Another week, another mailbag. You ask the questions and I answer them.
https://twitter.com/lfoxcbus/status/687101509092421632
I have seen the word rebuild thrown around, but I don’t really think of it as a rebuild. This is going to be more of a reworking. Somehow in short order the team has lost a fair amount of its depth. In the playoff year, while players like Derek McKenzie and Mark Letestu weren’t world beaters, they were able to provide the necessary 4th line scoring. You are not finding that now on this team, where the top end is still pretty good but they can’t carry the whole thing. Additionally, the third pairing has seen an offensive bent in recent seasons, but now the CBJ seem resigned to having a defensive pairing. Plenty of reasons for this but both need to be improved going forward to allow the top players to succeed.
https://twitter.com/doug32674/status/687102163173113860
Come on. You are telling me that you don’t like underdogs?
In all seriousness, there are reasons for optimism around the Blue Jackets. Seth Jones is the defenseman the team has always needed. The Jackets have some top players in place and have them on long term contracts. You aren’t going to see many winning streaks but you will get an opportunity to take a look at some of the younger players take a swipe at the NHL. It’ll be a sneak peek behind the curtain to who the Jackets may value as NHL talent.
The trade deadline should also be an interesting time for the Blue Jackets as they will more than likely be sellers. Still plenty of reasons to follow this team in the short and long term.
https://twitter.com/hugwins/status/687112886196502528
While I don’t think Dubinsky is going to ask out, I do think your fear is valid. Nobody wants to play on a losing team. When you are a veteran, you begin to think about your legacy and what you have accomplished in the league. Every player wants to win a Stanley Cup, and this marks another year of Dubinsky not reaching the ultimate goal. Players should be pissed off, and Dubinsky is not only speaking for the players: he is also speaking for the fans. This isn’t fun for anyone, no one in the organization likes this, none of the fans like this. Some will want to stay, some will want to go, but for now you should praise Dubinsky for saying what is on everyone’s mind.
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