Columbus Blue Jackets - Line Up

The Columbus Blue Jackets became the NHL's lovable underdog last season, and their mad dash for a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a slow start to the shortened season came up just short. What looked like a long-term rebuilding project for new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen might not be that now with a Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender, a potentially deep defense corps, and new frontline talents at forward. Marian Gaborik arrived before the NHL Trade Deadline, and Nathan Horton joined him as one of the marquee free agent signings. Beyond signing Horton to a seven-year, $37.1 million contract, it has been a remarkably quiet offseason in Columbus. The Blue Jackets didn't add any players on one-way contracts or lose anyone to a one-way deal to another team. They had three first-round picks at the 2013 NHL Draft and ended up staying put and making each of the selections. Horton isn't likely to be ready for the start of the season after shoulder surgery, and there is some regression expected. A productive year for Gaborik, or breakthrough seasons from Ryan Johansen or Cam Atkinson could divert some of that regression. The Blue Jackets are moving to the new Metropolitan Division, where the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers look like the class of the group on paper, but the other six teams all seem like plausible candidates to finish anywhere from third to out of the playoffs. The three forwards expected to be the team's top goal-scorers (Gaborik, Horton, Atkinson) are natural right wings, and a shift to the other side didn't work so well for Gaborik in New York. When everyone is healthy, expect Atkinson to be the one who makes the move. Until Horton is healthy, it is certainly possible Atkinson stays on the right side and Dubinsky is the likely candidate to move into the top six with Letestu sliding up to No. 3 center. Boone Jenner could force his way into the lineup during training camp. Murray, the No. 2 pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, missed a huge chunk of last season with a shoulder injury. Whether or not he is ready for the NHL after missing the development time will be a story to watch during camp. There are some options if Murray isn't ready; David Savard, Cody Goloubef and Ilari Melart could compete with Prout for that opening in the top six. There will be plenty of focus on Bobrovsky trying to repeat his amazing 2012-13 season. McElhinney could see some competition for the backup spot from free agent signing Mike McKenna.

In: RW Nathan Horton, RW Jack Skille, G Curtis McElhinney
Out: C Colton Gillies; C Nick Drazenovic
UFAs: C Vinny Prospal; D Adrian Aucoin
Prospects: D Ryan Murray, C Boone Jenner, D Cody Goloubef

Here is the projected 2013-14 lineup for the Blue Jackets:

Forwards

Cam Atkinson - Artem Anisimov - Marian Gaborik
RJ Umberger- Ryan Johansen - Nathan Horton
Matt Calvert - Brandon Dubinsky - Nick Foligno
Blake Comeau - Mark Letestu - Jared Boll
Derek MacKenzie

Defensemen

Jack Johnson - Fedor Tyutin
Nikita Nikitin - James Wisniewski
Ryan Murray - Tim Erixon
Dalton Prout

Goalies

Sergei Bobrovsky Curtis McElhinney