Blue Jackets draft Fantilli, add defensemen Severson, Provorov

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2023-24 regular season, which starts Oct. 10. Today, the Columbus Blue Jackets:

2022-23 season:25-48-9, eighth in Metropolitan Division; did not qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs

Key arrivals

Adam Fantilli, F:Though Fantilli turns 19 when the Blue Jackets open against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 12, they view him in a top-six role. The No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft is expected to be transformative player for a franchise that has never had a bona fide No. 1 center. He's the third freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top college player in NCAA Division I men's hockey (Paul Kariya, Maine, 1993; Jack Eichel, Boston University, 2015) after he had 65 points (30 goals, 35 assists) for Michigan to lead the NCAA in points and points per game (1.81). … Damon Severson, D:The 28-year-old was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on June 9 and could play on the right side opposite top defenseman Zach Werenski. He had 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists) and 38 penalty minutes in 81 games last season. … Ivan Provorov, D: The 26-year-old was acquired from the Flyers via the Los Angeles Kings in a three-team trade June 6. Provorov averaged 24:05 of ice time in 532 NHL regular-season games for Philadelphia and will eat minutes as the No. 2 left-handed defenseman. He had 27 points (six goals, 21 assists) in 82 games last season. … Alexandre Texier, F:The 23-year-old isn't new to the Blue Jackets but has not been with them since breaking his finger early in the 2021-22 season. He was given a leave of absence to return to his native France for personal reasons and last season played for Zurich in the National League, the top professional hockey league in Switzerland. ... Mike Babcock, coach: Replaced Brad Larsen on July 1. The 60-year-old will coach in the NHL for the first time since being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019. Babcock won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and guided the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to the 2003 Stanley Cup Final and Detroit to the 2009 Final. His 700 wins (700-418-164, 19 ties) rank 12th in NHL history.

Key departures

Gavin Bayreuther, D:He played 51 games last season (14 points; two goals, 12 assists) but was expendable with an abundance of young defensemen on the way. He signed with the Dallas Stars, with whom he started his NHL career in the 2018-19 season. … Brad Larsen, coach:Was 62-86-16 in two seasons but fired April 15 in a move general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said was "absolutely necessary."

On the cusp

Video: Adam Fantilli joins NHL Tonight, D:The 19-year-old, the No. 6 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, is on the fast track to a full-time role in the NHL. Jiricek was minus-4 in four NHL games last season but named to the American Hockey League All-Star Game and AHL Top Prospects Team. He had 38 points (six goals, 32 assists) in 55 games for Cleveland and is projected to be play with Werenski sooner rather than later. … Video: Adam Fantilli joins NHL Tonight, F:The 22-year-old played the five seasons for Ak Bars of the Kontinental Hockey League and had 74 points (37 goals, 37 assists) in 182 games. Possessing a physical game, Voronkov (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) could begin his NHL career as a bottom-six center or wing. … Daniil Tarasov, G:The 24-year-old has played 21 games for the Blue Jackets in an injury-plagued NHL career that has included hip surgery Feb. 23, 2022. Tarasov, who was 4-11-1 with a 3.91 goals-against average and .892 save percentage last season, could push for the No. 1 spot if Elvis Merzlikins struggles again. Tarasov would need to clear waivers before being sent to Cleveland, so he's destined to be with the Blue Jackets.

What they still need

A veteran goalie on call in the AHL. If a replacement for Merzlikins or Tarasov is needed, Columbus will turn to Video: Adam Fantilli joins NHL Tonight, a 22-year-old who has played one game for the Blue Jackets and 72 for Cleveland the past two seasons.

They said it

"When you look at a lot of the players from last year, they didn't have stellar years. We believe there's more in those players, plus the players we've added, so where can we go? I don't have the answers for you. I wish I did. ... I just know that when you do good things, good things happen. When you work hard, you're rewarded, and that's what we're going to do." -- coach Mike Babcock

Fantasy focus

The Blue Jackets fell way short of fantasy expectations last season, largely because of injuries, but have renewed appeal under Babcock after trading for Severson and Provorov, and the long-term ripple effect of drafting Fantilli. Left wing Johnny Gaudreau, whose 90 even-strength points for the Calgary Flames led the NHL in 2021-22, is a prime bounce-back candidate. A healthy Patrik Laine and Werenski, together with breakout candidates Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko, give Columbus the ceiling of being a top 10 offense and power play this season. -- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Johnny Gaudreau -- Boone Jenner -- Patrik Laine

Alexandre Texier -- Adam Fantilli -- Kirill Marchenko

Kent Johnson -- Video: Adam Fantilli joins NHL Tonight -- Jack Roslovic

Justin Danforth -- Sean Kuraly -- Mathieu Olivier

Zach Werenski -- Damon Severson

Ivan Provorov -- Adam Boqvist

Nick Blankenburg -- Erik Gudbranson

Elvis Merzlikins

Daniil Tarasov