2017-18 record: 45-30-7 (97 points)
Lost to Washington in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Nick Foligno
The Columbus Blue Jackets made history when they made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in their history. They were also due for their first playoff series win, and were actually up 2-0 on Washington. Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets' defense faltered, their goaltending fell to pieces, and they couldn't find any offense other than Artemi Panarin. The result was the Blue Jackets failing to win a playoff series...again. Questions are still there for the Blue Jackets, and while the playoffs are still a possibility, winning a series may still be a pipe dream.
The offense was middle of the league, thanks in large part to Panarin. The rest of the scoring was fairly balanced, but they do need a healthy Cam Atkinson to have a chance, especially with Panarin's contract situation coming into play and rumors of Panarin wanting out of Columbus. Reinforcements in the off-season were non-existent. Defensively, this should be the strength of the team, and while they finished 10th in the league, they also gave up no fewer four goals in each of the games against the Capitals in the playoffs. Some of that is on the team not showing discipline, and some of it is on Sergei Bobrovsky showing a Jekyll and Hyde personality in goal. He was great in the regular season, but his habit of letting in the occasional soft goal reared its ugly head in the playoffs again.
Prediction: 4th in the Metropolitan Division
The Blue Jackets still have the pieces to make the playoffs again, but John Tortorella's seat is at inferno levels. That seat may be burning him if the Blue Jackets fail to win a playoff series again.
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