Better Know a Contender?

We all make mistakes.  Some of us make nothing but.  Somtimes mistakes are permanent.

Oops, I killed mommy!  

Others are minor and barely noteworthy.

You fucked your cousin?!

Some are serious, but ultimately correctible.

You bought a blue denim jacket?   Return that shit, you asshole.

Introducing the NHL's blue denim jacket from Columbus.

Quick, how many full-time players (30+ games this season) on the Blue Jackets have a positive +/-?  If you said "0", then you were close!  Only two players on the Jackets have a positive +/- and well, you probably haven't heard of them anyway.  As for the players you probably have heard of, Rick Nash (-11), Antoine Vermette (-7), and RJ Umberger (-16), well, things aren't going so well for them in lieu of their big point numbers.  And even with those bigtime numbers, the Blue Jackets are much more likely to be scored upon than the other way around.   In fact, in even strength situations, for every 7 goals they score, 10 will be allowed.  It's just too bad this team can't perpetually be on the power play (20%), because then their former coach, Ken Hitchcock might have made it through the season.

Or maybe Hitch was the problem.  After all, the team is undefeated since he left the building (2-0!).  But then again, the Blue Jackets made the playoffs last year under his guidance.  The Blue Jackets first Stanley Cup bid in their 9-year existence.  But just what is so different about this time in 2010 as compared to 2009?  Sure, they lost Manny Malhotra and his 11 goals from a year ago, but while the Blue Jackets are not a high-powered offense, the problem definitely lies at the other end of the ice.  But for a team that averages under 30 shots allowed per game, 3.1 goals allowed seems pretty high.

Which brings us to the big problem: goaltending.  Last season, Steve Mason took home the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year, posting a .916 save percentage with 10 shutouts to bolster his case (tops amongst ALL goaltenders).  This season, Mason's save percentage is below .900 and has one of the worst GA averages in the entires league (3rd worst at 3.14).  Oh, and just 3 shutouts to boot.  His backup, Mat Garon, isn't fairing that much better.

But let us be honest, the real problem with this team, and with the entire idea of the Columbus Blue Jackets?  Is that they exist.  The NHL had no business expanding in the manner in which they did, especially considering the state of labor relations with management heading into the 21st century.  Think about how much better a team could be, if Rick Nash were given the opportunity to play in a real hockey town?  Preferably one not named Phoenix or Atlanta.  Columbus neither has the current tools, nor the long-term support to ever be a viable, nor consistently competitive unit in the NHL, and so, their continued failure season to season, well, it's pretty much the best a hockey can hope for.  Sorry Blue Jackets fans.  All several hundred of you.

Players to Watch:

Jakub Voracek - One of the few super young stars-to-be on the Blue Jackets, Jakub is on pace to break his rookie mark of 38 points.  He is also on pace to fall well short of his +11 rating from the previous season.

Raffi Torres - Already a journeyman in his 8 year career, Torres has shown flashes of scoring potential (with two going on three, 20+ goal seasons), but has never been consistent enough to become a viable threat in the offensive zone.  Whether or not Torres can fill a valuable need in Columbus remains to be seen.  But unless he can play goalie, then this probably is not possible anyway.

Rick Nash - He's a superstar known for a highlight reel shootout goals and unlimited potential.  With 6 straight 50+ point seasons, at 25, Nash is primed to be a permanent fixture in NHL all-star games for years to come.  Now, if only we can break him out of hockey prison, the I won't even have to include him on these little exposes.