A two minute press conference with Rick Bowness validated everything the 5th Line has been feeling for years

As the dust began to settle at the end of another wasted Blue Jackets season, you could feel the apathy settling in amongst the 5th Line. Many of us were asking why we still hang around. After last night's sleepy loss to the Washington Capitals, head coach Rick Bowness validated exactly what we have been seeing.

Bones decided that the dust wasn't going to settle gently. He blew it all up. In an emotional post-game presser, he did not hold back on his team. He called them out for wilting when the games got tough, and being accepting of losing.

This is an eye opening peek behind the curtains:

The fans of this team are passionate, but many of us have long felt that our passion is not reciprocated by this organization. In two minutes, Rick confirmed what a lot of us felt down the stretch: that this team did not want it bad enough.

I could link them all, but lets just start with one. How many times over the last two months did we publish a game preview and call a game crucial, or critical, or mention a vital two points in the standings? Spoiler: it was all of them.

But on many nights, regardless the circumstance surrounding the games, this team seemed to be going through the motions. It wasn't every night, but it was more than once, and even once is too many when you're deeply mired in a playoff battle.

The only way to contend in this league is by controlling the things you can control. On too many nights this season, the Blue Jackets did not do that. They would storm out and get a big lead, only to fall apart late in the game without ever pushing back.

That was the story of their season, and it tracks with this statistic published by NHL Rosters on X:

Lets run through the top-10 of that list and look at their final standings points. First is Colorado (119 points*), then Carolina (113), Pittsburgh (98), Buffalo (108*), Columbus (92), Minnesota (104), Ottawa (97*), Tampa Bay (106*), Dallas (110*), and Boston (100). * = still have a game remaining

Only one of those teams is missing the playoffs, and it's the Blue Jackets. All season long, we were frustrated because this team would look capable of playing with the very best; only to fall apart and give games away.

Everything we felt was validated by Rick Bowness last night. He told us exactly what the issue is here. When things get tough, this team does not push back. That is what cost them this season. The 5th Line has every right to feel frustrated, and to not want to continue to support this team. It's up to the players on the ice to repair that relationship.

It's a mindset, and someone has to lead the way.

Remember the famous speech by John Tortorella in the first round of the 2019 playoffs? This is what he was talking about.

It's all about confidence and accountability. That's the culture that needs to be re-established in Columbus. It left with Torts in 2020, and they have been searching for it ever since.

No matter who comes in or out of that locker room, what talent they find, or how they play: until that culture is built, it's all for nothing. That's why we see teams continue to have success as players come and go. They have a foundation of expectations to build off of.

I hope Rick Bowness comes back next year to help build that in Columbus. Otherwise, it may be another long, wasted season.

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