Columbus Blue Jackets Thoughts (October 18, 2024)

Today I am sharing three thoughts I’ve had recently about the Columbus Blue Jackets. I promise that I actually have some positive things to say for once. Mind you, it’s just the third and final thought, but hey: it’s not all doom and gloom for once. I do like this team even though I know that just reading articles about them probably doesn’t show it because historically I’ve used these to whine endlessly about them. Well, here you go. A little bit of sunshine at the end. Anyway, without further ado, let’s dig in.

Thought #1:

On Tuesday night the Blue Jackets did their tribute to Johnny Gaudreau. Mind you, everything about this season is about him, but that night in particular was truly all about him. Even before the tribute, Bally Sports Ohio aired a tribute for him which I did watch. It was beautiful and did a great job of allowing us the viewers to see a bit into his life and how he impacted those around him. Then, there was the official tribute by the Blue Jackets which started with a five-minute video about him commemorating his life. After that, his family was called out onto the ice with his wife and brother-in-law coming to center ice (with their kids), alongside Sean Monahan, to witness a banner in his honor being raised. After that, a video of Meredith Gaudreau thanking Columbus aired. When it was finally time to start the game, the Blue Jackets started the game with only four skaters, leaving the left wing empty. The puck dropped, but no play happened. Instead, everyone let 13 seconds run off the clock in honor of Johnny. Then after some applause, the match for real.

While the game itself was a bummer (though not without a few highlights) due to the Blue Jackets losing, it’s not one any Blue Jackets fan is ever likely to forget. I know it was emotional for those watching who aren’t Blue Jackets fans, but for us, it meant more. I’m a member of a Bruins Discord server (no, I’m not a Bruins fan, I just like to know what other fanbases are saying so I don’t live in a bubble) and one of the users commented on how quiet the fans were during the majority of the game. On the broadcast, it definitely seemed quiet I’ll admit. To be honest, I don’t know if it could’ve been any other way. The emotions were just too high. The grief was palpable. You could see on the broadcast the family, players, coaches, and fans all crying. Not just during the tribute. Hell, I was bawling during the tribute and cried several more times during the game. It was frankly, emotionally draining. If I was at the game, I don’t think I could’ve been doing much cheering outside the goals. Speaking of the goals, while I know the Sean Monahan picture will live forever, the goal that will stick with me the most was the first one, Cole Sillinger’s goal. This is for two reasons.

1. It was the most cathartic. After such an emotional tribute, a scoreless first period, and was on what I believe was the third straight penalty kill, we all needed to have something to cheer for. I know I cheered.

2. The other reason is because of Sillinger himself. I remember during the memorial outside Nationwide Arena right after Johnny was killed Sillinger clearly was having a very rough time. I don’t know how close he was to Johnny, but he was clearly deeply struggling. He couldn’t keep his composure while seemingly the others mostly could. Then, in the tribute documentary on Bally Sports, he was interviewed and discussed how important Johnny was to him as a hockey player. Before the game started, I was already rooting for Sillinger to get a goal in addition to Monahan.

Thought #2

Alright, you all knew it was coming: my every article thrashing of the Blue Jackets. My newest complaint of an endless supply. It’s time to talk about whatever the hell the plan is in Columbus. No, seriously, what is it? What is the plan? Is this team rebuilding or trying to make a playoff push and kick open a Stanley Cup contention window soon? I genuinely don’t know. After Johnny died I assumed that Don Waddell would finally understand that this team is nowhere near playoff contention and needed a few more rebuilding years. I’m now wondering if he still sees this as a team that could be a Cup contender in just a few years. The reason for this is David Jiříček. He’s getting healthy scratched and not getting any playing time. You know, the top prospect, or at least, the top defensive prospect in the organization. The #1 defender of the future. The one whose development has been bungled at every step (and I’ve whined about it on here a few times). What’s the plan? I’m genuinely confused. He’s your #1 defender of the future and he’s literally just sitting in the press box doing nothing. If he’s not ready for the NHL, send him to the AHL. Don’t have him waste away in a press box in Columbus. That’s not good! Now, let’s say you’re planning on trading him, well, then that begs the question: what’s the timeline for this team? Because if you’re getting rid of your #1 defender of the future, that begs the question: are you looking to win now or is this the start of the Waddell rebuild? I just want to know. Is this franchise looking to start winning soon or is this a new rebuild? Because frankly, if this franchise is looking to start trying to win now, I find that a decision divorced from reality. Look, there are positive things about this team that show a brighter future is possible, and we’ll get to that in the third and final thought. But, even if this team is a playoff team next year, this team isn’t competing for a Stanley Cup without more talent. Where is this organization getting a top-line right-hand defender, because Provorov is definitely not that and neither is Severson? Where is this organization getting at least one elite winger? Because Johnny is dead. This team does not have another winger near his level of skill. You’re not getting anywhere near the Cup when your top-four wingers are Chinakhov, Marchenko, van Riemsdyk, and Labanc. The only one I could see realistically being a top-four winger on a Cup competitive team is Marchenko. Maybe Labanc if you’re able to find a Johnny Gaudreau-level talent, somehow. But, that’s not likely, so he’s not one this team is likely to compete for a Cup with in the top four. This team needs better wingers, desperately. To be fair, Kent Johnson should be in the top four and probably will be next season. That will help, but he’s still no Johnny Gaudreau by any means. The only reason he’s not this year, and I completely agree with the decision, is to ensure Fantilli is playing with veterans. I like that and want that to remain this whole season. Making life easier on the future face of the franchise while he’s still a sophomore is a very good thing. That said, next season Kent Johnson better be, at lowest, on the second line.

Anyway, all that to say this team is still quite far from being Cup contenders, even if they could be playoff contenders. This team doesn’t have enough skill. Where is this skill going to come from if the organization is looking to start winning now?

Thought #3

Finally, we come to happier thoughts. Yes, I have good things to say for once. Hurray! And that is: this team could legitimately be closer to playoff contention than I thought. Now, mind you, I don’t expect them to be anywhere near the playoffs this season. I’m talking about next season there’s a genuine chance, which is something I never thought I’d be saying. I guess having an actually competent head coach will do that. My thoughts on Larsen and Vincent aren’t a secret: I thought they were terrible head coaches and I’m glad they’re gone. While I would’ve preferred another head coach than Dean Evason, he’s still a good pick. Those are the stances I’ve taken publicly. What I didn’t realize, but should’ve, is just how much of an improvement Evason is from Larsen and Vincent. As of writing this article, we’re only three games into the season, but the impact Evason has on this team is obvious. This team would destroy the teams from previous years, despite being less talented. Why? Because the coach is actually good. There’s a genuine fight in these players. Kent Johnson is on the penalty kill. When this team has a third-period lead, they don’t sit in their own zone the whole period getting shelled hoping that they can hold the lead (spoiler alert: this almost never worked). There’s a grit and toughness not seen before. There’s actual aggression, the forecheck feels forceful in a way I haven’t seen in a long time. This team is much improved, while once again, definitely being less talented than the last few years. I love what I’m seeing from this team. Going into this season, I made no secret about it: I expected this team to be fighting the Sharks for the best odds in the NHL draft lottery. The roster sucks. But, once again, I didn’t foresee the impact a genuine NHL-caliber head coach could have on a team. Maybe they still end up as the worst team in the league. The team is already piling up injuries (seriously, what did this team do to piss off the hockey gods so much to have this happen every year?), so it could happen. That said, this is a much more enjoyable team to watch. I actually enjoy watching the Blue Jackets. Before the season began, I was planning to watch a lot less of the Blue Jackets this year. Now, I’m reconsidering and looking to watch as much as I can. Just three games into the season. All because of how much better coached this team is. This team could be, heck, already is, worth watching. That’s something I couldn’t say for the last few years. Two years ago I watched solely because of Johnny Gaudreau. Last year, it was Gaudreau, Fantilli, and Voronkov. Now, it’s the team. What a remarkable improvement, even if I expect them to still suck.

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