October arrives, so does the start of the 2017-18 NHL season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are coming off their best season in franchise history after a 50-24-8 end to the regular season, which included a 16 game win streak. They clinched a playoff berth for only the third time in franchise history before eventually falling in round one to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Jackets were one team that amazed many with the successful season as many considered them to be a draft lottery team only to contend for the Presidents' Trophy. With the success of last season, many are wondering if it will carry over into 2017-18 or if they will come short yet again.

Since the end of the season, the Columbus Blue Jackets have constantly been reported to be in the talk for "The Trade", as I like to call it, with Matt Duchene of the Colorado Avalanche. There have been several rumors of players the Jackets are offering, but so far no deal has been made.

As the season does approach, Duchene has made it clear he is hoping to come to some type of resolution as the Jackets continue to express their interest. If a deal is completed prior to the start of the season, it will be interesting to see what the center can bring to the Jackets. With Nick Foligno starting the season as a center, Duchene would be the man to fill that position and put the captain back on the wing.

The Jackets did lose many key players. William Karlsson was taken by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Expansion Draft. A deal had been in place between the Jackets and Golden Knights to protect Josh Anderson.

This deal also included the Golden Knights taking the long-term injured reserve player David Clarkson, who has three years remaining on his contract at a $5.25 million dollar cap hit, only with the cost of Karlsson and a 1st round draft pick at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. In addition to Karlsson, the Jackets also decided to buy out the remaining two years of Scott Hartnell's contract.

After the 35-year-old became an unrestricted free agent, he signed a one-year/$1 million dollar contract with the Nashville Predators, the team he was initially drafted by in 2000. Sam Gagner was a key factor in the Jackets very successful power play last season.

He signed a three-year/$9.45 million dollar contract with the Vancouver Canucks in free agency. Kyle Quincey, the defenseman who the Jackets picked up in a trade for Dalton Prout to the New Jersey Devils during this year's trade deadline, signed a one-year/$1.25 million dollar contract with the Minnesota Wild. The Jackets also lost Brandon Saad and Anton Forsberg in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, luckily they did get Artemi Panarin and Tyler Motte in the deal.

Last season, we saw the rise of players including Zach Werenski, the rookie defenseman who was a Calder Trophy finalist, Seth Jones, Cam Atkinson and towards the end of the season Oliver Bjorkstrand. With the new season approaching quickly, there are several players to watch. Here are the top five Columbus Blue Jackets players you should be watching:

1. Artemi Panarin

Artemi Panarin is the 25 year old winger from Russia everyone should keep an eye on this season. He won the Calder Trophy in 2016 while playing for the Chicago Blackhawks. On December 26th, 2016, Panarin signed a two-year/$12 million dollar extension with the Chicago Blackhawks which had many believing he would be around for a while, much to their delight. Everything changed on June 23rd when the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets made a trade sending Brandon Saad and Anton Forsberg to Chicago and Artemi Panarin and Tyler Motte to Columbus.

Panarin will be beginning his third year in the NHL and has hit the 30-goal mark his previous two years. Many wonder if Panarin can be as successful as he was in Chicago when playing with Patrick Kane. Panarin said in the press conference on August 30th that he is aware that people believe Kane is the reason behind his success but stated: "I'm used to (the comparisons) and I don't pay any attention to it."

During the preseason, Panarin showed success while playing with Alexander Wennberg and Cam Atkinson. He recorded a shootout goal in the Jackets 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators and a goal in the 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins this preseason. His talent continues to impress many as it does carry with him so far to Columbus.

2. Sergei Bobrovsky

Coming off a great regular season, all eyes will be on Sergei Bobrovsky for various reasons. Bobrovsky was awarded his second career Vezina Trophy at this years NHL Awards. After a difficult series with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bobrovsky is hoping to rebound. The Jackets gave up a total of 18 goals in the five-game series against the eventual Stanley Cup winners.

Bobrovsky ended the 2016-17 regular season 41-17-4 with a save percentage of .931% and a total of seven shutouts. One of the key factors to his all-star season was that he remained healthy. The upcoming season will be a big test for the Russian goaltender to see if he can not only compete during the regular season but also in the playoffs.

Another reason everyone will be watching Bobrovsky is that of the Carey Price signing. Price signed an eight-year/$84 million dollar contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens. This is important because Price has won only one Vezina Trophy while Bobrovsky has now won two. His current contract ends in 2018-19 and regardless if he wins another Vezina or not, which many expect him to be a top contender this season, the Jackets are looking at a pretty big cap hit to keep him around.

3. Pierre-Luc Dubois

Pierre-Luc Dubois, 20, is joining the Columbus Blue Jackets in hope to land a spot on the opening night roster. Dubois, the third overall draft pick by the Jackets in 2016.

Many expected the Jackets with the third pick to choose Jesse Puljujarvi as many anticipated him as "NHL ready", so when they selected Dubois it came as a shock. Then once the Jackets left Dubois out of their roster everyone started believing they made a mistake with the pick. However, Dubois spent the 2016-17 season playing in the QMJHL with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

He finished the year with 21 goals and 55 points. Jesse Puljajarvi on the other hand, played 28 games with the Edmonton Oilers and had 1 goal and 8 points and was just assigned to the AHL by the Oilers as the preseason ended.

Dubois is showing he has his eyes on the prize this training camp and preseason. While he does play well at the center position, he has impressed at wing and since being moved to the wing, he has not played center. After the announcement that Nick Foligno was starting the season as a center, Dubois position at wing would be set if he does make the roster.

With the many departures from the Jackets and injuries, the spot is looking more and more like his to fill. It will definitely be interesting to see if Dubois can make the team and ultimately contend for the Calder Trophy this season.

4. Zach Werenski

If it had been any other season without the names of Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine in the league, Zach Werenski would most likely be the 2016-17 Calder Trophy winner.

The rookie defenseman played 78 games with the Jackets last year finishing the regular season 11-36-47. He also scored a goal in game three against the Pittsburgh Penguins before suffering a season-ending injury after taking a puck to the face, courtesy of Phil Kessel. Werenski, 20, has proven he is one of the Jackets rising stars and looks to be one of the faces of the franchise going forward.

Paired along with Seth Jones, 22, the defensive line for the Jackets is only getting stronger and stronger. Seeing if Werenski can defeat the sophomore slump will be something many will keep their eyes on and also if he can compete along the lines of top veteran defenseman in the league like Erik Karlsson and Brett Burns.

5. Cam Atkinson

Last season Cam Atkinson shot his way to the top of the NHL goal scorers with 35 goals on the season. He was invited to his first all-star game, after the "injury" that prevented Evgeni Malkin from attending, and made a case for himself to be the MVP only losing out to Wayne Simmonds. He has had four straight years of 20+ goal seasons. He also scored two goals in this year's past playoffs in game three.

As expected to play with Alexander Wennberg and Artemi Panarin, it will be interesting to see if his goal-scoring ways do continue as he spent a majority of last season with Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinsky. He is also one to watch on the power play as he had 10 goals and 21 power play points.

Overall the Columbus Blue Jackets have a lot to prove this season as they look to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs and contend for the Stanley Cup. The Columbus Blue Jackets open at Nationwide Arena on Friday, October 6th at 7 p.m. against the New York Islanders.

Honorable Mentions:

Alexander Wennberg

Fresh off a contract signing of six-year/$29.4 million dollar contract, 2017-18 is a big season for the young center. The former first-round draft pick is set to play with Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson at wing, both of which scored 30+ goals last season. He does have a lot to prove as a top line center and the contract shows how much faith the organization has in him.

Oliver Bjorkstrand

Last year Oliver Bjorkstrand made the opening night roster only to be sent back to the Cleveland Monsters after an uneventful start to the season. Many were disappointed because after the effort he had shown at the end of the 2015-16 season, it was believed he would be a top scorer for the team. Luckily he made his return to the Jackets in February and scored 6 goals.

Bjorkstrand is expected to once again make the opening night roster, whether he stays in Columbus or goes to Cleveland is something to keep an eye on.

Sonny Milano

Like Bjorkstrand, Sonny Milano is one of the young prospects looking to return to the Jackets roster. He has been very impressive with his time in Cleveland with the Monsters, finishing the season 18-29-47. He is still looking to score his first NHL goal and the 2017-18 season may finally be the time as he has been very impressive in preseason. With the injury of Boone Jenner and unknown return date, Milano would be a great player to fill the spot until his return.