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Season preview: Blue Jackets

Stanley Cups: 0

2011-'12 record: 29-46-2-5, 65 points (5th in Central Division, 15th in West)

2011-'12 playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Todd Richards (95-92-18, 4th NHL year, 2nd team)

Top returning scorer: LW Vinny Prospal (16 goals, 39 assists, 55 points)

Top returning goalie: Steve Mason (16-26-3, 3.39, .894)

Key additions: G Sergei Bobrovsky; D Adrian Aucoin; G Curtis McElhinney; LW Nick Foligno; C Artem Anisimov; C Brandon Dubinsky; D Tim Erixon.

Key subtractions: LW Rick Nash; D Marc Methot; D Stephen Delisle; G Curtis Sanford; D Aaron Johnson; C Darryl Boyce; D Brett Lebda.

Goaltending: Another dismal campaign has cost Mason his No. 1 job. The former Calder Trophy winner figures to watch most nights as Bobrovsky takes the reins. Going with two young goalies on a rebuilding team could make for some long nights, though.

Player to watch: D Ryan Murray. This could have been his breakthrough season into the NHL, but the player chosen second overall in the 2012 entry draft is on the shelf for the remainder of the season. Murray underwent shoulder surgery after being hurt while playing for Everett (WHL).

Icing: Best move made by Blue Jackets may have been adding John Davidson to oversee their hockey operations. He helped rebuild St. Louis from the bottom into Central Division champs last season . . . Blue Jackets figure to be among the NHL’s youngest teams with just four players over 30 and 10 under the age of 25 . . . Blue Jackets are only NHL team that’s never won a playoff game.

Bob Duff writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the NHL for the Windsor (Ontario) Star; The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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