Old North Banter
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Predicting the 2019-2020 Metropolitan Standings

By Ryan Henkel

SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 26: The Metropolitan Division All-Stars pose after winning the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game at SAP Center on January 26, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - JANUARY 26: The Metropolitan Division All-Stars pose after winning the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game at SAP Center on January 26, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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8. Columbus Blue Jackets

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 04: Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella directs his team during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Blue Jackets 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 04: Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella directs his team during the third period of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Blue Jackets 4-3. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Someone has to be last and the easy pick here is the Jackets. With the loss of their starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to the Florida Panthers, star winger Artemi Panarin to divisional rivals New York Rangers and trade deadline acquisitions Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel leaving in free agency, the Blue Jackets have been stripped of a lot of talent.

The truth of the matter is that the Blue Jackets nearly missed the playoffs last year with all of its talent and losing a lot of key pieces will hurt them tremendously. There are some bright spots like top two blueliners Zach Werenski and Seth Jones, talented forwards Cam Atkinson and Pierre Luc-Dubois and of course head coach John Torterella. But, will Torterella be able to inspire the team to play past their talent or will his angry screams finally be tuned out in the locker room?

Notable Additions: Gustav Nyquist

Notable Losses: Sergei Bobrovsky, Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel

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