The Columbus Blue Jackets enter this new hockey season with one goal and one
goal only in mind: Win the Stanley Cup.

That';s all and that';s it. Given the current state of the franchise, the time
is now. Gone are the days of simply making the playoffs being good enough.
That';s just step one. As coach John Tortorella says, the real stuff starts
when the puck is dropped in the playoffs.

At the barest of minimums, the Blue Jackets must win at least one round in
these playoffs, but even that will leave bitter tastes in the mouths of
everyone involved if they can';t put a deep run together. You think that';s
worth watching? Imagine if the Blue Jackets either get bounced in the first
round again or worse, they miss the playoffs all together? It';s for this
reason that this season for the Blue Jackets is the most fascinating one in
franchise history.John Tortorella hopes to finally break down the playoff win
barrier for the Blue Jackets. (Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)

This team is good enough that some consider them a dark horse to make the Final
 from the East. Yet with so much uncertainly within the walls of Nationwide
Arena (see Panarin, Artemi and Bobrovsky, Sergei), if their two best players
don';t perform like they can, they could miss the playoffs then who knows what
happens? So the three important questions the Blue Jackets must answer are:

Can they block out the noise and distractions of the uncertainty and put a good
 season together?Can some of their important players either take the next step
(Alexander Wennberg) or rebound to the way they know they can play (Brandon
Dubinsky)?Can they finally win a playoff series for the first time ever?

2017-18 Record: 45-30-7, 97 Points (4th in Metropolitan Division, 7th in
Eastern Conference, 14th in NHL Standings)Offseason MovesThe Blue Jackets hope
Riley Nash can boost both their center depth and their penalty kill. (Brad
Rempel-USA TODAY Sports)Key Roster Additions

Anthony DuclairRiley NashAdam ClendeningJ-F Berube

Key Roster Losses

Jack JohnsonMatt CalvertThomas VanekIan ColeMark LetestuJeff Zatkoff

2018 NHL Entry Draft

Liam Foudy (1st Round, 18th overall)Kirill Marchenko (2nd Round, 49th
overall)Markus Karlberg (3rd Round, 80th overall)Tim Berni (6th Round, 159th
overall)Veini Vehvilainen (6th Round 173rd overall)Trey Fix-Wolansky (7th
Round, 204th overall)

Organizational Changes

All of senior management, including John Davidson, Jarmo Kekalainen and Bill
Zito, received contract extensions this offseason. Ownership rewarded them for
the stability brought to the team and for getting them into the playoffs the
last couple of seasons.

Tortorella was also extended for two seasons. Brad Larsen, Kenny McCudden and
Brad Shaw are all back too. The only major change behind the bench is
goaltending coach Ian Clark. He is now with Vancouver. Manny Legace is the new
goaltending coach.

Again, stability is the name of the game, something this franchise isn';t used
to. It';s a welcome change from year';s past.Jarmo Kekalainen and staff have
brought a level of stability to a team that desperately needed it. (Photo by
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)Projected Lines: Forwards

Artemi Panarin - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Cam Atkinson

Nick Foligno - Alexander Wennberg - Oliver Bjorkstrand

Boone Jenner - Brandon Dubinsky - Josh AndersonSonny Milano - Riley Nash -
Anthony Duclair (Lukas Sedlak)

This was how they were grouped at the beginning of training camp. Panarin did
not participate at the start due to a stiff neck that is expected to keep him
out for a short time. But if these are the lines to start, it';s no wonder some
 have the Blue Jackets going places this season.

Don';t expect too many surprises coming from this camp. But if there is a name
to watch, it';s Jonathan Davidsson. He could make a case to crack this roster
with a strong showing at camp.Projected Pairings: Defense

Zach Werenski - Seth Jones

Markus Nutivaara - David Savard

Ryan Murray - Gabriel Carlsson

Scott Harrington - Dean Kukan

The top-five appear set for now. The battle for number six will be worth
watching as there are three players seemingly battling for one spot. Carlsson
is coming off a down year which saw him battle through a back injury. Kukan saw
 a little time in Columbus filling in. Harrington has been with the club as the
 seventh defenseman and would occasionally fill in. Someone not mentioned here
would have to have their camp of their life to get into the discussion.

Expect Werenski and Jones to start the year together. We';ll see later in the
season if circumstances change for any reason.Between the Pipes

Goaltending starts and ends with Bobrovsky. But given he is in the final year
of his contract and set to become UFA, what kind of performance can we expect
from him? Can he put the distractions aside and play to his Vezina-level? And
what impact will Legace have on Bobrovsky?

Backup Joonas Korpisalo enters the final year of his deal looking to prove he
deserves more starts. Can he finally find his groove and give the Blue Jackets
a 1A-1B tandem in net? This only happens if Korpisalo can stay consistent when
given a chance.

In the event of injury, the Blue Jackets have J-F Berube in waiting. He will
help young Matiss Kivlenieks in Cleveland in the meantime.Sergei Bobrovsky is
still the top cop on the force, for now. (Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)What to
 Expect

The Blue Jackets will start the season with four solid lines, two defensemen
who could eventually win a Norris and a multiple-Vezina winning goalie. The
ingredients are there. The thing we must watch for this season is how everyone
handles their business mentally.

The black cloud of an uncertain future hovers over Nationwide Arena. If the
team start losing 5,6,7 games in a row, questions will come fast and furious.
It will be very interesting to see who can handle things when the kitchen gets
hot.

Given their trips to the playoffs the last two seasons, teams will not take the
 Blue Jackets lightly. The Blue Jackets proved they were good when they were
the hunters. Now they are one of the hunted.

The talent is there. But I want to see who can put the past behind them and
look ahead. If the Blue Jackets can come together as a team with one focus and
one goal, they can make this season magical. But if they can';t, they';ll find
themselves in headlines and not for good reasons.

So what do I think happens this season? This is a good team from top to bottom.
 Adding Nash and Duclair to this forward group gives the team depth and
options. They can withstand an injury or two without losing very much.

I expect more consistency on special teams. The power play did improve as the
season went on. But the key here is how the penalty kill will do. This is why
the Nash signing is a good one. He should help improve this aspect for the Blue
 Jackets.

My breakout player is Oliver Bjorkstrand. He';s had a full, injury-free
offseason and is ready to show the kind of player he is. He gives the Blue
Jackets a whole different look if he';s pumping in goals like he can. Don';t
discount 25-30 goals. He';s that talented.Oliver Bjorkstrand is ready to show
the kind of player he is. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

With all of that said, I expect the Blue Jackets to hold onto Bobrovsky and
Panarin and make a run at the Cup. Why not? You have two of the premier players
 in the world on your team. Sure you risk losing them for nothing. But with
them you';re in the Cup conversation assuming Bobrovsky can find his way in the
 playoffs.

I still think they';re behind Pittsburgh and Washington, but the gap is
closing. This season, I think the Blue Jackets finally break down the playoff
door and win a series.

This team is upset at how last season ended. They are highly motivated to show
they can play with anyone. No matter what happens, this team will have the
hockey world watching them closely whether it';s in the playoffs or who they
had to trade away. Sit back and grab your popcorn. This story is sure to keep
you on the edge of your seat.

2018-19 Record Prediction: 46-28-8, 100 Points (3rd in Metropolitan Division)

The post 2018-19 Columbus Blue Jackets Season Preview appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHockeyWrite...
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
 * Origin: TequilaMockingbird Online - Toms River, NJ (1:266/404)