from Kevin Allen of USA TODAY,

... intriguing teams are flying under the radar. Here are five that will perform better than you think they will:

Columbus Blue Jackets: With the offensive might this team possesses and the presence of Sergei Bobrovsky in net, the Blue Jackets could win the Metropolitan Division.

The primary reason they weren’t in the playoffs last season was injuries.

The Blue Jackets are spending more than $45 million in cap space on forwards, and they should be among the most dangerous offenses. If Brandon Saad, Ryan Johansen and Nick Foligno play together, they will be formidable. Don’t forget the Blue Jackets closed last season with a 12-0-1 run.

The only question is whether their defense is strong enough. They also need a strong start, which is not a Blue Jackets tradition.

read on