Defining "Cautiously Optimistic"
Posted 4:46 PM ET | Comments 2
This was the term I used to summarize my expectations for the Blue Jackets this upcoming season.
I don't mean that I am expecting another wash of a season; I have simply learned over the past seven years to never expect anything out of the ordinary from this team.
The rollercoaster of expectations Jacket fans have experienced is in the shape of one that has no end, and continously goes downward. In the inaugural season, hopes were high, mostly built on the success of Ohio State athletics (the primary focus of 95% of people in Columbus).
When the team's fortunes turned sour, the fans did the same. Year after year, smoke was blown up our you-know-whats about one thing after the next. If I recall, it was Doug MacLean who stated: "In three years, we will have a playoff team in Columbus." Boy, was he right....
So, to be "cautiously optimistic" is relative to the approach of the new management: under-promise, and over-deliver. If expectations are low, its not too hard to exceed them, right?
Realistically, I am optimistic that the few additions made by Scott Howson this off-season will be contributors. In fact, I know Jan Hejda will surprise many.
A safe bet would be to project the Jackets somewhere between 8 and 10 in the conference. If they play their tails off all season, they should sneak into the playoffs.
You can't expect a lot from a team without expectations, and in this new era of the Columbus Blue Jackets, this just might be the safest approach.
I don't mean that I am expecting another wash of a season; I have simply learned over the past seven years to never expect anything out of the ordinary from this team.
The rollercoaster of expectations Jacket fans have experienced is in the shape of one that has no end, and continously goes downward. In the inaugural season, hopes were high, mostly built on the success of Ohio State athletics (the primary focus of 95% of people in Columbus).
When the team's fortunes turned sour, the fans did the same. Year after year, smoke was blown up our you-know-whats about one thing after the next. If I recall, it was Doug MacLean who stated: "In three years, we will have a playoff team in Columbus." Boy, was he right....
So, to be "cautiously optimistic" is relative to the approach of the new management: under-promise, and over-deliver. If expectations are low, its not too hard to exceed them, right?
Realistically, I am optimistic that the few additions made by Scott Howson this off-season will be contributors. In fact, I know Jan Hejda will surprise many.
A safe bet would be to project the Jackets somewhere between 8 and 10 in the conference. If they play their tails off all season, they should sneak into the playoffs.
You can't expect a lot from a team without expectations, and in this new era of the Columbus Blue Jackets, this just might be the safest approach.
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24 The dreaded (or not so dreaded) off-season
24 Wanted: GM without the ego
25 Round 2 --can it top Round 1?
26 Who Gets the Hart?
26 Who Gets the Hart?
29 Earth to Nashville
30 The Enigma That is Nikolai Zherdev
24 Wanted: GM without the ego
25 Round 2 --can it top Round 1?
26 Who Gets the Hart?
26 Who Gets the Hart?
29 Earth to Nashville
30 The Enigma That is Nikolai Zherdev
09 Blue Jackets Sign C Kris Beech
10 Dog Days of Summer...and CBJ Missing the Boat
11 Training Camp Preview
12 Trade Winds are Swirling....
13 "
13 "
13 "
21 Welcome to Columbus, Mr. Peca
23 An Overhead View of the 2007-2008 Columbus Blue Jackets
23 An Overhead View of the 2007-2008 Columbus Blue Jackets
28 2007-2008 Preview Part I: Forwards
10 Dog Days of Summer...and CBJ Missing the Boat
11 Training Camp Preview
12 Trade Winds are Swirling....
13 "
13 "
13 "
21 Welcome to Columbus, Mr. Peca
23 An Overhead View of the 2007-2008 Columbus Blue Jackets
23 An Overhead View of the 2007-2008 Columbus Blue Jackets
28 2007-2008 Preview Part I: Forwards
06 2007-2008 Preview Part 2: Defense
28 Jackets Face Questions Entering the Regular Season
30 Welcome to the Show, Boys
28 Jackets Face Questions Entering the Regular Season
30 Welcome to the Show, Boys
09 Opening with a BOOM!
10 Gretzky's Boys Come to Town
11 Jackets Defense Stands Tall Again
15 Jackets' Road Woes Continue
15 No Suspension for Westcott; Hitch Shuffles the Deck (Again)
22 Jackets Start, End Flat
10 Gretzky's Boys Come to Town
11 Jackets Defense Stands Tall Again
15 Jackets' Road Woes Continue
15 No Suspension for Westcott; Hitch Shuffles the Deck (Again)
22 Jackets Start, End Flat
14 New Blog!!
16 Pazzy, Jackets Earn Win
16 Rumors Just Won't Go Away
21 There Comes a Time....
23 20-Minute Special
25 Solid Road Trip
28 Time to Move On
30 Blue Jackets Trade Jody Shelley
31 Curse Reversed, Right?
16 Pazzy, Jackets Earn Win
16 Rumors Just Won't Go Away
21 There Comes a Time....
23 20-Minute Special
25 Solid Road Trip
28 Time to Move On
30 Blue Jackets Trade Jody Shelley
31 Curse Reversed, Right?
05 Caps Roll In, Other Thoughts
06 The Ledge is Closer, Mason On His Way
12 Help Wanted...Quickly
16 When Five Become One
17 Trouble Brewed
18 Into the Spotlight
19 Rick Comes Home
19 How Much More Can He Take?
20 Who Needs the Coach, Anyway?
22 The Old Hitch Trick Works
29 The Aftermath...or the Backdraft
06 The Ledge is Closer, Mason On His Way
12 Help Wanted...Quickly
16 When Five Become One
17 Trouble Brewed
18 Into the Spotlight
19 Rick Comes Home
19 How Much More Can He Take?
20 Who Needs the Coach, Anyway?
22 The Old Hitch Trick Works
29 The Aftermath...or the Backdraft
01 Scratching, Clawing, Never Quitting
03 What Might Have Been
04 Talkcast, Wednesday @ 7pm
06 Getting Back on Track
09 When the Lights Turn On
27 Secondary Scoring Shows Up
03 What Might Have Been
04 Talkcast, Wednesday @ 7pm
06 Getting Back on Track
09 When the Lights Turn On
27 Secondary Scoring Shows Up
I agree with you...I expect the Jackets to barely miss this year...I'd venture to say 85 points
I think that the key this year should be staying healthy. For the past 2 years the D has been hit hard by the injury bug which has resulted in losing key guys for extended periods of time. Duvie, Rusty, Foote, Bereard. The other obvious key is more depth scoring. While Nash is the 'franchise' he can't be the only one to score goals. There are many games that seem to go the way Nash goes. If he's in a slump, the team seems to be as well.My expectations for this team are to be closer to the playoffs, but just on the outside looking in. Hopefully 3-5 points out.