It is an exciting time to be a Blue Jackets fan. Never before have expectations been so high for a team that’s entering its ninth season in the NHL.
After advancing to their first playoff berth in franchise history last year, the Columbus Blue Jackets are back on the ice for the start of the 2009-2010 season, welcoming the Minnesota Wild at Nationwide Arena, Saturday at 7 p.m.
Last season was special for the city of Columbus and the Blue Jackets. Led by Rookie of the Year Steve Mason between the pipes and team captain Rick Nash, the Blue Jackets took a major step as a franchise after having a losing record the previous seven seasons.
The team had a winning record for five months from November through March, and never lost more than three games in a row the entire season.
The 2008-09 season was magical, but now it must start over for the Blue Jackets beginning this weekend.

Relying on Nash
Another year of Blue Jackets success starts with team captain Rick Nash, who signed an eight-year contract extension over the offseason that begins in 2010-11 and continues through the 2017-18 season.
It’s safe to say if Columbus is going to make another playoff-bound run, Nash will have to lead the team.
Nash, 25, is the Jackets’ all-time leader in goals and points, having registered 194 goals and 161 assists for 355 points in 441 career games.
A year ago, Nash recorded 40 goals with 39 assists to lead the club in goals for the fifth consecutive season and points for the second year in a row. Nash had 79 points, a career high, to go along with his assists as a new individual best.
The Jackets will need Nash to be a factor in the course of the year for Columbus to compete in a tough central division in the Western Conference.

Welcome back, Rookie of the Year
The hockey world found out what Steve Mason can do at goal. The young star led the league in shutouts (10) and was second in goals against as he went on to receive the Calder Memorial trophy. The trophy goes out to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.
“It was nice to get the award,” Mason said. “But that was last season and I think everyone is excited that camp is over with now and everyone is getting ready for the regular season.”
Now Mason enters his second year for the Jackets, and big things are expected from the 21-year-old.
“Obviously there are expectations of myself this season,” said Mason, who was ninth in the league with 30 wins last year. “I want to be even better than last year. The preseason was a good way to get ready for the regular season and our team is hard at work each day and we feel well about entering a new season this weekend.”
The Blue Jackets relied on Mason more than they wanted to last season. But with the addition of veteran backup goalie Mathieu Garon, who won a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh as a reserve, Mason feels confident in the guys around him.
“We had a couple younger defensemen last year and I think the experience they gain will make them better this year,” Mason said. “I’m looking forward to working with these guys again.”

Key additions, losses
Gone are forwards Jason Williams and Manny Malhotra, who combined for 30 goals, 52 assists and 82 points for the Jackets a season ago. The two were vital to Columbus making its first playoff appearance.
Forward Samuel Pahlsson, who won a Cup with Anaheim in 2007, is arriving this year. He brings postseason experience to the club, while Nikita Filatov, a 19-year-old talent, adds an offensive threat on the ice with his puck handling and goal scoring abilities.
In his career, Pahlsson, 31, has registered 54 goals and 92 assists for 146 points in 557 career NHL games with the Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks.
Filatov, who was recalled to the team last April, collected four goals in eight games for the Jackets a season ago. He became the first Blue Jackets rookie to score a hat trick when he had three goals against Minnesota on Jan. 10 and also became only the fourth player in franchise history to score a goal in his NHL debut against Nashville Oct. 17.
Center R.J. Umberger, a member of the Ohio State men’s hockey squad from 2001-03, said the players added to the 2009-10 Blue Jackets squad are going to help this team make another playoff run.
“I think Sammy adds a good element to this team,” said Umberger, who collected 26 goals, 20 assists and 46 points in his first year as a Blue Jacket last season. “With the loss of Manny, he [Sammy] is a veteran player now and is one of the better defensive players and is a good special teams guy. He will help out a lot.”
With the average age on the squad being 25, Pahlsson will add much needed veteran support in the locker room and on the ice.

What it’s going to take to do it again
The Blue Jackets must bring their experience from the playoffs last season to the ice in 2010.
Columbus will need to use its physicality and talent, led by captain Nash, while last year’s star Steve Mason brings a strong front to the defensive end.
During the 2008-09 campaign, every team in the central division was above .500. A quick start to the 2009-10 season could be crucial to ensure being in the mix come playoff time.
Forward Antoine Vermette, who recently signed a five-year contract extension, said the team has been bonding well in training camp and it’s up them to make it another special year.
“We had a great training camp with the team chemistry at a good level,” Vermette said. “This week has been all about preparation and we are just excited to get back on the ice and get it going again. The step we took last year with the playoff berth was great but we can’t wait to get to that next level. We have a very young group, but with the experience we got last year, it can be very exciting to see what happens this season.”