Blue Jackets plan to learn and then ‘lick our wounds’
Despite disappointing finish, plenty of positives for Columbus to look forward to
COLUMBUS, OHIO The Columbus Blue Jackets, picked by many to sweep the basement of the Metropolitan Division this season, embarked on an unexpected and thrilling ride to the playoffs.
Their season ended in a firstround, five-game loss to the defending champion Penguins, denying Columbus its first series victory. But there is a sense of optimism surrounding the franchise. Here are some things to know as the Jackets try to move forward:
FUTURE IS BRIGHT
The rise of the Blue Jackets this year was nearly as surprising as the complete collapse last year when team president John Davidson and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen thought they had assembled the right parts for a playoff run. Some bad luck, including injuries to goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, stunted the timeline.
This year, Columbus set franchise records with 50 wins and 108 points. Along the way, there was a 16-game winning streak, the second longest in NHL history.
The team’s key parts should return with the core of Brandon Dubinsky, Brandon Saad and Nick Foligno locked up through 202021 and most others signed at least through next season. Nineteenyear-old defenceman Zach Werenski is a finalist for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
“I like a lot of things about our club,” coach John Tortorella said. “We have to lick our wounds and learn from some of the things that went on in this series.”
PUCKS IN THE NET
A dozen Blue Jackets players had double-figure goal totals this season. The team’s 247 goals were 34 more than the previous season and 20 better than the league’s average this year. That’s an average of more than three a game. Fourteen players had 20 or more points.
Sixth-year forward Cam Atkinson had a career year, leading the team with 35 goals and 62 points. Alexander Wennberg had a career-best 59 points and Foligno bounced back with 26 goals and 25 assists after a disappointing season in 2015-16.
SOMETHING ABOUT BOB
Although he suddenly turned leaky in the playoff series, Bobrovsky was the Blue Jackets’ undisputed MVP. The 28-year-old Russian worked hard last off-season to come back from groin injuries that dogged him last year and limited him to a career-worst 1519-1. He responded with the best season of his career, compiling a 41-17-5 record, a .931 save percentage and 2.06 goals-against average. He is a favourite to win his second Vezina Trophy.
HIGHS AND LOWS
Columbus attracted attention with the 16-game winning streak, but they finished with a whimper.
The Blue Jackets lost eight of their last 11 games in the regular season and frittered away homeice advantage to Pittsburgh. Then they managed to win just one game in the playoffs against the star-laden Penguins. Backup goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, an emergency replacement for injured Matt Murray, managed to frustrate the Blue Jackets’ best snipers.
LET TORTS BE TORTS
Tortorella’s influence on the young Blue Jackets can’t be overstated. The irascible veteran was brought in to reboot the culture after the team lost its first seven games last season.
Torts may be around for a while. There is no question Columbus is more interesting with him here.