GDT: Game 7: Columbus at Washington | 10/19 7PM EDT

[FANonymous]

Well the Canucks also played tonight so they'll be tired and the Blue Jackets should be well rested since they never showed up.

 

[major major]

This post has nothing to do with our win/loss status.. but I'm wondering: Am I the only poster who thinks we had a lot of scoring chances tonight?

 

[CBJfan4evr]

Calvert is huge but after close to 800 CBJ games, 6 or so head coaches, 3 general managers and three Presidents here's my bottom-line....

NO SPIRIT........ No spark, no CAUSE!!!!!

The Jacket team lacks what a team as Detroit or ST. Louis has.... “Self-respectâ€â€¦.!!!!

Can't disagree with that. I think we all thought the "cleanse" was complete with the departure of Nash. This team seems to have regressed. Honestly don't know what it would take at this point to have a winner in Columbus? We've changed up everything, brought is folks that should be able to produce the desired result and even spent the money necessary. End result, same old same old lackluster results. Columbus fans really do deserve better.

 

[SuperGenius]

Well the Canucks also played tonight so they'll be tired and the Blue Jackets should be well rested since they never showed up.

I half joked that when it got to 3-0 we should just pull Bob so they could steal another start for him tomorrow.

I hope McElhinney is better than I think he is, or tomorrow will be ugly. (I believe the plan was to start him tomorrow regardless of tonight...)

 

[CBJWerenski8]

This post has nothing to do with our win/loss status.. but I'm wondering: Am I the only poster who thinks we had a lot of scoring chances tonight?

Personally I think we've had tons of glorious chances not only this game but all season. Unfortunately not very many were capitalized on.

 

[EDM]

Well, now we are 2-5, four losses in a row with the last one being 4-1. I don't want to be a downer, but there is now just cause for concern.

 

[major major]

I agree with everything you're saying.

My emphasis on the one goal losses was not to make anyone 'feel good' about it or to argue with the bozos see doom at the slightest sign of adversity, rather, to point out that the team was in those games and in some cases played well enough to win. This happens to every team at some point as we all know. As we also all know, the good teams find ways to stick to their game and find a way to turn it around. What I saw tonight was a team that is getting impatient, panicky and frustrated. They're abandoning their game and they're not doing what they need to do to be successful. Like any team, if you work hard without results long enough, you start to press and get out of doing things the right way. Good teams find a way to not regress and blow up like what we saw tonight - that's why a game like tonight concerns me and a game like the Boston game does not.

We can all agree that losses in general are frustrating, particularly lost opportunities to gain even just 1 point like Thursday night. I'm just not the kind of guy who's going to line up on the cliff every time the team loses. Unless they start stringing nights like tonight together, I'm still not that concerned with the overall trajectory of this organization/team.

This is exactly what I was trying to write with all those posts. The only thing different I'd say is that I'd be concerned if I even see the impatience/panic/frustration of the first 12 minutes of the third again for a few shifts. It was scary bad.

 

[Robert]

I agree with everything you're saying.

My emphasis on the one goal losses was not to make anyone 'feel good' about it or to argue with the bozos see doom at the slightest sign of adversity, rather, to point out that the team was in those games and in some cases played well enough to win. This happens to every team at some point as we all know. As we also all know, the good teams find ways to stick to their game and find a way to turn it around. What I saw tonight was a team that is getting impatient, panicky and frustrated. They're abandoning their game and they're not doing what they need to do to be successful. Like any team, if you work hard without results long enough, you start to press and get out of doing things the right way. Good teams find a way to not regress and blow up like what we saw tonight - that's why a game like tonight concerns me and a game like the Boston game does not.

We can all agree that losses in general are frustrating, particularly lost opportunities to gain even just 1 point like Thursday night. I'm just not the kind of guy who's going to line up on the cliff every time the team loses. Unless they start stringing nights like tonight together, I'm still not that concerned with the overall trajectory of this organization/team.

But you and too many here are the type that see a Locomotibve coming down the track and say "don't worry, all wiil be fine, his breaks will work"

In other words... blasé to the point of being rediculous... I guess that's the way many are wired.... ugh.

 

[CBJfan4evr]

CBS sports has a nice segue on bowling for bluejackets...

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on...son-takes-out-three-blue-jackets-at-same-time

I guess this is what unraveling looks like

 

[Robert]

Well, now we are 2-5, four losses in a row with the last one being 4-1. I don't want to be a downer, but there is now just cause for concern.

OH.... you get the booby prize...

 

[NotWendell]

We need to start by playing better at home - make NWA a fortress!

 

[major major]

But you and too many here are the type that see a Locomotibve coming down the track and say "don't worry, all wiil be fine, his breaks will work"

In other words... blasé to the point of being rediculous... I guess that's the way many are wired.... ugh.

I don't think you have a good understanding of the people who disagree with you.

 

[JrussJacket]

4 game home stand here guys....Id say its critical! For real lol but seriously

 

[AlienLanes82]

There was no way this team was going to be good. Not a single proven defensive defenseman coming into the season - Nikitin being about the closest thing to our defensive star - with all of about 140 NHL games.

Last year, I predicted the Jackets would finish 30th in the league. They were right on track halfway through, until an amazing run made of unbelievable goaltending and some type of inexplicable devil's magic.

True colors are finally showing through.

I frankly don't think this team is going anywhere as long as #21 is allowed to play the blue line in anything other than a powerplay specialist role.

 

[deetman]

Welp that was a waste of a ticket, 6 hours round trip travel, and 3/4 a tank of gas...

All this from an in-person perspective.

• First period was alright. Not the best, but given how we have played so far this season figured we'd build on it and get better as the game went. (HA! Like that happened)
• There was no energy or attitude that I remember from the last game I was at in person (at Dallas, second to last game last season)
• Third period was probably the worst hockey I've seen in person since I was at the shelacking by the Flyers a few years ago.
• Nikitin needs to sit tomorrow.
• If you are going to hip check Ovechkin, make sure you are actually going to make contact. Otherwise you are going to look like a complete fool. (Nikitin)
• Every time I'm at an arena other than Nationwide I'm reminded just how bad Nationwide's in arena entertainment is.
• If you shut down #10 and #13, you will win.
• Did our defensive system change since last year, or even earlier this year? Seemed like there was always an open man on the opposite dot and a guy open/barely covered in the wheel house right in front of Bob.
• Nationwide ticket prices are a "steal". My $144 face value ticket (no I didn't pay that much thankfully!) is equivalent of a $75 face value ticket in Columbus.
• In the 4 or 5 games I've attended in person at the Verizon Center, I've yet to sit near any bad Caps fans. Almost every time I've sat next to some polite, well informed fans that are more than happy to have a good conversation with an opposing fan.

 

[XLJ]

Its still early, but if they continue to play like this Richards is going to get canned before the olympic break. The current front office didn't hire him and Laviolette is available.

 

[thebus2288*]

I frankly don't think this team is going anywhere as long as #21 is allowed to play the blue line in anything other than a powerplay specialist role.

And Nikitin and Savard. I don't know how but we need at least 1 more defensive minded guy back there. Hejda and Klesla would look good right now.

 

[db2011]

Anyone think the jackets could be interested in Laviolette ? He is a very good coach. Can't imagine we can Richards yet, but just fantasizing.

just what I was thinkin

 

[db2011]

LOL yeah guys let's sign Vinny Prospal. He's the franchise changer we need.

Unreal. I liked Vinny, I liekd him alot. But let's be serious now.

Either way, we're in trouble.

You know what, until you can produce a legit reason why bringing back last year's top scorer is a bad idea and worth LOLing (hint: there isn't one), your arrogant and dismissive responses to suggestions we bring him back are paper thin. Especially when you're writing the season off after 3 games.

If you don't understand the value of a guy like him on a club like this right now, go back to school.

But you and too many here are the type that see a Locomotibve coming down the track and say "don't worry, all wiil be fine, his breaks will work"

In other words... blasé to the point of being rediculous... I guess that's the way many are wired.... ugh.

It's an 82 game season. I'm starting to get alarmed, but you've got to temper yourself. All losses are not the same, and an 82 game season is full of peaks and valleys. This is a rotten start, for sure.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

You know what, until you can produce a legit reason why bringing back last year's top scorer is a bad idea and worth LOLing (hint: there isn't one), your arrogant and dismissive responses to suggestions we bring him back are paper thin. Especially when you're writing the season off after 3 games.

If you don't understand the value of a guy like him on a club like this right now, go back to school.

I can produce 4 good reasons right now, top of my head without thinking.

1. Boone Jenner is essentially Vinny Prospal RIGHT NOW with more speed and more physicality. Why take a younger body out of the lineup and replace him with an older guy? Fine, Vinny is a better leader. Yay?

2. Vinny Prospal was really wearing down towards the end of last season and the season before. Part of that was probably the short and packed schedule, but still noted. He produced alot of points in the run, but he was running out of gas. You're in a SPEED conference now, players like Prospal would be walked around by the 4th line pluggers. Not saying he could keep up in the West, but the East is significantly more fast paced and you can see its taken us by surprise in the early goings.

3. Bridges have been burned and it could create a mixed response in the room. No, Vinny hasn't burned bridges with his teammates but I feel he was hurt by Jarmo and JD. Who says he would even want to return? Is it likely he would? Yes, but would it be the same? Doubtful.

4. His leadership was the best thing about him, and its not worth spending the rest or near the rest of our cap money. Before you say send down someone like Prout, Jenner, etc or trade a guy like Wisniewski, that won't happen (save maybe Jenner being sent down if he struggles).

If you want me to keep going, i can. I was a VP fan, but the ship has sailed and he isn't the answer.

Who's writing the season off after three games? What value does he bring to the table that already isn't there other than age? He doesn't have a ring. I get it, he started the culture change, he tells it how it is, and he is highly respected around the league, the players in the dressing room, and the fans. But it isn't going to happen.

 

[Nanabijou]

I like Vinnie and was not opposed to the CBJ bringing him back. But, I agree with everything CBJBrass said in his well-reasoned response. I'd also like to see Boone grow in his role and his position was opened up by not bringing Vinnie back.

The reality is that Dubinsky and Umberger are supposed to be able to provide the grit, goal-scoring and leadership that Vinnie provided. Dubi has been OK, but RJ needs to pick up the slack (yet again, his contract is looking pretty gross right now).

What we really need is some more skill and speed up front to replace Calvert.

 

[DJA]

Just out of curiosity - those who are preaching infinite patience - how long is too long to wait to make a change such as firing Richards, or swinging a trade? Is it 3 more losses in a row? Two? a split of games on the upcoming homestand? I'm just asking because if this drags on and we go 2-7 or 2-8 to start, I'm not sure many teams have come back from that to make the playoffs. With a guy like Laviolette out there, I'd be inclined to pull the trigger sooner rather than later.

 

[Samkow]

Just out of curiosity - those who are preaching infinite patience - how long is too long to wait to make a change such as firing Richards, or swinging a trade? Is it 3 more losses in a row? Two? a split of games on the upcoming homestand? I'm just asking because if this drags on and we go 2-7 or 2-8 to start, I'm not sure many teams have come back from that to make the playoffs. With a guy like Laviolette out there, I'd be inclined to pull the trigger sooner rather than later.

That's a good question.

(I didn't watch the game last night. Sounds like that was a good choice, but I can't comment on anything that happened last night)

I'm shocked that this team is 2-5. They've deserved and played better than that record indicates IMO. But...seeing as Richards is a holdover from the old regime, I could see him getting the hook pretty quickly if the wins don't start coming. Maybe even before the end of the month.

 

[Derby]

Thanks SG.... for letting all know who you think is the intelligent poster.... It just so happens some in Columbus Dispatch print think I'm intelligent too...

Dispatch print? What is this "Columbus Dispatch" you speak of?

 

[cbj21]

For the sake of argument CBJBrassard16 turned a "he should have been resigned" into a "lets not sign him now" type of childish lol response. So I will not take your 4 reasons more seriously than your initial response and just lol at it.
Just the fact you compare Jenner and Prospal as same type of players is just rediculous.
We all know what Prospal stands for in attitude on and off the ice and atleast I belive he was a main reason for the change. A change we do see a lack of now. Anything else about him is pure specualtion, except also the fact he was the top producer.