The Right Decision: Columbus Blue Jackets Fire Gallant
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by user 64.229.203.96
The bottom line was that this team of very talented young players mixed-in with some good veterans is playing well below its potential. Obviously, Girard Gallant's lack of direction and sense of non-urgency was reflected in the team's play, especially in the 1-0 loss to the lowly Blackhawks. But how does this team make the post season? Here are a few observations and recommendations for the GM:
- Goaltending is a question mark. Columbus needs an anchor goaltender, and LeClaire is not that player. He is young and being so has a tendency to overplay the shot. Furthermore, there are two types of goaltenders in the league: goalies that can manage shots like Brodeur and goalies who only block shots. LeClaire is the latter. If Biron in Buffalo is still available a call to Regier to assess what Buffalo needs (maybe Adam Foote, a veteran defenseman) could be an interesting trade.
- Underperformance on Defense: Although Klesla has played well of late, he still does not win the battles against the powerforwards in the League. Anders Ericsson and Ron Hainsey should not be playing in the NHL. They are terrible defensively and offer nothing offensively. Columbus' best defenseman is unquestionably Westcott who is out with a broken finger. Send down both Hainsey and Ericsson to the minors, and bring up some more young defenseman. Look what happened in Toronto, by bringing up Ian White this season, the Leafs have uncovered a potentially all star defenseman.
- Weak up the middle: Federov cannot be your best centreman. One of the best opportunities recently was the availability of Yannik Perreault, a good veteran centre who can win key faceoffs.
- Make a commitment to Gilbert Brule. The treatment of this skilled player was abysmal, and he should be playing with Nash and Modin on the top line, averaging between 20 and 25 minutes per game. Pulling the plug after only a handful of games on a player with that much potential was utter stupidity and could effect the player's development from a mental perspective going forward. With the game 90% mental confidence, just read the excellent article by Bill Parcells in the N.Y. Times magazine as a benchmark, demoting this kid in his development was a mindless knee jerk decision.
- Place Federov on Waivers: Even GM Burke of Anaheim stated on national television that he was surprised that another team was interested in Federov with his price tag of $6 million per year. Although Federov can still make the unbelievable set up pass, he is slow and reckless with the puck (manifested in a Takeaway-Giveaway ratio of -4) With Fritsche playing well, Vyborny and Zherdev excellent young talent and reinstating Brule, there is no need for Federov. He should be playing for the Russian Old Timers not the Columbus Blue Jackets. Moreover, it frees up some valuable cap space to add players in mid season.
- Play Nash at least 25 minutes per game. This is a no-brainer. This player only gets better the more ice time he gets...It builds his confidence and it will result in wins. In that Chicago game, the one shift that Nash totally dominated the ice was unbelievable. The fact that he was not double shifted after having such a successful shift is probably why Gallant is no longer the coach.
- With such young skilled talent, be innovative. Shake things up, especially on special teams. Chimera should be on the power play in a Holmstrom-like role by crashing to the net. Play only one defenseman back with four forwards (Zherdev, Nash, Chimera, and Malhotra) moving the puck down low...Whatever it takes, these players are young and willing to learn in order to win. It can't hurt.
Hopefully, the team can be righted and turned around in order to make the post season. Columbus is one of the few teams where the fan base is growing and the arena almost sells out on a nightly basis. The fans of Columbus deserve more. Firing Gallant was the right business decision and right decision for the loyal fans of Columbus.
