Blue Jackets Summer Q&A With Sean Kuraly – Hockey Writers – Columbus Blue Jackets

Sean Kuraly knows what's at stake for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2024-25. He understands that under the new leadership, everyone is under scrutiny.

The new season is very important for Kuraly as it marks the last season under his current contract. He signed a 4-year, $10 million contract on July 28, 2021.

Kuraly endured three difficult seasons for the team. Dean Evason will be his fourth head coach since joining the Blue Jackets (Brad Larsen, Mike Babcock and Pascal Vincent.) At 31 years old, Kuraly knows with each new season that passes, the odds of winning the Stanley Cup diminish. and that too.

After helping build a playground for the 13th Blue Jackets at the Ward YMCA on Friday, Kuraly stopped by for a special 1-on-1 interview. While we were chilling under the stadium, we talked about many things including his bad timing, thoughts on the new leadership and what he thinks about his future.

Here is our discussion.

Sean Kuraly Q&A

THW: Sean, thanks for doing this. How was the summer for you?

Kuraly: “It was good, obviously it's been a long summer, so at this point you're ready to get back into it and excited to get back into it. It was good though. Resting before training. I'm excited to be back in Columbus. I've been here a lot, but I'm excited to have all the new additions here and get everyone together and see what that team looks like up close.”

THW: What did you want to prioritize this off season for you?

Kuraly: “As you start to get older, I think the first thing that seems to happen in this league is speed. You see guys who find their way out of the league. It is usually a slow step. For me it's just try and be quick. You are growing up and there is so much you can do. But if you can take care or be a little faster, I think you'll be in good shape. It's good tuning and makes a great engine and a big enough engine to get through the season. And then as things get closer, now it's good to tune and make small tweaks but you have to have the engine size, which is enough speed for me to get through the NHL season.”

THW: How much did you pay attention to all the moves from the general manager to the new coach?

Kuraly: “Closer. You can say you are running away. I was in Europe at the beginning of the summer taking some time off. You still get those (notifications) on your phone and you can't help (but be aware.) This is our lives, such a big part of our lives. Whenever those things happen, it's big news. It's big news for us. You hear from other people about those decisions. By all accounts, it feels like we're headed in the right direction.”

THW: I have spoken to Don Waddell and Dean Evason. They say they have spoken to most of you. What was your opinion about talking to them?

Kuraly: “I talked to both of them and I think the first impression of Don is not nonsense. You exist and try to get as much information as possible and make decisions based on that information. And all of us, I think we will be tested and everyone will be tested the way they should be tested. A big year of analysis. I think there is a lot more to come this season in terms of what the future will look like. But I think from my perspective, I think Don is here to make decisions and he's been shown to make tough decisions already. I think we're happy about that. We are happy with this team going forward.”

Kuraly's future

THW: You already mentioned it. You said it's your fourth season, which means it's your last under the current contract. Have you given much thought to what the future may hold?

Kuraly: “Well, Mark, it comes to your mind. I think you would be lying if not. For me, it's about trying to help this team as much as I can. He hopes that we will go in a good way and I understand it in a team like this. I think it's the intention. Sometimes it has nothing to do with how a player does when he is not in the team. This is my hometown. I love being here. I want to be part of the solution like a lot of guys in that locker room. You think about it and there it is. I don't think you need to hide it. You try and play good hockey. You try and be a good teammate and you try to be a good person in the locker room. We have a lot of young guys and I was lucky enough to grow up in a locker room where there was a lot of support and help from the older guys. I think it's getting to be my turn to pass it on. I think that's the fun part too. It's not just a one-way street.”

THW: Along those lines, how important is it to have guys like Sean Monahan and Jack Johnson come into the locker room? Guys who have been in the league a long time, you know how it is?

Kuraly: “Yes, two experienced boys. Sean played a lot with Johnny (Gaudreau) and became a partner with Johnny. It seems that they will be comfortable together. And as I said about these additions by all accounts, you hear only good things. We are happy for Sean. We are happy for Jack. Jack obviously comes from a team where he knows what it looks like to win a Stanley Cup and he was in Columbus to help us with that. Been around the block. You have experience. We have two experienced guys that I think our locker room and especially our leadership group will lean on to help. And we're going to need everyone to pull the cord in the same direction. It won't be enough for a few guys to do it. Everyone is expected to help. Everyone will be expected every day and night to help us win games. Also, we will need to do it by committee if you look at our team. “

Why 2024-25 Could Be Different

THW: Center depth and the work Waddell was able to do to tackle that with Monahan, Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, yourself, Boone Jenner, Dmitri Voronkov. That's a good depth. How important will that be going into 2024-25 for the Blue Jackets?

Kuraly: “Well, it's great. I mean it's deep on paper and now it's up to the players to make sure it's deep on the ice. We have a job to do and management can put as much as they want into everything. But we need to do it. We are in a period where we have the pieces and now we are expected to take the next step. A whole group of institutions is expected to take the next step. We have what we need in terms of tools. Good or bad, there is good value for us. There is competition and if you want to play center, you don't want to be the one left out.”

THW: Why could this season be different for the Columbus Blue Jackets?

Kuraly: “First, it has to be different. There is no question about that. And talking to some of our guys and how we move forward this season, I think there are clear things and clear areas that we can address. They are talked about all summer. I think that's a good thing. We know where we went astray. It would be different if you ask yourself, why were we bad last year? I think it was pretty clear from the ice, off the ice, defensive end. We give up too many goals. It is clear where we are wrong. I think when the reason you fell was so obvious, at least you know where to start. I think we know where to start when we have a lot of work to do. Don't get me wrong. There is a lot of work. But I think if we can get everyone to pull in the right direction, I think we'll be in good shape.”