Columbus Blue Jackets and the Metro in 18-19: Part III
The Metropolitan Division is home to the last three Stanley Cup Champions. How do the Columbus Blue Jackets stack up heading into the 2018-2019 season?
From the top pick in the 2017 draft to making the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the New Jersey Devils were nothing but surprising last year. Will the Columbus Blue Jackets Metro rival be just as surprising this year? Or will their new alternative sweaters be the biggest story of note behind the Devils in the 18-19 season?
To be fair, the sweaters are fire. No matter how good or bad the Devils are this year the jerseys should be a talking point every chance possible this season. The Devils, along with the Arizona Coyotes, appear to be the only team so far to nail the return of the third jersey.
They have incorporated the classic red, white, and green color pattern that fans not only in New Jersey asked for, but fans all around the world begged to see. Including the staff at Union and Blue. Just take a look at these beauties.
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1031995505910472704
And I wish we had more to offer you in terms of significant offseason moves, but the jersey change was the best move the Devils made all summer.
I mean, first of all, look at that lovely piece of wearable art. Fashion is just below architecture in terms of my favorite art forms and the Devils crushed it. Also, they didn’t do anything in the offseason.
Columbus Blue Jackets
When you win the lottery and are one of the youngest teams in the league and somehow manage to backdoor your way into the playoffs, you just enjoy the ride and still work on the rebuild. That’s exactly what the Devils did this offseason and the Columbus Blue Jackets don’t have much to worry about when it comes to New Jersey.
The Jackets were 3-1 against the Devils last season and I expect a similar result this year. The Devils’ biggest move this offseason was…. well… re-signing Blake Coleman? Sure, ya, let’s go with that. The Devils re-signing Blake Coleman was a “huge” re-signing this offseason. That, along with the amazing jerseys (please send me one), will propel the Devils to the playoffs once again.
In all seriousness, the Devils made the right move by saving their cap space, all $18 million of it, for a what should be a great free agent class next summer. The Devils are still staring up at Pittsburgh, Washington, and the Columbus Blue Jackets and know they are a long way away from competing. They need to slow down and let their young stable of talent mature and gain experience.
They have the cap space and cornerstone players to build around once the division becomes less of a gauntlet. They should be a playoff threat in 2019-2020 but they will return back to Earth this season. The Columbus Blue Jackets and other top teams in the Metro are still steps ahead of the Devils.
Next. Top 3 Rookies that could make the CBJ Squad. dark
Barring anther Hart Trophy season from Taylor Hall, this Devils team won’t make back-to-back playoff appearances. What do you think? Let us know how good you think the Devils will be this year in the comment section below!