Offseason Outlook: Blue Jackets on the verge of something special
With the offseason underway for a number of teams, with the remainder to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.
2016-17 Grade: B+
Fire the cannon.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were one of the feel-good stories of the regular season.
Considering the club is only one year removed from finishing with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference with a disappointing 76 points, the Blue Jackets' 2016-17 campaign was downright spectacular.
Columbus bounced back in a big way, finishing third in the East with 108 points and qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Fun fact: Columbus finished with the same amount of regulation victories as the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins, the same team it would bow out to in the first round of the playoffs.
In short, the Jackets' success this season can be broken down into two simple yet effective parts: The Vezina-caliber goaltending of Sergei Bobrovsky, and the superb play of a young core of forwards that lit the NHL on fire.
Bob has been doing his thing in Columbus since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season in which he won the Vezina Trophy, and although leading the league in GAA (2.06) and save percentage (.931) is impressive, the 28-year-old Russian's amazing year was slightly overshadowed by the play of a trio of young stars.
Cam Atkinson, Alexander Wennberg, and Zach Werenski all had an excellent 2016-17 campaign and were major reasons for the Blue Jackets' success.
Atkinson potted 35 goals, Wennberg finished second in team scoring with 59 points, and Werenski - at just 19 years old - racked up 11 goals, 36 assists, and a Calder Trophy nomination.
Yeah, the future is pretty bright in Columbus.
Free Agents
The focus of general manager Jarmo Kekalainen's offseason will most likely take place up the middle, where Wennberg and veteran Sam Gagner (who also plays the wing) are the most notable free agents.
Gagner is coming off, arguably, his best season in the NHL, setting a career high in points with 50 and matching a career high in goals with 18 - and he will have teams interested in acquiring his services.
| Player (Position) | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit | '16-17 Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Gagner (F) | UFA | 27 | $650K | 50 |
| Lauri Korpikoski (F) | UFA | 30 | $1M | 0 |
| Josh Anderson (F) | RFA | 22 | $678333 | 29 |
| Alexander Wennberg (F) | RFA | 22 | $925K | 59 |
| Kyle Quincey (D) | UFA | 31 | $1.25M | 3 |
In the blue paint, backup 'tender Joonas Korpisalo is in line for a raise.
The 23-year-old Finn impressed in 13 starts in relief of Bobrovsky, going 7-5 with one shutout and a respectable 2.88 GAA.
| Goalie | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit | '16-17 SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joonas Korpisalo | RFA | 23 | $742500 | .905 |
| Anton Forsberg | RFA | 24 | $650K | .852 |
2017 Draft Picks
The Blue Jackets hold six picks in the upcoming entry draft, but selecting 24th overall in the first round and not having a second-round pick will make for an interesting draft day for Kekalainen.
Columbus' second-round selection was sent to the Vancouver Canucks as compensation for the John Tortorella signing.
| Round | Picks |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 |
| 4 | 1 |
| 5 | 1 |
| 6 | 1 |
| 7 | 1 |
Summer Priorities
1. Keep Korpisalo
Finishing second-best in total goals against shouldn't lead to a team addressing its goalie situation, but this is one of those problems the Blue Jackets are happy to have.
As mentioned above, Korpisalo offers a level of quality between the pipes that most clubs long for at the backup position. Bobrovsky is nasty and definitely worthy of another Vezina nod, but you can never have too many quality players on your roster.
Especially in the crease.
2. Let Gagner walk
Sure, he's coming off an excellent renaissance-type year, but does anyone actually expect him to repeat that level of success?
Didn't think so.
With so much talent on the horizon and a lengthier list of free agents coming next offseason, the Jackets' front office would be wise to let Gagner walk now in order to retain cap space and allow for the potential to lock down bigger names like Atkinson or Boone Jenner next year.
3. Address the blue line
Columbus allowed the second-fewest goals against last season, Bobrovsky is all world, and of course, Seth Jones is a stud. But after that, the Jackets don't have much on the back end to be excited about.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
Gabriel Carlsson and Markus Nutivaara provide some intrigue and both have flashed the potential to be contributing parts of Columbus' future. But, guys like Jack Johnson and Kyle Quincey need to be upgraded on if the Jackets ever want to get past the first round.
Moving one of their many young and talented forwards such as Oliver Bjorkstrand may offer the kind of return that Tortorella and Kekalainen are searching for.
2017-18 Outlook
After last campaign's 108-point showing, the pressure will be on next season in central Ohio.
Columbus got dealt with in the first round this year, but come on, they were playing Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Next season will be very different; with success comes expectations, and those in Blue Jackets territory will be demanding a lot more from this young club.
So much so, that a first-round exit in 2018 will be deemed a failure.
But, realistically, this team is bursting at the seams with talent and if Tortorella can work his magic once again, there is absolutely no reason for Columbus not to be competing next May.
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