I recently wrote an article of the Top 10 Players most likely to be traded at the NHL’s trade deadline (February 27^th at 3 P.M. EST).  I took a bit of ribbing that, at most, three or four of those players on the list would be traded.

Then came the news that the Columbus Blue Jackets franchise player, Rick Nash, was placed on the trading market

So, to those who had some doubt that the once unthinkable – Rick Nash possibly being traded by the deadline – could never happen, much less the possible domino effect that may occur, thereafter? – I say:

What do you have to say, now?

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Back in November, I wrote a two-part article titled ‘Who’s to Blame for Columbus Blue Jackets’ Mess?’  In Part One, I identified senior Blue Jackets management as the primary culprit to the mess.  However, team majority owner John P. McConnell has expressed his full support of Blue Jackets team president Mike Priest and General Manager (GM) Scott Howson during meetings with the entire ownership group

It should be noted, however, that McConnell’s proclamation incensed the fan base to the point of staging a mass protest demanding that changes be made to these two specific senior management officials  Given the apparent “vote of confidence” by McConnell, any changes to this sector of the organization don’t appear imminent.

But that is not to say that changes cannot be made to improve the fortunes of the Blue Jackets, albeit they won’t be recognized until next season at the earliest.

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Yesterday, approximately 300 fans gathered in front of Nationwide Arena, the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets.  They gathered to express both their love for the team and their disdain for the announcement that, in spite of easily holding the NHL’s worst record at 13-30-6 despite also possessing the NHL’s 9^th highest team payroll, that Blue Jackets Team President Mike Priest and General Manager (GM) Scott Howson’s jobs appeared to be safe:

This news angered the masses in Columbus to an unprecedented level, both in the city’s history and in NHL lore.

Enter ‘Occupy Nationwide’.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets fired head coach Scott Arniel this morning.  Through one and half seasons as the Blue Jackets head coach, Arniel posted an overall record of 45-60-18 but since his 14-6-0 start posted a record of 31-54-18.  Additionally, the Blue Jackets have posted only eight regulations wins in their past 63 games.

Former Minnesota Wild head coach and current Blue Jackets assistant head coach Todd Richards will take over the coaching reigns for the remainder of the regular season.  Richards posted an overall record of 77-71-16 over two full seasons before being fired at the end of the 2010-2011 season.

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The Columbus Dispatch is reporting the following:

In short, Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager (GM) Scott Howson stated that the Blue Jackets will be active between now and the NHL’s trading deadline which is slated for February 27, 2012.  Howson further stated that the Blue Jackets are not playing to their expectations, that the team defense and goal-tending are not good enough and that everything is “on the table”.  However, Howson also qualified that a bit by saying the following:

“We’ve got to look at everything.  We’ve got to seriously look at everything.  Now that’s different than saying, ‘I’m going to phone every GM tomorrow and say who do you want, (Rick) Nash, (Jeff) Carter or (R.J.) Umberger?’ but we’ve got to look at the whole situation and we’ve got to consider everything.”

Okay, given their position as the NHL’s worst team (9-22-5) and given that it’s December 29, 2011 and their season is almost half over, I ask the following series of questions:

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