Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Power Rankings #13: Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets were seen as a favorite to make the playoffs in 2014-2015. However, they saw one of the unluckiest injury-ridden seasons in NHL history and barely missed the playoffs. This season, they hope that they’ve gotten rid of the injury bug so that they can make the playoffs.
Columbus’s strength lies in its forwards and its goaltender. Their forwards were already strong with Nick Foligno coming off a career season and Ryan Johansen finally looking like the elite forward that Blue Jackets fans knew he could be. Brandon Dubinsky was great when healthy. Throw two-time Stanley Cup Champion Brandon Saad into the equation and that’s a nasty looking forward group.
Sergei Bobrovsky is one of the best goalies in the NHL when he’s healthy. He has a Vezina Trophy to back up that assertion as well.
However, Columbus still has a very unproven and sketchy blueline. Jack Johnson is alright, but nobody else on that blueline can be counted on to provide heavy minutes.
Next: #12