It's human nature to miss what you no longer have.
Such is the nature of sports. There aren't very many Shane Doans out there – there are a lot of moving parts in any given team's year-over-year roster construction – and with now-31 teams in the league, roster stagnation is an anomaly.
The Blue Jackets are no stranger to this. With that in mind, we asked our staff one more big question: If you could bring back one former Blue Jacket for this season, who would it be?
If you could bring one former Blue Jackets player back, who would it be?
JEFF: I’m going to go with Ryan Johansen. It has to be a forward given how strong and deep the Blue Jackets’ defensive corps is, and Sergei Bobrovsky has the goaltending situation on lockdown. And I’m thinking it has to be a center, as the Blue Jackets in my opinion are a better team with Nick Foligno on the wing. With that in mind, why wouldn’t you pick Johansen, who would really make Columbus an elite team down the middle? I have no regrets about the trade and what it did for the Blue Jackets, but adding one more elite forward would put this team in a really good spot.
ROB: Rick Nash. I’m nostalgic. But I do believe he will be back in a Blue Jackets sweater before his career is over, perhaps next summer. There’s a lot of noise around a potential Nash return but the 17-year-old hockey fan in me is trying to stay level about it; I also would like to see No. 61 be the first number retired by the Blue Jackets. He’s the greatest player (to date) in the franchise’s history, or, at least until Zach Werenski passes him. Come home, Rick.
DAN: Ryan Johansen, because if this team has a weakness, it’s high-end talent at the center position. Perhaps the only first-line center in team history, it was evident how much Nashville missed him in the playoffs after his injury. Having a 1-2 punch with Wennberg and Johansen could put the Jackets among the league’s elite at every position.
KYLE: The Blue Jackets unequivocally won the trade, but the obvious answer here is Ryan Johansen. High-end skill? Can’t ever have too much of that. Plus he’s never quite had a lethal left wing – that was the rationale behind trading for Brandon Saad, of course – and Johansen’s playmaking ability next to Panarin’s elite one-timer would be formidable to say the least.
With that said… man, this team could really use a guy like Mark Letestu. Throw him just about anywhere in the lineup and he’ll be rock solid. He’s one of those guys who brings a little bit of everything – and I think the Blue Jackets made a big mistake by letting him go to Edmonton two offseasons ago.
BONUS ROUND: Who's taking home what hardware?
| Mixer | Svoboda | Morrison | Blazer | Dukart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBJ points leader | Panarin | Wennberg | Panarin | Panarin | Wennberg |
| CBJ goals leader | Atkinson | Panarin | Atkinson | Panarin | Panarin |
| Adams | Babcock | Hitchcock | Hitchcock | Babcock | Babcock |
| Vezina | Price | Gibson | Bobrovsky | Holtby | Murray |
| Hart | McDavid | McDavid | Seguin | McDavid | McDavid |
| Art Ross | McDavid | McDavid | McDavid | McDavid | McDavid |
| Calder | Hischier | Bjork | Jost | McAvoy | DeBrincat |
| Metro Champ | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| Atlantic Champ | Toronto | Boston | Tampa Bay | Toronto | Toronto |
| Central Champ | Minnesota | Dallas | Dallas | Nashville | Minnesota |
| Pacific Champ | Edmonton | Anaheim | Edmonton | Edmonton | Anaheim |
| East Champ | Pittsburgh | Tampa Bay | Tampa Bay | Toronto | Tampa Bay |
| West Champ | Dallas | Nashville | St. Louis | Edmonton | Nashville |
| Stanley Cup | Dallas | Tampa Bay | Tampa Bay | Toronto | Tampa Bay |
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