NHL Season Preview 2016-17: Columbus Blue Jackets

Will the Columbus Blue Jackets be the worst team in the NHL this season?

Everyone saw the Columbus Blue Jackets as a sleeper pick to make the playoffs before the 2015-16 season. An eight game losing streak to start the season got head coach Todd Richards fired. John Tortorella replaced him and did not fare any better. Columbus finished in last place in the Metropolitan Division with a 34-40-8 record, the fourth worst mark in the NHL.

Just about everything that could have gone wrong for the Blue Jackets last season indeed went wrong. Sergei Bobrovsky suffered numerous injuries, Captain Nick Foligno followed his career best 73 points in 2014-15 with 37 points in 72 games. Franchise center Ryan Johansen found himself in Tortorella’s dog house and got traded to the Nashville Predators. The 2016-17 season is a very important season for the Blue Jackets, as they must improve from last year.

Offseason Review

Here’s what the Blue Jackets did during the offseason.

Additions: C/F Sam Gagner (Flyers), C/F Pierre-Luc Dubois (2016 NHL draft), D Scott Harrington (Maple Leafs)

Losses: D Fedor Tyutin (Avalanche), C/F Jared Boll (Ducks), F Kerby Rychel (Maple Leafs)

Retained: C/F William Karlsson, D Seth Jones

Thanks to some albatross contracts, the Columbus Blue Jackets couldn’t spend much money this offseason. Despite that, they were a bit busy. After acquiring defenseman Seth Jones in the Johansen trade, Columbus signed him to a six-year deal.

Moving forward, Jones is a very important part of their defense. Jones gives the Blue Jackets a very talented defenseman who, in a small sample size, has done well with big minutes. He and defenseman Ryan Murray will be the top pairing for the Blue Jackets.

Drafting Pierre-Luc Dubois with the third overall pick surprised a lot of people. But the Blue Jackets need a franchise center and Dubois has that upside. He could get playing time with the Blue Jackets this season, though he would benefit from one more year in juniors. Scouts remain divided regarding his future as a center, but he should at least be a very talented player.

Scott Harrington is a decent depth defenseman. Columbus needs defensive depth, but they paid a hefty price (Kerby Rychel) to get Harrington. Harrington could see time on the Blue Jackets’ third pairing. Sam Gagner is a great guy for the Blue Jackets to gamble on. He has been productive in the past and could net the Blue Jackets a nice draft pick or prospect at the NHL trade deadline. Gagner has been impressive during the preseason.

Player Spotlight: Brandon Saad

The Columbus Blue Jackets boldly traded for forward Brandon Saad last offseason. As a two-time Stanley Cup champion, Saad was expected to provide leadership for the team. While the Blue Jackets were a terrible team, it certainly wasn’t Saad’s fault. Saad set career highs with a team high 31 goals and 53 points. He did this despite playing with worse teammates than he did with the Chicago Blackhawks.

It’s unfair to put all of the blame on Saad, especially when other players were far more disappointing. However, the Blue Jackets gave up a lot for Saad, so expectations for him should be higher. At the same time, Saad cannot do it alone. He showed great leadership by being productive and staying out of the penalty box with only 14 penalty minutes.

He is already one of the best forwards in the NHL. In order for the Blue Jackets to have a good 2016-17 season, Saad will have to break through and become an elite player. He has every bit of talent necessary to do so. The Saad trade is already a win for the Columbus Blue Jackets because they got a great player for a relatively cheap price. But for it to truly flourish, the Blue Jackets have to win. Whether it’s fair or not, that’s how Saad will be judged moving forward.

2016-17 Outlook

Despite their terrible 2015-16 season and their relatively lackluster offseason, the Columbus Blue Jackets have reasons to be optimistic. Boone Jenner and Cam Atkinson had great seasons and both should continue to improve. Captain Nick Foligno has nowhere to go but up after a nightmare season.

That said, the Blue Jackets don’t have the talent necessary to be competitive in the Metropolitan Division. It’s hard to see them beating out any of the other Metropolitan Division teams. Sergei Bobrovsky has to be a Vezina Trophy finalist for the Blue Jackets to have any chance of contending. That possibility undeniably exists, but it is highly unlikely because Bobrovsky hasn’t been able to be healthy or effective since winning the Vezina Trophy. However, he looked as good as he has ever looked at the World Cup of Hockey.

John Tortorella’s coaching style is not optimal for the Blue Jackets, or any team for that matter. In the end, Tortorella could be the guy keeping the Blue Jackets from improving. Columbus has talent, but it’s going to be a long season for them.