2018-19 Record: 47-31-4 98pts. – – 5th Place in Metropolitan (Wild Card)
Playoffs: Lost in Second Round to Boston
2019-20 Jersey Guide:
Key Additions: F – Gustav Nyquist
Key Departures: F – Ryan Dzingel, F – Mark Letestu, G – Jean-Francois Berube, G – Sergei Bobrovsky, F – Artemi Panarin, F – Matt Duchene, G – Keith Kinkaid, D – Adam McQuaid
2019-20 Preview:
After trading away their future in draft picks to acquire forwards Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel, goalie Keith Kinkaid, and defenseman Adam McQuaid to make a huge playoff push. While they did the unthinkable and swept the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round for their first ever playoff series victory in franchise history, they would fall to the Boston Bruins in the second round and then the departures would begin.
The Blue Jackets lost Duchene to Nashville, Dzingel to Carolina, Kinkaid to Montreal, forward Artemi Panarin to the New York Rangers, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to Florida, and McQuaid the Blue Jackets did not pursue to re-sign for next season. What was their response? They signed forward Gustav Nyquist. That’s it.
General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen believes they have a strong team, and don’t have any huge holes on their team. On offense they have Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cam Atkinson who definitely top six forwards, and Boone Jeener and Josh Anderson as quality bottom six forwards, but both Nick Foligno and Brandon Dubinsky are getting older and slipping down in the lineup. On defense it’s all Zach Werenski and Seth Jones. Ryan Murray is at best a third pairing defenseman on a good team, as is David Savard. Lastly, and an important question. Is Joonas Korpisalo ready to be the number one goalie for teh Columbus Blue Jackets?
Sponsored by: