This article is part of our Team Previews series.
Following up their agonizing failure to nab a playoff spot in 2012-2013 on a tiebreaker, the Blue Jackets came out of the gate slowly last season. Big offseason free agent signing Nathan Horton was still recovering from shoulder surgery, Sergei Bobrovsky couldn't find his Vezina-winning form and the club just seemed to lack a spark. The move to the Eastern Conference as part of the NHL's realignment eventually paid dividends, however, as Columbus found their footing and finished fourth in the new Metropolitan Division to lock up the second postseason appearance in franchise history. A first-round matchup against the Penguins proved to be an insurmountable obstacle, although the Blue Jackets did manage to record their first-ever playoff victories in a crazy six-game series that saw the eventual game loser march out to a 3-1 lead in each of the first four games.
After years of struggling, optimism now rules in Columbus. The team isn't yet a powerhouse by any means, but GM Jarmo Kekalainen has put together a young, fast, gritty roster that seems ideally constructed for the modern NHL, and the minor league pipeline is loaded with talent. While a lot went right last season (James Wisniewski stayed healthy for the first time in three seasons with the Blue Jackets, Ryan Johansen finally emerged as a dominant force and Bobrovsky recovered from his slow start to establish himself among the game's elite netminders) it wasn't like the club's luck was all good. Horton, for instance, made little impact
Following up their agonizing failure to nab a playoff spot in 2012-2013 on a tiebreaker, the Blue Jackets came out of the gate slowly last season. Big offseason free agent signing Nathan Horton was still recovering from shoulder surgery, Sergei Bobrovsky couldn't find his Vezina-winning form and the club just seemed to lack a spark. The move to the Eastern Conference as part of the NHL's realignment eventually paid dividends, however, as Columbus found their footing and finished fourth in the new Metropolitan Division to lock up the second postseason appearance in franchise history. A first-round matchup against the Penguins proved to be an insurmountable obstacle, although the Blue Jackets did manage to record their first-ever playoff victories in a crazy six-game series that saw the eventual game loser march out to a 3-1 lead in each of the first four games.
After years of struggling, optimism now rules in Columbus. The team isn't yet a powerhouse by any means, but GM Jarmo Kekalainen has put together a young, fast, gritty roster that seems ideally constructed for the modern NHL, and the minor league pipeline is loaded with talent. While a lot went right last season (James Wisniewski stayed healthy for the first time in three seasons with the Blue Jackets, Ryan Johansen finally emerged as a dominant force and Bobrovsky recovered from his slow start to establish himself among the game's elite netminders) it wasn't like the club's luck was all good. Horton, for instance, made little impact between his rehab from surgery and an abdominal strain. Given the expected improvement from young players like Johansen, Ryan Murray and Boone Jenner, a real contribution from a healthy Horton, and the addition of abrasive veteran Scott Hartnell (acquired from the Flyers for R.J. Umberger) there's every reason to believe the team will be able to improve on last season's 93 points and possibly even make a deeper postseason run.
The Big Guns
Ryan Johansen, C (RotoWire Position Rank*: #14): After a couple of rough years to begin his NHL career, Johansen finally lived up to his billing as the fourth-overall pick in 2010, leading the Blue Jackets in scoring with 33 goals and 63 points and emerging as a true top-line center. He still hasn't entirely answered all the questions about his occasionally inconsistent intensity level, but when he's on his game, Johansen is an absolute beast in the offensive zone - and only 22 years old. His contract dispute with the team has dragged on uncomfortably close to the beginning of training camp, but assuming the restricted free agent returns to the fold, the Blue Jackets have found their replacement for Rick Nash as the club's franchise player.
*RotoWire Position Ranks reflected for points-based leagues*
Brandon Dubinsky, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #27): Dubinsky was the heart and soul of the Blue Jackets last season, and while his point total (16 goals and 34 assists) wasn't elite, his other numbers (98 PIM, 234 hits, 52.9% faceoff win rate) certainly were, and the job he did stifling Sidney Crosby gave the team a legitimate shot at pulling off an upset against the Penguins in their first-round playoff matchup. Dubinsky was rewarded in the off-season with a six-year extension, and will remain entrenched on a top line for the Jackets for the foreseeable future. He's capable of a little more offense, but his real value lies in multi-category fantasy leagues that count his other contributions.
James Wisniewski, D (RotoWire Position Rank: #23): Wisniewski finally had the kind of season the Blue Jackets envisioned when they originally signed him three seasons ago, scoring an eye-popping 51 points in 75 games, good for eighth in scoring among defensemen. He benefited from an improved Columbus power play, as 28 of those points came with the man advantage, and while his injury history makes it tough to bank on a repeat performance, the young roster around Wisniewski should continue to get better, which may help soften the blow of any regression in his production.
Sergei Bobrovsky, G (RotoWire Position Rank: #7): Bobrovsky wasn't able to match his Vezina-winning performance of the year before, but he did prove it was no fluke and established himself as one of the NHL's premiere netminders. His 32 wins, 2.38 GAA and .923 save percentage all ranked in the top 10 among goalies who appeared in at least 40 games, and were nearly identical to Henrik Lundqvist's numbers. As young defensemen like Ryan Murray mature in front of him, the improving supporting cast could allow him to add some more playoff wins to his resume and hardware to his trophy case.
On the Rise
Boone Jenner, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #90): By just about any measure, Jenner's rookie season was a successful one. After a slow start, he scored 14 goals and 26 points over his final 55 games with a plus-12 rating, adding three goals and five points in the Blue Jackets' first-round playoff loss to the Penguins. Jenner's 212 hits on the season led all rookies, and he finished the year firmly entrenched among the Jackets' top-six forwards, seeing plenty of ice time alongside Ryan Johansen. A sophomore slump is always possible, and he doesn't have a huge offensive ceiling, but as his body and his game mature, Jenner figures to be yet another Columbus forward who plays hard in every zone and can contribute in a variety of fantasy categories.
Ryan Murray, D (RotoWire Position Rank: #86): While injuries continued to dog him, Murray's rookie season was fairly successful. Scoring 21 points in 66 games won him a spot on the Blue Jackets' second defensive pairing and he proved himself to be mature far beyond his years. The presence of Jack Johnson and James Wisniewski prevent him from seeing big power play minutes, which limits Murray's fantasy potential, but it won't be long before he establishes himself as a rock-solid two-way blueliner and an indispensable part of Columbus' future.
Two to Watch
Nick Foligno, LW (RotoWire Position Rank: #37): Foligno returned to form last season, scoring a career-high 18 goals and racking up 96 PIM and 210 hits. Although his game is better suited for a third-line role, he did see some action on the Blue Jackets' second line in 2013-14. If he hangs onto a top-six placement this season, Foligno could end up topping his previous high of 47 points.
Cam Atkinson, RW (RotoWire Position Rank: #25): Atkinson finally put things together last season, scoring 21 goals and 40 points in 79 games while filling a variety of roles on the wing for the Blue Jackets. The addition of Scott Hartnell could make it tough for Atkinson to see top-six ice time this season though, and while a third-line placement on an improving roster isn't the worst fate for a young winger, it will limit his fantasy ceiling. Don't expect him to take things to another level unless injuries ahead of him open up some prime minutes for him.
Don't Overrate
Jack Johnson, D (RotoWire Position Rank: #39): Johnson gets a lot of flak from the analytical crowd for being an overall liability on the ice, but fantasy owners have no complaints about the 33 points (18 of them on the power play) that he contributed last season. The workhorse defenseman logs big minutes and lays a lot of hits along with his man-advantage production. As the young Blue Jackets' roster continues to improve around him, Johnson might even be able to avoid being a slight drag on your plus-minus someday.
Nathan Horton, RW (RotoWire Position Rank: #40): Horton barely got a chance to show what he could do in his first season in Columbus, as just as he seemed to fully recover from offseason shoulder surgery, an abdominal injury took him down. His final tally (19 points in 36 games) was hardly worth his big free agent contract, but a now-healthy Horton will head into 2014-2015 with a lot to prove. He showed some chemistry with Ryan Johansen, and if Horton can keep that line placement, he should be able to return to the 20-goal, 50-point level.
Top Prospects
Alexander Wennberg, C (RotoWire Prospects Ranking: #14): Last year's 14th overall pick has the skill and hockey IQ to excel in just about any role on an NHL roster, and the 19-year-old Wennberg will get a legitimate chance to earn a spot on the Columbus roster in training camp. His fantasy ceiling might be limited at the outset, but down the road, he could comfortably settle in on a second or third line and be the kind of player who contributes at both ends of the ice.
Oscar Dansk, G (RotoWire Prospects Ranking: #25): The Blue Jackets' goalie of the future had an up-and-down season in the OHL, but his final numbers for an improving Erie squad (29 wins, 2.39 GAA, .909 save percentage) were solid. He shone at the World Juniors for Sweden, and will make his pro debut this season for Springfield in the AHL, which potentially puts him one or two injuries away from a call-up. The building blocks are all there for him to make an impact in the NHL, but with Sergei Bobrovsky still in his prime, the Jackets will be in no rush to get Dansk to Columbus.
Kerby Rychel, LW (RotoWire Prospects Ranking: #31): The son of former NHL enforcer Warren Rychel, young Kerby finished his junior career with a mammoth postseason and Memorial Cup run that the Blue Jackets hope he'll someday be able to replicate in the NHL. Rychel's size, toughness and knack for goal-scoring make him look the perfect prototype of a power forward, but the 2013 first-round pick will need to continue to work on his skating and consistency to realize his potential at the highest level.
Sonny Milano, LW (RotoWire Prospects Ranking: #70): The 16th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Milano's game is pure offense at this point, but he brings an electricity to that end of the rink that few prospects possess. He'll need to learn to find his way around in his own zone before he'll earn a place on a Blue Jackets' roster built to play a relentless, end-to-end style, but if he does round out his game, Milano's speed and top-shelf skill could provide a fantasy windfall.
Marko Dano, C (RotoWire Prospects Ranking: #93): After 41 uninspiring games in the KHL last year, the 19-year-old Dano made his North American debut in Springfield and promptly racked up two goals and six points in 10 games. The uptick in production shouldn't be surprising, as the feisty Slovak's skill set seems far better suited for this side of the pond, and while fellow 2013 first-rounder Alexander Wennberg has the most advanced game among Blue Jackets prospects, it could easily be Dano who gets to the NHL first as a bottom-six agitator. Long-term, his ceiling is much higher than that, but for the moment, Dano will focus on making his body stronger and his sandpaper-game grittier.
Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW (RotoWire Prospects Ranking: #98): Bjorkstrand had a huge season for the Portland Winterhawks (50 goals and 109 points in 69 games) skating alongside Jets prospect Nicolas Petan, but Bjorkstrand's small stature means he will need to keep getting stronger and prove himself on every rung of the ladder before he'll get a shot at the NHL. The offensive talent and hockey sense are there for him to make an impact down the road.
T.J. Tynan, C (RotoWire Prospects Ranking: NR): After scoring 38 points in 40 games as a senior for Notre Dame, Tynan got his feet wet in the AHL at the end of last season. The undersized forward will hope to follow in Cam Atkinson's skates and become an effective two-way winger for the Blue Jackets, but he's likely a year or two away from NHL duty. He will likely spend the season playing for Springfield in the AHL.
Mike Reilly, D (RotoWire Prospects Ranking: NR): A late growth spurt put Reilly on the prospect map, and the University of Minnesota blueliner now finds himself mentioned as a preseason contender for the Hobey Baker Award, awarded to the top NCAA hockey player. He's still a long way from the NHL, but Reilly has the skills to someday be an effective two-way defenseman for Columbus.
