The Columbus Blue Jackets took home a lot of hardware last season. What are their odds to bring some more trophies home this year?
The Columbus Blue Jackets ended last season with two leadership awards, the Jack Adams award and the Vezina trophy. The season, which was a surprise to all, ended with some much deserved recognition. The out of no where season and 16-game winning streak helped create enough media attention to the team and thrusting some players to awards.
This season the Jackets will surprise no one and repeating the success in the hardware department will be difficult. Lets take a look at what odds any players have at bringing home some end of season awards.
The Hart Trophy
The NHL MVP award was won last season by Connor McDavid but the Columbus Blue Jackets did have a finalist. Sergei Bobrovsky, who you could have made a serious argument was the MVP for his team, finished third.
This year Bob is the teams best candidate for the Hart Trophy again but his odds are slim to none. Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos have been lighting the league on fire. Johnny Gaudreau has played incredibly well too. At least until he faced the Columbus Blue Jackets and his consecutive points game streak was snapped at 10.
It is next to impossible for a goalie to win the Hart and it’s even harder for a Russian goalie in a small market to win. I don’t see the Hart coming to Columbus this season.
ODDS: 1000:1
The Calder Trophy
The Columbus Blue Jackets had another finalist in this category last season as Zach Werenski had one of the best seasons for a rookie defenseman in NHL history. Too bad this guy named Auston Matthews scored 40 goals in his rookie campaign otherwise I think we might have had a winner.
Columbus Blue Jackets
This season it looked as though Sonny Milano could have been an early outside shot at the rookie of the year with five goals in eight games. But Sonny has cooled off significantly and might find himself in Cleveland for the season soon.
Pierre-Luc Dubois has been solid for the team but hasn’t stood out amongst the rest of the leagues rookies. He has been playing on a different level since he was moved to center Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson. That line could yield some great offensive production and an outside shot at the Calder.
ODDS: 250:1
The Jack Adams
Our own John Tortorella took home the coach of the year award last season. The unexpected turnaround for the Jackets lead by the New Englander landed him his second Jack Adams.
But this award is never won by the same person in consecutive years. It can’t be done because of the backwards way it is handed out. Not to the best coach, but to the most improved team. Sorry Torts, no award for you.
ODDS: None. It’s not going to happen.
The Vezina Trophy
The defending Vezina Trophy winner has put himself in a good position to repeat. Bob is playing out of his mind right now and leads the league in shutouts, goals against average, save percentage and is second in wins.
If he keeps this up, Bob could win his third Vezina trophy and second in a row. He has been the best goalie this year so far. It’s now just up to the hype machine to help get Sergei some media attention.
ODDS: 3:1
Next: CBJ First Quarter Grades
The quarter season mark has the Jackets pretty well set up to do some damage not only in the standings but with some end of the year trophies. Of course, they would trade all of these for Lord Stanley’s trophy but that is a ways away.