Six Reasons Why The Columbus Blue Jackets Won’t Make The Playoffs
By Mark Huss
2) Pressure
There is a ton of pressure on this team, and you know what happens under pressure. Columbus will either sink or swim. What pressure am I talking about you might ask? Individual, team, and organizational.
Sep 23, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) stops the shot of Minnesota Wild left wing Jason Zucker (16) during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
Sergei Bobrovsky has a ton of pressure alone, last season he stood on his head to get wins for the Blue Jackets. Will he have to do that again this year? Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Marian Gaborik, Nick Foligno, and Nathan Horton all have to contribute at a high level this year, a lack of scoring in the East is not an option. R.J. Umberger has been on the decline for the last couple of season, can he snap out of his slump and get back to producing 50+ points? Just a few of the pressures I see at the individual level.
The team has to come together as one, as I mentioned in the second slide. We know that the Blue Jackets have to win as a team, no individual can lift this team to victory every single night, unless his name is Bobrovsky. The organization as a whole have a ton of pressure to withstand too, if the Blue Jackets don’t show any promise in the beginning of the season do they make changes? Trades? Call-ups? It has been said over and over this offseason in Jarmo and JD we trust. Well, will that hold true if the season doesn’t go our way?
Lastly, the fans, we are putting a lot of pressure on this “rebuild”, at least I am and I think a lot of you are too. We may need to cut them some slack this year, and give it time, because that is what’s needed during a rebuild.