Columbus Blue Jackets: Playoff Bound in 2008-09

This season is clearly a make or break year. Unless the Jackets drive deep into the playoffs, expect to see a big shakeup within the team.

Columbus has rotated through a few coaches now (MacLean, Gallant, King), so the next domino to fall likely will not be that of Ken Hitchcock. Scott Howson has made some bold statements that he will be held accountable for.

Let’s face it, the teams that were put on the ice the first eight years performed to expectations—or perhaps better stated, performed to the skill level on the team. To date, the Jackets have had a sprinkling of All-Star talent (LeClaire, Nash), but for the most part, have gotten by on the “grind it out, work hard, and get some bounces” approach personified by journeymen like Kevin Dineen and Tyler Wright.

There has always been cap room available—but no one has made use of it to acquire the assets needed to put a winner on the ice.

Heading into the 2008-09 season, the Jackets have room under the salary cap left to dabble in free agency. There are still a variety of free agents out there.

I like what the Jackets have done up front. I think they are a move or two away, but I think they did address some of their major concerns, such as providing Nash with some support in the form of guys like Umberger and Huselius.

Where I think they still need some help is on the back end, and there are still a multitude of guys available. In no particular order, the following, depending on the structure of a contract, would all be welcome additions to the roster:

• Aaron Ward D (BOS)
  
• Dennis Wideman D (BOS)
  
• James Wisniewski D (CHI)
  
• Jon Klemm D (LA)
  
• Sean Hill D (MIN)
  
• Sheldon Brookbank D (NJ)
  
• Marek Malik D (NYR)
  
• Paul Mara D (NYR)
  
• Andy Wozniewski D (TOR)

The 2008/2009 season will be a defining one for Columbus. Scott Howson has started putting the pieces together to have a competitive team.

There are probably still some skill players to add, and there is clearly a need for some additional help back on the blue line.

But with the additions up front in the offseason thus far (including Umberger, Torres, and Huselius), the possibility of either their 2007 (Voracek) or 2008 (Filatov) draft pick making the team, and some reinforcements on the backend (Commodore, Tyutin), the Jackets just might have what it takes this year to not only get to the playoffs, but to really shake things up.

Expect to see them finish in third spot in the Central, and play their way into the second round of the playoffs before bowing out. By the end of this season, Columbus will have earned the respect of the NHL.

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