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What is Wrong With the Columbus Blue Jacket Organization?

By Matthew Duffey

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 30: (l-r) Columbus Blue Jacket executives Jarmo Kekäläinen and John Davidson attend the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center on June 30, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 30: (l-r) Columbus Blue Jacket executives Jarmo Kekäläinen and John Davidson attend the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center on June 30, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Could it be the coaches?

The Blue Jackets have had nine full-time head coaches with two interim head coaches (and one head coach who was hired but never coached a game). Some of the coaches were first time NHL head coaches (Brad Larsen, Scott Arniel, Pascal Vincent) and one could understand that maybe they struggled because they are new to the NHL head coaching ranks.

Nov 6, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent looks on from the bench against the Florida Panthers during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent looks on from the bench against the Florida Panthers during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /

Some of the coaches were established NHL head coaches and had experienced winning in the league (Ken Hitchcock, John Tortorella). The most success that the organization has had has been under Hitchcock and Tortorella. One would expect those established coaches to get the team to win consistently. However, winning consistently was never truly established under either coach. This organization needs a coach and coaching staff who has a pedigree of winning, can relate to the players, has a standard and structure that must be followed, and who can maximize the potential of every player. This team has never had that level of coaching.

Could it be the scouting? With all the losing, the Blue Jackets have been picking inside the top-10 in the NHL Entry Draft a lot (16 times to be exact). On top of having so many top 10 picks, the Blue Jackets have also had a total of 27 1st round draft picks (many acquired through trades). That is a lot of high drafts picks that should result in the acquisition of good players. Not so much with the Blue Jackets. Some of these picks were clear draft busts (Gilbert Brule, Alexandre Picard, Kerby Rychel, etc.). Others were serviceable players but had trouble finding consistency (Pascal Leclaire, John Moore, Sonny Milano, etc.).

UNIONDALE, NY – DECEMBER 29: Alexandre Picard #21 of the Columbus Blue Jackets trips with the puck as he carries against Bruno Gervais #8 of the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on December 29, 2009 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY – DECEMBER 29: Alexandre Picard #21 of the Columbus Blue Jackets trips with the puck as he carries against Bruno Gervais #8 of the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on December 29, 2009 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

While the Blue Jackets did select some really good players (Rick Nash, Jakub Voracek, Zach Werenski, etc), their draft record indicates that they have struck out way more than they have hit on their picks. This opens up more questions. Are the scouts not doing a good enough job evaluating talent? Is there not a good evaluation of the player personality/attitude? Is the organization doing its due diligence on all the available players or only a select few? Those questions need to be answered and the scouting needs to be improve so that the organization can hit on some of their top draft picks. The organization needs to acquire players with high talent level and then develop them into good NHL players.

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