Columbus Blue Jackets Preview 2014

Winter 2014-15 FORECAST Magazine 20 Andy “The Sandman” Sanzotta The 2013-14 season was historic for the Columbus Blue Jackets and their fans. Capped by a franchise record 43 wins, the Blue Jackets made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2009 and for only the second time since their induction into the NHL in 2000. Despite losing 10 of their first 15 games (which included a pair of five-game losing streaks) and seeing their best player in goaltender Sergie Bobrovsky miss some considerable time with an injury, the Blue Jackets hung around long enough to bounce back when Bobrovsky became healthy again. With “Bob” back between the pipes, the Blue Jackets got red hot in early January and won eight straight games, picking up a crucial 16 points in the Eastern Conference Standings. That stretch of victories would eventually help vault them into the playoffs and allow them to clinch the Eastern Conference’s first wild card spot with 93 points, which meant they had to face the favorites in the East, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the first round. Pittsburgh would ultimately go on to win the series 4-2, but not before the Jackets left everything on the ice in game 6, losing 4-3 and nearly forcing a winner- take-all game 7. Even though the Blue Jackets’ season was over, the series was still a success for the franchise and its fans because it marked the first two playoff victories in team history! This offseason, General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen shook up the roster by trad- ing away the much belea- guered R.J. Umberger to the Philadelphia Flyers for grit- ty forward Scott Hartnell. Hartnell essentially will replace Umberger on the power play and penalty killing units, but he also brings better leadership qualities to the locker room for the younger players and he is capable of producing anywhere from 20-35 goals. Speaking of young talent, the Jackets have a bevy of it, especially up front at center ice. Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Brian Gibbons and potential phenom out of Sweden, Alexander Wennberg, create one of the most deadly center ice combinations in the NHL. The forwards are just as talented on the left and right side as well. Matt Calvert and Cam Atkinson became household names among the fans last season and are expected to be even better this year. And if for- mer Stanley Cup Champion Nathan Horton can over- come a nagging back injury, he is more than capable of putting up 30-40 goals in 2014-15. Then there’s the blue line or core of defense- man in front of Bobrovsky. Can the Jackets Do It Again? PHOTO PROVIDED Jump into the excitement of Columbus Blue Jackets hockey this season. James Wisniewski led the defense in scoring with 51 points and Alternate Captain Jack Johnson final- ly lived up to the player they thought they were get- ting when they traded away Jeff Carter to the Los Angeles Kings two years ago. With the experience gained from making the playoffs last season, a healthy top-five goaltender in Bobrovsky and depth up front there is no question in my mind that the Columbus Blue Jackets will be back in the playoffs this season. However, in order for them to improve their position in the first round they will need to start strong and avoid starting slow like they have for the last two sea- sons. They also must be just as good, if not better, against the Eastern Conference teams (30-21-3) and they must improve their record in the Metropolitan Division (only 16-13-1 last season). If they can do that, continue their success on the power play and penalty kill and most importantly stay healthy, I predict a lot of excitement coming of Columbus this winter.

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Page 1: Columbus Blue Jackets Preview 2014

Winter 2014-15 FORECAST Magazine20

Andy “The Sandman”Sanzotta

The 2013-14 season washistoric for the ColumbusBlue Jackets and their fans.Capped by a franchiserecord 43 wins, the BlueJackets made the StanleyCup Playoffs for the firsttime since 2009 and foronly the second time sincetheir induction into theNHL in 2000. Despite los-ing 10 of their first 15games (which included apair of five-game losingstreaks) and seeing theirbest player in goaltenderSergie Bobrovsky misssome considerable timewith an injury, the BlueJackets hung around longenough to bounce backwhen Bobrovsky becamehealthy again.With “Bob” back between

the pipes, the Blue Jacketsgot red hot in early Januaryand won eight straightgames, picking up a crucial16 points in the EasternConference Standings. Thatstretch of victories wouldeventually help vault theminto the playoffs and allowthem to clinch the EasternConference’s first wild cardspot with 93 points, whichmeant they had to face thefavorites in the East, thePittsburgh Penguins, in thefirst round. Pittsburghwould ultimately go on towin the series 4-2, but notbefore the Jackets lefteverything on the ice ingame 6, losing 4-3 andnearly forcing a winner-take-all game 7. Even

though the Blue Jackets’season was over, the serieswas still a success for thefranchise and its fansbecause it marked the firsttwo playoff victories inteam history! This offseason, General

Manager Jarmo Kekalainenshook up the roster by trad-ing away the much belea-guered R.J. Umberger to thePhiladelphia Flyers for grit-ty forward Scott Hartnell.Hartnell essentially willreplace Umberger on thepower play and penaltykilling units, but he alsobrings better leadershipqualities to the locker roomfor the younger players andhe is capable of producinganywhere from 20-35 goals.Speaking of young talent,the Jackets have a bevy ofit, especially up front atcenter ice. BrandonDubinsky, Artem Anisimov,Brian Gibbons and potentialphenom out of Sweden,Alexander Wennberg, createone of the most deadly cen-ter ice combinations in theNHL. The forwards are justas talented on the left andright side as well. MattCalvert and Cam Atkinsonbecame household namesamong the fans last seasonand are expected to be evenbetter this year. And if for-mer Stanley Cup ChampionNathan Horton can over-come a nagging back injury,he is more than capable ofputting up 30-40 goals in2014-15. Then there’s theblue line or core of defense-man in front of Bobrovsky.

Can the Jackets Do It Again?

PHOTO PROVIDED

Jump into the excitement of Columbus Blue Jackets hockey this season.

James Wisniewski led thedefense in scoring with 51points and AlternateCaptain Jack Johnson final-ly lived up to the playerthey thought they were get-ting when they traded awayJeff Carter to the LosAngeles Kings two yearsago. With the experience

gained from making theplayoffs last season, ahealthy top-five goaltenderin Bobrovsky and depth upfront there is no question inmy mind that the ColumbusBlue Jackets will be back inthe playoffs this season.However, in order for themto improve their position inthe first round they willneed to start strong andavoid starting slow like theyhave for the last two sea-sons. They also must be just

as good, if not better,against the EasternConference teams (30-21-3)and they must improve theirrecord in the MetropolitanDivision (only 16-13-1 lastseason). If they can do that,continue their success onthe power play and penaltykill and most importantlystay healthy, I predict a lotof excitement coming ofColumbus this winter.