Columbus Blue Jackets 2023-2024 Season Preview: Alexandre Texier
Alexandre Texier did not play with the CBJ in 2022-2023, opting to stay in Europe after dealing with a personal situation. While he was missed, other players filled his role admirably and others are also pushing for playing time. Can Texier re-claim his spot in the lineup, or has he become expendable?
LW Alexandre Texier
6’1”, 192 lbs
2022-2023 stats: 46GP, 13G, 22A, 35Pts, 30PIMs, +16 (ZSC, Switzerland)
Acquired: Drafted 2nd round, #45 overall, 2017 NHL Draft
Contract: $1.525m AAV through 2023-2024
Role: Middle Six Winger
Alexandre Texier missed the entirety of the 2022-2023 season due to personal reasons. He spent the season playing in Switzerland so that he could be closer to his family in France. Texier had previously played for the CBJ in the 2029-20, 20-21, and 21-22 seasons. In those seasons, he was respectable and began to assert himself as a solid NHL player in that 2021-2022 season. In that year, Texier tallied 11 goals and 9 assists for a total of 20 points in 36 games played. Unfortunately, he was unable to play most of that season due to a hand injury and deaths of two family members. However, he began to show glimpses of his potential.
Texier is still a bit of an unknown here. He has shown glimpses of becoming a solid NHL player. But then he hits a rough patch or gets injured and then struggles to regain his form. It’s difficult to project what Texier is and will become. For the 2023-2024 season, Texier returns and will need to re-establish himself in the NHL and solidify himself as a contributing forward for the Blue Jackets. All the potential needs to be realized now. There are too many good, young prospects in the organization that will push him out of the lineup if he doesn’t take hold on his roster spot. If all goes as planned, expect Texier to play on the wing on the 3rd line with occasional upgrades to the 2nd line.
One bold prediction: Texier will be the top penalty killing forward for the CBJ this season. Texier is a guy that former coach John Tortorella loved. It’s safe to assume that new coach Mike Babcock will feel the same way. If Texier regains his form this season, it’s safe to say that Babcock will employ him in many situations, especially defensive situations. If Texier can improve on face-offs, he will be a staple on the penalty kill. His tenacity and hard-working style of play could result in him becoming the best penalty killer on the team.
Three keys to success:
- Create chemistry with linemates. When Texier was most successful, he had good chemistry with his linemates. However, many new faces are on the team, and he will need to establish some chemistry with them in order to maximize his potential.
- Bring the effort. When Texier found the most success, he was tenacious and just an all-around pest. He was difficult to defend and was always in the face of the opposition. However, he didn’t seem to bring that tenacity to each game. He needs to bring a consistent effort each and every night.
- Stay Healthy. Texier has struggled with staying healthy since breaking into the league in 2019. Part of the problem is that his style of game is not conducive to his body style (he plays bigger than he is). He needs to make sure his body is in tip-top shape in order to have and maintain success.
Alexandre Texier will have a lot of pressure on him to become the player that management envisioned he would be. He will have a lot of competition for playing time and, if he can’t stay healthy or produce, may not be with the CBJ past this season. His contract expires at the end of the season, and he will be an RFA next summer. To earn a new contract, he will need to be productive. Otherwise, he may be trade bait come next summer.
