Damon Severson's return to form could be crucial for Blue Jackets' stretch run

LAS VEGAS One month ago, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson was in the headlines for all of the wrong reasons: garish turnovers, lengthy benchings and healthy scratches, the sad progression of a veteran blue liner who had lost his way.

A funny thing has happened over the last three weeks: nobodys talking about Seversons play these days, even though they should be.

Advertisement The Blue Jackets relegated Severson to the third pairing once they recalled top defensive prospect Denton Mateychuk from AHL Cleveland, and his ice time has dipped because of it.

But Severson has reclaimed his game by taking a noticeably more conservative approach.

Im just being myself, Severson said.

Simple plays.

Those plays weve talked about (the turnovers) ...

nobody says anything about it if it works out, right? But if it doesnt, youre in trouble.

So why even risk it? Id rather play than have to deal with all of that crap.

Its probably hard to imagine what a healthy scratch feels like for a veteran player, much less one in the second year of an eight-year contract that carries a $6.25 million salary cap hit.

Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason, who ultimately made the decision to sit Severson, played more than 800 games in the NHL .

All of your emotions come into it, Evason said.

Youre mad, embarrassed, pissed off ...

all of it.

But he used it in the right direction.

He didnt disrupt his teammates because of it.

I dont want to say he accepted it because he didnt, right? He didnt want to be out of the lineup.

But he handled it the right way.

Like a professional.

If youre positive and your attitude is correct, which his was, youre going to be all right when you get back in.

Since enduring back-to-back healthy scratches on Jan.

4 vs.

the St.

Louis Blues and Jan.

7 vs.

the Pittsburgh Penguins , Severson is back to being a lineup regular.

In nine games, he has 0-3-3 and a plus-6 rating, averaging 16:16 in ice time per game.

The Blue Jackets will lean on him again at 10 p.m.

tonight when they open a crucial four-game road trip against the Vegas Golden Knights in T-Mobile Arena.

(Severson) has been playing simple and hes competing, Evason said.

When you get guys with a skill set like he has, sometimes you try to do too much.

That was our only message (as a coaching staff).

Hes simplified in areas where maybe there were turnovers in the past.

Its been an effort, a conscious effort to simplify his game.

FIRE THE CANNON! The Blue Jackets are on the board thanks to a Damon Severson goal! #CBJ pic.twitter.com/EI92Qi1THx FanDuel Sports Network Columbus (@FanDuelSN_CBUS) October 31, 2024 Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski took exception to some of the criticism thats been levied at Severson during his two seasons in Columbus.

I think a lot of it is unfair, Werenski said.

Hes a guy whos been around for a long time, 700-plus games.

When he makes a mistake and it ends up in our net, it doesnt look great.

But if it doesnt end up in our net, is anybody talking about it? I make a lot of mistakes, too.

That tying goal in our last game (by the Los Angeles Kings late in regulation on Saturday): I shoot it up the middle twice (clearing attempts) and it finally hits a guy and they score.

It happens.

Advertisement Guys who play a lot of minutes, especially, are bound to make mistakes.

Does everyone deserve to be criticized fairly if youre not playing well? Of course.

Thats the job.

But hes playing really well now.

Hes been solid.

He hasnt been making those big mistakes.

Hes played simple and hard, and he looks like himself again.

The importance of a solid Severson cannot be overstated.

Just at face value, the Blue Jackets need a player with such a long-term contract to be a reliable, significant part of their lineup.

Beyond that, they may need to rely on Severson more heavily down the stretch this season depending on how the NHL trade deadline plays out on March 7.

The Blue Jackets have had contract talks with veteran defenseman Ivan Provorov , a pending unrestricted free agent, who has switched the right side of the second pair to accommodate Mateychuk.

GM Don Waddell has had talks with Provorovs agent, Mark Gandler, about an extension, but its unclear if theres a deal to be made.

The Blue Jackets would like to keep Provorov on a short-term contract.

But Provorov is at an age he turned 28 earlier this month when most players hope to sign a seven- or eight-year contract.

There could be a middle ground in all of this.

Waddell, who has plenty of salary cap space, could offer Provorov a short-term deal with a salary thats above his market value to entice him.

In fact, there is a very specific precedent for this.

On July 1, 2023, 31-year-old defenseman Dmitry Orlov was expected to land a big-ticket as a UFA one pretty comparable to Provorov, actually.

But instead of landing a monster contract, Orlov signed a two-year deal worth $7.75 million per season with Carolina .

Orlovs agent? Mark Gandler.

Carolinas GM? Don Waddell.

If Provorov says past the deadline, Severson could continue in a third-line role, although Evason will have a tough decision in late March or early April when sturdy veteran Erik Gudbranson (shoulder surgery) returns.

Advertisement But if Provorov moves, Severson is a likely candidate to move up to the second pair in his place.

Im confident in my game, Severson said.

I know what I can do.

My teammates and coaches know it, too.

What happens in a month or so is out of our control.

But you look at our whole conference, and its going to be a dogfight to the end.

Its gonna be tough, but its so fun.

The fans are into it.

Were into it.

Im not usually a big standings watcher, but weve got a lot of young guys in there who really care about stats, so Im pretty up to date.

(Top photo: Samantha Madar / USA Today via Imagn Images).

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