Bowness’ culture change, refocused Werenski key to Blue Jackets ending postseason drought
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $205*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Columbus Blue Jackets
Last season: 40-30-12, missed playoffs.
COACH: Rick Bowness (21-11-5 over half a season with Columbus; 331-419-48-42 overall over 15 seasons with six other teams).
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 1 vs. Buffalo.
DEPARTURES: C Boone Jenner, LW Mason Marchment.
ADDITIONS: RW Valeri Nichushkin, LW Ryan Lomberg.
GOALIES: Jet Greaves (26-19-9, 2.60 goals-against average, .908 save percentage), Pheonix Copley (0-1-0, 3.07, .893).
What to expect
The Blue Jackets have not made the playoffs since 2020. Bowness promised a culture change after they went 2-8-1 down the stretch last season: “Now I have a reference point to them and I can go to them in October and I can go to them in November, ‘That’s the stuff that hurts us in March and April that you will not get away with then and you will not get away with in the playoffs.’ So that helps. That seed has been planted.”
The offseason drama continued when Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski vetoed a trade to Dallas and Adam Fantilli signed a six-year extension after missing a week of training camp. Fantilli, the third overall pick in the 2023 draft, has increased his point totals in his three seasons.
The Blue Jackets will need to get off to a strong start if they want to shed all of that. Seven of their first nine games are at home.
Strengths and weaknesses
The good: Werenski is one of three defensemen with at least 20 goals in each of the previous two seasons. Kirill Marchenko has led the team in goals the past three seasons. Greaves emerged as a No. 1 goalie last season and will be counted on for more starts with Elvis Merzlikins (14-11-3, 3.40, .883) out for an extended period due to offseason shoulder surgery.
The not so good: Special teams. Columbus had the fifth-worst penalty killing unit in the league last season and was 22nd on the power play. Backup goalie remains a question mark the first half of the season with either Copley or Cam Talbot.
Players to watch
Werenski joined Canada’s Duncan Keith and Sweden’s Nicklas Lidstrom as the only players to win an Olympic gold medal and Norris Trophy in the same season. Nichushkin — a three-time, 20-goal scorer with Colorado — was acquired to add depth at forward and also upgrade the power play. He averaged under 18 minutes of ice time last season, but that is expected to increase with his new team. Center Charlie Coyle has emerged as a solid two-way center who can anchor the second or third line. Lomberg was also added in the offseason to provide toughness alongside Mathieu Olivier.
___
See AP’s full NHL coverage here