CASSELS

Doug MacLean finally let the moths out of his wallet at free agent time. The general manager signed center Andrew Cassels to boost a 2-goals-per-game offense, which takes some of the pressure off the defense. Signing defensemen Scott Lachance and Luke Richardson should lighten the load on gifted Czech Rotislav Klesla, which will, in turn, help young goalie Marc Denis (3.11 GAA in 42 games), who is without an NHL-experienced backup.

	The Big Question
	Q: Is this more than just an ex-Whaler reunion? What's so wrong about an ex-Whaler reunion anyway? Heck, I miss going to the Russian Lady and the Mall after a game. Any time you have a quality guy like Kevin Dineen, you should be all right. In the NHL, it's all about veteran leadership guiding the way when things are drifting, and the additions all make sense. On the blue line, Luke Richardson and Scott Lachance give them stability and guidance for the one of the fine young stars in this league, Rostislav Klesla. No. 1 pick Rick Nash will add to that youthful exuberance. The chemistry between old Whaler linemates Andrew Cassels and Geoff Sanderson should help both as they will get plenty of power-play time together. Look for a huge improvement in the standings after last year's dropoff if goalie Marc Denis can hold the fort as the No. 1 guy for the first time in his career. -- Darren Pang
	Good: Ray Whitney didn't get a lot of attention for scoring 61 points in 66 games, including 27 power-play points, last season. But with Andrew Cassels aboard to boost the offense, Whitney could push that total beyond a point-per-game pace. Bad: Being young and talented is one thing. Playing behind Columbus' defense is another thing. Marc Denis is the No. 1 goalie now that Ron Tugnutt is in Dallas, but adding Scott Lachance and Luke Richardson won't be enough to keep Denis from taking a pounding this season. -- Eric Karabell
	Top Prospect
	Pascal LeClaire, G Taken eighth overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2001 draft, LeClaire has been compared to Roberto Luongo, another Quebec Hockey League graduate.
	Minors Outlook
	Syracuse Crunch Coming off their most successful season ever, marred only by a Game 7 playoff loss to Chicago in the conference semis, the Crunch will probably go just as far as great goaltender J.F. Labbe takes them. -- Bill Ballou

Forwards With ex-Whaler linemates Andrew Cassels and Geoff Sanderson back together, it's almost guaranteed the Jackets won't finish last in the league in goals scored -- if they can stay healthy. Leading scorer Ray Whitney and center Espen Knutsen provide a base for a second scoring line. Like other expansion teams, newcomers will be placed in high-profile positions -- like the right wings on the top two lines. But the Jackets have enough older bodies to take the pressure off youngsters like 18-year-old rookie Rick Nash. Western Conference Position Ranking: 15th Defensemen The Jackets defense will be better than their overall outlook may dictate. Already armed with the best 20-year old defenseman in the league in Rostislav Klesla, and Jaroslav Spacek, a talented puck-moving defenseman, the Jackets added Scott Lachance and Luke Richardson to provide defensive stability and a physical presence. Jean-Luc Grand Pierre, Radim Bicanek, Jamie Allison and a few prospects battling for the finals spots bodes well for the future. Western Conference Position Ranking: 12th Goalie Marc Denis enters the season as the No. 1 goalie after serving as backup to Ron Tugnutt two seasons ago, then sharing duties last year. J.F. Labbe, who posted a 2.18 GAA and a .928 save percentage with nine shutouts last season, will likely serve as his backup, while 2001 top draft pick Pascal Leclaire spends his first pro season in the minors. Western Conference Position Ranking: 15th

Rankings: 14th Overall
Forwards | Defensemen | Goalies

RECORD: 22-47-8-5, 57 points Rank: 29th overall 15th West 5th Central Playoffs: None Home: 14-18-5-4 Road: 8-29-3-1 2001-02 results 2001-02 statistics 2002-03 schedule 2002-03 roster OFFENSE DEFENSE GOALS FOR/AVG. Overall: 164/2.00 (30th) Home: 93/2.27 (30th) Road: 71/1.73 (30th) POWER PLAY Overall: 14.0/50-356 (24th) Home: 15.4/29-188 (20th) Road: 12.5/21-168 (26th) GOALS AGAINST/AVG. Overall: 255/3.11 (28th) Home: 127/3.10 (26th) Road: 128/3.12 (26th) PENALTY KILL Overall: 83.0/52-306 (22nd) Home: 81.8/26-143 (27th) Road: 84.0/26-163 (16th) STATS LEADERS GOALS Ray Whitney (21) Mike Sillinger (20) Grant Marshall (15) ASSISTS Whitney (40) Espen Knutsen (31) Sillinger (23) POINTS Whitney (61) Sillinger (43) Knutsen (42) PENALTY MINUTES Jody Shelley (206) Tyler Wright (98) Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre (90) PLUS/MINUS Shelley (+2) Blake Bellefeuille (+1) Brad Moran (0) GAA (MIN. 20 GP) Ron Tugnutt (2.85)* SAVE PERCENTAGE Tugnutt (.900)* * - no longer with team