Columbus Blue Jackets star forward Johnny Gaudreau became the latest high-profile benching in the early goings, as the veteran forward was stapled to the bench for the final 16:07 of the third period in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.
Sitting Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko have made headlines, but this was head coach Pascal Vincent's strongest statement yet. While Gaudreau has struggled to produce offense - he has just one goal (an empty netter) and four assists in 11 games, the club needed an equalizer, and Gaudreau is the club's clear top offensive threat. But Vincent thought otherwise:
“I’m coaching a team. The guys who are going are going to play. Everything is earned. When the game starts, it’s not about your name. It’s about what’s on the front of your jersey and who we believe is going to give us a chance to win.
“We know Johnny can make a difference when he’s skating and when he’s involved, and tonight I felt he wasn’t there. We’re going to play the guys who are playing. It doesn’t matter who you are. It’s about the Blue Jackets, and I didn’t like his game.”
The Athletic's Aaron Portzline found that Gaudreau's 11:55 TOI was the second-lowest amount of ice time in his 693-game career, and the lowest was his sixth career game (10:31). Playing primarily alongside Boone Jenner and Jack Roslovic, the trio struggled to generate much offense. In the empty net situation late in the third period, the staff went with a forward group that included Dimitri Voronkov, Yegor Chinakhov, Jenner, and Marchenko. That was after he sat through two failed power play attempts.
On the one hand, this level of commitment by the coaching staff to evidence that all players are subject to a certain level of play, regardless of pedigree or past history, is commendable. As of this writing, 90% of our voters (sample size of 31) said they agreed with Vincent's approach. I tend to agree. Many of us are familiar with a workplace culture where someone is consistently given the benefit of the doubt while others face consequences. Vincent is working to establish himself as an NHL coach, and it's in his best interest to show the locker room that he's interested in long-term results over satisfying a somewhat struggling, highly-paid veteran. On the other hand, it is concerning that the club's best player has started the season so poorly and has yet to leave his mark on even one game. Is it a coincidence that his slow start is tied to the new coach's arrival?
As one may expect, there was plenty of discourse in the aftermath of the loss about the benching. But a more measured approach would be wise here. Gaudreau simply hasn't been one of the club's most consistently threatening offensive players through 11 games. And so when the club needed a goal, the coaching staff turned to players who have had the (relatively) recent hot hand. Marchenko had his first goal of the season against Tampa Bay and the only goal of the Capitals game came off his shot. Voronkov assisted on Marchenko's goal against the Lightning and tipped his shot in against the Capitals. Those two have clear chemistry. Jenner was a no-brainer given his faceoff prowess and net-front abilities with an empty net. And Chinakhov has looked better than ever in recent games in the AHL and played two seconds off a career-high on Saturday.
Throughout an 82-game regular season, highs and lows are to be expected. The Blue Jackets are struggling to score goals right now, and Gaudreau is expected to produce. He's a veteran and understands these rhythms, and will likely bounce back when the coaching staff inevitably gives him all the ice time he can handle later this week.
