I will be rating each team on three different areas which of course are goalies, defensemen and forward. The ratings are from 1 to 10. The rating consists of his personal ability and his importance to the team. This means that a player who scores way more points might get the same rating as someone who does not. There are two categories that i will rate: Every position as whole and then every single player. I will also put in the lines that i think/hope they will play next season. Then last i will give a grade to the whole team.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Goalies
Steve Mason: Everything looked so good, in 08-09 season, but after that Steve has not been so outstanding in the past two seasons. He is a very good player and hopefully will find his game again. Rating: 8
Mark Dekanich: Played really well in the AHL posting a 0.931 SV% and 2.09 GAA. Got 50 minutes of time in the NHL posting a 0.880 SV% and 3.60 GAA. In my opinion deserves more time and is rightly on the NHL squad. Rating: 7
I like both of the goalies they have, but they both have to improve in order to actually be among the top goalies/top backup in the league. I know they have potential for it. Rating: 8
Defensemen
James Wisniewski: He should prove to be a really good player for the Blue Jackets. They only had to give up a fifth round pick and in that he is a true bargain. Should quarterback the Columbus power play. Ratinng: 9
Fedor Tyutin: Top-two defenseman in Blue Jackets squad. Will hopefully for the first pair with Wisniewski. Not as good offensively as Wisniewski, but a well balanced player. Rating: 8
Kris Russell: Bottom line defender, who might get more time after the departures of Lepisto and Commodore. Although neither one played too much last season... Anyway decent player who can contribute offensively as well. Rating: 8
Marc Methot: Good defensive player who is able to add some assists, but scoring is not his strong point. He has only 6 goals in 229 games. Though perhaps the most important thing fora defender is not scoring... Rating: 8
Radek Martinek: Veteran presence from Islanders. Martinek has been playing in a rebulding franchise for years and that may have cut of some points, but i firmly believe he could well have career high season next year. Good player in my opinion. Rating: 8
Gran Clintsome: Starting his second season in the NHL, but has only 42 games on his belt. Decent player who still has potential to be better. Played high average minutes last season, but migh be forced to drop some off with the acquisition of Wisniewksi. Rating: 8
Good defensive set whit some offensive ability, but sadly mainly in Wisniewki. Columbus is better than last year, but i fear that their question marks and potential stumbling blocks are in the defensive core. Rating: 8
Forwards
Antoine Vermette: Swift center who still has a lot to offer. Might be dropped lower due to Jeff Carter widely expected to take number one center role. He has been relatively productive and hopefully will keep on the same track. Rating: 9
RJ Umberger: My personal favorite to form the first line with Carter and Nash. I find him very sympathetic and hope only the best for him. Perhaps a career high season with a all star center and winger on his side? Rating: 9
Vinny Prospal: Brings veteran presence and experience to the second line which he will hopefully form with Vermette and Brassard. Will fill the void left my Huselius´ injury. Rating: 8
Samuel Pahlsson: Good bottom line center. Hopefully will get Moreau on his left and Dorsett on his right side. Olympic gold medal winner will also bring leadership qualities to the team. Rating: 8
Rick Nash: The franchise player in Columbus. He has been the face of the franchise he has been and still remains as the most important player to them. He has magical individual skills and is one of the five players in the NHL who shot more than 300 times last season. One of the other over 300 shot taken players is new Blue Jackets center Jeff Carter. Rating: 10
Derek Mackenzie: The fairly inexperienced center put up a team best +/- rating of 14. He never had played more than 18 games in a single season before the 63 he played last year. Guess you could consider it to be some kind of a breakthrough season for the 30 year old. Rating: 7
Kristian Huselius: Gifted left winger had a torn chest muscle which will keep him out at least till November and till January at worst. He will probably challenge Prospal for the second line left wing spot once he gets back to match fittnes. Rating: 8
Derek Dorsett: A good player for a checking/shift disturbing line, but what it comes to offensive abilities he is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Relatively good at what he does and a important part, but not too gifted. Rating: 7
Jeff Carter: The all-star center has a career high of 46 goals and he will be clearly the best center in Columbus, which he was not in Philadelphia. Since the players on his line will be as good as they were in Philly he should be able to even increase his already good output. Rating: 10
Matt Calvert: The left winger played a relatively good rookie season and if he is able to keep on getting better he might even challenge Prospal for the second line left wing. 47 goals and 52 assists in the WHL couple of years ago get my expectations quite high. Rating: 7
Derick Brassard: To be a 6th overall pick he has been slightly disappointing, but he has the potential and all he has to do is get some things right and he will be a top 6 forward easily. Even though he is listed as a center i hope he will br the right wing of the second line. Rating: 8
Jared Boll: Quite similar to Dorsett perhaps even slightly more physical. Will start his fifth season with the Blue Jackets and hopefully keep on giving the body to the oppsing players. Rating: 7
Better players upfront than last year and with a first line like that there will be no opposing line that will slack when they are on ice, otherwise they will be sure to concede. Columbuus will also be one of the most shooting teams with Carter and Nash upfront. Rating: 9
Lines:
Umberger-Carter-Nash
Prospal-Vermette-Brassard
Calvert-MacKenzie-Dorsett
? -Pahlsson-Boll
Wisniewski-Tyutin
Clintsome-Methot
Russel-Martinek
Mason
Good squad, but they do have some question marks and perhaps the biggest one is Steve Mason. If he can play like the man who won the calder trophy they should do well, but if not they will fall with him. Overall some flashes of brilliance with some unproven player. Rating: 8
Key factors:
+Improved the squad during the offseason
+Now two really good line
-Question mark in goal
I only rate the players that are listed on the clubs website in teams roster/players/squad so prospects are not included in them. At least not by every team.
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