What To Do About the Columbus Blue Jackets
Normally, my team-specific articles are hidden behind a paywall, but this one I decided to make free. I’ve got some things I want to say about this organization, maybe even provide a roadmap on where it should go (in my opinion). I’m not claiming to be a hockey genius, have all the answers, or be qualified to run a hockey team. I’m not. There have been quite a few ideas I’ve had that the team has gone with that have blown up in their faces (which we’ll get to). But, considering this franchise and fanbase feel lost, here’s what I’d like to see, anyway.
This organization NEEDS to move on from Jarmo Kekäläinen as general manager, John Davidson as president of hockey operations, and alternate governor, and Rick Nash as director of player development. All of them need to go. This organization needs new ideas and someone actually competent at developing players. Jarmo who has served as general manager for a decade now, has one playoff series win to his name. One. That was in 2019. Since then, the team has spiraled down into irrelevancy and made terrible decision after terrible decision. So, who replaces Kekäläinen? I don’t know, but here are a few names I’d start a GM search with: Shawn Horcoff and Eric Tulsky. I don’t care too much or have opinions on what to do with JD’s position (I mean, his main job is to defend the front office anyway), and whoever takes over as GM can decide on who should replace Nash. Now, I have had someone challenge me on this, accusing me of being hysterical and saying that Jarmo shouldn’t go because there’s a chance that the next GM will suck as well. To that, I would like to respond with: “Well, I guess we should never fire bad GM’s then, huh?”
Then, more moves need to be made, the first being players need to go. You need to trade Gaudreau, Laine, Werenski, Provorov, and Jenner. You could probably get a first-round pick for the first three, and a mid-round pick for the last two. Before anyone says “Who would give up a first-round pick for Laine?” the answer is simple: there is absolutely some GM out there who thinks Laine is only playing poorly because he’s with Columbus. Find that GM and get a first-rounder. Unfortunately, we’re not going to be able to move Gudbranson or Severson. Those are terrible mistakes we’ll have to live with. Thanks Jarmo! Then, if anyone offers a first-round pick for Merzļikins, take it and run with it. Hope and pray that Tarasov can get over his injury issues or that Sergei Ivanov decides to come over to North America. Frankly, I like Ivanov more anyway, and the sooner he comes the better, but it would be nice for Tarasov to stop getting injured all the time at least. Anyway, once you do that: play the kids, and call up Nick Blankenburg from Cleveland. Then, rid of Bean and Peeke. I don’t care how. Buy out their contracts if you have to. It’s addition by subtraction and they’re taking up spots that could be used by better players. Frankly, I don't see anyone realistically trading for either one, but even if it’s just for future considerations: do it. Do it immediately. They need to go. The goal should be to build around Fantilli and do a thorough and complete rebuild. No more trying to patch everything on the run. It’s not working.
The final thing we must discuss is coaching. Pascal Vincent isn’t working. He’s terrible. Yes, he’s only had a quarter of a season, but it is beyond clear he’s in over his head. Which is a shame, because I was one of those pushing for him to get hired. Definitely one of my biggest lapses in judgement (which is saying a lot, considering the other things I’ve been wrong about.) Anyway, we have also fired two head coaches in the span of a few months. Babcock is still likely getting paid, and Larsen is too. You can’t be paying three fired head coaches at once. Now, if Babcock isn’t getting paid (which I highly doubt), then this is less of a concern, but you don’t want to be paying both Larsen and Vincent. No matter what, it’s not a good situation. Frankly, I think the most important thing is: how badly is he harming the development of Fantilli? Is there genuine fear that Fantilli could be damaged goods and not reach his ceiling if Vincent sticks around until the end of his contract? Then move on at the end of the season. If it’s believed that Fantilli is good enough talent that he can survive Vincent, then just wait until Vincent’s contract is over to move on. The preferred move would be to not be paying 2 or 3 fired coaches, but, if there’s no other choice without harming the future of the franchise, do it. The other problem of moving on from Vincent is: who would want to coach this mess? No, seriously. Why would any respectable coaching candidate even interview for this job? Unless I’m a potential first-time head coach, I’m staying as far away as possible. Unfortunately, we should be staying away from first-time head coaches at this point, so, it might be better to hold on to Vincent until the end. The next head coach we hire should be the one we stick with to try to win with, and I highly doubt anyone who would be interested in coaching Columbus is a winning head coach. No matter what happens with Vincent, we’re not in a good situation. The reality is: there are no good solutions for coaching. It’s just degrees of “how bad is this franchise screwed?”
This organization is a complete mess, one that will not be fixed overnight. It will take years to fix, and that’s assuming Jarmo gets fired and is replaced with someone competent. I do not envy whoever has to clean up Jarmo’s mess, but it needs to happen before it becomes irreparable.
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