Another day another game, and I hate to say it, but with the current direction of the team, it’s hard to expect anything more than another loss… which is a sad, but true, admission.
7:30pm EST, Nationwide Arena
Versus (National Television), High Definition
Normally there would be excitement about finally playing a nationally televised game on the NHL’s flagship cable network, Versus. With the season officially spiraling out of control (winning only 3 of the last 12 games), Coach Arniel seems to be searching for answers, and it’s hard to not feel bad for the guy.
What has been most frustrating over the last year of Blue Jacket hockey for fans and all involved, is the presence of talent and the inability (or lack of desire) to play to those talents. Since the 08-09 season, players have come and gone, and honestly how can you not look back on players that have left versus those that have come in, and not feel better about the Blue Jackets?
Gone are Michael Peca, Manny Malhotra, Jason Chimera, Raffi Torres… here now are Ethan Moreau, Sammy Pahlsson, Antoine Vermette, Chris Clark.
While some are only marginally better than their predecessors, Pahlsson and Vermette are significant upgrades over anyone who has departed Columbus, in my opinion.
Even now while we sit here amongst this “death spiral” as I (and others) prefer to call it, far too many want to second guess every move, or non-move that General Manager Scott Howson has made…
If we want to gripe about not having a “true” top-line center, please explain to me when we had a chance at landing one either via free agency or a trade that wouldn’t gut the current roster?
If we’re going to rehash all the struggles of Steve Mason, then explain to me how he was so good the last 20-ish games of 2009-2010, and the first 20-ish games of 2010-2011.
Or if we prefer to go on and on about either a shutdown defenseman with grit or a powerful slapshot, or even a defenseman with true offensive abilities, when have we had a legitimate chance as acquiring those players?
I don’t say any of this in defense of Howson, because the next shoe to fall (if things don’t show improvement) will be on him, but I say all this merely to point out that you can’t keep swapping players in and out, up and down, etc., and expect to build a team with chemistry that has any shot at winning.
Patience is not a word ANYONE wants to here more of. Patience is quickly becoming a 4-letter word in these parts. But for a fan base and group that is so used to the losing ways, what other options do we have at this point?
This post wasn’t really meant to rant on patience, etc., but there it is. The Minnesota Wild are coming off of a bad loss themselves last night (4-1 at home versus Detroit) and will be looking to make amends.
Speaking of making up for past failures? As expected, Steve Mason gets the start tonight.
The Jackets need to give all of us a gift for Christmas: something to believe in and cheer for.
Go Jackets.
