Grading the Blue Jackets coaching staff: F
We're done wasting breath here. Instead, we'll let the below tweet and this article do the talking.
Dean Evason post-game:
— Union and Blue (@UnionAndBlue) January 5, 2026
"Honestly we thought the start was as bad as we've been. There was a time we were going to call a timeout, but we didn't ... and then there was a TV timeout and the guys were saying the right things, so we didn't chime in."
Enough said.
Grading the Blue Jackets front office/management: B
Don Waddell has done his best as GM to provide some sparks to the club throughout the campaign. The acquisition of Mason Marchment, so far, has been spectacular, and really did seem to wake the club up after a horrid streak of games in December. Most of his offseason acquisitions are also turning out well, even the oft-maligned Ivan Provorov signing has been a net positive per stats.
The only reason I can't rate him higher is the coaching staff's woes. When the team's defense craters, the first thing you want to look at is the coaching staff and their scheming.
At the very least, Steve McCarthy needs to be assessed for his work on the staff's defense and penalty kill. While the PK has been better lately, this has more to do with the stellar play of Jet Greaves than with the scheming and personnel packages the coaches have worked up.
McCarthy was kept on the staff as a transitional continuity piece when Evason was brought on. It's beyond time to look at whether or not he should remain with the club.
Conclusion
On the bright side: outside of a few issues that really can be fixed, the club is generating positive results. If they can harness those strengths, they could go on a torrid streak through the back half of the year.
On the negative side: we haven't seen any reason to be optimistic about this as the club blew their 9th lead in the third period or later this season against the Penguins last night.
41 games to go, Jackets. Prove you can be a winner. Arch City desperately wants to see it.