3 questions facing Columbus Blue Jackets

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, three important questions facing the Columbus Blue Jackets.

1. Can Elvis regain his form?

Yes, an inexperienced, injury-ravaged defense was poor in front of him, but Elvis Merzlikins last season did not look like the goalie of the future he appeared to be when he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2020 with a 2.35 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and five shutouts in an eight-game span over 31 starts. He's had four shutouts in 106 starts since.

Merzlikins (7-18-2, 4.23, .876 in 30 games) missed 21 games last season because of illness, injuries and returning home to Latvia after the death of his grandmother.

"I am the key piece," Merzlikins said. "I don't consider me the key piece last season. Too many injuries, too many ups and downs. Now I'm 29, I'm not a kid anymore. … I'm the first one to say I was awful. I wasn't the best and I've got to become the best."

Second-year coach Brad Larsen was replaced by Mike Babcock on July 1, and goalie coach Manny Legace was fired in favor of Niklas Backstrom.

Babcock knows he inherits a goalie needing to regain the confidence of the room.

"Our job is to help Elvis be Elvis," he said. "So, that means putting in the work in the offseason, feeling great about himself, coming to camp, being as healthy as he can, putting the work in on the ice. The best way to be a good teammate is to do it right."

The Blue Jackets bolstered the defense by trading for Ivan Provorov (Philadelphia Flyers) and Damon Severson (New Jersey Devils). David Jiriceck, the No. 6 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, will likely make an impact defensively as well.

2. What will Babcock bring?

He'll stress structure and accountability, things lacking under Larsen, which prompted general manager Jarmo Kekalainen to say his firing was "absolutely necessary."

"If we all know what we're doing, and we don't have to think about it, we can be way better together," Babcock said. "All you have to do is watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs and watch organized teams that play hard, play five together. They just have more success. Being organized is so important, but so is maximizing every individual here."

3. Can they avoid injuries derailing another season?

The Blue Jackets had 563 man-games lost to injuries, 55 more than the previous franchise record of 508 (2014-15). They had three players miss at least 67 games with in-season injuries, and four others missed at least 20.

Among Columbus' key absentees were top defenseman Zach Werenski (69 games) and its 2021-22 points leader Jakub Voracek, who missed 50 games before being traded to the Arizona Coyotes on March 2.

A franchise-record 47 players (previous 43, 2003-04) were used, including six goalies. Nineteen players made their Blue Jackets debuts, including a team-record 11 NHL debuts.