The prospects for the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Dallas Stars prospects team last night in Traverse City to win the NHL Prospects Tournament. Josh Anderson re-directed an Austin Madaisky shot from the point for his third game-winning goal of the tournament. It came late in the 3-on-3 part of overtime.
The team outscored its four opponents by a combined score of 21-11. Anderson had four goals in the tournament while Kerby Rychel notched three goals and three assists, matching the stat line of Marko Dano. Oliver Bjorkstrand added four goals and two assists and T.J. Tynan tallied five assists to go along with his goal scored. Alexander Wennberg battled a cold for much of the tournament, but finished +4 with a goal and an assist.
It would appear that all three 2013 first-round picks (Wennberg, Rychel, and Dano) along with Anderson have the best chances to compete for a roster spot in Columbus. With the Johansen situation currently unclear, it is possible a center position might be open in camp and the preseason. But if any of the prospects do make the team, it will be because they earned it and not simply because they were high draft picks. There is a lot of depth in the organization so these guys will have to outperform some other players to grab a spot in the lineup.
It should also be noted that Oscar Dansk bounced back very well in goal after a shaky performance in Traverse City last year. He finished with a 2-0 record, a .925 save percentage, and a 2.40 GAA.