Sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings at 14-22-9, the young Columbus Blue Jackets continue to trudge through the season. While young players have taken steps in development the team on the whole has not solidified itself as a cohesive unit. They continue to struggle mightily in third periods of games and the defense has struggled for the better part of the season. Yet, Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent made a curious statement that needs some clarification.
Vincent was on a local sports talk radio show and was asked about the Blue Jackets' needs which he spoke of. He then went on to talk about what the team needs to make a playoff push. Many fans could not believe he was seriously talking about the playoffs. He was, only not this season.
While it is true fans want everything now there is truly a process to growing into a playoff-contending team. Clearly, the Blue Jackets are not in position this season. However, Vincent gave a big-picture view of what the team needs. To play with speed in all three periods, they need to learn to close out games (the Blue Jackets have lost eight games in the third period in which they had the lead) and to play better defense in front of the goalie.
For young players such as Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson, and others this season has been about continuing development. Not only have the three listed played well but other young players have seen their game improve as well. This is key, as young players grow and understand situational hockey the team will improve over the long run over all aspects of play and wins/losses.
Again it is the process fans do not like, yet many times organizations talk about “trusting the process.” The Blue Jackets organization knows this is a lost season wins/losses-wise, but it is a huge and valuable season developmental-wise.
Much like players and coaches, fans must come to grips with the process of becoming a contending team. The Blue Jackets have some talented young players that is not hard to see on a game-to-game basis. They need a season like this to figure out the next steps in terms of winning games late and playing good defense in front of the goalie. In other words to work on the process.
