Metropolitan Division 2014-15 Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets
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COACH: Todd Richards
2013-2014 RECORD: 43-32-7, 93 points (fourth in Metropolitan, lost to Penguins in first round)
VITAL SIGNS: 2.8 goals per game (12th), 2.6 goals-against per game (13th); 19.3 power play pct. (11th); 82.1 penalty kill pct. (14th); shootout record: 5-2 (2nd)
NOTABLE ARRIVALS: LW Scott Hartnell
NOTABLE DEPARTURES: LW R.J. Umberger, LW Blake Comeau, C Derek MacKenzie,RW Jack Skille, D Nikita Nikitin, D Nick Schultz
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART
Forwards
Boone Jenner (broken hand) — Ryan Johansen — Nathan Horton (back injury)
Scott Hartnell — Brandon Dubinsky — Cam Atkinson
Nick Foligno — Artem Anisimov — Corey Tropp
Matt Calvert — Mark Letestu — Jared Boll
Defensemen
Jack Johnson — James Wisniewski
Ryan Murray (injured) — Fedor Tyutin
David Savard — Dalton Prout
Tim Erixon
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky
Curtis McElhinney
Best case scenarios for Eastern Conference teams
and Jack Johnson continue to set the tone, Columbus could be looking to make even greater strides next spring.
•Blue Jackets, Johansen finally settle on new contract
PLAYER TO WATCH: Ryan Johansen
All eyes in Columbus are on Johansen. After spurning the Blue Jackets’ offers over the summer, the 22 year-old will face a lot of pressure to improve on the 33-30-63 that he put up in 2013-14. Contract disputes can poison even the most tight-knit locker rooms, so it would serve him well to get this one over before it drags on much longer.
•Positive outlook for Columbus, other fretting fan bases
PREDICTION: 95 points (third in Metropolitan)
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