even 'the hockey news' says the blue jackets should be competitors this season! which is true, they should have been prior to now, but with veteran voices like fedorov, foote, modin, and peca... this team should have plenty of leadership ON the ice as well as some respectable advice off the ice (hitchcock) no matter how overrated some feel he is.
the jackets have some DAAAAAAMN good young talent. with brule, nash, zherdev, fritsche, on the front lines and some solid blueliners with foote, tollefsen, klesla, and hainsey backing them up. not to mention the surprise brick wall of norenna in the net, with pascal leclaire to rotate game for game (which will most likely be the decided task based on performance last year). leclaire, though lacking statistically last season (while healthy) has some of the fastest legs that you'll see in the nhl. he's got some DAMN good potential and with a sufficient line up of defensemen, could be a thriving force. norrena... i think he's already shown that he's got the focus and skill needed in the nhl. the man is a bit of a late bloomer perhaps, but he's got what it takes to be a #1 netminder if he can be a tad bit more consistent... and its not even 100% his fault for his MINOR inconsistencies, its partially the defense to blame last season. he's the CBJ's first keeper with a +500 win percentage. the two (norenna and leclaire) could be a tandem to be fucked with this season!
im personally excited to see what will happen. as long as the frontline produces the way they should (and have been expected to) and the blueliners do what i know they can, the jackets could actually be a danger this season. i dont give two shits what ANYONE says... i believe they'll make the playoffs this year!