Priority #2: a shutdown defenseman.
Aside from the sputtering offense, the Blue Jackets are still way too leaky in their own end. Early in the season, they were bailed out by their goaltending on most nights. That hasn't happened as much lately, aside from the last two starts out of Jet Greaves.
The issue here isn't the number of NHL players they have on defense. Rather, it's the type of defensemen they have.
Every healthy defenseman on the roster is primarily a puck mover at their core. Sure, Denton Mateychuk has been pretty good on the defensive side of things. Yes, the other guys all have their moments as well.
But they do not have a single shutdown defenseman that is capable of handling the opposition's top line on a shift by shift basis. Often, that task is handed to Zach Werenski and whatever partner he's paired with.
Imagine the offensive output #8 might have if he didn't have to face up against the other team's best players every time he hit the ice.
Obviously, any move to the defense corps is going to have to include a player going the other way, since the Jackets have 7 guys when everyone is healthy. So, this kind of deal becomes very complicated, very quickly.
But, Waddell should at least be trying. This team simply isn't holding onto leads as constructed, and it's hard to see that changing with this personnel.
Making improvements on defense would help this team's goaltending, which would in turn lead to more wins. Especially if that second line can find its way offensively.
In the end, it's tough to acquire either of these pieces in season, but not impossible. Neither will come cheaply, so the Jackets will need to decide if this is really their year to start pushing their chips into the center of the table.
More likely, they are better suited holding onto what they have and hoping some of the younger pieces in the system can fill these rolls soon, rather than later. While that doesn't help their playoff chances in the immediate future, it's probably the right decision.