I fully expect the Jackets to be better as a team. It won’t be hard to improve upon 66 points even just by regression to the mean. But I don’t buy that they’ll be better than any of the teams that finished ahead of them, because literally the same arguments we can make for the Jackets can be made for most of them, too (except maybe coaching drama, but even Ottawa and New Jersey can also claim that to a lesser degree). Why is Columbus special?Talk about fallacy... Just because teams "made moves" doesn't mean they will work or get better. I mean if everyone got rid of the dead wood the NHL would never see any movement up or down. I mean hell, NJ went from 63 pts to 112 pts to 81 pts just in the last 3 years. They should have been at 130 pts last year given the moves they made. Do you think the Penguins got better? Islanders? Flyers? Capitals? I personally don't. They are either aging (in some cases significantly) or played way above their talent level because of a coach (Flyers). I wouldn't be shocked to see any of them drop like a rock this year.
Let's get a coach and a final roster first, that's all I'm saying. I just don't buy into the naysayer crap. I do have expectations of significant jumps from several of the forwards. I do expect a better defensive system (forwards and defenders make the system) with a new coach. I do not expect a bottom 5 team again. I didn't last year and if they held even half of their 3rd period leads the narrative in this group is completely different. We'll just have to agree to disagree on what we see with this team. I don't think the D is a finished product and also think they performed WAY below expectation last year. I expect a big change in approach and system this year. Might be wrong, but I don't see how they don't move up.
This whole conversation has been bizarre. I’m normally the pollyanna here, arguing with the doomers. Now I’m getting personal attacks and condescending concern because I look around the league and don’t think the Jackets are lapping anyone?