Heading into last season, the Columbus Blue Jackets appeared ready to establish themselves as a Stanley Cup Playoff team following a strong finish to 2014-15. But the bottom fell out with a 0-8-0 start that cost coach Todd Richards his job and led to a nightmare season when they went 34-40-8.

The Blue Jackets took care of some important business, re-signing defenseman Seth Jones to a six-year contract June 29 and surprising many by selecting forward Pierre-Luc Dubois with the third pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, but have had a mostly quiet offseason in terms of adding players through trades and free agency.

With their American Hockey League affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, winning the Calder Cup, it looks like general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and coach John Tortorella intend to give their young players an opportunity to fill some of their holes and grow at the NHL level this season.

ON THE CUSP:

Zach Werenski, D: The Blue Jackets might have something special in Werenski, a 6-2, 209-pound defenseman who was selected eighth in the 2015 draft. After completing his sophomore season at the University of Michigan, Werenski turned pro and helped Lake Erie win the AHL title with five goals and nine assists in 17 playoff games.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, F: A third-round pick (No. 89) in 2013, Bjorkstrand, 21, had eight points (four goals, four assists) in 12 games for Columbus last season and had 16 points in 17 playoff games during Lake Erie’s championship run.

Josh Anderson, F: Anderson was another key component for Lake Erie, where he had seven goals and five assists in 15 playoff games. The 22-year-old had a goal and three assists in 12 games for the Blue Jackets.

Lukas Sedlak, F: The 23-year-old has not made his NHL debut, but Sedlak, a sixth-round draft pick (No. 158) in 2011, had 16 points in 17 playoff games for Lake Erie.