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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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
Patience in Columbus Wearing Thin as Blue Jackets Swoon Continues
The Columbus Blue Jackets are in full-blown “December Swoon” mode, having gone 3-9-3 since their historic 14-6-0 start. While this is taking place once again, Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson is continually preaching the same themes: “Patience” “The fix is from within” “I believe in this team” “We have an entire new coaching staff” (in response to criticism … [Read more...] about Patience in Columbus Wearing Thin as Blue Jackets Swoon Continues
Is it time for the Blue Jackets to Bench Steve Mason?
At the beginning of the 2010-2011 season, I wrote an article which asked whether Steve Mason's contract extension, particularly coming off of a horrid season—known also as the sophomore jinx—was good or bad Well, after another dreadful Mason performance, one in which he was blistered early and often by the upstart Edmonton Oilers, it now begs another question: Is it … [Read more...] about Is it time for the Blue Jackets to Bench Steve Mason?
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