2012 Blue Jackets Preview: Blue Jackets Facing Low Expectations

The Blue Jackets headed into last season displaying what was, for them, a shocking amount of confidence. Deciding that they finally had the correct core of talent around long-suffering captain Rick Nash they cracked open the checkbook and not only traded for the Flyers' Jeff Carter to be the big-name running mate Rick Nash had been pining for, they also signed James Wisniewski to a huge free agent deal to spearhead the power play. For once, the Jackets were acting like a club that expected to make the playoffs.

Then Wisniewski smacked Cal Clutterbuck in the head after a preseason game, and that beautiful postseason dream evaporated in an instant. The NHL decided to make an example of Wisniewski and handed down a ridiculous suspension that was out of proportion to the actual nature of his infraction. The Blue Jackets promptly went out and lost all eight games Wisniewski missed to start the regular season, and they never recovered. Wisniewski couldn't stay healthy when he retu

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