30 in 30: Columbus Blue Jackets

Goaltending will decide whether off-season upgrades pay dividendsIf you take out the Adam Foote signing in 2005, the Columbus Blue Jackets have never been a factor in free agency. That wasn’t the case this summer. Not only did they make a splash by signing James Wisniewski to a lucrative contract, but GM Scott Howson also acquired Jeff Carter from Philadelphia in a blockbuster trade.What does this all mean for Columbus? Do these two moves book their ticket to the playoffs? With the way their goaltending is set up, not necessarily.Steve Mason has been a liability between the pipes since winning the Calder Trophy in 2009. (Mason’s stat-line since the All-Star break of his rookie season: 60-56-21, 2.93 GAA, .902 save percentage.) And in the last two years, Mason has had a somewhat-reliable backup in the form of Mathieu Garon. His backup now? Mark Dekanich, a goalie with 50 minutes of NHL experience. That’s not to say Dekanich won’t succeed as a backup and/or starter, but there...