2007-2008 NHL Season Preview - Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
Notable moves and changes:Signed C Michael Peca (was with Toronto), signed C Kris Beech (had been with Washington). GM Doug MacLean fired, replaced by Scott Howson.
Starting goalie: Fredrik Norrena
Summary of last year: Miss the playoffs, rinse, repeat. The Jackets are only notable in that they are the only team yet to have made the post-season. Last year’s performance was a small regression from the year before, yet still their second best points performance ever (73).
Prediction for this year: Score bonus points if you remembered Sergei Fedorov is on this team. Peca has clearly been brought in to give the way over-worked Rick Nash a helping hand, but this team’s troubles go way beyond one free agent center. Fedorov, Fredrik Modin, Jason Chimera and Anson Carter all need to step up — the Blue Jackets’ scoring was abysmal last season, tied for 28th in the league. Defensively they don’t look much better. Anders Eriksson shouldn’t leave a gaping hole in your defence, but the departed d-man was second in defenceman scoring (23 points, all assists) and first on the team in plus/minus. Rostislav Klesla, Ron Hainsey and Duvie Westcott are all under pressure to improve. No, this isn’t going to be Columbus’s year either.
Michael Peca, Kris Beech, Doug MacLean, Scott Howson, Fredrik Norrena, Sergei Fedorov, Rick Nash, Fredrik Modin, Jason Chimera, Anson Carter
October 5th, 2007 at 11:15 am
[...] the season finally under way, and a clean slate for nearly every team in the NHL (sorry Columbus), do we really need a couple of childish managers hogging the airwaves and front pages of hockey [...]