The Columbus Blue Jackets are the next team in our team overviews. Columbus had a slightly below average year last year, and ended up 37-38-7. Columbus has not been very good since they lost Artemi Panarin, the biggest star to play in Columbus since Rick Nash, to the Rangers in 2019. Now they have that star power back with the huge free agency signing of Johnny Gaudreau. Columbus was not a team that anyone saw Gaudreau signing with, especially for cheaper than what other teams offered. Gaudreau exploded for 115 points last season after having two straight down seasons, and it helped having two 40 goal scorers on his line last year in Calgary. While Gaudreau isn't going to have his two 40 goal scorers on his team this year, what he will have is Patrik Laine who is going to thrive playing with a prolific passer like Gaudreau. Laine is a pure goal scorer with an absolute rocket of a shot, similar to Ovechkin. The only thing is, Laine has never played with a player like Gaudreau and will reap the benefits of doing so. Outside of their two stars up front, Columbus does not have a deep forward group. Playing with Gaudreau and Laine is the Jackets' captain, Boone Jenner. Jenner enjoyed the best season of his career last year and wasn't even able to play a full 82 games because of injury. Jenner should enjoy another bump in his stats playing alongside those guys. Their second line is made up of Jakub Voracek, a pass-first winger in the downturn of his career, Gustav Nyquist, a skilled winger that has consistently put up high 40's of points in his career, and Jack Roslovic, a young center that has not blossomed into the player he is supposed to be. This second line is going to be broken up after the first couple weeks of the season. They will be broken up because of the tremendous young skill Columbus has on their 3rd line. They have Kent Johnson who has shone like a star at every level he has played at. Johnson has torn it up at the University of Michigan the past two seasons and had 3 assists in 9 games last season when called up to Columbus. Johnson playing less than 10 games keeps him eligible for the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the year). They also have Cole Sillinger, a young center who played the entire year in Columbus. Sillinger needs to develop his game a little bit more, so expect him to stay on the third line for a little longer than Johnson. What they also have is a very good 4th line. They play their roles to the tee and are able to generate success from their play. The Blue Jackets are solid on defense. Zach Werenski, the Blue Jackets number one defenseman is poised for a good year if he stays healthy. Werenski has managed to stay healthy for one whole season through his 6 year career. Columbus also just resigned defensive defenseman Andrew Peake to a 3 year contract extension today. The Blue Jackets have 3 offensive defensemen and 3 defensive defensemen creating a good balance on their back end. Their goalie situation is a unique one. They have Elvis Merzlikins, who has proven to be a starting goalie in the league, but is very streaky. Elvis can go on a 10 game win streak, but then can lose the next 10. Their backup goalie, Joonas Korpisalo, has also proven to be able to be viable option in net, but only in a tandem capacity. Korpisalo is a good change of pace from Merzlikins, but not always the most reliable. Columbus got better this offseason, but they are not back to the playoff team they once were yet. With the young talent on their roster, paired with the established players, they are a team to look out for in the next three seasons.
Record Prediction- 42-36-4
Playoff Prediction- No
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