During the past two seasons, I assessed how the Columbus Blue Jackets performed as a team at the first quarter of the season. Sadly, as the Blue Jackets’ performance plummeted during the remaining three quarters of last season, and as the Blue Jackets nearly repeated that ignominious feat during the second quarter of this season, I honestly didn’t think I’d have the … [Read more...] about Columbus Blue Jackets 3rd Qtr Report Card
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Is Columbus Blue Jackets Recent Surge too Little, too Late?
Just when it appeared that the Columbus Blue Jackets were headed for a repeat of their late November-late January swoon (a 6-14-3 run which was eerily similar to their 3-14-7 debacle during the same period last season) they have rebounded with a stirring 10-3-3 run which has put them right in the thick of the Stanley Cup playoff race. While the Blue Jackets are four points away … [Read more...] about Is Columbus Blue Jackets Recent Surge too Little, too Late?
Did the Columbus Blue Jackets Lose Their Opporunity?
Given the Columbus Blue Jackets ignominious descent toward the bottom of the Western Conference rankings—the sad reality of a recent 6-14-3 free-fall, the second in as many years following a stellar start—Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson has been actively burning cell phones around the NHL in an attempt to salvage yet another disappointing season. While you … [Read more...] about Did the Columbus Blue Jackets Lose Their Opporunity?
Columbus Blue Jackets 2nd QTR Report Card
Earlier in the season, I provided a first quarter assessment of the Columbus Blue Jackets. That was a quite easy task as the Blue Jackets stormed out of the gate to a franchise best 14-6-0 record. But ever since the Jackets’ historic start, they have gone 6-11-3 through the next 20 games and have fallen to 13th in the Western Conference I tried to be optimistic that a … [Read more...] about Columbus Blue Jackets 2nd QTR Report Card
Columbus Blue Jackets Unfortunately Reverting Back to Familiar Form
Grading Blue Jackets Coach Scott Arniel
During the offseason, Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson, after being informed that his leading head coaching candidate, Guy Boucher, turned down his offer to coach the Blue Jackets (Boucher took the Tampa Bay Lightning head coaching position, instead) offered the position to Scott Arniel, previously an assistant to Lindy Ruff with the Buffalo Sabres and the … [Read more...] about Grading Blue Jackets Coach Scott Arniel
Columbus Blue Jackets 1st Qtr. Report Card
At this time last season, the Blue Jackets were beginning to show chinks in their competitive armor, even while bolting out to a 12-6-2 record. What followed after that was a free fall of epic proportions: A dizzying 3-14-7 debacle, one which lead to the firing of their head coach, Ken Hitchcock, and the team finishing 14th out of 15 teams in the NHL's Western … [Read more...] about Columbus Blue Jackets 1st Qtr. Report Card