Team Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets

2010-2011: 81 points, 13th in Western Conference
Key additions: C Jeff Carter, D James Wisniewski, LW Vinny Prospal, D Radek Martinek
Key departures: RW Jakub Voracek, G Mathieu Garon, D Jan Hejda, LW Scottie Upshall

With a talented C to play with, Nash (above) could post huge numbers.

Why they'll contend: The only NHL team without a playoff win, save the Winnipeg Jets franchise, the Jackets were in desperate need of relevance entering the summer. They added Jeff Carter in a blockbuster trade with Philadelphia, finally getting Rick Nash someone to play with. Nash & Carter could form a lethal combination and the possibilities are exciting for Columbus; so exciting that James Wisniewski committed to Columbus over the summer as a free agent. The Jackets immediately made themselves relevant again by making a splash in the trade market, something they've never really done. The Jackets have improved defensively through free agency, but losing Jan Hejda to Colorado could be a bigger hole than anticipated. Columbus will benefit from an improved power play that finished 29th in the NHL last year at 14%. The Jackets are deeper than last season and will make a move up the standings. While they may not be Cup contenders, the additions of Carter and Wisniewski are a step in the right direction and the Jackets should find themselves in the mix in a very tight Western Conference.

Why they'll falter: Despite making headlines over the summer, the Jackets are only so deep. There is too little secondary scoring and while they may have had one of the better summers in the Western Conference they are still a step behind. Goaltending is still an issue with Steve Mason being inconsistent, and the penalty kill was only slightly improved after finishing 22nd in the NHL last year. They'll score more than last season, but will they score enough? After Nash and Carter the talent pool drops off considerably and secondary scoring will be tough to come by. The Western Conference is simply too good, even with the improvements. While the Jackets definitely plugged some holes, there are still many more to be plugged before the team will win it's first playoff game in franchise history.

2012 prediction: 10th in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Rick Nash, 42 goals & 71 points
Bold prediction: Under the right circumstances, Rick Nash will eclipse 50 goals.

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