If the Blue Jackets are serious about players earning jobs, Denton Mateychuk should be in the opening night lineup

I’ve seen enough. Not because the Blue Jackets lost last night; or because Pierre-Luc Dubois scored the winner. In fact, I mean I’ve seen enough in a good way. I’ve seen enough to say that if the Blue Jackets are serious about players earning their roles, Denton Mateychuk should be in the opening night lineup.

Last night’s game cemented that feeling for me. I was already thinking that way. But last night I sat and watched the entire game against the Washington Capitals, with the sole intent on picking apart something in Denton’s game that would tell me he needs time in the American Hockey League this season.

I couldn’t find anything.

Mateychuk scored the first goal of the game for the Blue Jackets, off of a rush feed from Kirill Marchenko. Sean Monahan makes the breakout pass here, eating up two checks. Mateychuk reads this, takes the open ice, then uses a quick release to beat the goaltender.

It would be easy to say something like “it’s only preseason. Lots of guys score goals, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready”. I would agree with that, if all he did was score a goal.

But Mateychuk was terrific on both sides of the puck. I’m not kidding when I say that I tried to pick his game apart each and every time he was on the ice. Mind you, I’ve been a prospects guy for nearly 20 years. I know what to look for.

I can only point out one mistake with the puck – a turnover in his own end, mid-way through the second period. He was trying to chip the puck up the wall and fanned on it. However immediately, he jumped right into his check and won it back, clearing it just moments later.

Otherwise, when he had the puck on his stick, he was nearly flawless. When he had the chance to take a risk, he took it. When he didn’t, he made the simple play. Whether that meant firing a quick shot towards the net (which often made it through traffic and on goal), or simply dumping the puck into the corner. He got the job done.

Without the puck, I was even more impressed by Denton’s poise and confidence. He kept his gaps close and was not shy about using his stick or his body to break up plays. He earned the second star of the game last night and honestly, I felt like he was the best player on the ice. He was just so smooth and calm, no matter what was going on.

One shift was very telling came in the third period. With Erik Gudbranson out of the game, Mateychuk found himself on the ice with Zach Werenski. Zach felt confident enough in his partner to fly the zone for a breakaway pass – which came to fruition because Mateychuk won the puck and found his outlet, who fed the pass ahead.

Ever since Dean Evason was hired as this team’s head coach, we’ve been told that players were going to have the opportunity to play, regardless their contract situation. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Mateychuk has done enough to earn a look. At the very least, give him a few games to prove he can’t do it.

So far, all he’s done is proven that he can do it.