Last year's emerging defenseman might be watching again tonight.
The 2021-22 season was a breakout year of sorts for Andrew Peeke, who played in all 82 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, something that only one other player, Gus Nyquist achieved.
After a couple of stints with the club in 2019-20 and 2020-21, Peeke enjoyed his best year to date last season.
Not an offensive defenseman by any means, he registered 15 points (two goals, 13 assists), a team-high 169 blocked shots, and 191 hits which were second on the club. He was able to parlay that success into a three-year contract extension ($2.75 million AAV) signed in September.
However, the current campaign isn't going as well as Peeke and head coach Brad Larsen would like. So much so that Larsen made Peeke a healthy scratch for Saturday's win in the New Year's Eve showdown with the Chicago Blackhawks.
"It's never a lack of effort," Larsen said before Saturday's game. "Peeke tries. He tries hard. He competes in practice, blocks shots, he does all those intangibles that you want. It's stuff with the puck and making better decisions that are there that are right in front of him.
"I know there's a better game with him. I watched it last year for a long stretch."
#CBJ lines this morning:
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) January 3, 2023
Nyquist-Roslovic-Bemstrom
Gaudreau-Johnson-Laine
Robinson-Sillinger-Marchenko
Foudy-Kuraly-Olivier
Bjork-Gavrikov
Berni-Gudbranson
Bayreuther-Boqvist
Will get a goalie post-skate
With the state of the blue line, it raises eyebrows just a tad to have Peeke potentially scratched twice in a row.
The Blue Jackets battle the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday from Canadian Tire Centre at 7 pm ET.
Of course, that means players like Gavin Bayreuther—one assist and +1 in 15:52 on Saturday—are getting opportunities as are Tim Berni, the latter of which has played in 12 straight games and averaging 18:24 ice time. Rooke surprise defenseman Marcus Bjork is making good on his ice time as he's second among all rookie blueliners in points per game (0.45, minimum 10 games). He has 10 points (three goals, seven assists).
Nick Blankenburg, out since November with an ankle injury, is also expected back this week, which adds to more lineup decisions for Larsen and when he thinks Peeke should be inserted back into the lineup.
Through 34 games this season, Peeke has five points (three goals, two assists). The three goals are a new career high for the 24-year-old. He's second on the team with 67 blocked shots and third with 72 hits while averaging 20:14 a night.
This season, Peeke has 2.64 xGA/60 while it was 2.69 last season per Natural Stat Trick.
The Blue Jackets will face the Washington Capitals at Nationwide Arena on Thursday and will host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday before making the trip to D.C. for a rematch with the Capitals on Sunday.
Peeke should be in the lineup at some point soon but when and for how long?
