Two games into the season, the Blue Jackets look like a completely different team

The NHL season is very young, with most of the teams in the league playing three or fewer games so far (only New Jersey has played four). It's impossible to predict how this season may turn out; but early on, the Blue Jackets look like a completely different team. Is it possible that Don Waddell pushed all the right buttons this summer?

Disappointment was prevalent over the previous two seasons for this team. The young players here weren't developing as hoped. Most of the veterans who were brought in have been fine, but probably playing too high in the lineup - really, being leaned on to do too much overall.

The lack of depth on the roster was exacerbated by an almost unbelievable string of bad injury luck. Which, in hindsight, was probably due at least in part to players playing in roles they weren't suited for. That's often the case.

The reason those last two seasons were so disappointing, is because we've been told repeatedly how good this team is going to be. They just needed to take some steps forward. Through the first two games this year, it feels like we're finally seeing those steps taking place.

A hard-fought 3-2 loss against a very strong Minnesota Wild team on Thursday, was very encouraging out of the gate. Down 3-1 late, Dean Evason put this team's fate on the shoulders of its budding young talent. They battled until the end and made the game close, but ultimately fell just short.

On Saturday, the young Jackets traveled to Colorado to take on the mighty Avalanche. I don't think many of us expected this team to come out and pot 6 goals against one of the best teams in the entire NHL. But they did, and they'll start their home schedule off on Tuesday night with an admirable 1-1-0 record after facing two of the best teams in the Western Conference.

There are things to clean up here. In those two games, they're averaging 3.5 goals against. That's too many; especially under Evason's tighter checking coaching style. But, there is a lot to like here as well.

Kent Johnson looks determined this year. He's grasped the role of puck distributor; but has really impressed me with his shot so far. He scored in both games because of his quick release - something we haven't really seen out of him until this year.

Adam Fantilli, Yegor Chinakhov, and Kirill Marchenko have also looked very strong early on. It probably helps that the team has a veteran #1 center this year. Sean Monahan has taken on the tough assignments and played very well. His line with Chinakhov and Marchenko was nothing short of dynamic on Saturday night, with each posting a 1-2-3 stat line.

Lost in all of this: the defense has somewhat held its own. Like I mentioned earlier, there is work to be done here; but the team is playing with a better overall structure, and I feel like it's going to come together if they just keep playing the way they have. That's not a statement we could have made last year, or the year before.

We'll see if this play is going to sustain. But, the veteran players and coaching staff that Waddell strategically put together over the last few months, sure seem to be helping this team take those much needed steps forward. It's been very entertaining to watch so far. I can't wait to see this team play in front of its home crowd tomorrow night.