Columbus Blue Jackets majority owner John P. McConnell states he's as upset and disappointed as anybody by his team's devote the NHL standings.
It had been a season which was full of great promise, because the Blue Jackets spent large within the summer time to trade for those-Star center Shaun Carter and sign defenseman James Wisniewski. Talk from the second Stanley Cup Playoff berth in franchise history was frequent.
"Everyone was searching toward this year, myself incorporated," McConnell told the Columbus Dispatch within an interview released Friday morning. "I believe which makes the autumn a whole lot worse.Inch
The Jackets began the growing season with no win within their first eight games, and also at the All-Star break they are 13-30-6. Their 32 points place them 30th within the standings, nine points behind 29th-place Edmonton.
"It's simply not switched out as we'd wished or planned," stated McConnell. "Everyone really wants to blame somebody when something goes completely wrong, and often there's nobody responsible.
"In my experience, I believe everyone within the organization has some blame."
Which includes team leader Mike Priest and gm Scott Howson, but McConnell stated neither should concern yourself with their jobs at this time. McConnell stated Priest has little related to the team's play because he isn't a part of on-ice choices.
Of Howson, in the fifth season as GM, McConnell stated, "By at this time, I understand of pointless why he will not be our (GM next season)."
He added he thinks Priest and Howson, "are wise, learning people."
McConnell stated he thinks things went wrong from the drop from the puck. The Jackets began the growing season -7-1 coupled with just two wins within their first 15 games (2-12-1). Wisniewski sitting the first eight games following a suspension for any hit within the preseason, and Carter broke a bone in the feet five games in to the season and skipped per month.
The rough start, he stated, "place the club in an exceedingly fragile place that people never quite could get over.Inch
"You cannot take a look at one factor," McConnell added. "Goaltending is unquestionably No.?1 out there. But exactly how very different wouldn't it happen to be having a better defense? Just how much better would the club have performed with more powerful goaltending, when it comes to raising their confidence?
"We'd James Wisniewski (suspended) and that we were built with a wave of injuries. Individuals can't be utilized for a reason. But all individuals things conspired to help keep this team from uniting because it required to.Inch
McConnell stated sometime within the next two days, he'd talk with Priest, Howson, senior consultant Craig Patrick and interim coach Todd Richards concerning how to approach the roster for that relaxation of year.
"Every option you are able to think about has been considered," McConnell stated.
Which includes what he known as the "nuclear option" -- making every gamers obtainable in a trade.
The Dispatch already has reported that Carter is around the trade block. Acquired in the Philadelphia Flyers in June for forward Jakub Voracek and also the No. 8 pick within the 2011 Entry Draft -- a select the Flyers utilized on rookie All-Star Sean Couturier -- Carter just 10 goals and 17 points in 30 games and it has been out since Jan. 8 due to a shoulder injuries.
Also, the newspaper reported the club isn't expected to regenerate goalkeeper Steve Mason next season. This Year's Calder Trophy champion is simply 5-18-2 having a 3.43 goals-against average and .882 save percentage in 26 games.
McConnell wouldn't discuss either player particularly, but stated the amount that the alterations occur is going to be noticeable.
"We are getting to some extent very rapidly where it will likely be apparent to individuals how extreme we are getting," McConnell stated.
"It needs to be pretty obvious (through the deadline) which way we are likely to go. But some way, we're dedicated to enhancing. We thought we did this last summer time we did not, for reasons uknown. It's difficult to place your finger onto it, but we are likely to keep searching for the best solutions."
