January 7, 2024. After 41 games the Columbus Blue Jackets were 13-19-9, with 35 points. They were stranded in last place in the Metropolitan division and 2nd to last in the East. They were 9 points behind WC2 Philadelphia. Out of 32 teams in the NHL, they were 28th, ahead of just 4 teams (Chicago, Anaheim, San Jose, Ottawa)
January 7, 2025. After 41 games the Columbus Blue Jackets are 18-17-6, with 42 points. They are 4th place in the Metropolitan Division, and 8th place in the East. They currently occupy the WC2 spot. Out of 32 teams in the NHL, they are currently 17th.
A 5 win, 7 point, 4 divisional spots and 7 conference spots improvement.
Dean Evason should get a LOT of credit for taking this team from a projected 50-60 point season and a high draft pick, to a team fighting to make the playoffs. He is a finalist for the Jack Adams imo.
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EDIT: We were 11 points out this time last year as opposed to 9 points in the OP.
I would give a lot of things for a good 8-10 game point streak right now as we play a lot of western teams coming up
Was the talent always there and Dean Evason is just an average coach and Brad Larsen and Pascal Vincent were plain incompetent? Is Evason the greatest coach in the world and has the talent over-performing? Did Monahan really move the needle this much?
I know it’s only 5 extra wins (and 3 less OTLs) but this year’s team feels so much different to last year. It’s probably a mixture of the younger guys developing (and having the opportunity to develop), the coaching being better.
Hard for me to imagine that with losing Boone and Guddy for as long as they’ve been out that we’re in this position. And where we’d be with Boone and Gudbranson in the line-up.
So 7 points better, scoring more (+15), but giving up nearly the same (-2). I’m all for the optimism and giving Evason credit, but you can’t compare standings position when teams have games in hand on us. Sitting in 8th is also a game from sitting in 11th.
Halfway thru our schedule.
Total of 82 pts available, we have 41 pts .500 record (or dangerously close)
Duplicating this over the next 41 games would give us 82pts, close but no cigar for WC2, IMO
So what you may ask? Overachieving in the 2nd half of the season would get us an additional 44-45 points totaling 85-86 pts, possibly 87. That should be enough for a WC.
Look at our schedule, it won’t take a miracle, this is very doable.
As most teams, it will come down to who stays healthy and, (man I hate saying this…. my man Elvis)
Fuck up games (Detroit a few nights ago) have to be eliminated. We really needed that “assured” 1 pt if not 2.
Staying HOT at home is a must….. We have 20 home games left on the schedule. We will compete in all 20 of those games. Collecting 28 points **(or more)** within those remain home games, once again doable. I am so looking forward to being back in the barn tomorrow night!
**LFG**
I’m just happy the team is actually competitive again. It’s been brutal since Torts left.
Seems like our record this year would still
be good for last in the metro last year, right? No doubt we’re playing better (and more watchable) hockey but we’re also seeing a weak year for the Metro (finally)