Columbus Blue Jackets Boast Best D-Corps in the East

Talk surrounding Seth Jones and his dark horse Norris Candidacy underlines overall great D-Corps the Columbus Blue Jackets boast.

There has been a new buzz surrounding the Columbus Blue Jackets top defenseman lately. Seth Jones has finally been included in Norris trophy conversations. The 23-year-old is having a career year and for our money, has been the best all around defenseman this season.

The talk surrounding Jones though hasn’t translated over to the entire blue line who has quickly become the best in the east. There is no denying the Columbus Blue Jackets have the deepest and most talented blue line in the east. There is a decent argument to make that they are the best in the NHL but we won’t be making that today.

No other team in the league, let alone the east can say they have a better top pair than Zach Werenski and Jones. The duo, whose average age is just over 22, are going to be the top pair in the NHL for some time. The two have a combined corsi for percentage of 55 and eat up over 36% of the time on ice for defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets. No other pairing can match that corsi with such a high time on ice in the east.

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They also are driving forces offensively. They have combined for 28 goals this season, tied for the NHL lead in defensive pair goal scoring. Their 80 total points aren’t bad either. Jones and Weresnki are just the tip of the iceberg though.

Savard-Cole Emergence

The trade deadline brought a new energy and a new winning streak to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Arguably the biggest part of the trade deadline acquisition was bringing in Ian Cole. Cole has teamed up with David Savard and has formed one of the best shutdown pairs in the league.

The newly minted “Lumber Jackets” have been put on the ice with some of the best skaters in the league and have been calm, cool, and collected. The duo has seen plenty of time at even strength and the penalty kill as well.

Ian Cole has come through with some clutch goals as well including the game sealing goal against Montreal late in the third period on Monday.

In addition to the on ice performance, Cole has been a much needed veteran presence on the blue line and in the locker room. His experience in Pittsburgh is much needed for this young CBJ team.

Depth Depth Depth

The top two pair are eating up about 75% of the time on ice. That’s a good amount and means the Jackets aren’t relying a ton on their third pair. But if they needed to, they have plenty of good options.

Markus Nutivaara, who is fully healthy now, has had a great season and is an exceptional puck mover. He may not be the shutdown d-man that Savard or Cole is but he can skate well and has helped get the offense going. Nuti has 18 points in 52 games this year. He has a 53% corsi for percentage and 16 minutes per game on ice. Not bad for a 7th round draft pick in his second season in the NHL.

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Ryan Murray has played very well with Nuti when he has been healthy. You hardly recognize him when he is on the ice but that is exactly what you need from your third pair. Just get on the ice, do your job and get off so the top dogs can go hunt. Unfortunately Murray has been injured again this year for a large chunk of time.

We haven’t even mentioned Jack Johnson who isn’t the Jack of years past but is very serviceable, especially in a third pair role. I would like to see more of Dean Kukan in his spot.

Kukan, who just signed an extension, had an AHL All-Star season until being called up to Columbus. In 10 games in the NHL he looked very confident and played well. He has a very high corsi for percentage at 57.8%. It is a small sample size but it’s still impressive.

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These eight defenseman are very impressive and certainly the best and deepest blue line in the east. The success of the Columbus Blue Jackets is dependent on these guys driving play and shutting down some of the most skilled skaters in the East as they push towards the playoffs.