Can the Defensive Issues for the Blue Jackets be Fixed by Coaching?
The Blue Jackets continue to struggle in their own end, with 12 goals against in 3 games out west. We've spoken in the past about the mix being wrong; but with so many guys locked up with term, I'm wondering: can they fix these issues with coaching?
The Blue Jackets have allowed 206 goals (31st in the league) in 55 games, giving them a team goals against average of 3.75 this season. Simply put, unless you're the 1980s Edmonton Oilers, that rate is nowhere near good enough to be a playoff team.
We've talked recently about the mix being entirely wrong for the club, and I do think that's the case. There are too many guys who want the puck on their stick, and not enough guys who are capable of playing actual defense when they don't have it.
They only have two guys who play that defense-first style of hockey. Exacerbating their issues: those guys are Erik Gudbranson and Andrew Peeke. To put it politely, that's not ideal.
Gudbranson is best suited playing third pairing minutes. Say, 14-16 minutes per night. You can count on him to be tough, physical, and fire the occasional rocket towards the net. But trusting him to take on heavy minutes against top opposition, has proven to be too much.
Likewise, with Peeke, you could say the same thing. He doesn't bring much to the table offensively; and defensively we see him frequently out-matched in every facet. He's not even the physical presence they hoped he would become, which is why they added Gudbranson in the first place.
The team's best hope for a quick roster solution here, David Jiricek, is stuck in the AHL to work on his skating. Which is fine for now - it's not like this team is pushing for a playoff spot anyhow.
But all of this led me to wonder: how do they fix this situation? Every defenseman currently on the NHL roster is signed beyond this season, with the lone exception being restricted free agent Jake Bean.
Bean's likely successor, Denton Mateychuk, is a great prospect. He could develop into an elite player from the blue line; but he's yet another guy who wants the puck on his stick. What can they change?
I think the Jackets need to add at least two defensive defensemen if they're going to make a dramatic enough change to their blueline, to make a playoff push any time soon. Those guys are hard to come by, even if the Jackets do have quality pieces to offer up.
Still, there is a logjam here already. So, unless this team can find suitors for two or even three of the players they have on the roster now, and then flip those assets for different types of players; the only solution here may be coaching adjustments.
I don't see the team moving on from Pascal Vincent before next season. But, one thing they can do is find a new plan to coach the team's defense. Whether that means making a change in regards to assistant coach Steve McCarthy or not, the current scheme cannot return.
Someone needs to get the guys who are here to buy into a system that actually works and helps this team prevent goals. I do think that can be done. There's plenty of talent here, but they often look lost in their own end.
Look no further than last night's game against the Anaheim Ducks. This team blew a 4-0 second period lead, giving up 4 straight goals to the 30th place team in the NHL. A team that ranks 29th in offense.
How many of those goals were as a direct result from this team looking completely lost in their own end? What about the night before, when they gave up five goals to the LA Kings?
While they were able to dodge an embarrassing outcome after blowing such a large lead last night, it points out the obvious: this team needs major work before next season. It starts in their own end.
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