$5 Things Learned from the Columbus Blue Jackets\' Early Season Action$

5 Things Learned from the Columbus Blue Jackets' Early Season Action

By Darrell Samuels

5 Things Learned from the Columbus Blue Jackets' Early Season Action

Jarmo — The Columbus Blue Jackets started in the National Hockey League during the 2000-01 campaign. Throughout the years they have built the team with some free agent signings each season and scattering prospects drafted each summer. The Jackets are not off to a great start and there are some areas that have been fairly obvious that need fixing. The following five things have been observed in assessing the first five games of the new campaign.

5. Columbus Blue Jackets struggles in October

Todd Richards, Columbus Blue Jackets

5. Columbus Blue Jackets struggles in October

Todd Richards, Columbus Blue Jackets — This season, they have lost their first five contests of the season. They won four of their first ten games last year and won five of their first eleven, two seasons ago. They have only made the playoffs twice in their franchise history and there have been rumors that Todd Richards could be soon relieved of his duties and replaced by former Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella, if things do not improve.

4. Goaltending is not good

Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets

4. Goaltending is not good

Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets — The Jackets' starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky won 31 of his 50 starts for the team last fall. Bobrovsky has started all five games for the team, during the early parts of this season, and the team has given up 26 goals. He led the team to an almost playoff upset against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2014 playoffs and needs to improve this fall, if they have plans to make the playoffs in April.

3. The team defense appears very weak

Dalton Prout, Columbus Blue Jackets

3. The team defense appears very weak

Dalton Prout, Columbus Blue Jackets — A glaring weakness that seems evident on the Jackets' team is their defense. Dalton Prout, David Savard, Fedor Tyutin and Ryan Murray all have one single assist each totaling four points. The defense has to improve together with the goaltending, in order to give their opponents fits.

2. Change of Address doesn't seem to affect Brandon Saad

Brandon Saad, Columbus Blue Jackets

2. Change of address doesn't seem to affect Brandon Saad

Brandon Saad, Columbus Blue Jackets — Brandon Saad was traded this summer from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Columbus Blue Jackets this summer. The Blackhawks traded their pending restricted free agent's rights to Ohio and then was able to come together with the management team in Columbus and was signed for six years, worth $36 million. Saad has adjusted well to his new teammates and has three goals in five games . The city of Columbus appears to suit him just fine.

1. Ryan Johansen appears to be a franchise player

Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets

1. Ryan Johansen appears to be a franchise player

Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets — Johanssen is the team's point leader early this season. The fourth overall selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Jackets appears to be building himself a great start to his career. Over the course of three seasons, he has amassed 167 points in 271 regular season games, in addition to six points in six playoff games. This season he has six points in five games.

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Columbus Blue Jackets

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