It has been five months and sixteen days since the Blue Jackets skated off the ice at the PPG Paints Arena and entered the long, hard offseason. Have you missed hockey? I’ve missed hockey. Last season was the most successful in franchise history, and it was a LOT of fun, but it’s disappointing that it ended after just five extra games. I am ready to watch this team build on that. I know the management, coaches, and players are ready too.
The last couple openers have been disappointing in the face of high expectations. A last minute lost to the Rangers in 2015 started an 8 game losing streak from which the team never recovered.