Five reasons the Columbus Blue Jackets are struggling

The Blue Jackets are 3-7-0 after a terrible start to the NHL season. They play back-to-back games against the Colorado Avalanche in Tampere, Finland on Friday and Saturday. The Avalanche are also struggling, but they have a Stanley Cup hangover.

Columbus Blue Jackets are struggling on the ice. They are tied with Anaheim Ducks for the worst goal differential in the league. Their defense is a mess. Nick Blankenburg's injury and Adam Boqvist's broken foot are the main reasons. They lost their last two games by a combined 11-1 margin. The team is playing with 18-year-old rookie David Jiricek.

Johnny Gaudreau signed with Columbus Blue Jackets as an unrestricted free agent. Patrik Laine missed the first two-plus weeks of the season with an elbow sprain. The team is struggling to produce on the top forward line. They need a center who can do what Boone Jenner and Jack Roslovic haven't yet.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are struggling with their power play. They have failed to score in their first 25 opportunities. The team has been playing with a 1-3-1 formation. They are also having problems with the addition of Johnny Gaudreau and with keeping the offensive zone.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are struggling. They have allowed 44 more 5-on-5 chances than they have generated. Their goalkeepers Elvis Merzlikins and Daniil Tarasov have not been very good. They are 2-4-0 with a 4.75 goals-against average and a .864 save percentage.

Columbus Blue Jackets have struggled this season. They have played a lot of teams that made the playoffs last season, including the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning.