Happy New Year. The Blue Jackets might be in trouble.
A little more than a week ago, they were 22-13-2 and within reach of the Metropolitan Division's top spot despite being battered by injuries. A lot has changed in that time, and as the calendar turns to 2018, the Blue Jackets seem to be entering a portion of their season that could determine what comes of the whole damn thing.
They're not getting much help in the way of health anytime soon.
Sergei Bobrovsky was effectively benched on Sunday night against the NHL's best team after John Tortorella said his game just isn't in a good place right now. And on Monday, Tortorella removed the "Safe is Death" sign from the team's locker room, according to Alison Lukan of The Athletic.
Doesn't it feel a little...weird...around the Blue Jackets?
I'm not going to say a lot of this seems panicked and knee-jerk, but the timing sure is odd. Tortorella's post-game press conference on Sunday had a tint of resignation to it, almost as if he knew that the Blue Jackets were going to get smoked if they didn't play a perfect game against the Lightning. They're just missing too many key players to compete the way they did earlier in the season, and this next little stretch is more about staying afloat then getting ahead.
On one hand, an improvement in their play could help stabilize what's been a rocky road. On the other, a continuation of some recent disturbing trends could mean the end of their contention before they even get their injured players back in the lineup.
For the Blue Jackets, a team that desperately needs to get back in the playoffs this spring and establish an expectation within the organization, the next few weeks are the tipping point of their season. They're not 14-7-1 anymore and getting consistent lights-out goaltending and contributions up and down the lineup; they're getting inconsistent goaltending and consistent offense from only one line while the power play continues to flounder.
We're going to see, in the near future, which path they take. Perhaps this reformed identity – a little more safe and a little less deadly? – helps get their game in order and to stop bleeding goals as they have over the last three weeks. If they can, they'll be in good shape once they start to get healthy again. If not, well, let's not even think about that.
YOU SHOULD BE READING
- In this week's "What We Learned," Kyle Morrison discusses Bobrovsky's struggles and how his teammates can pick him up.
- Blue Jackets prospect Robbie Stucker (seventh round, 2017) has switched his college commitment and plans to attend Colorado College.
- Could the Blue Jackets eventually split up Zach Werenski and Seth Jones? On a few levels, it makes sense.
- There were some honest and direct quotes following the Blue Jackets' humiliation on New Year's Eve.
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