Denton Mateychuk Earns Heavy Blue Jackets Role With Strong Early Play
Mateychuk is averaging 27:48 through two games, driving possession beside Zach Werenski as Columbus navigates injuries on defense.
Denton Mateychuk has made a demanding assignment look like an opportunity. With Columbus missing three defensemen from its top five, the 22-year-old has joined Zach Werenski on the top pair, played on his off side and taken on a heavy workload. Through the Blue Jackets’ first two games, his possession numbers and puck management have stood out amid a difficult start for the defense.
Columbus has allowed seven goals across those games. Injuries have disrupted every pairing: Damon Severson, Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro are out, leaving the remaining defenders to absorb more responsibility. The first game against Buffalo exposed problems defending cross-ice passes, while Utah’s speed and east-west attack helped produce a 4-1 Blue Jackets loss on Saturday. Columbus’ offense carried the team in the opener, but couldn’t provide the same cover against the Mammoth.
A workload that stands out
Mateychuk is averaging 27:48 of ice time, according to his NHL statistics page. That ranks fourth in the league and second on Columbus, behind Werenski. He recorded an assist in the season opener, his only point so far, but the larger story in this tiny sample is how he has handled the minutes and kept the puck moving.
According to MoneyPuck, Mateychuk leads Blue Jackets defensemen with a 52 percent Corsi rating. That measure tracks the share of shot attempts taken by his team while he is on the ice. Columbus is above 50 percent in Mateychuk’s minutes, a notable mark given the defensive injuries and his increased responsibilities.
The comparison with the rest of the defense adds context, though the early numbers need caution. Jake Christiansen is next among Columbus defensemen at 48 percent, while averaging 8:26 per game. Werenski, Mateychuk’s partner, is at 40 percent. Two games can’t establish a lasting trend, and the players’ roles and minutes differ. Still, Mateychuk’s figure offers an encouraging sign: the Blue Jackets have been generating more shot attempts than they’ve allowed during his shifts.
Composure on the right side
His turnover total is another part of the early case. Mateychuk has two through the first two games, despite playing close to half of the team’s minutes and handling the puck frequently. He’s doing that on the right side, where a left-handed defenseman can face more awkward plays and may need to manage the puck on his backhand.
That combination of usage and puck care matters for a young defender asked to step into a top-pair role. Mateychuk isn’t simply filling a roster spot while established players are unavailable; he’s helping Columbus move possession up the ice while taking on a workload far beyond a sheltered assignment. The Blue Jackets still have team-wide defensive problems to solve, and his numbers don’t erase the goals against. They do suggest he has responded well to the challenge.
There are areas to clean up. Mateychuk has taken two minor penalties, and his size can make defending larger opponents a difficult matchup. With so much ice time and a tougher role, those details can get exposed quickly. As injured players return, a steadier pairing assignment could reduce the burden and give him a chance to refine his defensive reads without carrying quite so many minutes.
What the opening suggests
For now, Mateychuk has earned a longer look in a prominent role. The possession edge, low turnover count and workload make a compelling early profile, even if the sample is too small to draw firm conclusions. His assist shows some immediate production, but Columbus may have more to learn by watching how he handles the next stretch of top-pair minutes.
A possible next step is a larger role on the power play. Mateychuk’s puck-moving ability makes that an interesting option, though the source of his early impact is his play at even strength and the team’s special-teams plans aren’t established here. The immediate takeaway is clear: with the blue line short-handed, he has given Columbus a capable driver of play. If he keeps managing the puck and trims the penalties, the coaching staff will have reason to keep expanding his responsibilities even after the injured defenders return.
