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Watch, now that everyone has gone cold on the Columbus Blue Jackets after several years of overvaluing them, theyll prove all the detractors wrong and make the playoffs. Or maybe not.Still, its hard to get a read on the Blue Jackets, who looked like a team on the rise following their 2014 playoff berth but has had so much go wrong in the two seasons since. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen, given a contract extension this fall, surprised many by eschewing Finnish prospect Jesse Puljujarvi with the third overall pick at the 2016 draft and taking forward?Pierre-Luc Dubois?instead. I get the thought process behind the decision: Dubois can play center and, having traded franchise center Ryan Johansen to Nashville last January for Seth Jones, Columbus needed to fill that void.Still, it was a risk for a franchise that has fallen off the map the past couple of years. But its worth remembering that the Blue Jackets still have offensive depth, a young and mobile blue line, and a former Vezina Trophy winner in goal. How bad can they be?Biggest new facesGiven Columbus relatively quiet offseason, at least in terms of adding veteran players, Dubois is likely to be the biggest new face in the lineup -- but he may only be around for a while. As Kekalainen told us in a recent interview, the process of nurturing a young player like Dubois is a marathon, and were in the first mile. If Dubois stays with the Blue Jackets beyond nine games this season, hell play meaningful minutes.Jones isnt new, although this will be his first full season with the Blue Jackets. He likely will pair up with Ryan Murray as the teams top defensive unit.?Watch for rookie Zach Werenski, who is coming off a monster year with Columbus championship American Hockey League affiliate, to make an impact as the Blue Jackets try to inject speed and mobility to their blue-line corps.John Tortorella -- who took over for Todd Richards in Columbus last season after the Blue Jackets miserable 0-7 start ?-- is coming off a disappointing turn as head coach of Team USA at the World Cup of Hockey. But the upside was that the United States early exit allowed him more time at his first training camp with the Blue Jackets.Biggest unknownsThe Blue Jackets were a mess in their own zone -- and often in goal -- for the first part of last season, and they never crawled out of that hole. They finished 29th in goals allowed, but there should be an asterisk there, as netminder Sergei Bobrovsky once again was dragged down by injury and inconsistent play. He looked like a different player or, more to the point, like the old Bobrovsky of Vezina Trophy fame at the World Cup of Hockey. If hes that player, the Blue Jackets will be right in the mix. Its that simple.Can the remade blue line, which will rely heavily on Jones, Murray and Werenski, emulate what we saw out of the?Pittsburgh Penguins?last season, moving the puck quickly and smartly to a group of potentially explosive forwards? Assuming Dubois is the future franchise center, what does the present look like down the middle? Can Boone Jenner, a 30-goal scorer, fill the void as a No. 1 center? Can captain Nick Foligno regain the form that saw him register 31 goals and 73 points two years ago -- only to see those totals crumble last year to 12 goals and 37 points? And can Sam Gagner make a last career stand with the Blue Jackets?Sure thingsHmm. OK, were still thinking. Just kidding. The surest thing about Columbus is to expect the unexpected. As Kekalainen pointed out, if the Blue Jackets arent where they want to be, they cant blame the expectations, which are pretty much nil for this team to start the season.In terms of personnel, I continue to be so impressed with the evolution of Brandon Saad, who is entering his second season in Columbus after a shocking trade in the summer of 2015. Tortorella is going to ask Saad to do even more, including killing penalties -- which should help refine his two-way game. Saad is a two-time Stanley Cup winner who is coming off a 31-goal campaign and a team-best seven game-winning goals. This is about to become his team, and whether hes wearing a C or not, if the Blue Jackets are going to climb out of this rather sizeable pit, itll be Saad who leads them.PredictionSeriously, it wouldnt shock us all that much if the Blue Jackets become one of those Cinderella, worst-to-first kind of teams vying for a playoff spot next spring. But seeing is believing, especially with this team. Eighth in the Metropolitan Division. David West Jersey . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Fake Pelicans Jerseys . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. https://www.cheappelicans.com/ . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Josh Gray Jersey . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. Lonzo Ball Jersey . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday.VANCOUVER - Brad Knighton served notice Saturday night that he is not willing to give up his starting goalkeeper job with the Vancouver Whitecaps just yet. Knighton recorded his second shutout of the season and also earned an assist as the Whitecaps blanked the Seattle Sounders 2-0 in MLS action before a sellout crowd of 21,000 at B.C. Place Stadium. "Thats the best Ive ever played — by far, hands down," said Knighton, who was credited with seven saves. Knighton chalked up his elevated game to the recent arrival of Danish goalkeeper David Ousted, who becomes eligible to play Tuesday after an international transfer window opens. "You dont want to be chopped from a team," said Knighton. "Its my job to put in performances like that to make (management) think twice about taking me out of the lineup. "Obviously, its been nice having him here, because its going to push me and make me better. ... What youve seen from the two weeks that hes been here, its changed my mentality, and its probably the best Ive ever played." Kenny Miller, in the fourth minute, and second-half substitute Darren Mattocks, in the 79th, scored as the Whitecaps (8-5-5), in their third season in MLS, beat Seattle for the first time in league play. Vancouver moved into fourth place in the Western Conference standings while extending its streak to five games. The Whitecaps remained unbeaten in nine home games and have won six of their past nine overall. Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie said his players are starting to believe they are a good team. "Its just another step in the right direction for us," said Knighton. "I dont really care about the shutouts and winning games. Thats what Im in there for — to make saves and get us points and move up the table." The Sounders (7-6-3) saw their unbeaten streak end at four games. The Whitecaps avenged a road loss to the Sounders in early June, when the Sounders overcame a second-half deficit. "Credit to them for finishing that," said Seattle coach Sigi Schmid. "We had opportunities, we should have finished some of those opportunities. Knighton came up with some big saves in goal to keep them in it, and then the last 10 minutes of the game were pushing forward trying to get it — and thats probably when they got the majority of their shots. "Im not displeased with what we created or how we played." A large contingent of Sounders fans travelled north for the game, but they had little to cheer about early. Miller capitalized on Vancouvers first legitimate chance as he ran on to Corey Hertzogs long, high ball from the midfield line, sidestepped defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and put a shot just inside the far post. Hertzogs helper was his first in 11 MLS career games played. He also has a goal to his credit. But Hertzog was forced to leave the game with an apparent leg injury in the second half after taking a high tackle from Lamar Neagle, who received a yellow card for the innfraction.dddddddddddd After Millers early goal, the Whitecaps spent much of the night defending as the Sounders enjoyed numerous chances but could not beat Knighton. Knighton preserved his clubs lead with three outstanding saves about a minute apart in the first half. He foiled Eddie Johnson from inside the Vancouver box on 22 minutes and then, from an ensuing Seattle corner kick, got his hand on a Zach Scott shot from close range and caught the ball while lying on his back. In the 27th minute, Knighton robbed Johnson and Obafemi Martins on shot off the rebound. Knighton was credited with five saves in the first half as Seattle recorded 10 shots. Three of them went wide and two were blocked. Vancouver recorded five shots in the first 45 minutes, but put only two on target, and finished with just four on net. The Sounders almost drew even in the 57th minute as Neagle put a shot off Vancouver defender Brad Rusin and the goal post, and Seattle failed to generate a chance off the resulting corner kick. Whitecaps coach Rennie tried to generate some offence in the 76th minute as he subbed in striker Mattocks for Camilo, who was held in check most of the night and saw his scoring streak end at five games. The move worked as Mattocks ran on to midfielder Gershon Koffies long header off a Knighton goal kick and lifted the ball over Seattle goalkeeper Michael Gspurning. "I havent had (an assist) since high school, so it was quite nice," said Knighton. "Its one Ill live to tell my wife and kids about. Unfortunately, my wife and daughter are back in North Carolina right now, but I know they stayed up and saw the game. "My friends have been blowing me away with text messages. ... This really means a lot to me." The goal was the first for Mattocks since May 11th. He has played sparingly since then while also spending time away with the Jamaican national team. "It was good scoring a goal," said Mattocks. "I think it helped the team. We were ahead 1-0, but getting that goal took the pressure off the team." But Knighton knows the pressure isnt off him as Ousted waits in the wings. "Hes got to come and take (the job) out of my hands," said Knighton. "Its going to make for a great battle." Notes: Knighton was the obvious choice as Vancouvers man of the match. ... Whitecaps defender Andy OBrien has recovered from a hamstring injury suffered the last time the teams met, in Seattle in early June, but remained out of the lineup as a precaution. ... Koffie returned to the starting lineup for the first time since May 1. He subbed into the last two games after missing four with a thigh injury. ... Seattle played without injured midfielders Osvaldo Alonso (quad) and Steve Zakuani (hernia). ... Whitecaps midfielder Russell Teibert and fourth goalkeeper Simon Thomas were away with the Canadian team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup while central defender Carlyle Mitchell was with Trinidad and Tobago at the same tournament. ' ' '