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Wednesday, November 8, 2000
By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell
Special to ESPN.com
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President/general manager Doug MacLean spent a couple of years
before the Blue Jackets even took the ice, setting the groundwork for a
successful franchise in a new city.
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Wed., Sept. 27
Expansion year is always tough. I like what the Blue Jackets have done with their goalies. Ron Tugnutt and Marc Denis are both solid. Tugnutt is a real stabilizer. He's going to be peppered, so it's good he's acrobatic and can handle a barrage of shots. Their nucleus will be their defensive unit with the signing of solid veteran guys like Lyle Odelein. GM Doug MacLean had a similar situation with the Florida Panthers when they were an expansion team. His experience in Florida should benefit the Blue Jackets. |
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Now that their inaugural season is here, MacLean is hoping his efforts
will have paid off. But as everyone knows, it's plenty tough to be a
first-year expansion team.
The positives? The Blue Jackets have journeyman goalie Ron Tugnutt, who
has played all over the NHL map. Tugnutt split last season between Ottawa and
Pittsburgh. Columbus becomes the goalie's seventh NHL organization.
Netminder Marc Denis spent last year with the Colorado Avalanche playing
behind future Hall of Famer Patrick Roy.
There will be plenty of pressure on the goalies this first year but the
pressure won't just be on them. Defensively, the club has veteran Lyle
Odelein who split his season last year between New Jersey and Phoenix.
The Blue Jackets' roster is chock-full of players who either
underachieved somewhere else for whatever reason (Deron Quint, Steve Heinze)
and are looking for a new chance in a new town or players who have spent
their careers mostly in the minors (Steve Maltais) and figure this could be
their last legitimate shot at a regular NHL job.
Then, there is the other category of players, which the Blue Jackets
also have many of – middle-of-the-road types who can play a certain specific
role for Columbus – whether it be penalty killing, power play, a spot on the
checking line or fourth line duty.
The club plans for its future stars to grow into that role via the draft
but they are two, three or in some cases, four years away.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are what management and coach Dave King hope
is like a good stew. The ingredients will mix together well and when it's
presented, most of the people you serve it to will like it.
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Bottom Line on the Blue Jackets
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Strengths
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Weaknesses
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Leadership
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Everything else
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Enthusiasm
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SEASON OUTLOOK: The format of the expansion draft may have gotten more favorable, but the bottom
line remains that these clubs are still talent-challenged until their draft
picks emerge as impact players. |
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe writes a weekly national NHL column for ESPN.com.
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ALSO SEE
St. Louis Blues preview
Nashville Predators preview
Detroit Red Wings preview
Chicago Blackhawks preview
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