Year End Report: Columbus Blue Jackets

So much promise and so much pressure to make the playoffs this season after losing four straight to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round last year. With Ken Hitchcock at the helm, a string of young talented players, and added veteran experience some predicted this to be a breakout year for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Despite finishing 27th overall this year, the Columbus Blue Jackets, like a few other bottom dwelling teams, still have a bright future ahead. There is no doubt that this team boasts some very important assets. However, a few more pieces will be needed to make this team whole.

THE OFFENSE

It is quite clear that the present and future of the Columbus Blue Jackets is left winger, Rick Nash. The combination of size, speed, skill, and raw talent are what make Nash one of the premier power forwards in the NHL. After scoring 79 points in 2008-2009, many predicted that Nash would take his game to the next level this season. He finished this season with 67 points, not a disappointment, but nowhere near what he is capable of.

Even though Nash is the offensive catalyst of the Blue Jackets, there are some other very talented forwards on this team. Centreman, Anton Vermette had a career year, collecting 27 goals and 38 assists for 65 points. While Kristian Huselius also scored an impressive 63 points from the second line. R.J. Umberger also showed a nack for scoring goals, finishing the season with 23.

Along with this group of talented veterans, the Blue Jackets also have a couple young forwards on the cusp of being legitimate offensive threats. Twenty-two year old, Derick Brassard should continue to develop into a premier centreman for the Blue Jackets. In 127 NHL games, Brassard has scored a respectable 63 points, and was having his best season in 2008-09 (25 points in 31 games), until he was injured.

Despite his move back to Russia after playing only 13 games for the Blue Jackets in the fall, Nikita Filatov is still considered a top prospect. The speedy left winger was said to have had issues with recently fired coach, Ken Hitchcock, and decided another year in Russia was best for all parties. His development has continued overseas, and he has scored 22 points in 26 games for CSKA Moscow in the KHL. He is expected to return to the Blue Jackets for the 2010-2011 season.

THE DEFENSE

The defense of the Columbus Blue Jackets is one that needs some offseason revamping. Too often this season, goalie Steve Mason, was left out to dry. Nothing speaks louder than the +/- of this defensive group. Stralman finished -17, Tyutin -7, Hejda a -14, the defensive minded Mike Commodore a -9, and Klesla ended the season at -8. In fact the only defenseman to earn a plus rating was a dependable Kris Russell, who was a +3 with 22 points.

In all fairness, it is difficult to rate a player based on +/- when their team is 27th overall, but this was a far cry from what is acceptable from this group of defenseman, especially with a defensive coach like Ken Hitchcock. In fact, team defense seemed to take a turn for the better after Claude Noel took over the coaching duties.

All in all, if the Blue Jackets plan to compete for the playoffs next season, management must make some moves to improve the defensive corps. Heading into the offseason, there are many capable defensemen available (through the trade and free agent market) that could instantly help this team. Any combination of Pavel Kubina, Paul Martin, Brett Clark, Andy Sutton, Willie Mitchell, Anton Volchenkov, and Dan Hamhuis would instantly improve this team.

THE GOALIES

The 2008-2009 NHL regular season was the breakout year for goalie, Steve Mason. That same year, he fought his way to a 33-20-7 record, a 2.29 GAA, and a .916 save percentage. These stats subsequently led Mason to win the Rookie of the Year Award. This year would prove to be a little more challenging to the sophomore netminder.

He has had some shining moments this year, but inconsistency from him and his team led to another lost season for the Blue Jackets. Despite shortfalls this year, Mason remains one of the NHL's best young goaltenders, and should provide Columbus with stability in net for years to come.

In the backup role, Mathieu Garon has proven himself capable once again. In 35 starts this season, Garon sports a 12-9-6 record, a 2.81 GAA, and a .903 save percentage. These are modest numbers to be sure, but good for a backup goalie on a team like the Blue Jackets. If management can keep this tandem together for a few more years, goaltending in Columbus will remain strong.

THE SCOOP

With the distractions of Hitchcocks firing, and the expectations to make the playoffs for a second straight season, the Blue Jackets seemed to crumble under the pressure. It was a tough season for the club, but they also have a bright future looking ahead.

Depending on which way management goes this summer with interim head coach Claude Noel, and shoring up the defense, the Columbus Blue Jackets can be expected to compete for a playoff spot in 2011. With young stars like Nash, Mason, Brassard, Filatov, and another top five draft pick in the mix, it can only get better for this club. In the extremely competitive Western Conference, however, it will take a lot more consistency than was shown this year.