The Columbus Blue Jackets are in need of major changes. What exactly that transformation will entail remains to be determined. But even if the team feels like it's making progress, securing 59 and 66 points in consecutive seasons isn't enough.
Welcome to the Blue Jackets column for the end of the 2023-24 season. Teams can talk as much as they like about their progress. It's certainly worth mentioning if you're trying to build something special, but what matters is what the rankings show.
According to this season's standings, the Blue Jackets are the last team in the Eastern Conference by 10 points. It's not about sharing the basement with anyone. It's literally taking ownership of your basement.
Something has to change. With a new general manager in place, there will be some changes. But if the Blue Jackets want to ultimately get there, they need to shake things up because they can't maintain the status quo.
Will 2023-2024 be different?
One of the themes I looked at with players during the closing media day was whether they felt the 2023-24 season would be different than the 2022-23 season. In some ways, it was. But in the most important way it wasn't.
Unsurprisingly, one player admitted it was different. Another player said that hasn't changed. Both players are correct based on their views.
Kent Johnson's answer is: I think every year is going to be a little different and bring different challenges and other things. Well, it certainly feels different now. ”
Here is Johnny Gaudreau's answer to the same question: I mean, we're not in the playoffs, whether it's two points out of the playoff spot or whatever, so we're all going to have to get better, starting with me. Also, the seniors, as a team, holding everyone accountable, having a good offseason, working hard, making sure we're doing all the right things, preparing to do something special here. We need to get things in place for next season and give the fans in our city something fun to watch. ”
Again, both players are right depending on the lens you look at it. Johnson's answer comes from the perspective of where the team is headed and the potential it has. In that sense, it feels different overall.
And Gaudreau's answer brings everyone back to the reality of the situation. The first step to winning the Stanley Cup is making the playoffs. They needed 91 points to advance to the playoffs in the East. The Blue Jackets fell 25 points short.
While some of the individual circumstances are different now and in 2022-23, the overall outcome will be different. That's why we need major reforms.
Shakeups come in many forms.
There's more than one way the Blue Jackets can shake things up. Sometimes you need to shake up more than one thing to make progress. Progress in this case means victory.
The first reform occurred in February when Jarmo Kekalainen was relieved of his duties. That ultimately means a new leader will take over. Once that person is hired, even bigger changes will occur.
That could mean a new head coach. That could mean a new assistant coach. That could mean major changes to the roster. That could mean major changes to the system. It could also mean other changes, such as how training camps are conducted.
Coach Pascal Vincent admitted Wednesday that training camp will be more difficult and fewer players will start. Of course, this assumes he's the head coach at the start of camp.
Any changes you make should be significant. Making small changes when a team is 25 points short of the playoffs defeats the purpose.
Overcoming youth while chasing playoffs
The Blue Jackets have a big task ahead of them to get back to the playoffs. They consistently remain one of the youngest teams in the NHL.
If you take a closer look at current playoff teams, you'll see that the youngest teams usually don't make the playoffs. Having young talent isn't a bad thing, but playing games in May and June is usually not a good sign.
Sean Kuraley was asked Wednesday about this and how the Blue Jackets can make the playoffs at such a young age. Here's what he had to say:
“It's a challenge. You probably know more than I do about the age range of the teams that are going to be in the playoffs. I think that all the time as a player, but at the beginning of the season when you have a locker room full of men, We set expectations for ourselves and try to meet them or exceed them. Whether they're 18, 19, 20, it's not necessarily up to us. Yes, we have these expectations, but let's meet them or exceed them, and how old are the members of the team, I think that's another person's division. If there is, what we can do is make the most of our young team.”
Kuraly's point is valid in several ways. First, players have no control over who participates. No matter who is on the ice, players must strive to meet or exceed expectations. But second, management must be able to recognize what it takes to build a winning team. The Blue Jackets have had little of that the past few seasons.
One of the first major responsibilities of a new general manager will be to properly evaluate the Blue Jackets' roster and see how they can build a winning roster. Too many times, having a wealth of youth doesn't help when it comes to making the playoffs. It requires the right balance and mix of players. That mix doesn't exist at the moment.
Blue Jackets must execute each step correctly
For the Blue Jackets to get back on track, they need to do a few things right. Upper management, led by John Davidson and Mike Priest, needs to identify the perfect GM candidate who isn't afraid to shake things up to win. That's why a player like Tampa Bay's Matthew Darsch makes so much sense for them.
When that happens, a domino effect occurs. No stone should be left unturned within the organization. With a team that can't even reach 70 points, you have to evaluate everything down to the smallest detail.
If that means parting ways with popular players, that needs to be considered. In order to win, you will have to make many difficult decisions. Some players are probably feeling a little anxious heading into this offseason.
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The Blue Jackets need to make the right decisions at every turn, even the small decisions. That could be the difference between being a playoff team and wanting to be a playoff team.
Overall, the 2023-24 season had some good moments. But there was much worse than that. Firing the coach before training camp turned out to be a sign of things to come. A series of bad decisions directly led to the way the season played out.
But today is a new day and a new season is here. The Blue Jackets finally have a chance to turn the page on better days. That only happens if things are shaken up to win.
The 2023-24 book has ended. From 2024 to 2025 please.
