Amid another disappointing season, Lyle Richardson of The Hockey News wrote an article today encompassing the deadline plans for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Having not made the playoffs since the 2019-20 season, the Blue Jackets are expected to be an active seller at this year’s deadline.
Looking to take the next step in their short rebuild, Columbus made an unexpected splash two summers ago, signing Johnny Gaudreau to a seven-year, $68.25MM contract. Leading the team in points in his first year with the organization, the efforts of Gaudreau were not enough to get them over the hump, finishing with a 37-38-7 record.
Largely justifying the poor season by missing several players due to injury, the Blue Jackets doubled down this past summer, bringing in defensemen Damon Severson and Ivan Provorov through separate trades. Nevertheless, even with the new and improved defensive core, Columbus is on pace for an even worse record this year while they sit dead last in the Eastern Conference.
Appearing to understand the roster may not have been built as effectively as possible, a few days ago reports surfaced that indicated the Blue Jackets would be willing to listen to offers on both Provorov and Patrik Laine. Already unfeasible for the team to move on from Laine’s $8.7MM salary mid-season, he was essentially taken off the market due to his admittance into the NHLPA Player Assistance Program a few days after the initial report.
Adding to the list of players that the Blue Jackets may be willing to move on from, earlier this month, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins reportedly requested a trade once his role with the organization began to diminish. In a buyer market desperate for goaltending help, Merzlikins quickly became one of the most popular trade targets thanks to his .901 SV% on a disappointing Columbus team.
To add more salt to the wound, in the initial article from Richardson, he mentions that top-prospect David Jiricek has become increasingly frustrated with his situation in Columbus, leading to some speculation that the team could move on from him as well. Given his importance as a young up-and-coming blue liner for the team, it is more than unlikely that he will be included in any trade for the Blue Jackets this season, but after being ferried up and down from the minors of the last several weeks, his growing impatience with the team could be something to monitor.
I am hoping the Flames are active at the Trade Deadline as well
Okay
They should be actively firing Jarmo and bring in someone who is capable of cleaning up that dumpster fire he created. Laine, Provorov, and Elvis are 3 dogs that need to be gone pronto. Also they are close ruining Jiricek as well. Definitely need a total housecleaning there. Fantilli and Werenski are the only 2 keepers.
I always thought of John Davidson as a great hockey person but I cannot understand why he’s sitting on his hands and letting Jarmo continue to ruin the organization. His contract only runs through next season anyway. Time to pull the plug.
Laine has been injured for much of his time in Columbus, and is currently in the Player Assistance Program. It’s unfair to speculate, but an addiction to a substance like painkillers or alcohol is going to negatively impact a player. Provorov has been competent, and Merzlikins has proven himself to be a solid 1B goaltender despite some injuries and losing a close friend to a freak accident a couple of years ago. To call them “dogs” is ridiculous… All three are net positives in my opinion, but at least two of them have gone through some genuine suffering off the ice.
The problem with Merzlikins is that, as he has famously said, he considers himself a #1.
Reading between the lines from Portzline since no one would speak on the record, it sounds like he’s basically pissed off the rest of the team, players, coaches and management, so he’s gotta go. That is on Elvis.
Laine for PLD. Although I think PLD has a NMC
I’d go with Laine every day of the week on that one.
That’s just a pipe dream, sadly. PLD’s contract is an albatross in the early going…
PLD refused to play for them once but he could be forced to play for them for 8 years if they acquire him before July 1st XD
“Looking to take the next step in their short rebuild, Columbus made an unexpected splash two summers ago, signing Johnny Gaudreau to a seven-year, $68.25MM contract.”
This is such a common refrain in Columbus… Carter, Gaborik, Voracek the list goes on. They sign a big name, the big name underperforms, repeat. The team needs a new Rick Nash or Steve Mason in a bad way. Both players were developed internally – but Columbus has been deeply hindered by a misplaced “buy now” mentality quite a few times now that put them behind come draft day.
I think the core of this team is actually quite strong, but something just isn’t working. Clearly, Gaudreau cannot be a point per game player without a Matthew Tkachuk. And that’s just how it is sometimes. But if he’s your big “get,” you have to look for players that will enhance his play, and what I see from Columbus right now is a lot of talented players that simply don’t work well together. I don’t think blowing up the team is a good move though; I think the right move is to move on from some of the spare parts, draft well, and work with the players remaining to build something that supports them.
I think Columbus can do that. I think they are entirely capable of making the playoffs next season if Jarmo plays his cards right.
Jarmo appears to be part of the problem. He seems like a decent fellow and scouts well but doesn’t seem to have an overall strategy to team building other than throw it at the wall and see if it sticks.
End the Pascal Vincent experiment.
Somehow, the Blues found a way to get shutout by Cbus tonight. That takes some creativity.
Pascal Vincent play the tought coach and its not a way to coach today. What he said to Jiricek is not acceptable, there is other way to talk to youngsters if you want to build trust.
Columbus is a country club, and often the problem for the bad organisation that can’t change is the head, the owners. Look like the change of owners have changed the things in Tampa.