5 Columbus Blue Jackets Who Can Break 50 Points this Season

Breaking the 50 point mark in the NHL at this day in age is a big accomplishment. Who are the 5 most likely Columbus Blue Jackets to accomplish it this year?

Last year the Columbus Blue Jackets only had two players break the 50 point mark on the season. This year though will be an entirely different story.

In 2017-2018 the Jackets power play was historically bad. Along with some critical injuries to Zach Werenski and Cam Atkinson, a large chunk of the Jackets’ offensive firepower was sidlined or not at 100%.

This year though should be a different story.

The Jackets power play will regress to at least an average conversion rate this year. That will lead to close to 15 more goals and about 25 more assist.

The Jackets also should just be a better team than they did last season, both offensively and defensively. The Jackets had three players within ten points of 50 and this year I believe at least five will reach that milestone in the 2018-2019 season.

Who are these scoring threats? Let’s take a look.

Artemi Panarin

Ya, this one was pretty obvious. Last year’s most productive player for the Columbus Blue Jackets should be just as deadly. As long as he is with the Jackets, he will be a 50 point scorer yet again.

Panarin set the Blue Jackets franchise scoring record for a single season last year with 82 points. The Russian forward had 52 assist alone last year, easily putting him over the impressive 50 point threshold.

There is no reason to believe that this year won’t be another season of dominate scoring. Panarin will once again be a top unit power play forward, which should be vastly improved. He will average 20 plus minutes a game along side two other great scoring forwards in Cam Atkinson and Pierre-Luc Dubois which should help Panarin post close to his record setting 55 assist from last year.

The big question of course is will Panarin score 50 points in Columbus alone, or will that production be spread across two franchises. We may not have that answer until the depths of winter at the trade deadline.

Whether with Columbus all season or with half the season spent in Ohio and the other elsewhere, you can take Artemi Panarin scoring 50 points to the bank.

Oliver Bjorkstrand

This may come to a surprise to NHL fans that don’t keep a close eye on the Columbus Blue Jackets, but to the faithful, this should be expected.

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Even though Oliver Bjorkstrand only has one full season under his belt and a career total of 61 points, he is primed for a 50 point year. Last season, Bjork quietly amassed 40 points in his rookie season without anyone really making much of a fuss.

Last year Bjorkstrand’s scoring numbers, although impressive, were held back by an unusally low shooting percentage. Bjork only converted on 6.7% of his shots. A low mark for such a gifted player. That number will certainly return to around the 10% mark this season which, all else being equal, would give Bjrokstrand another six goals on his season total.

This year he will be on the second line along with an improved Alexander Wennberg and Nick Foligno. He will also be a second unit power play member with the opportunity to float up to the top unit if someone struggles.

These factors combined with another year of experience should give the 23-year-old the opportunities to increase his scoring totals to at least 50 points.

Cam Atkinson

Another player who quietly had an impressive year scoring was Cam Atkinson. The Columbus Blue Jackets winger dealt with injuries last season and only played in 65 out of 82 games. It was the first time in five seasons that Cam hasn’t played at least 78 games.

Even though he didn’t play a full season, he still impressed with 46 points in 65 games including going on a tear over the final 33 games of the season. Cam averaged a point per game over the last stretch and helped push the Jackets toward the playoffs.

Atkinson also had a great showing at the World Championships for Team USA. He scored 11 points in 10 games, good for second on the team, and helped lead the red, white, and blue to a third place finish.

Cam has quietly been one of the best wingers in the NHL over the last three seasons and this year might be the year where he starts to get the national attention he deserves. Atkinson should be eyeing another 30 goal season and easily break the 50 point mark.

Jackets with 50 Point Potential

These guys are all but locks to break 50 points this year. There are several other players who have the potential to as well including the Captain Nick Foligno who has accomplished the feat twice. Pierre-Luc Dubois almost broke 50 points as a rookie last season.

Josh Anderson is a dark horse candidate to break 50 points as well. He has put up 30 points in the last two seasons and might be able to break out this year, his third full season in the NHL.

Offense will be up this year for the Jackets. After only having two players break the 50 point threshold in 2018, expect at least four to break that mark this year.