Jackets’ Texier yet to find groove at center
The 22-year old an impact player as winger
Alexandre Texier got another chance to play center for the Blue Jackets Saturday, but Texier's short-term shift to the middle didn't go well in the Jackets' 9-2 road loss to the Florida Panthers.
It was a striking contrast to how he played on the wing Thursday in a 6-0 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Pressed into a center role by rookie Cole Sillinger's testing positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, Texier didn't record a point, played only 12:49 and logged a minus-five plus/minus rating, which was at least as much of a result of the team's poor performance as his own.
“We knew they were pretty good, but we played really bad, and that was embarrassing, all game,” Texier said. “They (kept) going all game long, so it wasn't that fun.”
Winning three of nine faceoffs wasn't much fun, either, but Texier's potential at center cannot be graded on just one game — especially that one.
What's more concerning is that Texier, who was drafted 45th overall in 2017 with the idea that he could become a productive two-way center for the Jackets, has rarely looked comfortable in that role. Last season was his first opportunity, and he struggled. Texier also struggled as a pivot this season.
It took a move to right wing on a line centered by Sean Kuraly to spark an impressive turnaround.
The Blue Jackets would be fine with Texier remaining on the wing if he becomes
a consistent top-six forward, but their rebuild would get a nice boost if he could man the middle with the same level of success.
“I've got a lot of things in my game to get better and to learn, but I'm learning every day from the guys in the locker room," Texier said. "And when we play against the top guys (like) Florida, even though that was a bad game, I still learned from their centermen and you can always learn.”
Blue Jackets prospects expected to play in Winter Olympics
The NHL isn't sending players or staff to the Winter Olympics in Beijing next month, but that doesn't mean the Blue Jackets won't be represented.
Players who aren't under contract with NHL teams remain eligible, which means drafted prospects who haven't signed or whose entry-level contracts haven't begun, can compete — including
Blue Jackets draftees Kent Johnson and Samuel Knazko.
Johnson, 19, was selected fifth overall by Columbus in 2021 and is a sophomore forward for the University of Michigan. Johnson is from Port Moody, British Columbia, and is expected to make Canada's Olympic roster.
Knazko, 19, is a defenseman who was selected in the third round of the 2020 NHL draft. He signed an ELC in June 2021 but will compete in Beijing for Slovakia because that deal doesn't take effect while he plays at the junior level for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.
Other Blue Jackets prospects who might earn Olympic roster spots include defenseman Stanislav Svozil (Czechia, 2021 third round), forward Kirill Marchenko (Olympic Athletes of Russia, 2018 second round) and Dmitry Voronkov (OAR, 2019 fourth round).
NHL to announce revised schedule
According to multiple reports, the NHL will announce a revised schedule Wednesday to account for games postponed by a COVID-19 outbreak that has affected all 32 teams.
The Blue Jackets had seven games postponed, including one against the New York Islanders that was supposed to be played Tuesday at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
The other six postponements were road games against the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens; plus home games against the Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs. bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger