"Defend NWA"

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

2012-13 record: 24-17-7 (55 points)
Missed the playoffs
Captain: TBA

The Columbus Blue Jackets were staring down life after Rick Nash prior to last season, something that the Blue Jackets fans knew was inevitable, yet was no less comforting.  Something funny happened along the way, however, as defense became the order of the day, with Jack Johnson emerging as a number one defenseman and Flyers cast-off Sergei Bobrovsky emerging as a top flight option in goal en route to a Vezina Trophy win.  A mid-season trade for Marian Gaborik added to the hope for fans and despite missing the playoffs due to a tie-breaker, the Blue Jackets are looking forward with hope and a new Conference, as they move to the Eastern Conference this year.  Offense could use some improvement, as Vinny Prospal was the leading scorer with only 30 points.  Enter Nathan Horton, who will add a power forward element that the Jackets were lacking last year, though his debut won't be until a month or two into the season as he recovers from off-season surgery.  Gaborik will be there to start the season, and he is playing for a new contract, which should benefit players such as Nick Foligno, Ryan Johansen, Cam Atkinson, and Artem Anisimov.  Johnson leads the blue line that should feature Ryan Murray and Fedor Tyutin, and they will be playing in front of Bobrovsky, who is out to prove that last season was no fluke.

Prospects:  Murray missed much of last season due to injury.  He is a likely candidate to crack the roster on opening night.  Boone Jenner played well in Oshawa last year, and he, too, is a candidate to make the Blue Jackets' roster.  Beyond that, there isn't much room for any other rookie, as the trio of first round picks (Alexander Wennberg, Kerby Rychel, Marko Dano) are at least a year away.

Prediction: 3rd in the Metropolitan Division

The Blue Jackets have a new Conference, which should cut down on travel.  The biggest benefit is that the Blue Jackets are finally sticking with an identity and are moving in the right direction in every way.