Predicting when every NHL team will win its next Stanley Cup

Columbus Blue Jackets

Slowly, but surely, the Columbus Blue Jackets have transformed into a playoff contender. Yet, it still feels as though the Blue Jackets should already, well, at least have won a playoff series by now, no?

Columbus is close to taking that next step as a Stanley Cup contender, and entails talent in all areas on the ice, plus the roster has a good mix of veteran and youthful assets. Still, it just doesn’t seem realistic at the given moment that the Jackets could win a Stanley Cup in the next handful of seasons.

Defensemen Zach Werenski and Seth Jones blend for a solid backend for the Blue Jackets, but the team may end up losing one of the league’s more promising playmakers in Artemi Panarin – should Columbus not re-sign its leading goal-scorer from last season (27 goals, 55 assists).

Panarin’s 82 points were 25 more than Jones’ 57, who was second on the team in scoring. At this rate, losing Panarin seems likely, and Columbus would have to find a way to restructure its’ offense in dramatic fashion.

There used to be one true positive that would give Columbus fighting hope to make a run deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which was between the pipes with Sergei Bobrovsky. Yet, Bobrovsky has struggled with inquiries, and the two-time Norris Trophy winner (2013 & 2017) doesn’t appear to be the same reliable source in net when the postseason rolls around.

The timing, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to be in favor of the Blue Jackets, especially with a handful of other clubs in the Eastern Conference bidding for Lord Stanley. If the Jackets were to win their first Cup, then 2028 would be the year.