We Expected Them to Struggle, But The Blue Jackets Need to Shake it Up
Heading into the weekend with a three game losing streak, the Blue Jackets had two chances to turn the tide and get back into the win column. But instead, they found a way to lose both games, and now sit dead last in the Eastern Conference. We expected them to struggle this year, but now it seems like it’s time to shake it up with this team.
Without involving emotion, things just aren’t working for this team right now. The mix is not quite right; whether it’s the on-ice mix, the way they’re being coached, or perhaps even further up the chain. The results we’re seeing just are not good enough. And this is, in fact, a results driven industry. Maybe they need to find a trade to remove some of their redundant pieces? Maybe they need to adjust the way they’re playing defense? Or, maybe there needs to be major changes made somewhere to the organization?
At this point, anything and everything should be on the table. It’s definitely not that we expected them to be a playoff team. But, we did expect improvement over last year. This is a team that has returned to full health. They’ve also added Adam Fantilli, Dmitri Voronkov, Ivan Provorov, Damon Severson, Alexandre Texier, and Spencer Martin to the group. So why the heck aren’t they better?
It’s not that they just aren’t better. You could make the argument that they are somehow worse this season than they were last year. At the 15 game mark last season, they held a 5-9-1 record (11 points). After dropping both games this weekend, they’re 4-7-4 (12 points), with a worse win percentage. Sure, the games are closer … but we don’t play the games to have them be close. At some point, they have to start winning them.
The Blue Jackets are in last place in the Eastern Conference, having played TWO games more than the three teams ahead of them. They’re three points behind the Philadelphia Flyers, after having acquired their #1 defenseman in the offseason. While he’s currently tied for the team lead in scoring, it was his defensive coverage blunder that cost the team the game tying goal last night. This has been their problem all season long so far – they play hard for parts of the game, then fall into a defensive shell; ultimately conceding a goal because they’re tired and make a mental mistake.
Where was Ivan Provorov going here? #CBJpic.twitter.com/YIDesC0syO
— Union and Blue (@UnionAndBlue) November 13, 2023
Even without the mental mistakes, they’re just not playing consistently enough. The odd thing about the fact that they’re struggling to play 60 minutes is, it’s not because of the youth. In fact, their best line for the last handful of games has been the Voronkov-Fantilli-Marchenko line. They’ve been consistent and dominant nearly every shift. This brings up one glaring question that needs to be answered, in my opinion.
Missing in action: the best players for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Let’s start right at the top. Johnny Gaudreau is tied for 8th on the team in scoring, with Justin Danforth and Erik Gudbranson. Yes, you read that right. He has 1 goal and 6 points on the season. He’s not been hurt; he’s played in every single game. I don’t know what is going on here, but you can see that he’s not himself. He’s fumbling the puck, not skating hard, and looks completely lost on the ice. If he’s injured or needs some personal time away from the team, they should do whatever it takes to get him right, because clearly, something is bothering #13.
Part of the issue might be his linemates. Jack Roslovic started out red hot, but he’s cooled way off since the first handful of games of the season. He has 2 assists in his last 8 games, but was still plugging along on the top line with Gaudreau and Boone Jenner; until Patrik Laine returned this weekend. Jenner is fine as a stop-gap alongside Gaudreau, but even a blind man can see that his speed and skill just aren’t on the same level. Boone does lead the team with 7 goals, but I wonder how much better that line would be with someone like Adam Fantilli in the middle?
The defense corps has been a complete mess this season. Surprisingly, the goaltending has held up and done its job behind them; but I would be dumb not to point out that having Erik Gudbranson as your best defenseman for much of the early part of the season, is not a recipe for success. That’s not to offend #44, who has six points in his last six games (great for him); and has been playing really solid defensive hockey.
Zach’s assist on Danforth’s goal in the first was the 173rd of his career — tied for most in franchise history!
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 13, 2023
Give it up for Zach on his big apple! #CBJ@FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/1pYY7XKeTe
That’s more to point out that Ivan Provorov, Damon Severson, and Zach Werenski; just have not been good enough. Especially in their own end. This has been the real issue with this team – they cannot get the puck out of the defensive zone with any accuracy or efficiency. Jake Bean has mostly been the #6 guy here, and he doesn’t escape accountability here either.
My main point about the defense? Andrew Peeke is not an NHL player, and Adam Boqvist has not done enough to earn ice time. This is all going on while David Jiricek is again demoted to the AHL – in spite of the fact that he absolutely looked the part of a second pairing defenseman. And, Nick Blankenburg continues to shred the competition in Cleveland, but he can’t get a look on the big club either, because he’s blocked by two guys that he’s passed over many times. Contract situations as they are, and such.
I’m not saying that Jiricek and Blankenburg would make all the difference up here. But after a night when Bean and Boqvist played less than 10 minutes, and did not see the ice for the final 15 minutes of the game … how much worse could things be with them on the third pairing instead? At least then they’re gaining vital experience. And, I would be willing to bet that they could at least play well enough to take the odd shift near the end of the game. Which might have made all the difference.
Ultimately, the fact of the matter is, this team needs to find a way. We’ve seen enough of them saying things like “we’re improving”, “we’re close”, or “just need some bounces to go our way”. We can’t be okay with a team that has won one game in its last ten – no matter how close they were. Somewhere, management has to make a move that kickstarts the season for this team. Or, maybe move out of the way and let someone else run the show.
Next. Why are the Blue Jackets Struggling?. dark