[UPDATE: I just read this blog piece about the rebuilding of the NFL's Detroit Lions. Read this paragraph, substitute Doug MacLean for Matt Millen, and I think you get a sense of where I'm coming from:
Under former GM Matt Millen, the franchise wasted roster spots on blown draft picks and lemon free-agent acquisitions. And, under the multiple coaching changes, never appeared to establish any scheme. As Millen's pokes and prods turned into desperate risks and frantic prayers, the transient, ambiguous roster fed an incessant identity crisis. One that was defined only by failure.Does that make sense?]
Enter Scott Howson. Our very own personnel Ice Man (or Ninja GM, depending on the jargon you use) has dropped the organizational blood pressure considerably in Columbus. He often is loathe to make any moves at all, but he most certainly does not get rolled over when he does. Consider Antoine Vermette for Pascal Leclaire. Who won that trade? Or Tyutin/Backman for Zherdev/Fritsche? Perhaps the penultimate demonstration of the patience on Howson's part was this entire past offseason. Staring a disastrous 2009-10 season in the rearview mirror, complete with the firing of likely Hall of Famer Ken Hitchcock and replacing him with Claude Noel, one would think that Howson would take advantage of the drop-off after the 2008-09 playoff year to move some players out, bring some in and improve the roster.
Think again. The two major roster moves that Howson made were: 1) Claim Ethan Moreau off of waivers, and 2) Re-sign Steve Mason. Other than that, Howson essentially said that he liked his roster, and that while he'd like to upgrade the defense, he'd be comfortable taking this squad into the season. And, yes, he overhauled the coaching staff.
So here we are, the week after Christmas. Despite what still is the best CBJ start ever, the Jackets are struggling mightily to extricate themselves from a slide that has seen them win a whopping four games (including overtime/shootout winners) since Thanksgiving. As I've written all over this blog, the Blue Jackets have demonstrated since their dismantling at the hands of the Red Wings that they are incapable of reliably beating any good NHL hockey club with this roster. It's probably past time to start making moves to get the CBJ out of 12th place in the Western Conference and back into playoff contention.
What we love about Howson - his ability to keep his hand close to the vest until he gets a deal he knows will at least be an even trade if not a win...his willingness to stand pat rather than stir the pot up - is precisely what drives us crazy at times like this.
