Columbus Blue Jackets offseason punch list: what's in store for the new GM?
The Blue Jackets are entering a pivotal offseason. They could either take more steps towards contention; or continue to load up for a (hopefully) brighter future.
As they continue to search for their new General Manager off the ice; on the ice, the team has really started to stagnate.
The Jackets have lost six games in a row, and have only been close in two of them. They've been outscored 29-11 during this losing streak, and you can see the frustration setting in even amongst the veterans.
Whichever candidate lands the job as the next GM for this team, is going to have a lot of work cut out for them. What are the pressing needs for this organization?
Step 1: Make a decision on the coaching staff.
In my opinion, this is the number one thing that the Blue Jackets have to work out this summer. Whether this means giving Pascal Vincent a summer to reset in earnest and build his own strategies for this team or not - they have to make this decision right away.
They cannot wait until July or August to press ahead with their coaching situation. They were left holding the bag last year, with the Mike Babcock fiasco taking them right up until training camp.
If they do decide to hang onto Vincent, it will give them some continuity within the organization. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
I think they would be wise to at least take a long, hard look at the assistant coaches here. The structure in their own end has been a complete mess ever since Steve McCarthy was put in charge of the defense. It's obviously time to move on here.
I would also take a serious look at the hiring of Mark Recchi at this point. The Jackets sit 31st in the NHL with the man advantage - with a league-low 29 goals on the power-play this year. If improving the power-play unit was the main reason for hiring Recchi, it's time to face the facts: this has been a disaster.
The next step for the new GM should be easier. In fact, this part should be mostly prepared for them.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Blue Jackets are holding a lottery ticket. Could they land a generational talent this summer?
Step 2: The NHL Draft.
Unless something goes absolutely haywire, the Blue Jackets are going to finish 29th in the NHL standings this year. They're six points ahead of 30th-place Anaheim, and nine points behind 28th-place Arizona.
This means that the Jackets will probably finish with the fourth best odds of winning one of the NHL Draft lotteries. They'll be picking anywhere from first to sixth overall, depending on how those lottery draws shake out.
This should be an easy task for the new GM, as the team already has a scouting staff in place that does a great job.
if the team strikes gold and somehow wins the first pick, the task will become really easy. Macklin Celebrini is the consensus #1 prospect in the draft. He would step right into the NHL next season and be a difference maker, not unlike Adam Fantilli this year.
But even if luck fails them again, there should be plenty of quality players to choose from. Whichever prospect they pick if they select anywhere from 2-6 in the draft, will only add to an already impressive pool of potential future stars here.
Once they've decided on a coach and who they're picking with another high first round selection, things start to get tricky. Here is where the real decisions start.
Between Columbus and Cleveland, the organization has 14 restricted free agents this summer.
Step 3: What to do with this team's bevy of restricted free agents.
Two of the decisions that need to be made here will not move the needle for the Jackets too much. Marcus Bjork and Josh Dunne jump off the page as guys who are probably going to be career AHL players. Their situations don't impact the Jackets much, if at all.
The other 12 guys are a mixed bag. First, we have the depth guys: Jake Christiansen, Nick Blankenburg and Carson Meyer. Hanging on to all three of these guys makes sense, even if it's just for organizational depth. Or, the team could turn its attention towards more of their prospects filling out these jobs.
Then, there are two players who are fringe prospects: Tyler Angle and Jet Greaves. I expect both to be extended and return to Cleveland next year for continued development. Greaves has an outside shot to be the backup goalie in Columbus next year.
Next, we have six(!) players who spent the bulk of their season in Columbus, and will need new contracts. Jake Bean, Kent Johnson, Yegor Chinakhov, Cole Sillinger, Kirill Marchenko, and Alexandre Texier.
I do think it's possible that not all of these players return. In fact, I think it's likely that the team will look to move one or even two of them for help elsewhere (more on that later). Or, maybe they just "trim the fat", so to speak. Either way, decisions need to be made here.
Finally, what do they do with Alexander Nylander? He's the last RFA that needs to be decided upon. Do they believe his hot start with the Jackets can carry over to a brighter future? Or, do they see it as just a mirage and look to move on?
It's possible that, if they see him as part of the future here, his presence could push them to move someone else. Which takes us to the final (most important?) task for the new GM.
This team needs to improve next season. There is no debating that. Another bottom-5 finish is unacceptable, so changes need to be made to the on-ice product.
Step 4: Overhauling the roster.
This is usually easier said than done. But, I don't think that's the case for the Blue Jackets. There is a lot to work with here.
I'm afraid that tinkering with the edges isn't going to be enough, though. Simply going out and adding one or two second pairing defensemen or a depth center, won't push this team up the standings next year.
One thing we can be almost certain of, with a new GM: someone that was viewed as really important to the last regime, may be seen as expendable now.
The old adage also applies: to get good players, you have to give up good players. The Jackets are loaded with young skill, especially on the wings. I think it's possible that they package some of these parts towards a major roster upgrade elsewhere.
Even though the league-wide salary cap is jumping up significantly this summer, there will still be teams looking to move out salary. The Jackets are in prime position to strike, with the way this roster is constructed.
Imagine the team packaging two or even three players from that RFA list, and think about what the return could be.
Or, perhaps the team could look to move on from a player like Patrik Laine. I love the big Finn, but things have been far from good for him with this team. Maybe a change of scenery could help both sides.
These are the kind of impact deals that could change the course of this franchise for years to come. It won't be easy. I'm sure there will be outcry from fans about losing their favorite player. Some will probably say we got fleeced right away.
But, it hasn't worked here for the last few years. Change is the only guarantee at this point. With the new GM rolling in this summer, the only question I have is: how deep do these changes go?
This team needs to get back to playing meaningful hockey soon, rather than later. Really tough decisions lie ahead, and that starts as soon as the final horn sounds on this season.
feed