Brandon Saad sees 'recipe for success' with Blue Jackets

Expectations? The Columbus Blue Jackets certainly have a few.

Last season didn’t go in favor of the Blue Jackets, a year removed from a memorable run to the Stanley Cup Playoffs where they put a scare into the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 1. It seemed every week there was a new injury, which resulted in Columbus ending with the most man games lost due to injury in the NHL (393).

Now it’s a new summer for the Blue Jackets and a fresh start awaits them along with an added weapon up front in Brandon Saad.

The June 30 trade was a bit of a shocker, but it also showed the type of faith the Blue Jackets brass have in their current roster that they could add a young star in Saad as a piece to the puzzle.

Saad also is now the team’s highest paid skater, carrying a $6 million cap hit for the next six seasons. He’s scored 23 and 19 goals in each of the past two seasons, respectively. His pay check and the expectations that are now on the Blue Jackets to progress will come with pressure that the 22-year old is prepared to handle.

“As a hockey player, pressure’s part of the game and a lot of guys embrace that pressure,” Saad said during a Wednesday press conference. “I think, personally, it’s great to have. You can use it to push yourself and prove it to yourself as a hockey player. You can call it pressure on just myself, but really, I’m coming into a great team to start. I’m going to be fortunate to play with some great players and just trying to bring the atmosphere that I had with winning in Chicago and what I know and bring it to this team.”

Also formally introduced to the Columbus media was Gregory Campbell, who came over from the Boston Bruins. Once they both signed, Campbell and Saad became the only two Blue Jackets players who have won the Stanley Cup, not counting Nathan Horton, who likely won't play again.

Campbell had never been to the playoffs before he was traded in 2010, but the experience he gained in Boston during their years in the playoffs and their 2011 Cup conquest — along with Saad’s since 2013 — can be something both use in the Columbus dressing room going forward.

Both Campbell and Saad have been impressed by their introduction to city of Columbus and know the potential of the on-ice product.

“It’s never easy [to win the Cup], regardless of who you’re with or where you’re at,” said Saad. “Just knowing the guys and playing against them and the way they compete. It’s going to be a learning curve when we get here and meet the guys and actually get on the ice with them and feeling it out.

“At the same time, knowing the commitment that they have and the way that they play, it’s a recipe for success.”

- - - - - - -

Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy

MORE FROM YAHOO SPORTS: