With 78 days to go until opening night at Nationwide Arena, there's only one person to talk about – Damon Severson.
One of the hot topics going into this offseason was Damon Severson, the right-shot defenseman who was traded to Columbus by New Jersey for a 3rd-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, June 9, 2023. He was sent to Columbus in a sign-and-trade with a contract of 8 years, for $6,250,000 per season.
Before coming to Columbus, Severson spent nine seasons with the New Jersey Devils, after being chosen 60th overall by the Devils in the 2012 NHL Draft. Severson was essentially let go by the Devils after the 2023 season because they weren't going to be able to afford him. After helping the Devils through a rebuild, it was time to pay some younger guys to step in, so he became expendable.
His first season with Columbus wasn't terrible, minus missing games due to injury. He played in 67 games, had 9 goals, 28 points, and 51 PIMs.
In his second season, however, the wheels would come off a bit between him and Dean Evason. Towards the end of the season, with a relatively healthy blue line, and with star rookie Denton Mateychuk playing well, Severson saw himself scratched a lot.
After scoring 6 goals and totaling 25 points, Severson's last game of the season was on April 1 against the Nashville Predators. He would go on to miss the last nine games of the season as a healthy scratch. The last goal he scored was on December 6, 2024, and his last assist was on March 21.
Despite all that, Don Waddell is in a position to keep Severson and try to get him to play better, as his options are limited to basically nothing.
Severson and his contract probably can't be traded due to its value, and he isn't a buyout candidate at all. You can read about buying him out and why it won't happen below.
The Jackets also re-signed Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro a few weeks ago, so that puts even more pressure on Damon Severson to get better. The CBJ will have Erik Gudbranson, Denton Mateychuk, and Damon Severson, who are right-shot defensemen, plus Ivan Provorov, who is a left-shot D, but can play the right side just as well as he can the left. At exit interview day, he even mentioned that not too many guys can play both sides as well as he can.
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Damon Severson must find a way for him to be better this season. They have guys that can play in case he's not, but the team is better when Damon Severson is playing up to his talent level.
Here's the scouting report on Damon Severson:
Damon Severson is a right-shot, two-way defenseman known for his offensive upside and solid skating, but also for his occasional defensive lapses and turnovers. He's a reliable player in his own zone, using his body positioning and active stick, and can be effective in all situations, including power plays. While not a physical player, he can play a subtly physical game.
Strengths:
- Offensive Potential: Severson has a good point shot and passing ability, making him a threat on the power play and in transition.
- Two-Way Game: He's effective in both his own zone, using his positioning and stick, and in transition, with strong passing skills.
- Skating: He's a solid skater with good acceleration and agility, allowing him to skate the puck out of the zone.
- Intangibles: He possesses good hockey sense and is described as calm with the puck
- Experience: He has experience playing in all situations and against top-nine forwards.
Weaknesses:
- Defensive Consistency: He has occasional lapses in defensive zone play, leading to giveaways and turnovers.
- Offensive Consistency: While capable, his offensive production can be inconsistent.
- Physicality: He's not a player known for delivering big hits, though he can play a subtly physical game.
Overall: Severson is a solid, reliable defenseman who can contribute offensively and defensively. While he has occasional flaws, his overall game is well-rounded, and he can be a valuable asset for a team. He's a player who can be relied upon in all situations, but may not be a player who stands out with exceptional offensive numbers.
Do you think Damon Severson will have a bounce back year?
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