We all love "safe is death."
It evokes a certain air of swagger, of relentlessness and a "you've got to play your best to keep up with us" attitude. When the Blue Jackets are at full strength, they're built for that style. They're built to skate, to pursue and to use their entire lineup.
Right now, it's just not possible to check all of those boxes.
So, as you've likely heard, John Tortorella decided to remove the "safe is death" sign that he had installed in the Blue Jackets' dressing room before last season. It was their identity in what would become a franchise-best season, one marked by several individual and team-level records and end-of-season awards. At the start of this season, they carried it over: pushing the pace and at times overwhelming opponents with shot volume and high-danger chances, the ideal combination that leads to a 14-7-1 start even when the whole team isn't firing on all cylinders.
But again, as you've likely heard, the situation is drastically different in the early days of 2018.
They need to be better defensively. The Blue Jackets have hemorrhaged goals over the last little while, including a pair of 7-2 defeats, two collapses in Pittsburgh and Ottawa and a New Year's Eve shellacking at home from the Tampa Bay Lightning. A team that was once stingy and fleet-footed in its own zone has appeared trapped and in-between on many nights, which leads to indecision and mistakes.
Tortorella's move to focus their efforts on the defensive end shouldn't be seen as an abandonment of "safe is death" and their attacking mentality – it's a commitment to checking and trying to spend less time chasing the game. Regardless of how much they plan to be aggressive and take chances (which they will still do, particularly with their defensemen), the Blue Jackets have to be better defensively and limit the number of high-danger chances they give up.
For now, a few changes here and there may be able to stop the bleeding. It's the least they can do until they get healthy once again.
It's easy to look at what Tortorella's doing and see it's rushed or panicked. The internet wants you to believe he's a psycho and can't coach, mind you, without regard for two Jack Adams Awards, a Stanley Cup and the distinction as the NHL's all-time winningest American coach. The more you listen to that nonsense, the worse off you become.
This shouldn't be a secret – the Blue Jackets have to limit the damage while they wade through this barrage of injuries. A slightly more conservative style of play isn't the worst thing, seeing how the alternative has fared over the last couple of weeks.
YOU SHOULD BE READING
- Ryan Murray is on the mend and could join the Blue Jackets for practice soon. He's on this road trip with the team, which is a good sign.
- New Year's resolutions? We've all made them. Our staff looks at what the Blue Jackets should commit to in 2018.
- Star 1OB intern Andy Anders breaks down the week ahead for the Blue Jackets, who will play twice on the road before returning home.
- Dan Dukart's been tracking the Blue Jackets' point projections all season – perhaps surprisingly, they're right on pace.
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