The frustration around the Columbus Blue Jackets is turning into something quieter - and that may be the worst sign of all.
After a third straight loss, the mood at Nationwide was less explosive than drained. There were boos when the final horn sounded, but even those didn’t carry much bite.
Some fans headed for the exits in silence, staring straight ahead. Others let the anger spill out, cursing the team on the walk to their cars.
The point was clear: patience is running thin.
The loss itself wasn’t described as a disaster, but it still counted the same in the standings. Columbus couldn’t finish chances, couldn’t keep the puck out of its own net, and came away empty again. Over the three-game skid, the Blue Jackets have scored just four goals, and all three defeats came against Stanley Cup hopefuls.
That context matters, but it doesn’t erase the bigger issue. The Jackets now have five of their next seven games against teams viewed as outsiders in the playoff race, which makes the rest of November a chance to stop the slide and start showing something different.
The problem is what comes next. The question hanging over the organization is what Don Waddell can realistically do about it.
A full teardown isn’t an option, at least not if he wants to keep his job. A trade or two might shake things up, but it doesn’t sound like that would change the larger picture in any meaningful way.
One industry source said a few weeks ago that they were jealous of what the San Jose Sharks have done. “Sometimes, I look at the San Jose roster and get really jealous.
They ripped their franchise apart from top to bottom. They ended up with Celebrini, Smith, and Stenberg.
But it’s not just the kids; they’re signing top free agents like Marchment, Trouba, and Orlov, while trading for vets like Darnell Nurse. When this team finally puts it together, look out!
I wish my club would’ve done that, to be honest.”
That sentiment hit home for the writer, who said the same feeling applies to teams like San Jose, Anaheim, and, to an extent, Chicago - clubs that went through a rebuild at roughly the same time. Columbus, in that view, did not really follow that path. The argument is that the Blue Jackets weren’t truly rebuilt so much as simply bad.
Now the fear is that the franchise will do what it has done before: stay the course and hope things improve on their own. History, as described here, suggests that’s the likeliest outcome.
The part that stings most for fans is the possibility of Zach Werenski leaving soon. He’s described as the franchise’s best current player and arguably the best in team history, and losing him would be a breaking point for a lot of people around the club.
For many, that would be enough to check out for good. The apathy is already there, and it’s getting louder.
Something has to change.
The Blue Jackets are back home to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday at 7 PM.
In Other News...
Blue Jackets Suddenly Face Bench Uncertainty On Game Night
Rick Bowness was absent from the Blue Jackets game against the Tampa Bay Lightning because of an illness, leaving Columbus to adjust on the fly for a night when the bench looked a little different than usual. In his second season with the club, Bowness has brought plenty of experience to a young roster, and his presence behind the bench is usually part of the teams nightly routine.
Don Granato handled the coaching duties in Bowness place, giving Columbus a different voice in a game that already carried the usual stakes of an Eastern Conference matchup. For a team trying to keep its footing, any late change behind the bench adds another layer to manage, especially when it involves the NHLs oldest head coach being out of action on game night. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Let Another Home Game Slip Away In Brutal Third Period
Another home game got away from the Blue Jackets on a night when they had chances to settle in and build something against Tampa Bay. Columbus managed just one goal, from Matthew Knies, while Brandon Hagel powered the Lightning attack with two goals and an assist and Nikita Kucherov set the table with two helpers in a 3-1 loss that left the building with the familiar feeling of a missed opportunity.
Dennis Hildeby backed up the win with 28 saves, and the game stayed within reach long enough for Columbus to believe it could still turn. Instead, the third period tilted the wrong way, and the Blue Jackets were left to sort through another frustrating finish against a division opponent that did enough in the key moments to leave Columbus searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jackets Suddenly Need Answers On Sean Monahan
Sean Monahans night ended early in Tampa, and the Blue Jackets suddenly have another injury situation to sort through. The veteran forward had one assist in 9:58 of ice time before leaving the game against the Lightning with an upper-body injury, a development that came in a 3-1 loss Columbus could ill afford as it tried to keep pace.
The immediate concern now is how long Monahan might be unavailable and what it means for a lineup that already had to adjust on the fly. Columbus did not have him back for the rest of the game, and with the team looking for stability up front, any absence from a center with his experience would force another round of shuffling at a time when the Blue Jackets need answers more than they need another question. [Read more 🡒]