Union and Blue Roundtable: Columbus Blue Jackets Strength and Weaknesses
The staff at Union and Blue give your their thoughts on the 2018-2019 Columbus Blue Jackets strengths and weaknesses plus, RED HOT PREDICTIONS.
It’s almost here folks. The Columbus Blue Jackets season is so close we can almost taste it. Wait, is that what a hockey season taste like?
Either way were he to make bad predictions about the season that will certainly come back to bite us. Mistakes will be made but it’s all for your entertainment.
The Union and Blue Staff sat down and answered some question regarding the Jackets strengths, what about this CBJ squad should scare other teams and some predictions.
Lets start with our newest contributor Jason Greenberg.
What about this Jackets team should scare opposing teams the most?
JG: The thing that should scare teams about this current Jackets squad is when healthy, their playmakers are relentless. The team never says die and will stay in almost every game when they have everyone available.
The defense is stacked with Seth Jones and Zach Werenski who are both Norris contenders and are the top percentage of defenseman. The offense still has Artemi Panarin and when on the ice, he can put the puck in the net from anywhere. If this team can stay healthy (which so far they aren’t) the top lines are solid.
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What is the biggest weakness of this Jackets team?
JG: The biggest weakness comes down to goaltending. Bobrovsky has not looked like himself in the preseason and is going into the final year of his contract. The future for Bobrovsky is an unknown and Korpisalo, while he’s looking solid in the preseason, during the regular season has been a disappointment.
When it comes down to it, goaltending will determine how far this team can go this season.
Who will lead this team in scoring this year?
JG: The leading scoring is obviously still going to be Artemi Panarin. Even though a multitude of rumors swirl around his future with the team, Panarin is still the Blue Jackets best scorer.
Pierre-Luc Dubois could push him being the top-line center this season, but Panarin has no business to be overthrown. Even if Panarin is dealt by the deadline, his beginning of the season points totals should be enough for the Jackets top spot.
What is your bold prediction for this season?
JG: While not piping hot bold, my prediction is that I see this team just squeaking into the playoff picture. Not too many upgrades were made over the offseason and the goaltending has looked subpar throughout the preseason.
With the question marks around Panarin’s future, I see us dealing him at the deadline to high caliber Cup contender. The Jackets will then stumble themselves into the playoffs, and get sent home packing by the likes of the Metropolitan or Atlantic Division winner.
Kenworthy Koming in Hot
What about this Jackets team should scare opposing teams the most?
SK: The scariest thing about this Jackets team is the threat of scoring from all four CBJ lines. This is a first in Jackets history.
If Milano, Nash and Duclair can muster up some chemistry and give opponents fits on the fourth line, the CBJ could wear a lot of teams down with a constant, consistent offensive threat.
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What is the biggest weakness of this Jackets team?
SK: It feels good to be nitpicking here when there have been years past when the options here could have been endless. That being said, if Joonas doesn’t improve this year, the Jackets are without a reliable backup.
Sergei Bobrovsky is a regular season monster, but you can’t play him 82 games and you an never rule out injury. Korpisalo’s numbers have dropped ever since his debut season for the CBJ and I’d like to see him show that his best days are not already past.
Who will lead this team in scoring this year?
SK: If he’s with Columbus all year, it’s impossible for me to pick against the Bread Man. Panarin broke a franchise record last year with a slow start and a rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois who’s only poised to get better.
I’ve seen people calling for Panarin to drop 100 points this season. I don’t know that I’m ready to go that far, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he cracked 90.
What is your bold prediction for this season?
SK: My bold prediction for this season is that the Blue Jackets power play would jump into top five in the NHL. Sure I’m a lot more comfortable saying top 10, but that’s not so bold.
You have to consider too that the Jackets had the league’s worst power play for more than a couple month’s last year. After finishing 26th overall in 17-18, I think they can jump more than 20 spots. If the special teams unit can keep the momentum they showed down the stretch of 2018 and into this preseason – it’s doable.
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What about this Jackets team should scare opposing teams the most?
LM: This guy right above this sentence. Anthony Duclair has looked incredible in the preseason and is primed for a breakout season. Duclair is a fourth liner that will score 20 goals this year. No other team can match that type of scoring punch up and down the lineup.
The depth on the backend is fantastic as well. Markus Nutivaara is one of the most underrated players in the league. David Savard, Ryan Murray and Dean Kukan are all above average defenseman when healthy. O yea, and all of those guys play behind the second best pair in hockey.
What is the biggest weakness of this Jackets team?
Columbus Blue Jackets
LM: The biggest weakness this team has is not an on-ice issue. It’s the dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over this franchise.
The contract situations of both Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky will be an issue this year. Don’t kid yourself and say “These guys are professionals, they’ll tune it out”. They are also human beings. It’s impossible to tune out that two of your teammates don’t want to play with you after this season.
Who will lead this team in scoring this year?
LM: I bet ill be the only person to not say Artemi Panarin. I’ve already said that Cam Atkinson could break the 40 goal mark this season and I think he leads the team in points as well.
Atkinson had an incredible second half of the year in 2018 and a great World Championships. He has looked great in the preseason and he will end up being a leader on this team after the Jackets deal away Artemi Panarin. Wait, what?
What is your bold prediction for this season?
LM: The Jackets will trade Artemi Panarin and still win a playoff series. Jarmo Kekalainen will have to deal Panarin before the trade deadline. He isn’t going to resign so it’s time to move on and get some pieces for the Bread Man.
This will leave an apparent scoring gap that the team can fill with depth scoring and Atkinson elevating his game to an elite level. The team will rally around the league doubting the team can’t do anything without Panarin and they will play with a fire we haven’t seen in Columbus.
The team will win a playoff series for the first time in franchise history fueled by the disrespect they will get from the hockey world. And then be bounced out of the playoffs in the second round in five games.
Also, the Cleveland Monsters will win the Calder Cup.
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What about this Jackets team should scare opposing teams the most?
WE: Definitely the defensive depth would scare almost any team in the NHL, especially with the first pairing of Werenski and Jones when they’re healthy.
The other thing that will give a scare to other teams would be the dynamic Artemi Panarin and his ability to make a play from nothing. Those are the two most important aspects of the team, but they can’t forget Pierre-Luc Dubois and his antics either.
What is the biggest weakness of this Jackets team?
WE: The biggest weakness on this team is consistency. Many skaters play well for a while then go into a massive slump that takes them weeks or months to get out of. Just take a gander back at December and January of last season.
Sergei Bobrovsky is another question mark. He typically has either a great season or a fairly bad season with no in between. Based off of preseason, it’s trending toward a down year for the Jackets starting netminder.
Who will lead this team in scoring this year?
WE: Oddly enough, since I’m counting on a Panarin trade at some point in the season, I’m not picking the Breadman. I see a Pierre-Luc Dubois break out season planting him firmly at the top of the scoring ladder.
The Blue Jackets should have balanced scoring which means more than likely one player won’t have a substantial lead in points over the others, but PLD should be near the top with Seth Jones right behind him.
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What is your bold prediction for this season?
WE: Brandon Dubinsky bounces back with a 40 point year while Alexander Wennberg continues to struggle. I expect a more motivated and hungry Brandon Dubinsky while Wennberg seems to have become complacent.
Dubinsky will then pass Wennberg on the depth chart and lead the second line. Wennberg will become trade bait before his contract becomes a massive waste of money.