NHL Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus has struggled for the past two years – the Jackets will struggle some more this year, according to Charlie Boccanegra.

This offseason the Columbus Blue Jackets have gone out and tried to fill one of the biggest vacancies on their roster by getting a proper #1 center in Jeff Carter to play with one of the NHL’s best snipers in Rick Nash. Unfortunately, that one move will not be enough to put this team over the hump.

I don’t expect Columbus to improve much on the last two seasons in which they have been near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. The Blue Jackets’ NHL betting season point total is set at 86.5 – eclipsing that number would require a significant improvement from the two previous seasons that have seen them average 80 points per season.

The addition of Carter improves the offense to two good scoring lines as he and Nash could form one of the better center-winger combinations in the NHL. Derrick Brassard and Antoine Vermette are good young offensive players who have a ton of potential to be quality top six forwards.

But, that is where it ends because the only other formidable offensive threats would be veterans Vinny Prospal and RJ Umberger. Both often seem disinterested and don’t play with enough consistency to impose a threat on the opposing defense and goaltending. After that there is virtually no offense with not one player capable of being a top six and 35+ point threat.

Defensively this team is extremely weak having no real #1 threat or pairing. They will start the year with newly acquired shut down defenseman James Wisniewski suspended. When he comes back expect him to join Fedor Tyutin on that top pairing – both could play the role of a shut down pair but offer no offensive threat. Good luck relying on the likes of Radek Martinek, Marc Methot and Grant Clistrome to shut down opposing offenses.

What makes things even worse is Columbus don’t have a goalie that can be relied upon to bail out a bad defense. Two years ago Steve Mason had one of the most incredible rookie seasons we have ever seen in the NHL. Since then his game has continued to regress posting a GAA over 3 the past two seasons. I think it’s safe to say the rookie season was more of a fluke, and this is what we should expect of him.

I plan on fading the Jackets whenever the chance presents itself. Keep in mind they will be huge NHL betting underdogs on the road against good teams so it may not be easy to lay the price against them. But, when good teams come to visit Nationwide arena and are laying a short price they will be worth a look because they don’t have a great home ice advantage.

In addition, I expect Columbus to trail in many games throughout the season and this will force a more offensive game. With decent top six forwards and below average D and goaltending, betting on some OVERS would be a wise idea.