Paul Berthelot: The top five moments from the Blue Jackets season Ranking the best moments from the Blue Jackets 2016-17 season.

Paul Berthelot: The top five moments from the Blue Jackets season
Ranking the best moments from the Blue Jackets 2016-17 season.
- Paul Berthelot

Banner year what can be said , it was a roller coaster ride , 17-18 i'm expecting a wild card finish given what they set this year.

I think I may have to go with the Zach Werenski / Seth Jones pairing as the #1 highlight. What a treat to watch them this year and can only imagine what the future holds for them. I hope they are Blue Jackets for years to come.

I think I may have to go with the Zach Werenski / Seth Jones pairing as the #1 highlight. What a treat to watch them this year and can only imagine what the future holds for them. I hope they are Blue Jackets for years to come.
- Shakers

That is a deadly pairing. They're both great players and getting better.

As somebody who was at the 10-0 game....that is my #1 for the year. Unquestionably.

Banner year what can be said , it was a roller coaster ride , 17-18 i'm expecting a wild card finish given what they set this year.
- Alexzanki

I think I'd be content getting back to the playoffs again regardless of seeding. It's an important step for this organization to make the playoffs 2 years in a row. It sounds bad, but it's the truth. Obviously, I want to win the division and all that, but getting some consistency is probably more important.

If you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to offer my five highlights (and a dream) for the upcoming 2017-18 season.

5. Josh Anderson is not drafted by Las Vegas, and we lose a defenseman in the draft (though I would hate to lose any of the top eight).

4. We somehow trade for or sign a big-time scorer up front and he had 30-40 goals.

3. #72 has a 2.00 or less GAA in the playoffs.

2. Columbus defeats Washington and/or Pittsburgh to get to the ECF.

1. Columbus gets to the Cup final (Yes, I believe that is possible).

1A. (Dream) Coaching staff continues to show the edges have been sanded off and there are no player revolts in the room or nasty public arguments with the press.

If you will indulge me for a moment, I would like to offer my five highlights (and a dream) for the upcoming 2017-18 season.

5. Josh Anderson is not drafted by Las Vegas, and we lose a defenseman in the draft (though I would hate to lose any of the top eight).

4. We somehow trade for or sign a big-time scorer up front and he had 30-40 goals.

3. #72 has a 2.00 or less GAA in the playoffs.

2. Columbus defeats Washington and/or Pittsburgh to get to the ECF.

1. Columbus gets to the Cup final (Yes, I believe that is possible).

1A. (Dream) Coaching staff continues to show the edges have been sanded off and there are no player revolts in the room or nasty public arguments with the press.
- jkumpire

I'd rather lose anderson than any of our defenseman. He'll sophomore slump and dmen are way more valuable.

I think Duchene is a doable trade target. What would you be willing to give up for him? Karelsson & our 1st maybe? Thoughts?

I'd rather lose anderson than any of our defenseman. He'll sophomore slump and dmen are way more valuable.
- vertigo1061

Vertigo,

My impression from reading Puck-Rakers is that they basically have to expose Ryan Murray or Jack Johnson in the top six. I am also under the impression that the CBJ is not interested in losing Anderson at all and are very high on him, and he is likely going to be exposed.

If I am right I'd rather lose either of the d-men than him,and that's what the front office is thinking.

If I am wrong please correct me.

I think Duchene is a doable trade target. What would you be willing to give up for him? Karelsson & our 1st maybe? Thoughts?
- Shakers

I'd do that deal in a New York minute, but my impression is it will take a lot more than that to get him, like another draft choice and another prospect. I'd be happy giving up one or two more prospects for him I think.

As much as I'd like to get Duchene, as he's a high energy, 200 ft player, he only has 2 years left on his $6mil/yr contract. Unless you feel confident you can re-sign him at a reasonable $$, it might be better to go after Landeskog. He has longer term, at a very reasonable $$. Plus he's a couple of years younger than Duchene.
I believe the Avs priority is bringing their D up to snuff, so we'd have to send back a young D (Murray, Nutivarra??), a wing prospect, and one of our high $$, long term contracts (to off-set the high $$ we're adding).
Or maybe I'm way-y-y off base.

I think I'd be content getting back to the playoffs again regardless of seeding. It's an important step for this organization to make the playoffs 2 years in a row. It sounds bad, but it's the truth. Obviously, I want to win the division and all that, but getting some consistency is probably more important.
- vertigo1061

agreed , if this year was the search for respect , they now have show the're for real.

Vertigo,

My impression from reading Puck-Rakers is that they basically have to expose Ryan Murray or Jack Johnson in the top six. I am also under the impression that the CBJ is not interested in losing Anderson at all and are very high on him, and he is likely going to be exposed.

If I am right I'd rather lose either of the d-men than him,and that's what the front office is thinking.

If I am wrong please correct me.
- jkumpire

I think mgmt likes all 3 of the players you mentioned, but Ryan Murray is easily the most valuable of those 3 in terms of assets and Anderson probably the least. Forwards are easily replaceable in this league, for the most part. There's a lot to like, but it's just the nature of this league that dmen are more valuable.

We're likely going to not protect Johnson because of the contract/age, but I'd be thrilled if we were able to keep him and allow our defensive pairings more time to be stable. At the end of the day, losing a winger just isn't as impactful on the roster.

I think Duchene is a doable trade target. What would you be willing to give up for him? Karelsson & our 1st maybe? Thoughts?
- Shakers

Pass. The duchene madness at the deadline was silly. We need scoring, but I'm not trading a defensive center and a 1st for him. $6 million is a lot more than I'm willing to pay for what I think we need atm.

It also doesn't make sense considering the exp draft. You wouldn't do this deal until after the exp draft because of protection issues. And then why trade for a center if we don't need one. Wennberg/Dubinsky/Karlsson/Sedlak is depth I'm totally okay with. Now if we lose Karlsson in the expansion draft, that's a different story. If we lose Lars in the draft I could see us making a move for Duchene, but you're likely also giving up a defenseman in that deal since Colorado needs D, and my understanding is they'd be looking for a Jones/Werenski level guy coming back. So...good luck with that.

Thanks for the insight and you make very good points. I guess I'm just not sold on Wennberg as a #1 Center. I'm just thinking Duchene/Wennberg/Dubinski/Sedlik would be a considerable upgrade down the middle.

Thanks for the insight and you make very good points. I guess I'm just not sold on Wennberg as a #1 Center. I'm just thinking Duchene/Wennberg/Dubinski/Sedlik would be a considerable upgrade down the middle.
- Shakers

He's 22 and just had a 59 pt season. Duchene had 41 pts.

Wenny is only going to keep getting better, which is a lot scarier than most people realize.

And to be completely honest, Dubinsky in a third line center position doesn't make a ton of sense for a guy who eats minutes like they are skittles. He, and Jenns when playing with Duby, need to be a little more effective next season offensively as well.

If we can manage to keep our 4 centers we'll be fine at that position with PLD developing. If we lose Karlsson I have to think we'll look to pick somebody up. Especially losing Gagner and the flexibility he gave us.

What CBJ really needs is more scoring from the wings. A lot of that needs to come from Jenner and Saad, who need to find the back of the net more. Saad needs to be a 30 goal guy for us and Jenner at least 20.

That said, we were tied for 6th in the league in Goals For. *shrugs*

What CBJ really needs is more scoring from the wings. A lot of that needs to come from Jenner and Saad, who need to find the back of the net more. Saad needs to be a 30 goal guy for us and Jenner at least 20.

That said, we were tied for 6th in the league in Goals For. *shrugs*
- vertigo1061

Yeah, but we are in the same division as Washington, New York, Pittsburgh, and and others. It's not the Pacific, and it's not the Atlantic. I agree with you we need more scoring, which is why I am confused that so many people on this thread don't care if Josh Anderson is exposed in the expansion draft. First year player with size who can skate and scored 17 goals as a rookie, he seems like someone we have to keep.

Yeah, but we are in the same division as Washington, New York, Pittsburgh, and and others. It's not the Pacific, and it's not the Atlantic. I agree with you we need more scoring, which is why I am confused that so many people on this thread don't care if Josh Anderson is exposed in the expansion draft. First year player with size who can skate and scored 17 goals as a rookie, he seems like someone we have to keep.
- jkumpire

It's not that people don't like Anderson. It's just that goals are way easier to find than dmen. You can pick up a free agent winger pretty easily or trade an asset, but finding quality dmen in this league is hard.