Points Predictions: Columbus Blue Jackets Forwards

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As Clint Linn mentioned in his post this morning, The Columbus Blue Jackets Need A Fast Start, the NHL regular season starts in ONE day for the Blue Jackets, it is so close now! Going into this season we all have our expectations for the players, some we would be happy with similar production as last year, and others we will be looking for more of a contribution.

The front office made sure to add some scoring depth to the team during last years trade deadline by picking up Marian Gaborik. Then during the offseason the Blue Jackets signed Nathan Horton, a big forward who can also put the puck in the back of the net. Two players can’t do all the scoring by themselves though, especially since Horton is hurt for the first few months of the season.

The rest of the team needs to pick up the slack and add pucks into the back of the net as well. In this first post I am going to let you in on my points predictions for the forwards, in a separate post I will cover the defenseman. Lets get started…

Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

Artem Anisimov

  • Last Season: 11 G, 7 A for 18 Points
  • 2013-2014 Season Prediction: 23 G, 33 A for 56 Points
  • This may be high for Anisimov compared to previous years, but I think he has it in him. He is a major part of this Blue Jackets offense and he needs to start producing like it. 20+ goals shouldn’t be out of the question since he netted 11 last year in half a season. I may be slightly optimistic on the assists though.

Cam Atkinson

Sep 21, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson (13) chases the puck under pressure from Pittsburgh Penguins center Brandon Sutter (16) during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Last Season: 9 G, 9 A for 18 Points

2013-2014 Season Prediction: 16 G, 27 A for 43 Points

I think Atkinson will be a solid 20+ goal scorer, just not yet in his career though. 43 points is respectable though for a player of his age, and I think 16 G and 27 A is more than enough to ask of him.

Jared Boll

  • Last Season: 2 G, 4 A for 6 Points
  • 2013-2014 Season Prediction: 3 G, 5 A for 8 Points
  • Boll has never scored more than 7 goals in a single season, unfortunately this year I think he will be a few shy of that. 8 points in a season for a player in his role, in my opinion, is a lot of production.

Matt Calvert

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Last Season: 9 G, 7 A for 16 Points

2013-2014 Season Prediction: 13 G, 14 A for 27 Points

Calvert has played 97 games over three seasons in the NHL for Columbus, and I think he is ready to be a regular on the Blue Jackets and play a full season, if healthy. If he can play a full year with the Blue Jackets I think he can show that he is able to produce at the NHL level.

Blake Comeau

  • Last Season: 6 G, 6 A for 12 Points
  • 2013-2014 Season Prediction: 10 G, 12 A for 22 Points
  • Comeau was picked up in a trade with the Calgary Flames during last seasons deadline. He has been struggling since his breakout season in 2010-11. The Blue Jackets are hoping that he can start to reclaim his career and become a solid secondary scorer.

Brandon Dubinsky

Last Season: 2 G, 18 A for 20 Points

2013-2014 Season Prediction: 19 G, 43 A for 62 Points

Dubinsky, a twice 20+ goal scorer, will fall just short of that mark this year in my opinion. I think he will more than make up for it in assists though. His job is to win the puck and get it to the sniper, in this case, Gaborik. I think he is just the man for the first line job, and will not disappoint this season.

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Foligno

  • Last Season: 6 G, 13 A for 19 Points
  • 2013-2014 Season Prediction: 21 G, 29 A for 50 Points
  • I have high hopes for Foligno. I think he can be a solid second line winger, he just needs to get back to producing like one. Last year was a let down, this year needs to be better. He is still a young player but he has a lot of NHL experience, this will show during this 82 game season.

Marian Gaborik

Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

Last Season: 12 G, 15 A for 27 Points

2013-2014 Season Prediction: 33 G, 30 A for 63 Points

Gaborik needs to return back into the scoring machine he once was during his days in Minnestoa, and like the 2011-12 season as a Ranger. It is no secret that the Blue Jackets will rely on him for the majority of their scoring. He doesn’t have to do it himself though, secondary scoring should increase from last season as well, so hopefully he doesn’t feel too much pressure.

Nathan Horton

  • Last Season: 13 G, 9 A for 22 Points
  • 2013-2014 Season Prediction: 20 G, 19 A for 49 Points
  • When Horton makes his debut for the Blue Jackets I expect him to come out of the gates strong. He will want to prove that he is worth every penny, and I think he will do that this season. Columbus would be in a better situation if they had Horton all year, but I think when the time comes and he is ready, we will see the team have a good boost of energy.

Boone Jenner

  • Last Season: 45 G, 37 A for 82 Points (OHL – Oshawa Generals)
  • 2013-2014 Season Prediction: 14 G, 21 A for 35 Points
  • Jenner was a goal scoring, and assisting beast in the OHL last season. He showed in the preseason what he is made of and everyone was raving about him. Being slotted on a line with Dubinsky and Gaborik will help his points production, he can only hope to stay with those two players throughout the season.

Ryan Johansen

Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Last Season: 5 G, 7 A for 12 Points

2013-2014 Season Prediction: 14 G, 16 A for 30 Points

Johansen is set to be the third line center, which is perfectly fine when you are behind players like Dubinsky and Anisimov. He will also be seeing sometime on the the power play which should help increase his points total. If Johansen wants to move up in the depth chart in the future he is going to have to continue to develop his skills and step up his play.

Mark Letestu

  • Last Season: 13 G, 14 A for 27 Points
  • 2013-2014 Season Prediction: 19 G, 16 A for 35 Points
  • Letestu was the leading scorer for the Blue Jackets last season, but since Gaborik’s arrival he will most likely not repeat that feat. It was noted on BlueJackets.NHL.com that Letestu may be on the wing with Anisimov to start the season. He is listed as a center but will more than likely be on the wings since the Blue Jackets have depth at center.

Derek MacKenzie

  • Last Season: 3 G, 5 A for 8 Points
  • 2013-2014 Season Prediction: 7 G, 8 A for 15 Points
  • MacKenzie is a solid 4th line center, and contributes well in his roles. Scoring and adding assists is not the main aspect of his job description, it is simply an added bonus.

R.J. Umberger

Mandatory Credit: Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports

Last Season: 8 G, 10 A for 18 Points

2013-2014 Season Prediction: 17 G, 22 A for 39 Points

Umberger is one of the most veteran players the Blue Jackets have. He needs to make a statement this season that he is still valuable to this young team. Getting back into the range of 20+ goals and 20+ assists would be a good way to start, but I don’t see it happening this season. Honestly, if he under performs again this year, I think he would be a good candidate for a buyout.

That concludes my predictions. I hope that I am wrong on 100% of them, as in, hopefully they all produce MORE points than I predicted. Don’t be shy to comment, let us know what you think of my predictions, and/or, tell us your own! You know how to contact us, comments section below, Facebook, or Twitter.

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