The youngsters, not the veterans, are carrying this Columbus Blue Jackets squad.
Forty-four games into the season, the veteran core of the Columbus Blue Jackets has been somewhat absent according to the eye test this season. Rookies, new stars, and the younger players are stepping up and taking over.
If you take a glance at the teams’ points leaders, you have to go down to number seven to find a player that was on the Blue Jackets’ roster at the beginning of the 2015-2016 campaign.
Let’s compare the first 44 games of last season, to the first 44 games of this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The veterans the Jackets need to step up include the Captain, Nick Foligno. Currently, Foligno is averaging 0.36 points per game (P/G) on 1.82 shots per game (S/G). Last season at this point, he was averaging 0.84 P/G on 2.36 S/G.
I should note that his numbers from last season are significantly boosted by his 14 points during the 16 game winning streak. For Foligno’s five years with the CBJ, he has averaged 0.60 P/G and 1.99 S/G. While his shots line up with his average, his points do not.
Assistant Captain Boone Jenner is another player that hasn’t played to the level the Columbus Blue Jackets need him to play at. For his 37 games played, Jenner has only 12 points. This is an average of 0.32 P/G on 2.49 S/G. For his first 37 games of last season, Jenner was 0.29 P/G on 2.21 S/G.
Pay Day not Paying Off
The most shocking veteran that isn’t producing is Cam Atkinson. After a big offseason contract, the winger has been no where near performing at the level he should be. Atkinson has played 32 games this season and is averaging .41 P/G. His six goals have been incredibly disappointing. At this point last season he had 15 goals and was averaging 1.09 P/G.
For a guy that just got a raise to make $5,875,000 a year, he has to play better. The injured Atkinson is expected back in early February.
Next: Jones only Jacket at All-Star Game
These are not the only three experienced Jackets not producing. Brandon Dubinsky needs to better offensivly when he returns along with Alexander Wennberg. But Foligno, Jenner, and Atkinson must get back to being reliable offensive players for this Jackets team to make a run.