The difference this season and the reason the Blue Jackets believe they can and will prove their critics wrong this season is because the players who remain part of the core group said they believe in the culture of accountability and success they've created in the past three seasons.
"When I came here eight years ago, we were holding on to anyone we could; it's not like that anymore," Foligno said. "It's not, 'Come to the Blue Jackets because we need you,' it's 'Come to the Blue Jackets because you want to be here.' I think that culture has changed dramatically."
Culture doesn't make proven No. 1 goalies. Columbus doesn't have one, which maybe more than any other reason is why there is doubt about its ability to be a playoff team again.
Joonas Korpisalo, the favorite to take over as the No. 1 for Bobrovsky, has played 90 NHL games across four seasons, starting 81. His competition, Elvis Merzlikins, has never played an NHL game.
"We believe in them," defenseman Seth Jones said. "You can see it in camp. They look quick, energized, ready to go. They understand what is at stake."
Foligno said he's noticed Korpisalo playing more square to the shooter than in past seasons.
"How exciting for him to know that it's not going to be the same as it always is," Foligno said. "You're not competing for the backup job, you're actually getting the chance to play 40, 50, maybe 60 games this year. That's got to be a thrill."
The Blue Jackets have already talked about changing their style of play to help the goalies. It'll be a change from the past, when Foligno said they took Bobrovsky for granted, at least until the playoffs last season.
"We're going to concentrate on being above the puck, make these guys feel we have numbers back, not get into the odd-man rushes," Tortorella said. "We changed our style in the playoffs versus Tampa, so I think it really feeds nicely into how we're going to approach it."
The Blue Jackets don't have one player who can take over for Panarin, but they said they believe they have enough in the group to make up for the production loss.
Kekalainen said center Pierre-Luc Dubois was the best in fitness testing in training camp and the expectation is that will translate to a "monster" season. Dubois had 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists) in 81 games last season. Could he be a 75-point center this season?