Dmitri Voronkov continues to make franchise history.
As the Columbus Blue Jackets continue to rack up losses in a recent stretch that includes one win in the last 10 games, Vornokov continues to pile up points.
In Saturday's 5-4 loss against the Detroit Red Wings, Voronkov had a secondary assist, — Kirill Marchenko had the primary helper — when hooking up with fellow rookie Adam Fantilli for the first-period goal to make it 2-2. Voronkov once again connected with Fantilli on Sunday in the 4-3 shootout loss to the New York Rangers, when the goal tied the game at 2-2 in the second period.
Voronkov's weekend assists give him five for the season to go with seven points (also two goals), and he's making a bit of franchise history as the games go on.
Looks like they've added a Voronkov assist to Fantilli's goal, giving the big Russian seven points in his first nine NHL games.
— Dylan Tyrer (@DylanTyrer) November 13, 2023
That ties Jake Voracek for the second most points by a #CBJ player in the first nine games of their career. Zach Werenski leads with 10, per @Stathead.
Mos third goal of the season assisted by Marchenko and Voronkov! #CBJ pic.twitter.com/Idg9tmhKzn
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) November 11, 2023
Voronkov is on a three-game point streak (three assists) and is one of the few players who has everything going well right now as the Blue Jackets fight through a 1-5-4 stretch.
"There's nothing not to like," Davidson said on 97.1 FM's Rothman & Ice last week (full interview here). "The only thing he does not have is real NHL experience but he's more of an NHL player coming from another country than most players are. He's big. He's got a real good sense. He can make in-tight plays down low, whether it's behind the goal line or around the goal, he has no fear going to the net. He sticks up for teammates as we saw in Washington. There's nothing to not like."
Voronkov's start to his NHL career is a small sample size but it brought to mind some other fun and statistical oddities in each of the last few seasons for the Blue Jackets.
In 2021-22, Jake Voracek had 62 points (nine goals, 56 assists) leading the team in assists, and finished with the second most assists in a single season for the Blue Jackets. His point-totals put him in rarified air with Wayne Gretzky, as "the Great One" was the last forward to post a 60-point season with fewer than 10 goals.
Voracek is one of 17 players, and only three forwards, to post such as season according to StatHead.
#CBJ F Jake Voracek finished the season with 6-56-62, the Blue Jackets leading point-getter.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) April 30, 2022
The last NHL forward to have more than 60 points, but fewer than 10 goals?
None other than Wayne Gretzky, who had 9-53-62 for the New York Rangers in 1998-99, his final season.
Last season, Kirill Marchenko had 25 points (21 goals, four assists) in 59 games. He broke the rookie goal-scoring record for Columbus, held by Pierre-Luc Dubois, who scored 20 goals in 2017-18.
The statistical oddity of course was Marcenko's four assists. Marchenko is one of 12 players to score at least 20 goals and have four assists or fewer.
Per Hockey Reference, No #CBJ player in team history has ever had at least 15 goals and less than 10 assists in a season.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 19, 2023
Kirill Marchenko now is 18-2. Incredible Cy Young numbers.
Marchenko is the first #NHL player since John McKinnon of the old Pittsburgh Pirates in 1926-27 to start his career w 13 goals and no assists.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) January 28, 2023
The only player to begin his career w more goals before tallying an assist is Joe Malone, who had 16-0-16 for Montreal in 1917-18.
2/2
Throughout his first nine games, Voronkov has played 82:55 among the Blue Jackets and among players with at least 80 minutes of ice time, he's first in GF/60 (4.34), second in GA/60 (2.17), first in xGF/60 (3.26), and fourth in xGA/60 (2.78) per Natural Stat Trick.
As mentioned, it's a small sample but Voronkov is doing as advertised to begin his NHL career. Voronkov and the Blue Jackets resume play on Tuesday, Nov. 14 when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins.
