From the Rafters: Columbus Blue Jackets' Fat Lady Sings

With just five games left on the Blue Jackets' schedule, the team remains mathematically in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. (I stress the word “mathematically” as they are all but eliminated, and have been playing to that standard for the last 10–12 games).

They are eight points ahead of last year's pace which, at first glance, may sound positive. Where that argument fails to hold water is the fact that they did not make the playoffs in 2006-07 either.

It stands to reason that, if this was the year the Jackets were supposed to have moved from pretender to contender status, the numbers tell a different story.

My assertions dating back to the trade deadline remain the same, and appear to be validating themselves. Trading Foote and Fedorov was NOT the equivalent of throwing in the towel. That activity was carried out through the INACTION of the team when it came to both replacing the players who were just dealt, in conjunction with adding additional players to supplement and enhance the overall talent level.

Columbus chose to stand pat and watch their peers carry out those activities. The Jackets sat idly by and are paying the price for it now.

Unfortunately the mistakes and shortcomings of few (including Scott Howson and John H McConnell) continue to have catastrophic impacts on the lives of many (aka the team).

How can these two sleep at night? I mean, let’s try and be objective here. A guy like Brian Burke had the liberty to sit on his hands and stick with the team he had. If your roster contained the likes of Neidermeyer(s), Pronger, Schneider, Selanne, and Giguere, you would have that option.

Columbus, however, clearly missed that memo.

There were some key names available that, in my opinion, Columbus had just as much possibility of landing when the trade deadline came and went. Players like Prospal, Campbell, and Marcel Hossa immediately come to mind.

These players are not necessarily going to outright win you games, but there is little doubt in my mind that they would have certainly contributed and given the team a much better chance of being on the inside of the playoff hunt looking out (rather then peering in from the outside as they do now).

Whether a guy like Brad Richards had any real interest in playing short or long term with the Jackets is something we can all speculate on. Evidently the trade was on the table, but the asking price was too high. (Leclaire was to have been included in the deal with Mike Smith, a backup of Marty Turco’s coming back to the Jackets.)

Some surmise that Richards' agent, Pat Morris, might have been negotiating with the Jackets as part of a ploy to drive up the asking price, and that he had no intention of ever signing. Consider this pure speculation on my part.

I never envisioned a big fish like Marion Hossa, Mats Sundin, or another player at that elite level showing up in town, but was certainly convinced a mid-tier player or two would be brought in for a run to the postseason.

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