The Columbus Blue Jackets will wake up on Monday morning staring at 15 teams ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings. Indeed, they are in last place. Will this be the wakeup call they need to get going?
I sure hope someone notices. They could really use a spark. Yesterday, we minced no words, calling the entire organization out as the team is on a five game losing skid.
They have just one regulation win in more than a month, and currently own the fewest of those (6) in the entire NHL. No matter how much they talk about playing well or being close, the fact of the matter is this: they have lost 19 out of 32 games.
That's not a recipe for a trip to the playoffs, no matter how many loser points they can stack up by dragging teams into overtime.
After all, when the playoffs come around, a loss is a loss. Whether you get to overtime or not. In the end, winning is all that matters-loser point be damned. And the fact is, this team isn't winning.
Will the embarrassment of last place spark something?
After the team lost their fifth in a row on Saturday night, we mentioned on X that this team needs some kind of shakeup. Not a line blender or a different goaltender on any given night.
I'm hopeful that seeing themselves at the very bottom of the Eastern Conference may spark someone to do something.
How bad are things right now? Look at the team that just slid past them in the standings. There are rumblings around the NHL that the Buffalo Sabres are preparing to fire their general manager.
Now, the Blue Jackets are in no place to move on from Don Waddell at this time. He's only 18 months into the job, and hasn't yet put his stamp on this team. He deserves a chance to get things straightened out.
But, maybe this should serve as a clue that now is the time to do just that: put his stamp on this team. They continue to stumble over themselves and go through the motions, with the same carefree attitude despite the piling up losses.
Maybe now is the time for a major shakeup. It doesn't have to be a big trade, or even a trade at all. Maybe it's something minor, like replacing an assistant coach. A certain assistant coach.
Whatever the case, one thing is certain: we can't stand to see this team finish at the bottom of the league again this year. There is too much talent here, and too much at risk for that to happen.
We have waited so long to see this team start accruing talent, but if they continue to stink, they are in danger of losing it all again. Zach Werenski has just one year left on his contract after this one. Adam Fantilli is looking to sign out of his ELC after this year.
What happens if one or both of those guys decides this isn't the right environment any longer?
I'll answer that question: it's right back to another rebuild. Speaking for myself, there are many within this fanbase will not tolerate another 5-7 years of this team being miserable.
For many of us, being in last place again this year is embarrassing enough. Hopefully Waddell and company can get the ship righted soon, before it all blows up.