Instead,
unlike 2010-11's peaks and valleys
, this one was a struggle from tip to tail. Carter never quite got comfortable in Columbus, Wisniewski was suspended for the first eight games, and the Blue Jackets got off to an 0-7-1 start that essentially ended the team's playoff hopes before they began.
The Blue Jackets didn't win back-to-back games until late November, but by then the 3-13-2 start had them buried. Eventually, the inevitable happened -- head coach Scott Arniel was relieved of his duties Jan. 9, with assistant coach Todd Richards promoted to the top job. But there was no saving the season, as Columbus finished 29-46-7, totaling 65 points to finish nine points behind everyone else in the league.
Adding insult to injury, the team didn't even win the postseason draft lottery, as Edmonton jumped the Blue Jackets for the right to draft presumptive first overall pick Nail Yakupov with the No. 1 choice.
Still, amid a difficult campaign, the seeds were sewn for future success. At the trade deadline, general manager Scott Howson traded Carter for defenseman Jack Johnson and a first-round pick. November deals brought in a pair of dependable players in forward Mark Letestu and defenseman Nikita Nikitin. A deadline trade of center Antoine Vermette netted goalie Curtis McElhinney and picks, while forward Samuel Pahlsson was sent to Vancouver for draft picks, one of which the team turned into Josh Anderson.
In addition, two players who would go on to form the core of the Blue Jackets down the road -- forward Cam Atkinson and defenseman David Savard -- would make their debuts.
On the ice, things were a struggle, as the Blue Jackets placed 27th in the league in scoring and 28th in defense. Arniel was let go at the midway point with the team holding an 11-25-5 record, while Richards fared slightly better, going 18-21-2.
Rick Nash was again the team's leading scorer, posting 30 goals to reach that plateau for the fifth straight year. He'd finish with a team-best 59 points as well, though it would turn out to be his final season in union blue. Nash scored a goal in the final game of the season April 7 vs. the New York Islanders, the 289th and final tally of his nine-year CBJ career.
Prospal and Carter did prove to help the offense, as the former placed second on the team with a 16-39-55 line. Carter netted a pair of hat tricks on the season and had 15 goals and 25 points in 39 games. Only two other players joined Nash and Prospal with at least 40 points, as Derick Brassard posted a 14-27-41 line while R.J. Umberger scored 20 goals and added 20 assists. Wisniewski played in just 48 games but had six goals and 27 points.
In net, Steve Mason started 45 games, going 16-26-3 with a 3.39 goals-against average and .894 save percentage. Curtis Sanford was the primary backup, posting a 10-18-4 record, 2.60 GAA and .911 save percentage.
