2005 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS PREVIEW

---




Straight Ups NHL Money Lines NHL Puck Line Wagering NHL Teasers NHL Proposition Betting NHL Futures "IF" Game Betting IN Game Wagering

We strive to bring you the very best coverage of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Included on this site you'll find an NHL team index and resource pages, Hockey Wagering Previews, Standings, NHL Matchups, stats, injuries, transactions, and online sportsbook hockey betting information. It's truly all right here!!! NHL Hockey Guide >>>

2005-06 Columbus Blue Jackets preview

(MySportsbook.com) - The Blue Jackets enter their fifth season of existence and are still in search of that first playoff berth.

The team has two blue-chippers in Rick Nash and Nikolai Zherdev, and other draft picks on their way up. This past offseason was spent bolstering the defense with the addition of Adam Foote and Bryan Berard.

Now it's just a matter of putting it all together. They have young forwards to build around, an improved defense and a goaltender who has proven his ability as a workhorse.

The team's first quest will be holding its own in a vastly-improved Central Division. Then the Jackets can worry about their position in the Western Conference and a possible playoff spot.

FORWARDS - Nash was the first-overall selection in the 2002 Draft, and he is already a star. The rugged power forward jumped from 17 goals to 41 in his first two seasons, tying Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk and Calgary's Jarome Iginla for the Maurice Richard Trophy in 03-04. The kid is only going to get better, especially on the power play where he potted 19 of his tallies last time out.

The problem was that Nash was pretty much an offense unto himself. He accounted for 23.2 percent of Columbus' goal production in 03-04, which was the highest percentage in the league. Only one other player, David Vyborny, tallied over 20 for the Blue Jackets and three more netted in the teens.

Zherdev was the team's top pick a year after Nash, and finally made his debut with the club after his trek over from Russia was delayed. He still managed 13 goals and 21 assists in 57 games, including a point-per-game average in the final 18 contests. This 20-year-old is a wizard handling the puck and should find himself on the highlight reel quite often.

In addition to their young studs, the Jackets also have some veteran forwards to count on. Geoff Sanderson returned to the club after being dealt to Vancouver at the 2004 trading deadline. He is the franchise's all-time leading scorer and potted 13 goals in 67 games before being dealt in 03-04. Todd Marchant remains a swift-skating centerman, but his offensive numbers dipped after joining Columbus before last season. He tallied only nine goals and 25 assists and was a minus-17 in 77 games.

Jan Hrdina was inked to be the top-line center alongside Nash, but his first job will to remain healthy. If that happens he is a playmaker who can produce upwards of 30 assists as he did early in his career with Pittsburgh.

DEFENSE - Foote comes to town after building a reputation as one of the NHL's toughest stay-at-home, crease-clearing defensemen while with Colorado. He was an obvious target by GM Doug MacLean, as the team signed him on the second day of free agency in August.

The next day the team added Berard, who has gotten his career back on track after the devastating eye injury he suffered during the 1998-99 season. A terrific skating defenseman, Berard tallied 13 goals and 34 assists in 58 games for Chicago in 03-04.

A guy who hasn't quite lived up to the hype is Rotislav Klesla, the team's first-ever draft pick in 2000. He has offensive skills and decent size, but he has been very inconsistent. Perhaps the presence of a No. 1 guy like Foote will reduce the pressure on his back and allow him just to play hockey.

Luke Richardson, now 36, gives the Jackets another blueline banger, while Radoslav Suchy and Duvie Westcott will also see significant time in the rotation.

GOALTENDING - Denis went 21-36-7 for the Jackets in 03-04, posting a 2.56 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in 66 games. He's a workhorse in the true sense of the word, but you'd think that head coach Gerard Gallant would like to see his minutes drop a bit.

That's why the club acquired former Ottawa backup Martin Prusek, who appeared in a career-high 29 tilts (26 starts) for the Sens in 03-04. He went 16-6-3 with a 2.12 GAA and .917 save percentage.

Former first-round pick Pascal Leclaire continues to wait for his turn, after spending his last three seasons in the AHL. He's only 22, so he will receive a chance sometime and somewhere without being rushed.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - Columbus has improved from a personnel standpoint, and the addition of Foote gives the club a solid dressing room guy who has a pair of Stanley Cups on his resume. It will be exciting to see how the kids continue their development, but this squad might still be a year away from really gunning after a playoff berth.

MySportsbook has all the lines on all your favorite sports!

Since their launch in 1997, MySportsbook.com has been recognized as a safe and secure provider of online gaming services - offering both a virtual casino and online sportsbook. This track record has made MySportsbook.com one of the top and most reputable online gaming companies in the world. Promo's Include Neteller SignUp Bonuses, Free $10 NHL Bet, Betting Specials, and their NHL Bet Promos are the best you'll find anywhere online.

Click Here To Bet On The Columbus Blue Jackets Today With Our Recommended NHL Sportsbook - MySportsbook.com - The Best Online NHL Sportsbooks - Better Than Vegas - (10% Money Bonus When You Deposit)

BODOG.COM - Columbus Blue Jackets betting sportsbooks

World’s Most Comprehensive Online Sportsbook, Casino and Poker Site Leads Trend for Wagering on Big-Time Events

Bodog.com located in San Jose, Costa Rica, is federally licensed by the Costa Rican and UK governments. One of the pioneers in the field, Bodog.com is the top-ranked US facing online gamblíng brand, with highest site traffic amongst multi-product US gaming web sites. Bodog.com, valued at over US $1 billion and ranked in the Power 10 online companies by eGaming Review. Bodog.com is turning into a marketing giant with their ads prominently displayed in Esquire magazine for starters. They are definatly here to stay. BoDog.com is always coming up with contest, promotions and awesome ideas for ways to improve their book for the player. They are a top NHL Bet website and have a 20% bonus with a 1 time roll over which you will not find anywhere else on the Net.

Click Here To Bet On The Columbus Blue Jackets Games Today - Bodog NHL Sportsbook Lines - (10% Free Money Bonus On Deposit)

Betcris.COM - Columbus Blue Jackets betting sportsbooks

Costa Rica International Sports (CRIS or BetCRIS.com) is a recognized industry leader since 1985.

BetCRIS provides safe, legal, and secure sports wagering on sporting events, as well as horse racing, casino, poker, and bingo from any location in the world, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. "Where The Line Originates" BetCRIS Sportsbook provides up-to-the-minute NHL news coverage and information for Hockey enthusiasts around the world. NHL News, NHL schedules, NHL match-ups, NHL stats, NHL standings, NHL scores, injuries and analysis. Receive a bonus every time you place a sports bet, win or lose. Every time you make a sports bet you will receive 1 betpoint for every dollar wagered. Betpoints will accumulate in your betting account until you decide to redeem them for great prizes, including free plays, sports pagers, & more! Whether you are wagering from your office computer or calling from the comforts of your home you can rest assured Betcris will be first class, and all accounts are completely confidential. All you need to do is open an account online or by telephone and concentrate on picking winners.

Click Here To Bet On The Columbus Blue Jackets Games Today - Betcris NHL Sportsbook Lines - (20% Free Money Bonus On Deposit)

NOTE: BoDog.com, MySportsbook.com, and Betus.comare our live Stanley Cup Betting matchups partners, and bring you up to date nhl and olympic hockey odds and lines, as well as great Stanley Cup Betting action, NHL sportsbooks action, and multi-sport parlay entertainment. These companies in our opinion are the best NHL sportsbooks online with great hockey matchup information, including NHL betting odds, LIVE NHL lines, fantastic customer service and fast payouts. Click the links to go to Bodog, Betus and My Sportsbook today, and bet Bet online in their NHL hockey sportsbooks today. Click any of the links in side the VIP sports information area including, NHL matchups, NHL previews, NHL standings, NHL live scores, and more today.

Columbus Blue Jackets Preview | Stanley Cup Lines | Hockey Sportsbooks