Columbus Blue Jackets

A pumped-up young forward and amped-up intensity are steps in the right direction

By Andrea Woo

Team Page | Predicted Finish: 25

Rick Nash, the No. 1 pick of the 2002 draft, spent his first NHL off-season at home in Brampton, Ont., taking in movies (among his favorites: American Wedding and Old School); sitting down to meals with his family; and, most noticeably, growing larger. The Blue Jackets left wing weight-trained for three hours a day and came into camp at 6'4", 209 pounds, a solid 20 pounds heavier than last year. Jokes defenseman Luke Richardson, "I lost five pounds over the summer, and I know where they went. Nash has them."

Rick Nash John Ulan/AP SI RANKING (1 best - 30 worst) OFFENSE 26 DEFENSE 22 GOALTENDING 29 POWER PLAY 18 PENALTY KILLING 8 G.M. AND COACH 13

A Calder Trophy finalist last season, Nash hopes that his new bulk will enable him to muscle in goals around the net and do anything else to help turn around a team that limped to a Western Conference-worst 69 points. Columbus lost its top point-scorer when former captain Ray Whitney signed with Detroit, but his exit opened a spot for Nash on the second line. He will skate alongside speedy center Todd Marchant, who had career highs in goals (20) and assists (40) with Edmonton last year. "It's an honor to play with him," says Nash, who scored 17 goals as a rookie playing on the third line. "I grew up watching him and pretending I was him."

Besides signing free agents Marchant and checking forward Trevor Letowski, the Blue Jackets also upgraded a dismal blue line by acquiring Darryl Sydor, who had a +22 rating with Dallas last season. Sydor, a veteran two-way player, should boost the power play while helping Columbus cut down on its 3.21 goals allowed per game, the second worst in the league.

"We've always had decent talent, but I haven't always liked our team," says general manager and coach Doug MacLean. "Last year's team wasn't a team. I'm excited that the pieces are different."

Under MacLean, who took over behind the bench for Dave King last January, "the dressing room is a lot more intense," says Nash. "[MacLean] told us right away, 'If you're not here to make the playoffs, then we don't want you here.'" Nash is ready to take on that challenge -- and carry the burden on his broader shoulders.

Insider

This fourth-year team is fast, well-coached and going in the right direction, but it is still too small to be a playoff contender. They get run out of the rink by more physical clubs.... G Marc Denis must be better focused early in games and keep the offensively mediocre Jackets from having to play from behind.... New D Darryl Sydor is an excellent veteran pickup, but can he be a No. 1 guy on the blueline? He wasn't able to do that in previous stops in Dallas and Los Angeles.

Issue date: October 13, 2003