One big question will need to be answered as the Blue Jackets head into this season, can they match last season’s playoff appearance? Even though the Blue Jackets did get swept in their first ever trip to the post season, they should at least match last seasons 92 points which should be good enough for the playoffs. From ownership down to the fan base, this organization needs to make the playoffs again for a second year in row, to give the fans something and let this franchise be respected. So far in their short history, they have been an absolute joke.
There are a few good signs that will allow this club to make the playoffs again, goaltender Steve Mason and Rick Nash. Ever since Mason took over as the starting goalie from Mathieu Garon, Mason was a beast in the net and single handedly got this club into the playoffs. Mason was so good that he won the Calder Trophy, was nominated for the Vezina and almost made the ballot as a Hart Trophy finalist. That was quite the rookie season. His numbers weren’t too shabby as he won 31 games and had 10 shutouts. If Mason is able to do what he did last season then the Blue Jackets should make the playoffs. At the same time, given a full season Mason should also win at least 35 or more games.
Another player that is a leading force on this team is Rick Nash who was locked up to a long term deal. Nash and Mason are now the franchise players on this team, and Nash will need to continue his strong offensive output and continue to be a point a game player. His 40 goals from last season will most likely be repeated, especially with the group that is around him.
For the Blue Jackets they have a lot of young players, but ones that can play at a high and mature level. Jarrod Boll, Derick Brassard, Nikita Filatov, Stefan Legein, and Jakub Voracek are all under the age of 23 and all had good seasons last year. Some played the whole year and some played half. But given a whole season together these five and Nash will succeed and thrive.
Of course the Blue Jackets brass has also surrounded those young guns with good veteran experience around them such as Fredrik Modin, Kristian Huselius, and Samuel Pahlsson. Three players that will be looked to the most after Nash will be Antoine Vermette, Raffi Torres and RJ Umberger. All three can play, have experience and are proven scorers. Vermette and Umberger are more than capable of scoring twenty or more goals, while Torres is a good third or fourth line player than can hit and also score at least 13 goals.
The jury for the Columbus defense is still out there and they are suspect at best. Mike Commodore and assistant captain Rostislav Klesla are the only proven and veteran defenders on this team. After them there are a lot of young players, and playing defense at a young age is tough to do.
Jan Hejda is another veteran type defender but isn’t really that good and will be in the line up because of his experience. A few players that may surprise everyone are Marc Methot and Jordan Sigalet. One player that has shown he can play and at a young age is Kris Russell.
The Blue Jackets defense is good, but maybe an addition of a defenseman who can carry the puck out of the zone or with good hands will do this team good. If not, then Head Coach Ken Hitchcock will have his hands full trying to get his defense together, on the same page, and develop them as the season goes on.
OVERALL--> THE BLUE JACKETS HAVE A GOOD ENOUGH TEAM TO REPEAT LAST SEASONS PLAYOFF APPEARANCE, BUT THE DEFENSE MAY LET THEM DOWN.
POSITIVE--> CAPTAIN RICK NASH IS AN OFFENSIVE FORCE AND HAS SHOWN IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO HIS LINE MATES ARE, HE WILL ALWAYS SCORE. GOALTEDNER STEVE MASON WAS UNBEATABLE DURING STRETCHES OF THE SEASON.
NEGATIVE--> THE DEFENSE ISN’T THE BEST AND THAT WAS MORE THAN EVIDENT DURING THEIR FIRST ROUND SWEEP IN LAST SEASONS PLAYOFF.
X-FACTOR--> STEVE MASON AND RISK NASH. MASON WILL HAVE TO BE AN MVP BECAUSE THE DEFENSE IN FRONT OF HIM WILL ALLOW PLENTY OF SHOTS, AND RICK NASH IS RICK NASH A TOP NOTCH SCORER.
SLEEPER PICK--> MARC METHOT SHOULD HAVE A GOOD DEFENSIVE SEASON, AND MAY JUST CHIP IN OFFENSIVELY.
PREDICTION--> THE COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS WILL EARN BETWEEN 39-43 VICTORIES. AS FOR THE PLAYOFFS IT IS TOTALLY UP TO THEIR DEFENSE.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in this or any other article written by 12nadnuk are of his thinking and what he thinks is correct or close to it in the sporting world. If there are any problems by anyone, 12nadnuk is open for rebuttal and what not, and honest criticism. There is also a comments section, so feel free to post what is on your mind about the article. Thank you for reading.
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