The Second Act in Columbus: Gallant Must Go!!!
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After going to my first hockey game at Nationwide Arena on Friday, October 20 in Columbus, Ohio against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the only sensible conclusion to solve any of the problems in Columbus is to fire their head coach.. The following is a series of observations made during that game:
1. Columbus, your marketing sucks!! Obviously the power of brand marketing has eluded the marketing geniuses at Nationwide Arena. I thought a Blue Jacket was a Civil War soldier in the Ohio area, instead I'm tormented by an ugly bug for most of the game. In addition, what is the point of having the Pink Panther in the stands as well. With the Barenaked Ladies, a predominately Canadian folk band, urging the fans on to create more noise on a score board that desperately needed HD TV, the entire experience was fraught with amateur marketing attempts.
2. You have a professional hockey team, and therefore, Columbus, act professionally. As a former hockey player, there is nothing more demoralizing than entering the ice behind a mascot, especially if the mascot is an ugly bug/fly. The lack of professionalism on the ice is definitely a causal factor for the team not winning hockey games. Its not the major source but if management thinks the whole bloody affair is a joke than why should the players care.
3. And this leads to my conclusion to fire head coach Gallant as the first step towards building a professional hockey team: Gallant has no track record in successfully coaching an NHL franchise; he was a marginal player at best when he played professionally, and his decision making abilities are definitley circumspect. Firstly, why is Rick Nash playing under 20 minutes per game. This is what ultimately led to the dismissal of Pat Quinn in Toronto; that is, not playing Sundin. It is only a matter of time that in an interview that Nash will state that he would like to contribute more if he only can get the ice time. Why wait? Nash is arguably one of the best power left wingers in the game today, so why is the coaching staff trying to restrict this player's productivity potential...Secondly, the Toronto Maple Leafs are an average hockey club, but Columbus made them look like Stanley Cup finalists. The Blue Jackets undisciplined play was exemplified in the fact that Toronto was able to make full across ice passes on regular shifts. Having the Blue Jackets put their sticks on the ice and block the passing lanes is a fundamental technique and essential in winning hockey games in the new rules of the NHL. This is the coaching staffs fault and reflects poorly on Gallant. Thirdly, why is Jody Shelley playing a regular shift. This player is arguably one of the worst hockey players in the NHL and yet his ice time rivals that of some of the more skilled players on Columbus. Every shift on the ice, he missed his check, because of being painfully slow to the puck, and he created zero scoring opportunities. I know every team needs their goon chaser, but Shelley?? When was the last enforcer in the NHL named Jody anyways?? Again, this players ice time is a manifestation of poor decision making by the coaching staff, which Gallant is ultimately responsible for. Fourth, the special teams suck...They sucked last year and they are worse this year. How many years is it going to take to emphasize, especially in the new NHL, that the power play and penalty killing are key critical success factors in winning hockey games?? Columbus has the talent; Nash, Zherdev, Carter, Modin, Westcott and Foote...All these players are proven offensive talents in the NHL, the missing ingredient is a coaching staff that can train these men to perform above their potentials. Columbus had at least 6 power play opportunities against Toronto, and they had at best four shots on goal..This is unacceptable and reflects poorly on Gallant.. Finally, the opportunity cost is now too high to keep Gallant. Maclean, the GM, knows that with Philadelphia cleaning house and firing Hitchcock, one of the best NHL coaches with Stanley Cup winning experience in Dallas, that Gallant's days are numbered. Its been six long years in Columbus without a birth in the post season, and if the current trend continues this year will mark the seventh..Fire Gallant, hire Hithcock, get rid of the Bug, play Nash 25 to 30 minutes, change the logo with Civil War guns ablazing (great for the Blue collar crowd) and the Blow Jackets will turn into the Blue Jackets.
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