Staring Down the Barrel: Columbus Blue Jackets Opening Night at Detroit

It’s finally here folks. Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets open the season in Detroit. Lets get to know thy enemy.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are finally back. After a long, long offseason dwelling on the disappointment of the 2-0 playoff collapse and the drama of Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky‘s contract situations, we have finally have hockey to focus on. Tonight in Detroit the Jackets will take the ice and start the march toward the Stanley Cup.

October is about as easy of a month schedule wise as an NHL team can get. Opening on the road against Detroit is a nice way to ease into the season, even with no Seth Jones.

To get an insiders look at the Red Wings and what to expect from tonight’s game, we sat down with Bob Heyrman, Site Expert at OctopusThrower.com. The fantastically named website covers all things Red Wings and Bob is the go-to source for Detroit hockey news and notes.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Be sure to give Bob a follow on twitter and check out OctopusThrower.com. The Wings have some fascinating young pieces in the organization and a front office that might see some major shake-ups in the coming year with a Mr. Yzerman taking a step back in Tampa.

Lansing Murphy (LM): I think its safe to say it’s going to be a long year in the Motor City. What are realistic expectations for this Detroit team this year?

Bob Heyrman (BH): The Detroit Red Wings have anything but high expectations for the 18-19 season.  That being said it doesn’t have to be an entirely “lost” season for the Wings.

The  Wings have been notorious for fielding the oldest team in the NHL in years past.  General Manager Ken Holland has prevented a “rebuild” in the past by clinging to veteran players in favor of the young up and comers.  Finally, it seems that Holland has seen the writing on the wall and has committed to a rebuild.

The Detroit Red Wings could potentially have 11 players 24-years-old or younger skating against the Blue Jackets tonight.  When the dust settles and the season is near its conclusion, I expect the Wings to be in the NHL Draft Lottery hoping for a pinball to bounce in their favor.

LM: The Wings had a huge draft with Filip Zadina falling to them at sixth overall and Joe Velano at 30th. But tell us about last year’s ninth overall pick, Michael Rasmussen, who made the opening night roster.

BH: Michael Rasmussen is a big body at 6’6″.  He is a natural center that the Wings want to start on the wing, limiting his defensive responsibility.

Big Ras won’t win any skating awards but has scoring ability around the net and has displayed an above average shot.  He will be a net-front presence on the power play and looks to be a force down low on the wall working the cycle.  He will benefit significantly skating alongside Fran Nielsen, going to school every night learning from a pro’s pro.

Outsider’s View of CBJ Situation

LM: How do you think the Jackets should handle the Artemi Panarin situation?

BH: The Artemi Panarin situation is anything but ideal.  Panarin is an elite talent who possesses 30 goal, 50 assist potential year in and year out and is only 26 years old – right in his prime.

With the Jackets expecting to be a playoff team, can they justify trading him?  If they don’t move him, they risk losing him for nothing come July 1st.  The return in any deal would have to justify taking those points out of the lineup.  It is a terrible situation to be in if you’re the Blue Jackets.

LM: What scares you the most about this Columbus Blue Jackets Squad?

BH: The speed throughout the lineup.  Detroit is fielding a young team and a very inexperienced back-end tonight, and they could be very exploited throughout the game.  Jimmy Howard doesn’t have the ability anymore to compensate for many blemishes in front of him.

LM: How does tonight’s game play out?

BH: I expect the Jackets to roll into town and handle an early flurry of excitement from the young Detroit Red Wings.  The Jackets will lean on Joonas Korpisalo early on, before disposing of the Wings and leaving town with a victory.  5-2 sounds about right tonight.

Thanks once again to Bob Heyrman for taking the time to talk to us about the Red Wings, his view of the Panarin situation and his take on the game tonight.