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18-19 Columbus Blue Jackets: Here’s What You’ve Missed Football Fans

By Lansing Murphy

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 28: Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) celebrates with Columbus Blue Jackets center Alexander Wennberg (10) after scoring a goal in the third period of a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 28, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. The Blue Jackets won 7-6. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 28: Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand (28) celebrates with Columbus Blue Jackets center Alexander Wennberg (10) after scoring a goal in the third period of a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 28, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. The Blue Jackets won 7-6. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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OTTAWA, ON – DECEMBER 29: Columbus Blue Jackets Left Wing Artemi Panarin (9) stick handles the puck as Columbus Blue Jackets Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) watches on during the first period of the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 29, 2017 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Second Half Storylines

The dominating story line will continue to be the contract situation of both Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. There is reportedly a meeting happening between Panarin’s agent and Jarmo over the All-Star break. It’s unlikely that an agreement will be reached before the trade deadline so what Jarmo decides to do will not only be the biggest storyline for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but perhaps for the entire NHL.

Bob’s situation is a bit less in flux but still intriguing. Sergei has a no trade clause that makes moving him a lot harder. Either way, he is a top five goalie in the league and if it is clear he isn’t going to resign with the Jackets, Jarmo will take a run at trading him.

Cam Atkinson has a real chance to hit 50 goals this year as well. If the Jackets power play, which is second to last in the league, resembles anything close to a competent unit, he has a real chance to destroy the franchise mark for goals in a season.

And about that power play. The Jackets are only converting at a 13.2% so far and that isn’t going to cut it in the playoffs. The Jackets have to find a way to turn that around whether that is through personnel changes or schematic changes or both. If they don’t, they’ll be out of the playoffs in the first round yet again.

dark. Next. Eyeing a Tyler Seguin Trade

There is plenty of other second half storylines that will pop up so stay tuned to UnionAndBlue.com. Welcome back to the Columbus Blue Jackets wagon folks. We missed you!

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