Capitals vs. the Metro: Blue Jackets Playing for Gaudreau Brothers

The Columbus Blue Jackets complete the 2024-25 Metropolitan Division previews for the Washington Capitals’ opponents. This divisional preview will be a little bit different from the others. I will still break down the same aspects I did with the other opponents, but before getting to that, we need to talk about what really matters at the end of the day, and that’s Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.

Remembering the Gaudreau Brothers

The hockey world experienced a very dark day last month. August 29 was when the world lost Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew to a drunk driver. The hockey world came together as one community and mourned their losses. The Gaudreau brothers might have been good hockey players, but they are remembered as good people. I have heard countless stories in the past month about how both Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were great people, not just from other hockey players but others who knew them outside the sport. My condolences and thoughts continue to be with Johnny and Matthew’s families, friends, and teammates.

2024 Blue Jackets Offseason Additions

The Columbus Blue Jackets made a few free-agent signings over the 2024 offseason. They inked forward Sean Monahan to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million. Monahan played the 2023-24 season split between the Montreal Canadiens and the Winnipeg Jets. During his time in Montreal, he scored 13 goals and registered 22 assists for 35 points in 49 games. Monahan only suited up for 34 games with the Jets. He tallied 13 goals in that span and produced 11 assists for 24 points.

Monahan is someone to keep an eye on for Columbus. He could get back to producing some solid numbers for the Blue Jackets. His career high at this point in time occurred in 2018-19, when Monahan scored 34 goals and provided 48 assists for 82 points in 78 games. It has been a few campaigns since he tallied this many points, but he has the potential to do that with the Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets also made a couple of other veteran moves. They brought back defenseman Jack Johnson on a one-year deal. Johnson previously played in Columbus from the 2011-12 season until 2017-18. During his first stint in Columbus, Johnson notched the following offense:

• 2011-12: four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 21 games
• 2012-13: five goals and 14 assists for 19 points in 44 games
• 2013-14: five goals and 28 assists for 33 points in 82 games
• 2014-15: eight goals and 32 assists for 40 points in 79 games
• 2015-16: six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 60 games
• 2016-17: five goals and 18 assists for 23 points in 82 games
• 2017-18: three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 77 games

James van Riemsdyk, who signed with the Blue Jackets, spent the 2023-24 season as a member of the Boston Bruins.

Columbus also added winger James van Riemsdyk on a one-year contract on September 15. He played the 2023-24 campaign for the Boston Bruins. He suited up for Boston in 71 games, where he totaled 38 points (11 goals and 27 assists). The 2024-25 season will be his 16th in the league. He has played in over 1,000 games between the Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He currently has 311 goals and 318 assists for 629 points.

2023-24 Season Series

Washington and Columbus faced off against one another a total of three times. The first matchup between both clubs happened on November 4, 2023 in D.C. The Capitals won a close 2-1 score. They got goals from Tom Wilson and Sonny Milano, while the lone Blue Jackets tally came from Dmitri Voronkov. The second game took place later in the month, on November 18 at Capital One Arena. Washington won another close game by a 4-3 final. Milano, Aliaksei Protas, Alex Ovechkin, and Hendrix Lapierre contributed the Capitals goals. Gaudreau, Ivan Provorov, and Justin Danforth netted the Columbus goals.

The last game in the 2023-24 regular season series was in Columbus at Nationwide Arena. The Capitals took this game too with a 3-2 score. Washington skated away victorious; thanks to two goals by Anthony Mantha, as well as a tally from Alex Ovechkin. The Blue Jackets goals came from Cole Sillinger and Yegor Chinakhov.

The 2024-25 Season Matchups

Both clubs will be playing against one another a total of four times in 2024-25. The first matchup is on November 2 at 5:00 P.M. in Capital One Arena. Then, the Capitals and Blue Jackets face off in Columbus at Nationwide Arena on December 12 at 7:00 P.M. After those two games, both teams will not play each other until the end of the season in April. They have a home-and-home series that begins on April 12 in Columbus. The next night on April 13, both sides head to Washington for a 6:00 P.M. showdown.

The Blue Jackets could be a dangerous team this upcoming campaign. They have forwards who can help carry the offense in captain Boone Jenner, Kirill Marchenko, Dmitri Voronkov, and Cole Sillinger among others. New additions Sean Monahan and James van Riemsdyk can also provide support on that front as well. On defense, they have a talented group with players like Zach Werenski, Ivan Provorov, Damon Severson, and Erik Gudbranson. Werenski in particular can also provide his share of offense. He scored 11 goals and registered 46 assists for 57 points in 70 games. He will be a big factor for the Blue Jackets in 2024-25.

It will be interesting to see how Columbus fares during this upcoming campaign. They finished last season with a record of 27-43-12, which resulted in 66 points. The Blue Jackets ranked last in the Metropolitan Division and last in the entire Eastern Conference. The group has a lot to work on, but they could still potentially be a thorn in Washington’s side. The Capitals were able to win all three matchups last season against Columbus. They will hope to do the same in 2024-25.