Patrik Laine will set the franchise record goals:Two CBJ legends currently hold the mark, as Rick Nash broke onto the scene in 2003-04 when he scored 41 goals to win the Rocket Richard Trophy, then Cam Atkinson tied the mark during a fantastic season in 2018-19. Our guess here is that Laine breaks the record. It's not that crazy of a prediction, in part because Laine already has a 44-goal season under his belt, achieved in 2017-18 in Winnipeg. It just feels like Laine is due for a huge season, as he's come back in a good frame of mind and in great shape after a disappointing first season in Columbus on the score sheet. There's no doubt, as one of the best snipers in the league, that he has the talent to break the mark. Another reason he can do it? He had an NHL-best 20 power-play goals that year in Winnipeg when he had 44, and the Blue Jackets power play could be formidable this year.
OPENING NIGHT COUNTDOWN: 7 new faces | 6 big home games | 5 reasons to be excited
Elvis Merzlikins wins the Vezina Trophy:OK, this one is bold, but it's also Merzlikins' stated goal going into the season, in part because he wants to honor the memory of Matiss Kivlenieks with a tremendous season. I don't doubt that's one of his major motivators going into this season, but I'll also be honest -- coming out of last year's strong finish, I thought Merzlikins was going to have a huge year outside of that. It just feels like it's his time to really burst onto the scene -- he has a new contract, he has enough experience at the NHL level, and there's no doubting his high level of talent. This is nothing against Joonas Korpisalo, who is a great goalie in his own right, but I just have a gut feeling that Merzlikins is due for a huge season. And if that's the case, why not put him in the running for the trophy that goes to the top goaltender in the NHL? He's already finished fifth in his rookie season.
The Blue Jackets don't finish last in the Metro:OK, is this really all that bold? Wouldn't someone going for bold predictions -- who writes for this website -- have the Blue Jackets in the playoffs at the very least? True, but also keep in mind where most NHL prognosticators have placed Columbus going into the year. Online betting house Bovada has the Blue Jackets' over/under at 76.5 points this year, while the next lowest team in the Metro is New Jersey at 90.5. That's right -- a 14-point gap between the next team (which might show the expected strength of the division). Over at The Athletic, Dom Luszczyszyn's preview model has Columbus averaging out at 78.3 points; New Jersey is next in the Metro at 89.9. So pretty much everyone sees a big gap between the Blue Jackets and everyone else. Our take? It won't be that bad. This team does have some flaws -- it's still figuring out center depth and its defensive unit -- but our guess is this will be a much more fun season than some expect.
Zach Werenski will lead NHL defensemen in goals again: OK, I'm not totally sold on this one, but I needed a fourth prediction and I can see how it would happen. As the unquestioned No. 1 blueliner on the team, he's going to play big minutes -- I mean, huge minutes. If the power play ends up being as good as it has looked in the preseason, I could see him being a big part of that, which would mean he'd be able to pad his total there. And Werenski told me this preseason he worked on his shot this summer, which could make a strength into a bigger weapon. Of the four I have here, this is the one I'm least sold on -- goals by defensemen seem to vary wildly from year to year -- but let's also be honest. Werenski is one of the top offensive blueliners in the league, so let's give him his due.
Don't miss out! Be there on Opening Night in Nationwide Arena.
