Depth at Left Wing

[Declan]

This is part of a series of articles that looks at each position of the Blue Jackets in depth. Go back to the main Blue Jackets forum for more articles & discussion on the Blue Jackets.

When Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson swings his next trade -- ideally, for him, before the end of training camp -- it will likely involve a left winger. The Jackets have too many wingers, especially those who are comfortable playing on the left side.

Kristian Huselius, R.J. Umberger and Raffi Torres are the sure-fire left wingers on the top three lines, but the wild-card of the group is the massively talented Nikita Filatov. He would seem out of place on anything below the No. 2 line, so he might switched to the right side to get his minutes. We shall see.

Overall, it's a very good group. Huselius is a wondrous playmaker, Umberger has emerged has the conscience of the club and Torres -- injured most of last season -- has yet to show the Blue Jackets the entirety of his game.

You'll notice Rick Nash is missing from this list. So is Fredrik Modin. WIth the glut of wingers, those two are most likely to play on the right side -- Nash on the top line, Modin on the third line. They'll be included in the "Depth Perception: Right Wing" file later this week.

Here's how The Dispatch sees the Blue Jackets' depth chart at left wing:

1. Kristian Huselius
2. R.J. Umberger
3. Raffi Torres
4. Nikita Filatov
5. Jason Chimera
6. Alexandre Picard
7. Tom Sestito
8. Pascal Pelletier

A thumbnail look at each of them:

KRISTIAN HUSELIUS

Huselius, 30, is a sublime puck-handler and passer, a perfect bookend to the powerful Nash on the Jackets' No. 1 line. He can score more than Blue Jackets fans realize, too. He had 34 goals in 2006-07 with Calgary, and might have approached 30 last season if he weren't snake-bitten. He finished with 21 goals, but hit more pipes than a crack addict.

One gets the sense that Huselius will produce more goals and points in 2009-10. For one, he'll stay on the left side permanently, after realizing last season -- once and for all -- that he doesn't like the right side. Nash doesn't mind it so much, so that's his spot.

With Huselius on the left side and Brassard at center, the No. 1 line should give opponents lots to worry about.

Contract: $4.75M cap hit (signed through 2011-12)
Fantasy projection: 26-44-70, 46 PIMs

R.J. UMBERGER

After being traded from Philadelphia to Columbus at the 2008 entry draft, it took Umberger a while to get the "Flyer" out of his system. But by the early stages of the 2008-09 season, he was physically and emotionally committed to the Blue Jackets.

It's no stretch to say that he's now one of the most important players in the room and on the ice. He should wear an "A" on his sweater this season. Umberger is also a fiercely competitive player, which is why he tends to stand out in the playoffs. He had a career-high 26 goals in 2008-09.

The Blue Jackets like his versatility. He can play center or on the right side, too, but appeared to find a home on the left side last season. He and center Antoine Vermette make an intriguing dash (Vermette) and smash (RJU) combination, with Jake Voracek or even Filatov on the right side.

Contract: $3.75M cap hit (signed through 2011-12)
Fantasy projection: 23-28-51, 38 PIMs

RAFFI TORRES

Several times last season, Torres, 27, lamented that his recovery from knee and shoulder injuries was making it impossible for him to play the combustible style that makes him such an unusual player.

Expect to see the real Torres this season. Word from within the Blue Jackets is that Torres has had a monster off-season, building his cement-mixer body back into the form it was before the injuries. This should be interesting.

He's an intriguing third-liner, with an ability to score important goals and land huge body checks. In the right situation, he could even play on a No. 2 line.

Contract: $2.25M cap hit (signed through 2009-10)
Fantasy projection: 20-23-43, 72 PIMs

NIKITA FILATOV

Many consider Filatov, 19, to be the best NHL prospect not currently playing with the big boys. The Blue Jackets are trying to keep expectations under control, but with 16-16-32 in 39 games with AHL Syracuse last season, the belief in Columbus is that Filatov is ready for full-time NHL duty.

Training camp will be very interesting. If Filatov proves himself to be NHL ready, the next question will be "where does he fit?" The traffic jam at wing will make it very difficult for him to earn a spot on the top two lines, but he's not a third- or fourth-liner.

The bet here (as of August) is that Filatov will bounce all over the lineup, depending on injuries and effectiveness. He'll get lots of power play time, too.

Contract: $2.196M cap hit (signed through 2011-12)
Fantasy projection: 21-26-47, 34 PIMs

JASON CHIMERA

Don't read too much into Chimera's spot on this depth chart. Unless he's traded -- the Blue Jackets have tried to ship him to San Jose this summer -- he'll definitely play a regular shift on the third or fourth line.

Chimera, 30, is an intoxicating mix for NHL GMs: a big guy and one of the top 10 skaters in the league. He gets high marks for continually fighting his way back from a mis-diagnosed groin injury last season, and was close to his old self by the time the playoffs started. If he could only convert on his scoring chances ...

We'd put chances of a Chimera trade at 50-50. There's a logjam here, and he's the most likely to go.

Contract: $1.875M cap hit (signed through 2011-12)
Fantasy projection: 11-12-23, 52 PIMs

ALEXANDRE PICARD

Just when it appeared safe to write off Picard as a bust, he goes on an outrageous scoring binge in Syracuse. Now, granted, it's the minor leagues, but Picard may have come full circle in his pro career.

As a high draft pick, Picard was expected to score goals. That part of his game did not reveal itself early in his career, so he started playing demolition derby on ice, bashing everything in his path and neglecting all aspects of offense.

The hope among CBJ staffers is that Picard has learned to score and lower the boom. We shall see. The Blue Jackets and Picard's agent, Don Meehan, will start hammering out a contract later this month. It'll be a two-way deal, which Picard likely to start the season in the AHL.

Contract: Restricted free agent.
Fantasy projection: 0-1-1, 12 PIMs

TOM SESTITO

Sestito has the build of Todd Bertuzzi, but not the surly disposition. When Sestito is angry and driven, he's a heck of a prospect, the perfect fit on the No. 3 or 4 line in the not-too-distant future. But, scouts say, he has a hard time maintaining that drive.

Contract. NHL/AHL deal through 2009-10 (RFA next summer)

PASCAL PELLETIER

Pelletier, 26, has scored 66 goals the last two seasons in the AHL, and that's what he'll be expected to do -- score for the Crunch. It would take a lot of breaks for him to get a shot with the Blue Jackets, but ...

Contract: NHL/AHL deal through 2009-10 (UFA next summer)

Source: blog.dispatch.com/cbj/2009/08/depth_perception_left_wing.shtml