Blue Jackets GM: Seth Jones part of a promising team
When Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen peruses the 2015-16 standings, he doesn’t truly believe what he sees.
“I know we were 27th (in the NHL) and it was real disappointing,” Kekalainen said. “But we are not as bad as that.”
Many things that could go wrong did go wrong for the Blue Jackets last season, beginning with an 0-8-0 start. They finished 34-40-8. “We never recovered from that,” Kekalainen said.
But Kekalainen is optimistic, especially after re-signing Seth Jones to a six-year deal worth $32.4 million, and improving his salary cap position by $4.6 million by buying out defenseman Fedor Tyutin and forward Jared Boll.
“We needed a little bit of flexibility to make other moves (in the free agent market) or moving into the season,” Kekalainen said.
Kekalainen’s hope is to target some mid-level players after the top free agents sign. Because they traded Ryan Johansen to Nashville for Jones on Jan. 6, the Blue Jackets need a No. 1 center. But Kekalainen doesn’t feel that acquisition has to happen now.
“I think we are in OK shape there,” Kekalainen said. “We might not have the No. 1, but we have depth on our wings and solid two-way centers.”
Boone Jenner can play center, and Brandon Dubinsky is a feisty, well-rounded center who will play on the U.S. World Cup team. Alexander Wennberg totaled 40 points last season as a 21-year-old in his second season. The Blue Jacket bypassed highly-touted winger Jesse Puljujarvi at No. 3 to draft forward Pierre-Luc Dubois because they believe he will play center.
The centers in the free agent market include David Backes, Eric Staal, Frans Nielsen, Brad Richards, Sam Gagner and Nick Spaling.
Regardless of what Kekalainen addresses through the free agent pool, the Blue Jackets’ key will be their defense, plus Sergei Bobrovsky staying healthy and playing the way he has in the past. Bobrovsky played in 37 games and recorded a .908 save percentage this past season.
The Blue Jackets are pleased to have Jones anchoring their defense. “I think he can be a solid top two defenseman in the league on any good team, or any good playoff team, a team competing for the Stanley Cup,” Kekalainen said.
Jones already has three NHL seasons on his resume, and he’s 21. “I think he has a lot of room for growth,” Kekalainen said. “He is still young. He made a smooth transition to the bigger role he had with us. He is going to get better in all areas. A lot of defensemen don’t hit their (full) potential until 26 or 27.”
Kekalainen said what he admires most about Sidney Crosby is that he's always trying to find ways to improve. “They say he isn't good in faceoffs, and the next year is among the best,” Kekalainen said. “That’s the way Seth Jones is. He always wants to improve.”
The Blue Jackets are also excited about the potential of prospect Zach Werenski, a two-way defenseman who signed after his sophomore season at the University of Michigan.
Optimism is as high as last summer when many in the media were projecting the Blue Jackets as a playoff team.
“Not everyone was wrong last season when people saw us as a playoff team,” Kekalainen said. “We are definitely not 27th. I believe in our group, and we will be competing for a playoff spot next year.”