It’s been a rough couple of seasons for the Columbus. The Blue Jackets finished 13th in the Western Conference this season with only 81 points. It was the second straight season they finished last in the Central Division as they were 14th in the West in 2009-10. Back-to-back catastrophic seasons like those make the 2009 seasons seem like a different era. As the old saying goes, “when the going gets tough, find a scapegoat.” Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson did exactly that when he announced that the organization fired both Director of Pro Scouting Bob Strumm and assistant General Manager Don Boyd. Boyd was the head of amateur scouting for Columbus and has been with the organization since it was formed in 2000.
A simple look at the standings would tell the most casual fan that something needed to be done. Howson gave Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch his reasons for firing two high ranking front office members:“When a team does not have success for a long period of time, there’s an expectation that changes will occur. It’s a fact of professional sports. Everything is results-based.
“We’re all responsible for where we are as an organization. We’re all responsible, and we all have to take responsibility.”
At least that was marginally better than the canned quote he offered during the formal announcement:
There’s no question that things have been rough in Columbus over the last few seasons. The hope of the franchise’s only playoff experience in 2009 has been replaced with the reality of two pathetic seasons and no end in sight. Unfortunately, the tough time in the standings has spilled into other parts of the organization as well. The team lost $25 million last season and “barring news that ‘moves the needle,’” they’re looking at another season with serious financial loses. They currently sit at 7,000 season tickets sold and hope to go into the season with a total of 8,000. Compare those numbers to Winnipeg’s “Drive to 13”and it’s plain to see that things could be better at the box office.Obviously this is a move to shake up a team that desperately needs some shaking up. What was once a team that was showing potential only a few short years ago is once again back to their familiar place in the basement of the NHL. If the team continues into next season as currently constructed, is there anyone who thinks they’d be a contender for the Central Division? Would they even be considered a contender for a playoff spot? Remember, this is a team that is still looking for their first playoff victory. Not series victory—the franchise has never won a single playoff game. They can change the pro scouting director and swap out the assistant GM, but sooner or later they’re going to need to bring in some players to re-energize the fanbase. Michael Arace of the Dispatch shares the same thoughts:
“General manager Scott Howson has a window of opportunity. The conventional wisdom is he is offering the No. 8, perhaps in a package, in exchange for immediate help. They need it. How many legitimate top-six forwards do the Jackets have at this point? Two or three? How many top-four defensemen? One? Do they have their goaltender of the future?
These questions inform the goal of the coming weeks, namely, to flesh out on the top end of things - rather than add more fourth-line pluggers and/or No. 6 defensemen. The Jackets need more talent. They may have to be bold to acquire it.”
No matter what the organization chooses to do, they need to do something. Perhaps the front office reshuffling is just the first step as the Blue Jackets try to legitimately change the culture around the franchise. They can make a trade, acquire a defenseman (or four), or be an active participant in free agency. But do something to get the community talking about the Jackets again.
Then again, winning a few more games could help re-energize the fans as well.