Columbus Blue Jackets: Bad Analogy

I recently saw the following commentary in Columbus’ local newspaper:

http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/live/content/sports/stories/2010/09/29/wild-model-suggests-rough-times-for-jackets.html?sid=101

I can only assess this commentary in two words: bad analogy.

In short, the writer offering the commentary is trying to draw an analogy between the new up-tempo system/direction of new Columbus Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel to what was done during the prior season by the Minnesota Wild, the Blue Jackets sister expansion organization.

What the writer’s asserting is that the Wild transitioned from original Wild head coach Jacques Lemaire's trapping, slow-paced system to current head coach Todd Richards’ up-tempo system.  The writer’s point is that the transition merely resulted in the same amount of goals scored but that the Wild gave up many more goals than in the prior season. This directional change resulted in the Wild missing the playoffs by more points than they did in the previous season.

Well, there's a huge reason as to why this occurred, and it's not merely due to the change in system/direction as the writer suggests.  It's much larger than that; it's due to the personnel needed to run the system.  This is where he tries to draw the comparison.

But, the writer conflicts himself on two fronts: 

1) Jacques LeMaire was an experienced, future Hall-of-Fame coach, who, while perhaps running a system which may have stifled the Wild's young talent, also carried the organization to far greater heights then they would have otherwise.  Remember LeMaire inherited an expansion team in 2000-2001.  Now, if you need an example of how to not foster an expansion organization, look no further than how the Blue Jackets were run between the years of 2000-2007.

2) They also lost one primary weapon to free agency, one Marian Gaborik, and replaced him with one Marty Havlat.  No offense to Marty Havlat, but this would be akin to replacing Henrik Sedin with, well, Marty Havlat.  Remember, Gaborik missed almost the entire 2008-2009 season with his usual band of injuries.  However, when you look at his performances during the 2009-2010 and the 2007-2008 season—seasons in which he was healthy—Gaborik is a legitimate 40+ goal scorer and more than a point per game player.

However, what's missed is a far bigger point: While the pre-lockout system has been proven to be ineffective for sustained SC Playoff participation and success, those coaches who implemented it were still far more effective than what would have been the case, with a less experienced coach, regardless of the system chosen, given the talent they had or didn't have to work with.

In the case of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the coach that directed them to their only Stanley Cup playoff appearance is future Hall-of-Fame coach Ken Hitchcock.

My point is this: No mater what system you employ, there's also something to be said for the coaching skills and experience you possessed, prior to the change.  In short, were you to go with either Todd Richards or Scott Arniel, you may (or may not) have the right system, but you now have far less experience and skill to employ it with.

You may have a Maserati system, but, if you have old Buick parts, it's still not going to work.

Personally, I'm not critical of the coaching selection and direction they appear to be heading.  I'm critical of the personnel they still have around to utilize that system/direction.

In conclusion, I agree on some points; however, I disagree that the two most critical points were left out to make the analogy/argument work.