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Five Things to Look Forward to from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018-2019

By Steven Kenworthy

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 19: Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) celebrates with teammate after scoring a goal during game 4 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on April 19, 2018. The Capitals won 4-1 and tied the series 2-2. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 19: Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) celebrates with teammate after scoring a goal during game 4 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on April 19, 2018. The Capitals won 4-1 and tied the series 2-2. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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4. The Post-Jack Johnson Era Matchup with the Penguins

Columbus Blue Jackets
COLUMBUS, OH – APRIL 5: Jack Johnson #7 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates the puck away from Tom Kuhnhackl #34 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of a game on April 5, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Unlike many sensationalist writers, I don’t want to overhype the Jack Johnson ordeal. That doesn’t mean though that it can’t still be fascinating.

In a sport without much off-ice drama, the Jack Johnson scenario is unique. I also don’t want to pile on Johnson or pretend like he’s been anything less than a classy player. Despite his potentially misspoken reference to playing in a “winning culture”, the cheeky vet typically played hard and humbly in Columbus.

It only adds fuel to the intrigue that many NHL analysts and the bulk of the Blue Jackets community were befuddled by the Penguins 5 year, $16 million dollar offer to the defenseman whose best days are clearly behind him.

As an avid non-lover of all things Penguins, I am particularly ecstatic with the signing but just as enamored with Pens fans’ blind defense of the bizarrely-generous contract.

The beautiful Blue Jacket icing on that cake is John Tortorella’s very candid response to not only Johnson’s aforementioned comment, but to the Pens GM Jim Rutherford. Rutherford’s delusional assessment that Johnson was benched in the playoffs because of favoritism did not sit well with the CBJ’s fiery bench general.

Related Story. Torts Goes off on Penguins GM, Jack Johnson. light

Countless expletives ensued and a fresh gallon of high-octane gas was dumped square on the Jackets-Pens rivalry.

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