Columbus Blue Jackets 2024 Stanley Cup Odds
For the Columbus Blue Jackets, sustaining success has proven to be a major challenge. Columbus made the playoffs four consecutive seasons from 2017 through 2020 but won only one round. Since then, they have been missing in playoff action. But with the hiring of head coach Mike Babcock, there is hope for a renaissance.
2024 Stanley Cup Betting Odds
Columbus Blue Jackets NHL Betting Lines
The 2022-23 Columbus Blue Jackets were 25-48-9 straight up and 43-36 over/under the total. Also, Columbus was 8th in the Metropolitan Division playoff standings. Columbus was 57 points behind the Carolina Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division race. Columbus had NHL rankings of 30th for goals scored and 26th for power play efficiency. In comparison, on defense, the Blue Jackets had NHL rankings of 31st for goals against and 25th for penalty killing.
First among Columbus scorers was Johnny Gaudreau with 21 goals, 53 assists, 74 points, and a -33. Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins had a ..876 save percentage and 4.23 goals against average. His record was 7-18-2 with 0 shutouts.
Head coach Mike Babcock is back in the NHL as Columbus' first-year head coach. The veteran bench boss was fired by Toronto in November 2019 but remained under contract with the Leafs until June 30, when he was free to be formally introduced as Columbus' new leader.
Certainly, it does feel like the Blue Jackets required a different voice after their debacle of a 2022-23 season. That's not to say Columbus' spiral was all the fault of former coach Brad Larsen. But Babcock will bring his recipe to coax more out of the Blue Jackets this season. The big question is: How has Babcock evolved since his previous coaching stint? Will he lean on what worked in the past to make him a Stanley Cup winner in Detroit? Or learn from past failures with Toronto? We'll soon find out.
In one week in July, the Blue Jackets made huge sweeping changes to their blue line. They traded for Ivan Provorov, a minute-munching defender selected one pick before their own Zach Werenski. And a few days later, they made a big splash, signing analytics darling Damon Severson to a monster eight-year deal. In a flash, Columbus’ blue line appeared much more capable.
The problem here is that the bar for that was extremely low. That, and one of the targets, has a reputation that far outstretches his actual ability. Maybe Provorov will be better in a lesser role, but from this vantage point, he likely doesn’t move the needle as much as expected. Even with Severson and Provorov in tow, the Blue Jackets still have a bottom-10 defense corps. And they’re not at the top of that list.
Season-by-Season Record (Last 5)
| SEASON |
GAMES |
WINS |
LOSSES |
FINISH |
PLAYOFFS |
| 2022–23 |
82 |
25 |
48 |
8th, Metropolitan |
Did not qualify |
| 2021–22 |
82 |
37 |
38 |
6th, Metropolitan |
Did not qualify |
| 2020–21 |
56 |
18 |
26 |
8th, Central |
Did not qualify |
| 2019–20 |
70 |
33 |
22 |
6th, Metropolitan |
Lost in First Round, 1–4 (Lightning) |
| 2018–19 |
82 |
47 |
31 |
5th, Metropolitan |
Lost in Second Round, 2–4 (Bruins) |
Columbus Blue Jackets History
Founded as an expansion franchise in 2000, the Blue Jackets have struggled to gain an identity. Columbus has usually been a hard team on the eyes. Typically, the Blue Jackets have had to emphasize defense. Their best run was when they made the second round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Former head coach John Tortorella led the Blue Jackets to their most successful era. Torts led the Blue Jackets to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for four consecutive seasons from 2017 through 2020. But the team was proven inadequate to make a serious run and only got to the second round once.
Columbus has always been seen as a franchise and town that nobody wanted to play for. In the past, a host of quality players left the Blue Jackets the first chance they got.
But with the arrival of Johnny Hockey Gaudreau, the Columbus franchise has a new lease on life. Suddenly, the good things about the city of Columbus are being highlighted.
audreau stunned the NHL world by choosing to play in C-Bus instead of other supposedly attractive towns. Gaudreau said he chose Columbus for its outstanding quality of life, great fans, and reasonable taxes and cost of living.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the cusp of a new and exciting era of opportunity. Finally, CBJ has an identity and momentum as a franchise.
NHL Teams
Eastern Conference - Atlantic
Eastern Conference - Metropolitan
Western Conference - Central
Western Conference - Pacific
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