Even though all of the players who will begin the year with the Cleveland Monsters are still in camp with the Blue Jackets at the moment, I wanted to take a quick glimpse of how our AHL affiliate may look when they hit the ice. Their new color scheme and logo refresh wont be the only new look in Cleveland, as there will be several new faces that could take on a big role with the team.
A year after head coach, Trent Vogelhuber, was practically bringing in guys off the street to fill out a lineup card, he is now tasked with preparing lines that contain some of the most talent this team has seen in multiple years. This isn’t a team that will be filled with AHL journeymen, but almost all hungry prospects itching to make the jump to the next level.
Today, I’ll take a look at the tentative depth chart of the Monsters and attempt to throw together some lines. Players listed below as incoming may be brand new to the team, have played a handful of games with the team in previous seasons, or is an NHL player on the bubble who may not make the big club. Again, it’s still fairly early in camp, but these are my predictions for the opening night lineup of our 2023-24 Cleveland Monsters.
Forwards
In: Yegor Chinakhov, James Malatesta, Dmitri Voronkov, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Eric Robinson, Jordan Dumais(?)
Out: Justin Richards, Joona Luoto, Cole Fonstad
There will be a lot of firepower injected into the lineup to begin the year for the Monsters. Sure they lost a few regulars, including their second highest scorer in Richards, but the forward group has undoubtedly gotten better.
I have Chinakhov and Voronkov beginning the year in Cleveland mainly due to their contract situation. The injury to Chinakhov also doesn’t bode well for his chances to make the big club out of camp either and sending him to Cleveland is the perfect way get him back up to speed and get his confidence up prior to coming back to Columbus. Voronkov simply needs more time to adjust to the North American game, and since they only have until January to keep him in the minors thanks to a clause in his contract, I’d expect them to fully utilize the time they have.
Luca Del Bel Belluz and James Malatesta will join the forward ranks for the Monsters. LDBB adds skill and smarts and Malatesta tenacity and a scoring touch to the middle-six. Eric Robinson is simply an odd-man out in Columbus from the logjam of forwards. Perhaps the Robinson demotion is more wishful thinking on my part, but there are younger, more exciting players with higher upside to fill his role and more. He would however, be an exciting addition to the Monsters as well as a veteran leader. There are probably a few different players this could end up being, but for this piece, its ERob.
Adding Jordan Dumais to this team is just the cherry on top. If the NHL grants him an exception, look out!
Chinakhov-Gaunce-TFW
Voronkov-Dunne-Dumais
Robinson-LDBB-Malatesta
Angle-McKown-O.Sillinger
Extras: Pyyhtia, Ahcan, Gaudet
Defense
In: Stanislav Svozil, Corson Ceulemans, Nick Blankenberg/Jake Bean/Andrew Peeke, Denton Mateychuk(?)
Out: Dillon Simpson, Brandon Davidson
Perhaps the biggest loss for the Monsters on defense is their former captain, Dillon Simpson. Simpson has moved on from playing the game to coaching it. He accepted a job at his alma mater, North Dakota as an assistant coach, which he is obviously well suited for. The loss won’t be felt so much on the ice as in the locker room, considering they often had Simpson filling in at forward last year due to the lack of warm bodies thanks to all the injuries in Columbus.
Barring any veteran signings, this defensive unit is going to be young. Yes, they will be young, but also one of the most talented defensive corps in the league. High-end skill is spread throughout the pairings with Svozil, Ceulemans and if they’re lucky, Denton Mateychuk.
It is absolutely insane to think of how much depth the organization has at the position, forcing many players into the pressbox even at the AHL level. It appears that Tim Berni is also aware of this, having refused to sign a contract with the Jackets this summer, seemingly desiring a fresh start somewhere his road to the NHL doesn’t have so many obstacles in front of him. For this reason, I am keeping him off of the crowded depth chart in Cleveland.
Jiricek is a wildcard here. I think he’s ready to play with the Blue Jackets, but unless a trade is made, the sheer volume of NHL defenseman could keep him down in Cleveland. For these pairings, I will assume he has an outstanding camp, forcing management to keep him in Columbus. I also doubt that Denton Mateychuk will receive his waiver to play in the AHL forcing him to go back to the WHL, thus excluding him from my initial pairing predictions.
Unless the number of defenseman in the organization is thinned out, there is going to be some NHL experience joining the Monsters defense. With 5 spots all but locked down in Columbus, it leaves Andrew Peeke, Nick Blankenburg, and the injured Jake Bean fighting for a single spot. One of them can stay up as the 7th defenseman, and unless the team opts to carry 8 defenseman, someone will be headed to Cleveland on waivers. Once more, I’m going to base this on contract and NHL experience, and start Blanks in Cleveland. Jake Bean could also realistically see time in Cleveland this year once he comes back from injury if he’s not ready to begin the year.
Blankenburg-Christiansen
Bjork-Svozil
Ceulemans-Knazko/Sweezey
Extras: Clayton, Schemistch, Bjorgvik-Holm
Goaltending
The goaltending situation in Cleveland will once again feature Jet Greaves between the pipes to carry the lions’ share of the work. Columbus also signed veteran goaltender, Aaron Dell, to a PTO this summer. If Dell impresses in camp and earns a contract, I’d expect him to get a healthy dose of playing time in Cleveland as well. If Dell receives a contract, Pavel Cajan could be the odd man out and be the third goalie for the Monsters, and without an ECHL affiliate this year, would have to come to an agreement with another club if they want to get him some playing time.
Greaves
Dell
Cajan
The roster situation is fluid at the moment, and can change at a moment’s notice, but its hard to not get excited for the season. After a handful of disappointing years, the Monsters should once again be in a position to compete for the division and make a real run. If nothing else, at least we will get to watch actual prospects develop, rather than a bunch of ECHL call-ups.
The Cleveland Monsters open their season at Lehigh Valley on October 14th and play their home opener on Friday the 20th at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
See you there!