COLUMBUS, Ohio — Since the middle of November, when losses were already mounting and injuries were starting to accumulate, the biggest day on the Blue Jackets’ calendar has been the NHL draft lottery. It’s less than a week away now, set for Monday in New Jersey.

The Blue Jackets are guaranteed a top-four pick in one of the best drafts in recent years, highlighted by generational talent Connor Bedard, projected No. 1 centers Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson, and wildly talented winger Matvei Michkov.

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One way to process the results Monday is this: If the Blue Jackets land one of the top two picks, they’ll be delighted to add Bedard or Fantilli to their roster immediately. If they slide to No. 3 or 4, the impact will likely be felt in future seasons, although Carlsson has an outside shot of playing in the NHL next season.

But let’s not kid ourselves: The dream is landing Bedard, a Vancouver native who, at only 17 years old, makes plays and shoots the puck in a way that has scouts and observers searching for new ways to define and describe his greatness.

It was a long season in Columbus. It felt hopeless and endless. Two coaches were fired the day after it ended, and more moves are likely in the offing.

So before the NHL draft lottery likely delivers another blast of reality to central Ohio — the Blue Jackets have a 13.5 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick — we thought it’d be fun to dream a little dream about what a Blue Jackets lineup would look like with Bedard in the mix.

Additional reading:

One thing to keep in mind: Many of the observations regarding players have been made over the last two seasons under former coach Brad Larsen, who saw certain players in a certain light and played them in specific roles.

That could all change under a new coach, especially one from outside the organization. So be prepared for some players to elevate and some to backpedal based on coaching preferences and how they perform in training camp and the preseason.

But let’s keep this whimsical and fun, shall we? Here’s what the Blue Jackets would look like with Connor Bedard.

Bedard as a center…

This has been an organizational weak spot for most of the Blue Jackets’ 23 seasons, but major changes are on the way.

Bedard would be the most dramatic change, but it wouldn’t stop there. Dmitry Voronkov is expected to sign a contract with the Blue Jackets in the coming days. That’s some high-impact infusion at the top and bottom of the lineup.

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With those two in the mix, the Blue Jackets’ center depth would include Bedard, Boone Jenner, Sean Kuraly, Jack Roslovic, Cole Sillinger and Voronkov. It’s easy to say that Jenner or Roslovic or others could move to the wing, but the Jackets have too many wingers, too.

Here are three options for what the Blue Jackets would look like with Bedard at center:

Option No. 1

Johnny Gaudreau – Connor Bedard – Kirill Marchenko
Kent Johnson – Boone Jenner – Patrik Laine
Alexandre Texier – Dmitry Voronkov – Yegor Chinakhov
Eric Robinson – Sean Kuraly – Justin Danforth

Extras: Emil Bemstrom, Liam Foudy, Mathieu Olivier, Jack Roslovic, Cole Sillinger.

Sillinger needs to have a big summer of training followed by a strong training camp. Nobody doubts he’s going to have a long career, but he’ll need to earn his way back to the NHL. He can still go to AHL Cleveland at the start of next season without waivers. … Voronkov has to adjust to the ice size and style of play in North America, so it’s not out of the question that he won’t be ready at the start of the season. This was the process with Marchenko, and he was merely adapting as a winger. … That top line would be a blast in the attack zone; it could be a nightmare everywhere else. … There’s no problem keeping Foudy and Olivier as extra forwards.

Option No. 2

Boone Jenner – Connor Bedard – Johnny Gaudreau
Patrik Laine – Jack Rolsovic – Kirill Marchenko
Kent Johnson – Cole Sillinger – Alexandre Texier
Eric Robinson – Sean Kuraly – Justin Danforth

Extras: Emil Bemstrom, Yegor Chinakhov, Liam Foudy, Mathieu Olivier, Dmitry Voronkov.

It would make a ton of sense for a player like Jenner to play on Bedard’s line, especially at the start of his career, not just for his work along the walls but his ability to take big draws. … In this option, Roslovic goes in and Chinakhov comes out. … The Blue Jackets believe Chinakhov is an NHL player, but if it comes down to a numbers game, he could get the squeeze and be sent to AHL Cleveland without waivers. … Not thrilled with that second line, but Laine and Marchenko have to be in the top six, right? And somebody has to center them, right? … Voronkov didn’t come to North America to play in the AHL, but this would only be for a time.

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Option No. 3

Johnny Gaudreau – Connor Bedard – Patrik Laine
Kent Johnson – Boone Jenner – Kirill Marchenko
Alexandre Texier – Cole Sillinger – Dmitry Voronkov
Liam Foudy – Sean Kuraly – Mathieu Olivier

Extras: Emil Bemstrom, Yegor Chinakhov, Justin Danforth, Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic.

It may be overkill to have the Blue Jackets’ top two shooters on the same line, but we’ve seen stranger dynamics work. Gaudreau seemed to work better with Marchenko, but maybe the Bedard dynamic could change that chemistry. This gives that top line a little more size than Option No. 1, but Laine uses his size advantage only sporadically. … Really intrigued by the middle six. There’s been no discussion of playing Voronkov on the wing, but that’s not out of the question as he adapts to the NHL. … Larsen was a huge fan of Danforth. You’d have to think he’s playing if he’s healthy, but the club values Olivier as a fourth-line player, too.

Bedard as a winger… 

Johnny Gaudreau – Boone Jenner – Connor Bedard
Kent Johnson – Jack Roslovic – Patrik Laine
Alexandre Texier – Dmitry Voronkov – Kirill Marchenko
Eric Robinson – Sean Kuraly – Justin Danforth

Extras: Emil Bemstrom, Yegor Chinakhov, Liam Foudy, Mathieu Olivier, Cole Sillinger.

It’s hard to envision the Blue Jackets keeping Bedard out of the middle, but they could decide to ease him into the NHL on the wing. It’s worth noting that Bedard played on the right side extensively with Team Canada and it didn’t slow his production at all. … Marchenko looks out of place on a third line after his sterling rookie season, but something has to give on the right side if Bedard moves there. … As a collective, though, that third line could be very interesting. … Maybe I’m wrong (see comments below), but these lines are more appealing, one through four, than any of the options with Bedard at center.

On the power play… 

Boone Jenner
Connor Bedard – Kirill Marchenko – Johnny Gaudreau
Zach Werenski

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It’s hard to keep Laine off the top unit, but he hasn’t exactly torn it up on the power play in two-plus years with the Blue Jackets. … Marchenko looked promising in the all-important “bumper” spot. … Werenski being a left shot could slightly curtail Bedard’s one-timer chances, but Gaudreau’s playmaking on the other half-wall — and his ability to split the zone with passes — could offset that. … Jenner was born to play at net front, wasn’t he? … A second unit could have Laine, Kent Johnson, Alexandre Texier, Yegor Chinakhov and either Adam Boqvist or rookie David Jiricek on the point.

(Photo of Kirill Marchenko, Johnny Gaudreau and Gavin Bayreuther: Jason Mowry / USA Today)