Columbus Blue Jackets' New Additions Ready to Help Growing Franchise

The Columbus Blue Jackets' latest acquisitions were introduced to the media this morning.

Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski took part in a press conference held at Nationwide Arena, where they were given their new jerseys and answered questions from the media. Carter will wear No. 7 next season and Wisniewski, No. 21.

The press conference started with Jackets GM Scott Howson making an opening statement, during which he talked about his main goal since being hired by Columbus, which was to bring in both a top-line center and an offensive-minded defenseman, two of the team's main weaknesses over the past few years.

Top-line centers are hard to find these days, and the chances of their being shopped by their respective teams were slim, so when Howson had an opportunity, he was not going to let it slip away.

Now, with the acquisition of Carter, Howson feels that the Jackets are going to be strong at the center position for quite some time:

“You look at all the teams that are contenders and they’re strong down the middle,” Howson said. “Now, with Jeff Carter, Antoine Vermette, Derick Brassard, Sammy Pahlsson, Derek MacKenzie, and with Ryan Johansen coming, we have a chance to be very strong down the middle.”

Carter finally arrived in Columbus a few days ago and has been spending his time getting to know the city and also meeting with new teammates, such as Derick Dorsett and Jared Boll.

After he had spoken with them, Carter said there seemed to be "a new energy surrounding the team."

"It seems like everyone wants to get on the ice," he continued.

Carter is ready to play alongside the Blue Jackets' star player, Rick Nash, and plans to skate a few days prior to the team's training camp to try and build some chemistry between himself and his new linemates.

Both Carter and Wisniewski will be tasked with improving the Blue Jackets' abysmal power play.

Howson stated that one of the main reasons that the Columbus power play was one of the worst in the league last year was that they didn't have the right person to quarterback.

The Jackets GM is confident that Wisniewski can be that guy, and it seems as though "The Wiz" is ready for the challenge:

“I feel even more pressure this year than I did going into my free agent year—and that’s one of the biggest years of your life,” he said. “For those critics who say I’m a No. 4 at best, I’m going to prove them wrong.”

There will be a lot of pressure on Wisniewski this upcoming season after the defenseman was given a six-year contract worth $33 million, but he's ready to show Columbus he's worth it:

“I’m the kind of guy; I want to earn the contract," Wisniewski said.

Wisniewski said that the Jackets acquisition of Carter before the draft made his decision to sign with the team after they acquired his rights a lot easier.

The Michigan native, like all hockey players, wants to play for a winner, and having teammates like Nash and Carter is going to put more points in the win column:

"I don't want to lose every day: That makes life miserable," Wisniewski said. "With Rick Nash being who he is and Jeff Carter being a top center—those guys don't come along too often. I look forward to getting started."

Wisniewski would go on to say that he wants to be the "missing piece to the puzzle" and not just part of it.

The addition of these two pieces have some thinking that the Jackets could become a playoff contender, and Carter is one of those believers:

"You look at the roster, you have a goalie like Steve Mason, and he's shown what he can do in this league," said Carter. "Guys like Rick Nash and R.J. Umberger—there are some real good hockey players on this team. I don't see any reason why we can't be in the playoffs."

The pressure will be on these two new Blue Jackets to take Columbus back to the playoffs for the only the second time in franchise history.

They are each ready to carry the flag.