assists, and best, period, in points. Laine is often criticized for being a one-dimensional player, but he's more than that. The 6'5", 210lb+ build makes it seem like he's slow, or that he gets beat to the puck, but those "issues" are overblown by folks who are looking for something to criticize. Yes, his defensive game leaves something to be desired, but that's the case with a number of forwards who are picking up points in most games.
#1: Alexandre Texier
The numbers aren't eyepopping, but Texier was a nearly-unanimous pick in our preseason roundtable to be the biggest disappointment — and that opinion was not limited to that discussion.
But Texier has flourished this season, scoring 11 goals in 36 games before a hand injury sidelined him last month. That was equal to the number of goals he scored in the first 87 games of his NHL career. He was on pace for 45 points this season, despite averaging less than 15 minutes on ice per game. His 2.28 points per 60 minutes trails only Laine (3.31), Jakub Voracek (2.55), and Max Domi (2.54, but dropping quick).
He's silky smooth, too. Check out this short-handed goal from November:
That's crafty stickwork, and the player he maneuvered around for the goal? Golden Knights captain Mark Stone, one of the best two-way defensemen in the league over the last number of years.
The Columbus organization has finally seen what they'd been waiting to see from Texier, and has shown that he deserved to be a part of the rebuild. The 22-year-old is due back soon from the hand injury — likely around the end of February — and will have nearly two full months to pick up where he left off. If he can, Texier could solidify a spot as a top-six forward over the next one to two seasons.
