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Columbus Blue Jackets: 3 Things We’ve Learned Through 3 Games

By Preston Byers

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 6: A general view of Nationwide Arena before a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders on October 6, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 6: A general view of Nationwide Arena before a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders on October 6, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 07: Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Kempny (6) battles with Columbus Blue Jackets center Pierre-Luc Dubois (18) during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 7, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Three games is a really–like really, really–small sample size. Unfortunately, Bob isn’t going to go 70-0 or whatever record he’d have if he won every start. He’ll have some tough games through the season, as all goaltenders and teams do.

I expect him to be in the Vezina Trophy discussion at the end of the season, but it’s hard to predict whether he’ll be the no-brainer winner like he was in 2016-17.

As far as Sonny goes, he’ll slow down. Four goals in three games by a guy that most weren’t sure on whether he made the roster is nuts. But it’s not sustainable. That’s a word that got used a lot when talking about the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, but in this case, it’s true. Hate to break it to everyone, but Sonny’s not scoring 109 goals like he’s on pace for. Maybe 108, though.

And Torts. I trust him. He’s a great coach. Crazy for sure, but he’s got to this level of coaching because he knows what the hell he’s doing.

I love that he’s giving the young guys chances to shine. He’s letting this team form their own style and not destroying their rhythm for the sake of his own strategies. Of course, he’s not going to let the players do whatever they want whenever they want, but he’s not going to shackle them to his thinking all the time.

Believe in this team. We will need some trades to be done by Jarmo to really get us to Cup level, but I don’t think we’re that far away. We’ve baked the cake. It’s all about adding the toppings now.

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