Fansided

Projecting every NHL team’s chances of hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2019

By Griffin Youngs

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 19: Seth Jones #3 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the Washington Capitals in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Seth Jones
COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 19: Seth Jones #3 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the Washington Capitals in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Seth Jones /

16. Columbus Blue Jackets

It’s another season following another playoff disappointment for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and a season of uncertainty ahead with plenty of questions to answer on what this team is capable of.

Last season, the Blue Jackets finished 13th in the league with 97 points, and beat out the New Jersey Devils for the first wild card spot with a tiebreaker.

Why they could win

The Blue Jackets could be a team with plenty of motivation heading into this season after yet another gut wrenching first-round exit, and they have the talent on the roster to back it up.

The pairing of Zach Werenski and Seth Jones is among one of the best in the entire league, and Seth Jones could very well be competing for a Norris Trophy this year after coming close to being a nominee. The forward core is also incredibly deep and can run four dangerous lines, and it doesn’t hurt that Sergei Bobrovsky is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL to backstop the team in front of him.

The Blue Jackets also have plenty of youth like Pierre Luc Dubois and Oliver Bjorkstand, who have the potential for a big breakout season, and they can use the boost from their younger players to support their core.

The Blue Jackets can for sure get into the playoffs like they have the past two years, and they have the kind of roster that you need to make a run. They’ve got four solid lines, borderline elite top pairing defensemen, and one of the best goaltenders in the league. It would be huge weight off the organization’s shoulders just to win one round, and the Capitals just showed how much damage you can do when that happens.

Why they won’t win

The Blue Jackets have never won a playoff series in their existence. They are the literal least successful franchise in NHL history. They have to at least win a playoff round first before anyone can take the thought of them winning the Stanley Cup seriously.

The Blue Jackets also lack a true game changer, and the closest they one to one is Artemi Panarin, who could be traded if the Blue Jackets cannot reach an agreement on a contract extension with him. Without Panarin, this team is out of luck, and it needs to find a way to keep him at any cost.

Their defense outside of Werenski and Jones is nothing special. It’s still relatively young and Ryan Murray is alright, but none of them are anything special enough to hold up against the better players in the league. If Bobrovsky for some reason gets hurt, their flaws will be on full display.

Conclusion

Overall, the Blue Jackets making the playoffs feels pretty safe barring some injuries, especially in the wide-open Metropolitan Division. They’ve got young talent, a deep offense, and a top three goalie in the world, all the right pieces to make a run. However, the Blue Jackets flaws are too prevalent to see a Cup run happening this year, especially with their past of failure.

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