COLUMBUS, Ohio – The beginning of the 2014-2015 season for the Columbus Blue Jackets was a nightmare. In early December, the Jackets were the worst team in the league with a 7-15-2 record. By that time the Jackets were the walking wounded. Then, with key players back on the ice, the Jackets made a huge comeback winning 15 of their last 17 games. 
Jarmo Kekalainen made the deal with the Chicago Blackhawks that sent shock waves through Blue Jackets World. By trading Artem Anisimov, Mark Dano, Corey Tropp, Jeremy Morin and a fourth round draft pick in next year’s draft, they got Brandon Saad.
With the 15-1-1 final charge in the last 17 games and the addition of Saad, the Columbus Blue Jackets should make the playoffs this season making them a dark horse for the 2015-2014 Season.
The Jackets have depth the size of the Grand Canyon on the forward line. The biggest star on the forward line is none other than center Ryan Johansen. With 82 games under his belt last season, Johansen scored 26 goals 45 assists and 71 points. Behind Johansen on the second line is Brandon Dubinsky.
Although Dubinsky played 47 games, he notched 13 goals, 23 assists and 36 points. This gives the Jackets two proven veterans on the first two lines at that position. Backing them up is the capable Gregory Campbell and Swedish import Alex Wennberg, who as a rookie, scored a respectable 20 points in 68 games.
If the center position is stacked with talent, the wingers are a Sears Tower. Nick Foligno topped the most points on the team last year scoring 31 goals, 42 assets and 73 points. Grizzled veteran Scott Hartnell brings experience scoring 28 goals second only to Foligno. The speedy Cam Atkinson racked up 40 points including 22 goals and 18 assists making him 4th overall in goals on the team. 
Throw Saad into the mix and you have yourself a flying winger who scored 23 goals 29 assists, and a grand total of 52 points. Speed and goal scoring is the hallmark of the Jackets wingers.
The Jacket’s Achilles’ heel is the defensive line. Ryan Murray, the second overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft has had his short career plagued with injuries having a season ending shoulder injury in November of 2012 and only played 12 games last year. He has yet to reach his potential. Late last season the Jackets traded offensive minded defenseman James Wisniewski to the Anaheim Ducks leaving a big hole to fill.
The Jackets need more playmaking and goal scoring to fill this gap left by Wisniewski.
Despite this, the Jackets veteran Jack Johnson put up 40 points with 8 goals and 32 assists making him a playmaker on the blue line. Playing alongside him is David Savard and Fedor Tyutin. The Jackets are youngsters at this position with most of them under 25 years old. Cody Goloubef, Dalton Prout, and Kevin Connauton are young but despite their youth had a descent showing last year and are expected to do the same this season.
What will save the Blue Jackets playoff hopes, if it comes to it, are their outstanding goalkeepers. Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky played 51 games last year due to injury. Despite being injured Bobrovsky won 30 games, with 1478 saves, a GAA of 2.69 and a .918 save percentage. Backing up Bobrovsky is Curtis McElhinney. If there was a medal to give out for an impressive performance for a backup goalie, it should be given to him. Playing 32 games most of which were for the injured Bobrovsky, McElhinney racked up a 2.88 GAA. 
The Blue Jackets have a great outlook on the upcoming season. The addition of Saad makes them a threat in the Metropolitan Division. Last year on paper this team had potential to make the playoffs before the unfortunate number of injuries happened. This year, if the Jackets keep healthy, their playoff run is more of a possibility. Other teams in the Metropolitan Division let alone the Eastern Conference should be aware of the dark horse that is the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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