Welcome to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where head coaches go to die.
After just 1 1/2 seasons with an overall 45-60-18 record - Scott Arniel has been fired as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Out of those 123 games coached, Arniel had just a .411 winning percentage.
Arniel becomes the 7th coach in 11 CBJ seasons to hit the unemployment line. Outside of the "interim" coaches in Agnew, Noel and MacLean, he also had the shortest stint of those with at least 82 games coached in King, Gallant and Hitch.
Arniel joins a rather large pile of NHL coaches that have been let go this season. A list that includes Payne (Blues), Murray (Kings), Boudreau (Capitals), Maurice (Hurricanes), Martin (Canadiens) and Carlyle (Ducks).
Todd Richards will take over on an 'interim" basis and will become the 8th coach for this franchise. Based on his 77-71-16 record as head coach of the Wild for two seasons, I'm not expecting a whole lot.
As I stated in an earlier post, this change doesn't go nearly far enough. What are we hoping to get from yet another coaching change? What is it really going to fix?
A boost?
Salvage the season?
New system?
A chance for younger players?
Winning now will translate into wins next season?
Get a good read on the players we have as we play out the stretch?
Haven't we seen this episode before? Hell, we should have it memorized by this stage! This may work for other organizations but the Jackets have PROVEN time and time again that changing a coach does not change anything for the long term.
What we will probably get from this change is just enough wins to push us out of a top pick and the illusion that this team in finally on the right track. Just what we don't need.
Look, I'm not saying Scott Arniel didn't need to go. He absolutely did. He completely lost his grip on this team. He failed at bringing an identity to this team. There was no team chemistry. Lines were all over the map. The decision to play Mason over a guy like Sanford last night was just the latest in a series of head scratchers. He looked more defeated than the team on most nights.
Clearly it wasn't working. But he is only part of a MUCH larger problem.
At the root of it, firing just the coach is attempt to deflect the blame from the real issues. I wrongly bit on Hitch getting canned before and I"m not taking the bait this time. The problems here go way beyond a coaching change and if ownership cannot see that by now, they never will.
That is if ownership even has a pulse at this stage. When is the last time we've heard anything from that group? As my buddy Brent said to me.. "Would JPM put up with this at Worthington Industries? No way in hell. If he did, thousands of shareholders would toss his ass onto 270 at rush hour." Well, as fans we are the shareholders of the Columbus Blue Jackets -- and it's time we all stop putting up with this.
I've said it before. Many people have said it. And I'll say it again. What this team needs is a complete tear down. A total reboot. A fresh vision from the top down. Successful hockey brains hired by successful hockey brains. If the Florida Panthers can turn things around with competent leadership then so can we! And it doesn't have to take 5 years to do it!
Howson had his chance to build this team to the tune of 5 years. There are only a handful of players that remain from the MacLean years (Nash, Brassard, Mason to name a few). He's now fired two coaches. He's been given a huge payroll. Yet the circle of suck continues to go round.
Like Arniel, and despite his legit attempts to finally shore up this roster this past offseason (which I still applaud), it's just not working with Howson.
Speaking of Howson, wasn't he just on the record the other day stating that the majority of coaching changes have not worked this season? And what possible benefit does firing the coach now at the halfway point do for him? If he wanted to save the season this should have been done 30 games ago. He is always 3 steps behind.. Mr. Patient is going to wait himself right out of a job.
As for Priest -- well, he hired Howson. Based on what? The PI Management Test? This guy is a very successful business man from a steel company. I'm sure he is a wonderful executive in that role but he has no business making any HOCKEY related decisions for an NHL franchise! I sure don't want him hiring another GM!
Today shouldn't have just been about firing Scott Arniel. It should have been about firing Priest, Howson and Arniel. It should have been a seismic shift in the direction of this franchise. A statement that this kind of performance will not be tolerated at any level.
So go ahead and fire more coaches. Trade players. Scout some more. Continue to evaluate a roster you should know blindfolded by now. Change the oil in the Zamboni while nude for all I care. Those distractions (well, depending on who is nude) aren't going to work this time.
I will know this franchise is serious about changing it's culture of losing when real changes are made at the tippy top -- where the cherry meets the whip cream.
For now, we remain the laughing stock of pro sports. Don't believe me? Just read this and this.
Good luck Scott Arniel. From the very little I know of you personally, you seem like a good man. I wish you nothing but the best in the future and I'm certain you will land on your feet elsewhere.
-LTL
