2009-10 NHL Season Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets

by James Mirtle on Sep 19, 2009 5:00 PM CDT Comment 4 comments

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

Who's in: Mathieu Garon, Samuel Pahlsson
Who's out: Christian Backman, Manny Malhotra, Mike Peca, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Jason Williams

Outlook: GM Scott Howson limited his off-season mainly to minor tinkering and staying on a budget, bringing in third-line checking centre Sami Pahlsson and backup netminder Mathieu Garon in free agency and losing only a trio of depth forwards in Manny Malhotra, Mike Peca and Jason Williams.

The Blue Jackets' hope is that those roles can be easily filled by the team's abundance of youth, starting with centre Derick Brassard (who excelled in 31 games last season prior to being injured in an ill-advised fight) and wingers Jakub Voracek and Nikita Filatov. Along with a full season from Antoine Vermette and Fredrik Modin, this should be a slightly higher scoring squad (although Ken Hitchcock clubs rarely rely on winning barn burners).

If there's cause for caution, it is on the blueline and in goal. Columbus failed to add a power play quarterback in the summer despite the fact they had the league's worst power play in 2008-09, and they look to be left relying on Tyutin Kris Russell to make gains in that role.

Garon, meanwhile, was a good get for insurance, as it's certainly possible Steve Mason has difficulty repeating his incredible debut.

Even if that's the case, the Jackets should be in the thick of the Western Conference race from the get-go this season, and major steps forward from the youngsters will go a long way toward improving on last season's seventh-place finish in April.

X-factor: Jakub Voracek

For a more in-depth Blue Jackets preview, visit The Cannon
For more NHL analysis, check out the McKeen's Hockey Yearbook

Poll

Where will the Blue Jackets finish in the Western Conference this season?

1

4 votes

2

1 votes

3

4 votes

4

9 votes

5

33 votes

6

44 votes

7

46 votes

8

41 votes

9

36 votes

10

15 votes

11

2 votes

12

6 votes

13

1 votes

14

0 votes

15

7 votes

249 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Aaaaaand...

Modin’s already injured. Gotta love the guy. Super dependable.

"Sweet Zarley Zalapski, Batman!"

by ZarleyZalapski on Sep 19, 2009 7:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

that didn’t look like a gatorade bottle at first….

http://canuckpuckbunny.blogspot.com

GO CANUCKS GO!

by missy on Sep 19, 2009 8:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Given the history of goaltenders after an incredible freshman season...

…it doesn’t bode well for the Jackets. For it seems almost every goaltender in recent history has suffered the sophmore jinx the following season from Raycroft to Price, from Belfour to Barrasso it seems all young netminders suffer the next season and that could prove disasterous to the Jackets for their in what could be perceived as the toughest division in the NHL – the Central Division. If their goaltending falters they are in serious touble against the likes of Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis.
The X-factor is Steve Mason, and if he struggles then it’s bon soir to the playoffs for the Jackets for there isn’t enough offence for the Jackets to play a shoot’em style of hockey and still be successful. The problem is that history is not on their side.

It's never about the eventual destination, but rather the long journey and its challenging obstacles that are presented and what it takes to overcome them, that makes the taste of success all the more worthwhile!!!

by hawks61 on Sep 19, 2009 10:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the Central is too competitive to host more than two locks. The other three are borderline, and I personally think Los Angeles edges out Columbus.

by red army line on Sep 20, 2009 12:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs