It is a fresh start for the entire Columbus Blue Jackets organization. General manager Don Waddell and head coach Dean Evason are new to the organization. Evason told holdover coaches from Pascal Vincent's staff that he did not want to know anything about players heading into training camp, and he wanted players to have a fresh start. With a young team desperate for the youth to make an impact, what are realistic expectations for this season's Blue Jackets?
Columbus Blue Jackets players and coaches are still reeling from the sudden tragic death of Johnny Gaudreau. It is a loss that makes it difficult to mention hockey, but we must. Gaudreau's goals and points will be challenging for Columbus to make up. That said, Adam Fantilli is a player to watch. Fantilli was enjoying a solid rookie season when he succumbed to injury. Kent Johnson has added weight and had a very good training camp. Johnson was much better on and off the puck; he could be primed for a breakout season.
Other forwards who will need to contribute more are Yegor Chinakhov who had a really good season last year and Kirill Marchenko as well as Cole Sillinger who is well on his way to being a really good two-way center.
The Blue Jackets have finished next to or dead last in defense for three years in a row. Evason loaded his coaching staff with defensive-minded coaches to help with the issue. The organization brought back veteran Jack Johnson to bring stability to the blue line. Erik Gudbranson and Zach Werenski each had good seasons a year ago but the rest of the unit needs work.
The Blue Jackets goalie tandem of Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov is ranked near the bottom of the league. The Blue Jackets are hoping an improved defense will lead to better goaltending.
For this to be a successful season young players need to carry this team. They have the skill to do it now comes the difficult part of going out and doing it. It is hard to see Columbus moving out of the Metro basement. Still, if the Blue Jackets can climb to 70-ish points and start trending in the right direction that would go a long way.