NHL Turkey Awards
By JP Powell
Columbus Blue Jackets
Why They “Win”: Injuries
ESPN’s Preseason Power Rankings had the Columbus Blue Jackets as high as 11th, right behind the aforementioned Dallas Stars. Right now the Blue Jackets have 14 points and are tied with the Buffalo Sabers and Edmonton Oilers as the worst team in the league points-wise. So far this season the Blue Jackets have seen twelve different players wind up on the injury list, including five defensemen.
The injuries have addled the Blue Jackets to the point that they may already be out of the playoff picture. They are currently sitting 10 points behind a tie for the second Wildcard spot and they have a very tough road ahead. In their next 14 games they play the Predators twice, the Canucks, Lightning, Red Wings, Bruins, Penguins, Wild, and Blackhawks. Mixed in between those games they also play “lesser” teams in the Panthers twice, the Flyers, and the Capitals twice. Brutal. But, as TMMOTS staff writer Frank Walker wrote about yesterday, the Blue Jackets are looking for potential trade partners.