Alison: Blue Jackets hockey is back! And with a new season comes new expectations (and sometimes anxiety) about how the year starts out. The Blue Jackets continue to try to shake the reputation of having slow starts, and this year’s schedule presents a substantial challenge right out of the gate. The month of October holds seven games, half of which are on the road in the team’s first west coast swing. All but one of their opponents made the post-season (BOS), and a team they face twice, (SJS) played in the Stanley Cup Final.
With that kind of schedule ahead, we posed the question for this week’s roundtable “what are our predictions for the month of October, and does that means things are going well or poorly for this year’s Jacket squad?”
Matt: Two pairs of October games happen on back-to-back nights, meaning of the seven in October we should see 5 with Bobrovsky (the 3 “free” games, and the 2 openers of b-2-b). My prediction is that Bob comes back into form and manages a 3-2 record. Those second night back-to-back games: at Dallas and at Anaheim. Dallas is seriously great, but I don’t believe in Carlyle teams. Put me down for a guess of 4-3 to start the season (which isn’t too bad, when you consider the opposition).
Avery: For me, the Blue Jackets would have to win less than two games for it to be a truly disappointing October. Anywhere from two to four wins is within reason and anything above that would be icing on the cake. My prediction is 2-4-1, with a win on opening night.
I’ll also add that I think this month might have an inflated perceived importance for the CBJ, it’s fans, and the expert types that talk about the team. I think it’s important to keep in mind that a losing record isn’t direct evidence that John Tortorella’s training camp is ineffective, and a winning record isn’t direct evidence that the team tries harder under a new coach. With a sample size as small as seven games, the results are far too easily altered by an unsustainably high shooting percentage or an unsustainably low save percentage to put too much value in the record at the end of the month.
Paul: I expect the Jackets reputation as slow starters to continue for at least one more season. Their schedule to start is very tough, with only the home opener against Boston as a game I see them as the favourite in. They could squeak out a win in California against the Ducks, but any more wins this month are going to be on the back of Bob. I think they start 2-5-0.
Coach: On the flip side, a good start could be more vital to the Jackets than most other teams. They have been essentially written off (or not even written about) by nearly every media outlet. They have arguably the toughest opening schedule of anyone in the league. If Bob can carry his World Cup play over into the regular season, the CBJ has Boston (missing Bergeron), San Jose (kicking off a five game road trip), and five days off before taking on Chicago (all at home). The western road swing is tough to start, traveling post-Chicago game to face a rested Stars squad, but the Kings look more beatable this season (and missing Jonathan Quick/Marian Gaborik), while San Jose could be looking past the Jackets to their game against the Predators. Then they close out the month against the Ducks, who look to have significantly regressed in talent from last year and still have not signed Hampus Lindholm. I’m not saying they will start off 7-0-0 or anything, but there are enough questions surrounding the rest of their opponents, most of whom might be scarier in name than they are on the ice. I’ll be happy with anything from 3-3-1 up, but I could see a 5-2 or 4-2-1 start happening, and being something the youngest team in the league can build on.
Mark: Jackets rule, Shorks drool. CBJ 2-3-2 to start!
Alison: Thank you Mark for this valuable contribution.
Editor’s Note: Much of this occurred Thursday pre-Opening Night. At the time, optimism ruled (sort of).
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