Every season when training camp comes around, there’s usually a major focus on the players who may make a surprising impact and jump into the opening night roster. For that to happen, however, someone needs to be beaten for a roster spot. While there are many that are almost certainly safe, the further down the lineup you look, the less secure a player’s spot is. There are also quite a few looking to fight for a role such as Nick Blankenburg, Kirill Marchenko, and even 2022 sixth overall pick David Jiricek. Let’s take a look at a few of the players who may have difficulty keeping a roster spot following this season’s training camp.
Gavin Bayreuther
Fringe defenseman Gavin Bayreuther became an unlikely fan favorite last season following his departure from the Blue Jackets during the Seattle Expansion Draft and subsequent return to Columbus just a few weeks later. The 28-year-old had a major increase in his playing time last season, as he had spent a majority of his previous seasons bouncing between the NHL and American Hockey League since his debut with the Dallas Stars during the 2018-19 season.
Over the course of the 2021-22 season, Bayreuther saw his ice time fluctuate regularly. There were times he would be a healthy scratch for weeks at a time, especially early in the season. Toward the end of the season, however, he was in the lineup fairly regularly. The Blue Jackets currently have eight defensemen who were on the roster to end the season and added free agent Erik Gudbranson in the offseason. Factor in a few others who are pushing for a spot and Bayreuther is going to have a difficult month ahead of him. If he’s the eighth defenseman by the end of camp, it’s likely he’ll get the Scott Harrington treatment and spend the remainder of his contract with the Cleveland Monsters if he clears waivers.
Mathieu Olivier
Mathieu Olivier was acquired in the offseason from the Nashville Predators and many saw him as a safe bet for the opening night roster to add a bit of grit to the lineup. He has never been an NHL regular to this point in his career and with the aforementioned acquisition of Gudbranson adding some of the same qualities, there’s really no reason for Brad Larsen to have Olivier playing regularly.
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Olivier will certainly get some playing time during the season, especially in games against divisional rivals…
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