The Blue Jackets haven't made the playoffs since 2020 and are on the heels of their second-worst season in franchise history. But, with significant additions to the blue line, a new head coach in Mike Babcock, and hopefully a healthier squad, the Blue Jackets should be much better in 2023-24. However, they play in a tough Metropolitan Division and an even tougher Eastern Conference, so making the playoffs isn't going to be easy.
Here are three statistical plateaus that must be reached for the Blue Jackets to qualify for the postseason.
Patrik Laine scores 30+ goals
After scoring at least 30 goals in each of his first three seasons, Laine hasn't reached the 30-goal plateau since. In 2022-23, he scored 22 goals in just 55 games, which is a 32.8-goal pace over an 82-game season. That's a good pace, but what matters is the total, which needs to be at least 30 goals, especially when you consider that Laine has the 15th-highest cap hit in the league among wingers. Laine has the ability to be among the game's best goal-scorers, but availability is the most important ability. Only two teams scored fewer goals than the Jackets did in 2022-23, so Laine eclipsing 30 goals will be key to helping the Jackets rise in the standings.
Team Save Percentage over .900
The Blue Jackets' .887SV% was the fourth-worst in the NHL in 2022-23, per naturalstattrick.com, and must improve greatly in 2023-24 for the team to compete for a playoff spot. Of the 16 teams that made the playoffs last season, 13 had a team save percentage of at least .900. The task of making this possible falls largely on the shoulders of Elvis Merzlikins, who had the worst season of his career last season, posting an .876SV%. Hopefully for the Jackets, Babcock's defensive tactics limit the opponents' grade-A chances which will help the save percentage, but at the end of the day, Merzlikins and company need to do a better job of stopping the puck.
Cut down on 5v5 goals against
According to naturalstattrick.com, no team allowed more goals at five-on-five than the Blue Jackets did in 2022-23. Additionally, of the 17 teams that allowed the fewest goals at five-on-five, 16 made the playoffs. The Blue Jackets allowed 231 five-on-five goals, 63 more than the Oilers, who finished 17th on the list. Babcock's influence on the team, the additions of Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson, and hopefully a healthier team should help the Blue Jackets in this aspect.
These three stats all have to do with the most basic concept of hockey, scoring more goals than your opponent.
If only it was that easy.
