Since joining the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 2022-23 season, Mathieu Olivier has established himself as one of the toughest players in the NHL. His grit and willingness to protect his teammates made him a mainstay on the Blue Jackets’ fourth line. But so far this season, we’ve seen a different version of the Biloxi, Mississippi native.
Mathieu Olivier: A tough customer
The NHL’s enforcer era is largely a thing of the past, but there has been a bit of a resurgence in recent years. With players like Matt Rempe and Arbor Shekaj, every team needs someone to protect their star players. Olivier has played that role with the Blue Jackets since being traded to Columbus for a fourth-round draft pick in 2022, and he quickly became respected around the league for his toughness.
Mathieu Olivier, Columbus Blue Jackets (Amy Irvin / Hockey Writers)
Olivier is primarily known for his grit, but he was also a reliable defender during his time in Columbus. He certainly wasn’t one of Pascal Vincent’s top options in key defensive situations, and neither was Dean Evason. That being said, he could hold his own and the coaches knew it. This season, under the Blue Jackets’ new coach, he also discovered a whole new side to his game.
Increased attack power
Considering Olivier’s on-ice minutes are at an all-time high under Evason this season, it’s no surprise that he’s having the best numbers of his career offensively. His current pace is by no means sustainable as he would end up with 35 goals and 58 points through all 82 games this season, but he’s building confidence unlike anything we’ve seen so far. I’m playing with it.
In seven games this season, Olivier has scored three goals and provided an assist in two others. He has also already had two multi-point performances. He had one goal and one assist in a 6-4 win over the Buffalo Sabers on October 17, and two goals, including the game-winning goal, in a 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs just five days later. I decided. Most recently, the 27-year-old assisted on Zach Aston-Reese’s goal. The pass to Aston Rees seemed unintentional as it looked like Olivier was trying to set up a shot, but this is definitely one of the best plays we’ve seen of him so far. It was one of the most beautiful plays.
Prior to this season, Olivier’s most productive season came in 2022-23, when he scored five goals in 66 games for a total of 15 points. On a points per game basis, he was actually better offensively in 2023-24, scoring 12 points in just 54 games.
Although his numbers won’t be sustainable, Olivier has shown he can be an offensive threat for the Blue Jackets when needed. That’s quite a jump, but if he also has similarly strong records and doesn’t drop off completely between those records, 25-30 points could be realistic.
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Olivier is becoming a key part of the Blue Jackets’ bottom-six forward group. Previously, his toughness and grit kept him in the lineup regularly. Now it is rapidly becoming clear that he is not a one-dimensional enforcer. He is a talented player who can contribute offensively if given the chance. Although he’s not the type of player Evason would want in a top-six forward role, Olivier is becoming a solid depth option. The only thing we don’t know yet is whether this is a flash in the pan or if he can truly become a player who can score 25 to 30 points over a full season.
