After an injury-plagued season, the Blue Jackets are ready to prove that last year’s campaign was a fluke.
Columbus Blue Jackets (Last season: 42-35-5, 5th in Metropolitan)
Coach: Todd Richards (204-176-37; 7th season, 5th with Blue Jackets)
Key Player: Nick Foligno. Last May, Foligno was named captain of the Blue Jackets, the first person since Rick Nash to claim that honor. It was a well-earned accomplishment for Foligno. He was one of the few Blue Jackets to go the entire season without injury last year, scoring a team-leading 31 goals and tallying a highly respectable 73 points overall.