The Blue Jackets lost their fourth game in a row tonight, and unlike the previous three, we can't say this was a tough matchup. A battle between the two worst teams in the Metropolitan Division went the other way. Now, the Jackets sit in last place, by a full four points.
The Philadelphia Flyers went down 2-0 early, but on the road, somehow the worst team in the Eastern Conference by points percentage was able to rally for three straight goals to take the lead.
If that doesn't embarrass this team to life, I'm not sure anything is going to. Adam Fantilli was able to get the equalizer in the second, but this team coughed up a goal the other way late in the third period. They lost their third straight on home ice, and now have to play 8 of their next 10 games on the road.
You know, the road where they only have one win this season. We're now almost to the quarter mark of the season, and the Blue Jackets have just two regulation wins. This is not what the expectations were for this season.
We're three years into Don Waddell, and I'm certain this team is in worse place than it was when he took it over. They have spent up to the salary cap. They have literally no more room to add anyone to this roster. They have no prospects on the way. Their best player is certainly going to expect to be traded next summer.
There is no quick fix here. There isn't room to add anyone to this team without gutting another piece off of this roster. There is no magic wand for Waddell to waive to fix it. This team sucks, and now we get to watch them go through the motions for the next 66 games.
The worst thing about it: most of the guys who are signed here and expected to produce-but are not producing-are signed for the next several seasons. All with trade protection.
So, I beg the question: where does this team go from here? The crowds at Nationwide Arena are already starting to look scant at best. This was a Saturday night, and they couldn't even muster 16,000 butts in the seats.
The only solution at this point: ownership needs to step up and say enough is enough. They need to come out and admit that they hired the wrong general manager to run this team.
It's time for this organization to make sweeping changes, starting at the top. Preferably before he can do any more long-term damage to this franchise.
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