Jackets Want To Add To Growth Spurt

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Just like a kid’s growth chart marked on a wall, a hockey franchise charts its progress.

There’s the first season, the first win, then the first trip to the playoffs, followed by the first visit to the Stanley Cup finals, then the initial championship.

At least, that’s the way teams hope it goes.

In their ninth season of existence, the Columbus Blue Jackets are somewhere in the middle of their maturation. They made it to the postseason for the first time this past spring. Now they’re planning on the next milestone - going deep in the playoffs.

“Obviously in seasons past, Columbus might have been overlooked,“ said goaltender Steve Mason, winner of last season’s Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. “But we made big strides last year and getting to the playoffs helped us a little bit with credibility. We still want to keep moving forward and getting better.“

The Blue Jackets got better by maintaining a nucleus that includes captain and leading scorer Rick Nash, who signed an eight-year, $62.4 million contract this summer; and Mason, who took the league by storm with a 33-20-7 record and 10 shutouts despite starting last year in the minors. They locked up playmaker Derick Brassard with a four-year, $12.8 million extension, and in 2009 have acquired No. 2 center Antoine Vermette, backup goaltender Mathieu Garon and young defenseman Anton Stralman.

Now comes the hard part: maintaining that upward arrow called progress.

It starts Saturday night when Columbus opens its season at home against the Minnesota Wild.

The Blue Jackets collected their first winning record (41-31-10), most points (92) and first playoff spot by finishing fourth in the Central Division and seventh in the Western Conference a year ago. But a late swoon meant they drew powerful Detroit in the first round, a grizzled, hungry, veteran bunch which feasted on the mistakes of a young and wide-eyed club. The Red Wings rolled to a sweep.

The Blue Jackets now must build on that major step forward.

“It’s always harder to stay at the top than to get to the top,“ said Nash, who had 40 goals and a career-best 79 points. “Whatever happened last year, doesn’t matter anymore. It’s done. It’s over. We have to start focusing on this year and see what happens.“

Gone from the roster are dependable but second-tier centers Manny Malhotra, Michael Peca and Jason Williams, along with the guy who was the No. 1 goalie for last year’s opener, Pascal Leclaire. The Blue Jackets didn’t re-sign the three playmakers, and traded the oft-injured Leclaire for Vermette, who is penciled in as the second-line center for the next few years.

Brassard was brilliant early before a shoulder injury ended his season. He’s back, stronger than ever and hungry for more.

“I got a taste last year and I gained a lot of confidence,“ he said. “This year I’m looking forward to the season because we’ve got a good team.“

He’ll be flanked by Nash and sniper Kristian Huselius (21G, 35A) on the No. 1 line. Vermette anchors the second line, with prized rookie Nikita Filatov and Jake Voracek (9G, 29A) bringing enthusiasm, athleticism and a degree of unpredictability. The third line will likely include No. 2 scorer R.J. Umberger (26G, 20A) and Jason Chimera with free agent signee Sammy Pahlsson at center. Vying for time on the fourth line are veteran Raffi Torres, healthy for the first time in almost two years, human pinballs Jared Boll and Derek Dorsett, rookie Michael Blunden and solid Andrew Murray. Fredrik Modin, nursing a bad knee, begins the year on the IR.

The blue line features mainstays Mike Commodore, Fedor Tyutin, Jan Hejda, Rostislav Klesla, Kris Russell, Marc Methot and recent trade acquisition Anton Stralman, who will get a shot at quarterbacking what has been Columbus’ Achilles’ heel, an anemic power play.

“We do have a better, deeper team,“ said coach Ken Hitchcock, starting his third full year behind the Blue Jackets bench. “We’re going to need it. I’m watching teams play on TV. There’s teams that look very organized and very deep.“

There’s not much question this is the best and most promising Blue Jackets team. It could be a good club for years to come, too, since Mason is 21, Nash is 25 and Voracek and Filatov can barely grow a playoff beard.

Most pundits think the team is one of the up-and-coming franchises in the league, along with Chicago and St. Louis - who just happen to be in the same division and may be fighting for the same playoff spot or two.

“We have to keep showing improvement,“ general manager Scott Howson said. “That’s what we’ve been trying to do, year after year since Hitch and I have been here. Hopefully we can do that and build on our performance last year and if you get into the playoffs, then do better in the playoffs.“

That would be one more check mark on the club’s growth spurt.

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