2006-07 record: 33-42-7, 73 points.  4^th in division/11^th in conference.  Missed playoffs. 

For most NHL teams in a development stage, the wise thing to do is bide your time and wait for your younger players to develop into star players.  The Blue Jackets have been trying to execute this philosophy since their inception into the league in 2000, and it has failed them every year since.  Columbus is now the last expansion-era team to have never qualified for the NHL playoffs, and the fans are getting restless.  The Nashville Predators have made the dance for three years running, the Atlanta Thrashers made their first appearance last year, and the Minnesota Wild, Columbus’ expansion partner, has already made a Conference Final appearance.  The Blue Jackets have drafted rather poorly (with a few exceptions) in the last several years, which has resulted in an underachieving team in a precarious position.  The pressure is on for Columbus management to become competitive now, at the very least with a playoff berth, but that doesn’t look very likely to happen anytime soon. 

New GM Scott Howson still has about $12 million left under the salary cap to make positive adjustments to his lineup, but curiously sat on his hands while most of the good free agents signed in other cities.  Perhaps a tight ownership is part of the problem, but Howson needs to do something for Columbus to avoid sinking into obscurity. 

Depth Chart

Forwards

Perhaps Columbus’ biggest problem is also their biggest name.  Former Hart Trophy winner and star Sergei Fedorov has underperformed mightily since the lockout year, and his $6.08 million contract has become a huge burden for the Jackets, though this is the last year of his deal.  Although Fedorov does provide more than one element to the team with his solid defensive capabilities, paying that kind of cash for 42 points a season will not get the Blue Jackets anywhere in a hurry.  Plus, Fedorov is now 37 years old, and his play can only decline from here.  23-year-old Rick Nash was also somewhat of a disappointment last year, scoring just 57 points.  After being drafted 1^st overall in 2002, Nash was expected to develop into one of the premier power wingers in the game.  Instead, he has failed to break the 60-point mark in his four seasons as a pro.  To his credit, a nagging groin injury probably hampered his play a bit last year, and his 30 assists indicate that he is learning to be more of a playmaker than in his early years, when he primarily focused on scoring goals.  This season is a must-have for his development if Nash is to become one of the NHL’s elite. 

Playing all 82 games and quietly leading the team in scoring last season was winger David Vyborny, who put up 16 goals and 48 assists.  Vyborny may not be recognized as superstar, but the 32-year-old Czech has been a model of consistency for the Blue Jackets, steadily improving his point totals since his rookie season in 2000-01.  Vyborny has now had two straight seasons of 60+ points, and has become a fan favourite in Columbus.  Beyond Vyborny, Nash and Fedorov, the Blue Jackets have a bevy of other underachieving forwards, highlighted by winger Fredrik Modin.  After trading starting goaltender Marc Denis to Tampa Bay in order to acquire him, the Jackets were not pleased with his paltry 42 points last season.  Along with him, Columbus management also expects more out of enigmatic forward Nikolai Zherdev, who at 22 years old, is beginning to turn into an Alex Kovalev clone, which is not something the Jackets want to see.  Zherdev does have all-world talent, but must put in more of an effort in order to make a serious impact at the NHL level.  GM Scott Howson made his first significant move as general manager by signing Michael Peca to center the team’s second line.  Peca is a defensive-minded forward who can kill penalties and take faceoffs, as well as scoring some points along the way.

Apart from the disappointments, the Blue Jackets did have a few pleasant surprises last season.  28-year-old Jason Chimera had his best NHL season last year, recording 15 goals and 21 assists to go along with his tremendous defensive game.  The team was also pleased with the strides center Dan Fritsche made toward his development last year, with the 22-year-old scoring 27 points in 59 games played.  Fritsche’s two-way game is also developing very nicely, and he could find himself a permanent second-line center job for the long-term. 

Of the young players the Blue Jackets do have, no one has higher expectations than for former 6^th overall pick (2005) Gilbert Brule.  Brule is hands down the best pure playmaker on the team (save for maybe Fedorov in his younger days), and the Jackets would be wise to bring him along slowly and make sure he develops the right way.  Brule has all the potential in the world to become the team’s No. 1 center and the perfect compliment to Nash, but he’s still only 20 years old, and could take a few more seasons before he’s ready for that kind of responsibility.  The team also has high hopes that young center Jiri Novotny will develop into a quality NHLer, as well as winger Alexandre Picard. 

The team’s checking line is decent as well, consisting of Chimera alongside veteran center Manny Malhotra (9 goals, 16 assists) and enforcer Jody Shelley (125 penalty minutes). 

In addition, 2007 7^th overall pick Jakub Voracek has already signed a contract with the team, and could compete for a spot on the roster this season.  Voracek was seen by many as the most complete and NHL-ready prospect in this year’s draft. 

Defence

The back end is the area of most concern for the Blue Jackets.  2000 4^th overall pick Rostislav Klesla has not become the number one defenceman the team had hoped for, although his physical play brings a nice element.  Klesla was billed as an offensive defenceman, but last season was the first time in his five-year pro career that he has scored more than 20 points (9 goals, 13 assists).  Klesla has also fought injuries early in his career that may have impacted his development.  26-year-old Ron Hainsey had a pretty good season last year (9 goals, 25 assists), but his -19 is not something the team wants from a supposed No. 1 defenceman.  36-year-old Adam Foote is the unquestioned leader of the bunch, but he is known primarily as a defensive defenceman, and at his age, you have to wonder how much is left in the tank.  Duvie Westcott has decent instincts, but a concussion that caused him to miss the final 40 games of the season is cause for concern.  Ole-Kristian Tollefsen is as physical as they come, recording 123 PIMs in 70 games last season, but a long-term NHL career for him is questionable.  The final spot will be left up for grabs during training camp, and several players with limited NHL experience including Jan Hejda, Sheldon Brookbank and Marc Methot will be given a chance to stick with the team.  Unfortunately for Columbus, there aren’t too many good defensive prospects in the pipeline, either.  20-year-old Kris Russell might be the best one, but at 5’9”, 160 lbs, he’s still on the small side to be considered a bona fide prospect. 

Goaltending

Last season was supposed to be the year 2001 1^st rounder Pascal Leclaire finally took over the number one duties from longtime starter Marc Denis, but a knee injury blew that plan out of the water in early December.  Leclaire was limited to just 24 games, and his development has been set back quite a bit.  Stepping into the starting role in his absence for Columbus was 33-year-old rookie Fredrik Norrena.  Acquired from Tampa Bay along with Modin in the trade for Denis, Norrena filled in superbly for the injured Leclaire, going 24-23-3 with a 2.78 GAA and .904 SV%.  Norrena, the third goaltender for the 2006 Silver Medal-winning Finnish Olympic team, plays an aggressive style of goaltending and isn’t afraid to take chances.  Columbus will likely try to hand the reins off to Leclaire again to start the 2007-08 season, but if something goes wrong again, Norrena has proven to be a solid second option.

Outlook