Best 2001 expansion team...

[NickHammy]

The Columbus Blue Jackets have more points than the Minnesota Wild but one point doesn't say much. I think Columbus is a stronger team. What do you think?

[lmanchur.]

I'm going with the Wild. They have played really good defensive hockey at times (typical Lemair-type hockey), which is signs of a future champion.... er... well... I'm getting ahead of myself! :D

...this team, IMO, was better managed in the pre-season than Columbus.

[Peck]

I'll give Columbus the go-go-go.....since like they made a GREAT trade getting Whitney although it was stupid to trade hienz....but they still ahve sanderson..and a future bourque in Klesa.........so that pretty much says it all and oh yeah their goaltending i sGREATTTTTTTTTTT

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by Peck
so that pretty much says it all and oh yeah their goaltending i sGREATTTTTTTTTTT True.. everthing you said is true. However, their GAA and goaltending numbers may not SHOW that Columbus' goaltending is great, but that is because of their defense which is kind of sloppy... if they can boost that up, their goaltending numbers will really shine through.

However, with Jacques Lemair as their coach, I'm going with Minnesota, still... when teams are doing really poorly, coaches are blamed. When teams are doing really good, choaces are praised. This team's page in my season preview magazine had the headline, "WORST TEAM EVER?", and they've proven to be ANYTHING but. Maybe they are worst team on paper, but on the ice, they're playing awesome hockey for a first-year team.