As we approach the 2016-17 season, we’re previewing what’s ahead for each of the 30 NHL teams. Next on our list: the Columbus Blue Jackets.
MAIN SUMMER HEADLINES
• Blue Jackets take Dubois third overall
• Blue Jackets sign Seth Jones to a six-year contract
• Blue Jackets sign Sam Gagner to a one-year deal
• Blue Jackets bring in Jarret Stoll on a PTO
Head coach: John Tortorella
GM: Jarmo Kekalainen
Team payroll: $69.18 million ($73 million salary cap)
2015-16 Record: 34-40-8 (Eighth in Metro)
GF: 219 (17th in NHL)
GA: 252 (29th in NHL)
Result: Missed playoffs by 20 points
Key acquisitions: Sam Gagner
Key departures: Andrew Bodnarchuk, Nick Holden
Rookies to watch: Columbus shocked the hockey world by selecting Pierre-Luc Dubois third overall at the 2016 Draft. All eyes will be on how he stacks up against Auston Matthews (Toronto), Patrik Laine (Winnipeg) and Jesse Puljujarvi (Edmonton).
Dubois posted 42 goals and 57 assists for 99 points with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL last season. He was also plus-40, exemplifying a two-way game that should translate to immediate success in the NHL. Add in the fact that he can play the wing as effectively as he plays centre, and he’s bound to get a good look with Columbus this season.
Columbus will have a successful season if…
If the defencemen and goaltenders play above their heads.
Columbus has a young and mobile crew on the back end. Players like Seth Jonas, Ryan Murray and David Savard can really push the pace of play and 29-year-old Jack Johnson doesn’t lack for offensive punch.
Behind those blue-liners, Sergei Bobrovsky is going to have to get back to being the guy who was lights-out good from 2012 to 2014. In those two seasons, he had a .928 save percentage over 96 games. The Blue Jackets allowed the second-most goals against in the NHL last season, something that must improve if the team is to take a step up.
Columbus will have an unsuccessful season if…
The offence can’t get rolling.
It starts with Nick Foligno, who went from 31 goals and 42 assists in 79 games during the 2014-15 season down to 12 goals and 25 assists last season. If he can’t rebound to support youngsters Cam Atkinson, Brandon Saad and Boone Jenner, there aren’t too many other sources of offence on this team.
Can Dubois make the difference? Can Brandon Dubinsky and Alexander Wennberg come up with the goods? Is Sam Gagner going to add enough offence to help?
Chances are the defence will be fallible and Bobrovsky’s numbers have fallen two years in a row now, which makes improvement on offence so important. If they don’t score more goals than last season, this team is destined to return to the basement.
