Can an NHL team truly survive without a superstar? Can they be a legitimate contender without a big name player leading the way? The Columbus Blue Jackets and a group of valuable players are proving that the answer is yes. While the Jackets lack big name talent – the player who could most arguably be considered a “superstar” is reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky – they make up for it with the help of contributions from a few key players. While you won’t see these guys on the cover of NHL 19, they are a significant portion of what makes the Jackets click. Here are three players currently flying under the radar and quietly making the Blue Jackets better.
Three Players Quietly Making the Columbus Blue Jackets Better
Josh Anderson
23-year-old Josh Anderson finished his rookie season with the Jackets with 29 points, placing him behind only Calder Trophy nominee Zach Werenski in team rookie scoring on the Columbus roster. Anderson made the transition to the NHL after a Calder Cup-winning 2015-16 season with the Lake Erie (now Cleveland) Monsters. At 6’3″, 221 pounds, he combines physicality with speed and skill. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen is aware of Anderson’s value, too. The deal which lead to the Knights selecting William Karlsson in the Expansion Draft was struck largely to protect Anderson.
Anderson is a do-it-all kind of player. He put up 17 goals during the 2016-17 season, and he’s also not afraid to drop the gloves. His size and power allows Anderson to fill the enforcer role while still being able to carry his weight offensively. While mainly filling a bottom six role for now, he’s a young player who is only going to improve.
Matt Calvert was most notably thrust into NHL limelight when, during a November 18, 2016 game against the New York Islanders, he took a shot to the face, later returning during the same game to score the game-winning goal. Nothing could better encapsulate what Calvert brings to the Jackets. A 5’11”, 188-pound left wing, Calvert’s scrappy, physical play meshes well with the Jackets younger, faster style.
As the current longest tenured Jackets player, Calvert is not only a fan favorite but also an invaluable leader. While not a huge offensive producer, finishing the 2016-17 regular season with 15 points, Calvert’s contributions lie in his ability to show up in big moments. Calvert has proven that he’s no run-of-the-mill winger. Simply put: he’s the quintessential Blue Jacket. (Yes, that includes dirty hits on Penguins.)
David Savard
While the success of the Jackets defense is often attributed to youngster duo Zach Werenski and Seth Jones, Columbus fans are well aware of David Savard‘s contributions. A standout player in the 2016-17 season, Savard brings consistency to the Jackets. He was second in blocked shots during the 2016-17 season, behind only his defense partner Jack Johnson. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has even joked, “He makes more saves than me.”
The combination of Savard and Johnson has worked out incredibly well for the Jackets, giving them a solid top four defense. Overall, Savard is a workhorse who should continue to produce consistently for the Jackets. While not an offensive player, he has put up 20-plus points in his past three NHL seasons.
While it’s unlikely that we’ll see a Jackets sweater at the top of the scoring leaderboards, Columbus is getting by just fine. Due to players like Anderson, Calvert, and Savard, the Jackets have managed to become a formidable force in the league even without a “superstar” to keep them afloat. The contributions of these players should definitely not go overlooked.
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