Most importantly, though, his ice time jumped to 12:34 minutes per game in the second season.

***

The Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline posited Cam Atkinson would be the most surprising player for the Columbus Blue Jackets next season. He suggested playing with Ryan Johansen and Brandon Saad, and that Atkinson suffered from tough “puck luck” last season.

For sure, if playing with Johansen and Saad, Atkinson should have his first 25-goal season and potentially a career year. Second place in that top-six group isn’t much of a loss, though, so all signs point to Atkinson taking that step.

However, the puck luck is something I’m not sure of. Perhaps, and without looking, Portzline was referring to something other than shooting percentage because Atkinson improved in that area last season (10.4 percent) compared to the 2013-14 season (9.4 percent).

Regardless, Columbus looks ready to take that step next season, especially offensively. I’ve said this here before, I believe, but Columbus was the third-ranked offense from February 1 through the end of the season.

***

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill was on Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown Monday. A number of interesting things jumped out.

First, when asked about Patrick Sharp fitting with the team, Nill lead off by saying Sharp would be a great fit with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. He did double back, and say there isn’t a bad fit for Sharp, and playing with Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky is also an option.

Those who listened know that isn’t a direct quote, but it was certainly interesting that Seguin and Benn flew out first and without any hesitation. And with head coach Lindy Ruff’s willingness to load up Benn-Spezza-Seguin last season, why wouldn’t he be equally likely to try Sharp with Benn and Seguin on the No. 1 line.

We won’t know until training camp, but Ruff also could turn to the trio in game, too. He was notorious for running lines in practice and then rolling with something completely different in game last season.

Just because we all assume Sharp fits well with Spezza on the second line doesn’t mean it will happen. You can mark my words on this one, though, and hold me accountable, too, but barring injury, Valeri Nichushkin will be the biggest fantasy value from Dallas next season.

As in, Nichushkin will return the most compared to where he is drafted.

***

Two other interesting points Nill made, which were in reply to Bobcat questioning their potential defensive shortcomings, concerned Patrik Nemeth and Stephen Johns.

Johns was a must-have inclusion in the Sharp deal, and Nill couldn’t say enough positive things about Nemeth.

While I’m skepitcal, I’m also willing to give someone, or in this case a team, the benefit of doubt. As Nill said, he trusts his scouting staff, and this time last year no one knew who John Klingberg was.

Let’s call it a wait-and-see situation for now.

***

Here is a little more detail from Nill via The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy.

The biggest takeaway is the acknowledgement that Dallas has the cap space to add a veteran rearguard, if needed.

***

Johnny Oduya “should be close to a decision by tomorrow,” according to his agent Don Meehan

Wait for it …

Doesn’t Dallas seem like the perfect fit?

***

So the parting shot is …

That's a new kind of stupid. https://t.co/RicYjB7ZlC

— Dobber (@DobberHockey) Ryan O’Reilly topic on this level, though.

 

Things happen, and sometimes guys make the wrong decisions. However, why don’t professional teams make a larger effort to protect their investments and eliminate the chances for these things to happen?

 

For example, 24-hour limousine hook ups might help out. I realize at the end of the day it is an individual’s choice to utilize such a service, but if something like that is readily available, it might be easier to make the right decision.

 

Who knows, but after signing up to pay someone $70 million, it doesn’t seem out of the question to pay someone else a nice wage to make sure things like this don’t happen.

 

It worked with Josh Hamilton for a long time, and for all intents and purposes, it is working again. Looking at it from another angle, call it a hedged bet.