There comes a point where time is irrelevant. When the relief getting a job done trumps any dissatisfaction with the tardiness of its completion. For the Blue Jackets, that job is creating a perennial Stanley Cup contender, and after eleven years of disappointment, that aforementioned point has arrived.
While some fans have voiced their displeasure in the form of a protest, others, like myself, have taken a more patient approach. Call me physic, but I had pretty much ruled out a playoff birth when Columbus dropped its first eight games.
For me, it was a lost season early on. I turned my focus to other things.
In the beginning, I was interested in how the Blue Jackets would react to Ryan Johansen’s impressive debut. I wondered, would they tease him with a taste of the NHL, then send him to the minors as they have done with rookies in the past? They did not.
One month ago, I continuously refreshed the league’s webpage in anticipation for the release of the 2012 NHL All Star roster. Would Rick Nash be selected? He was not.
With these questions answered, and the second half of the season looming, my most burning inquiry remains up in the air. And it will likely hang there for one month longer.
The NHL trade deadline is on February 27th, and Scott Howson will be a busy man. Unlike other general managers, Howson will be trying to build Columbus’ roster not for this years’ postseason push, but for the future. The question: Who goes?
With a 13-30-6 record, everybody is on the chopping block. Jeff Carter’s name has been thrown around in trade negotiations. Rick Nash has expressed his interest in staying put, but has mentioned he wouldn’t be opposed to a trade if it would benefit the team.
Its hard to determine who is most/least likely to be shopped around as the Blue Jackets have an uncanny ability to make head-scratching moves, but here’s some speculation from a fan who has built a few winning franchises in the virtual world. (Its important to note that my video game prowess is about as good as my ability to make (double parenthesis.))
Most Likely: Jeff Carter
Carter has not met the high expectations laid out for him when he was acquired in the offseason overhaul. He has 17 points and a -9 plus-minus rating through 30 games this year. Along with being bitten by the injury bug, Carter has also been bitten by the “I was traded from one of the league’s top teams (Philadelphia) to the league’s worst team, so now I must walk around with an unpleasant scowl on my face all the time” bug. In addition to poor individual production, Carter has not created much chemistry with winger Rick Nash.
Least Likely: Derek Dorsett
Dorsett is an agitator who contributes on a nightly basis. What more could you ask for? Not much. But its important to note that Dorsett’s value will not be as high for a playoff bound team as it is in Columbus. Since there are limited fights in the post season, the role of a grinder diminishes. Also, the spirited winger has played a few games as the Assistant Captain, meaning that his role as a leader is growing in the locker room.
Now, since I haven’t written a non- game recap blog in a while, I will throw in a few midseason player awards to spice things up.
Best Surprise(s): Derek Dorsett, Derick MacKenzie, Derick Brassard (lately)
Biggest Disappointment: Steve Mason
Most Sketchy Post-Game Interviews: Jeff Carter
Coolest Equipment: Curtis Sanford’s Baby Blue Pads
*Eileen McGreevy contests that they look like bad Easter candy, like those malted milk balls. But her opinions are irrelevant.
Most Easily Regrettable Blue Jackets Jersey Seen At a Game: Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre
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