In order to understand the improvements the Columbus Blue Jackets are starting to show you must look past the 4-5-3 record. In fact keep wins/ losses out of the picture all together. While goals have been hard to come by, the Blue Jackets have had quality chances. The defense is both a work in progress and improved at the same time, more on that in a minute. To fully embrace improvements is to see where the organization is headed.
This is not the same team that lost to the Philadelphia Flyers opening night. For starters the team allows the wingers to drive play and bring the puck through the neutral zone. The center is there to distribute the puck the wings drive play. This was not the case in the teams first few games.
Back to shots on goal, while the puck has not hit the back of the net as much as would be liked, the team is getting good looks at the net and generating quality scoring opportunities. There have been lapses in the offensive zone that has also caused missed goals. The team is getting more consistent and they need to continue that trend in order to break out of the scoring funk. It does feel like that time is coming soon.
The defense has improved, sort of. Pascal Vincent insists on net-front and slot which is fine. However, that defense philosophy has some drawbacks as well. It gives the opposition more offensive zone time which gives them more scoring chances even if the quality shot is being defended. So while the Blue Jackets are taking quality shots they are sacrificing by giving zone time.
The power play is yet to really click and the search continues for chemistry as far as lines go. Nearly every player has been given opportunities on the special teams unit. Expect that to be ongoing until the right line combo has been found.
At 75.1% the Columbus penalty kill has been a reliable group. Actually this has been a fun unit. There is no panic when they are on the ice and they do a really solid job of pushing offensive players to the sides and not giving easy chances.
Again forget the record, this is after-all a retooling. The progress shown so far speaks to development and the team is starting to grasp the new system.
