The Pretenders
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets swung for the fences this season, trading skilled forward Pierre-Luc Dubois and center Jack Roslovic to the Winnipeg Jets for one of the best pure shooters in the league in Patrik Laine. Unfortunately for them, that big swing came up empty as Laine posted just 21 points and a minus-29 rating in 45 games and ended up getting benched by now-fired coach John Tortorella.
After finishing 28th in the NHL in point percentage in 2020-21, the Blue Jackets are now faced with the uphill task of re-signing Laine. Efforts to clear cap space for a high-priced deal might end up costing them star defenseman Seth Jones, who has also been linked to the Flyers. New head coach Brad Larsen will have his hands full trying to make a return to the playoffs in a stacked Metro.
New Jersey Devils
To nobody’s surprise, the New Jersey Devils suffered through a hellish 2020-21 season (get it! because their name is… you get it). They finished in the bottom 10 of both goals scored and goals allowed, ranked fourth worst on the power play and dead last in the league on the penalty kill. Overall, their .403 points percentage was better than only the Anaheim Ducks (.384) and the historically bad Buffalo Sabres (.330).
They do have significant offensive upside with former first overall picks Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier but very little in the way of depth scoring… or defense… or goaltending. New Jersey will pick twice in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft this summer, including fourth overall. The additional draft selection could help lead to success down the road, but there’s little reason to expect they’ll contend for a playoff spot in 2022.