30 Teams/30 Days: Columbus Blue Jackets

Outlook: Despite being swept by the eventual Western Conference Champion Detroit Red Wings, the Columbus Blue Jackets made their first playoff appearance in team history. That alone is a notable accomplishment. Under head coach Ken Hitchcock, many Blue Jackets had career years in 2008-09, and more importantly, they should be set in goal with last year’s Calder Trophy Winner, Steve Mason. In 61 games, the then 20-year-old goaltender had a year that any rookie goaltender would want to have. To prove that, Mason had 10 shutouts, which was tops in the league, a 2.29 goals against average, second in the league, and was tied for ninth in wins with 33. While Mason certainly deserves a lot of credit, the CBJ also saw Rick Nash post another 40-goal season and R.J. Umberger, who played his college nearby for the Ohio State University, had a career high in goals. Nash and Umberger are back for another year and Antoine Vermette, who was acquired from Ottawa at the Trade Deadline, had seve...