Was benching Patrik Laine, Johnny Gaudreau the right move for the Columbus Blue Jackets?
Frank Seravalli: How about Pascal Vincent and the Columbus Blue Jackets? What a season that has continued to unfold. On Thursday, Johnny Gaudreau benched, Patrik Laine benched, Kent Johnson who had 40 points last year, was sent to the AHL, he was a healthy scratch to start the year and David Jiricek who was taken 6th overall he’s being shuffled back and forth between the NHL and AHL like he’s on the Washington to New York flight that runs 27 times a day.
I mean, this has been certainly a disappointing season and another team that has had drama surrounding it but at some point Colby when you’re on a roster and you have a coach making these types of decisions and I understand the need for accountability but Laine is on a long term deal, Gaudreau is on a long term deal, they aren’t going anywhere. Do either of these guys wake up and just forget how to play hockey? The answer to me is no, so if you want to make those moves what’s the solution to finally getting things going, do you agree with the way Vincent has handled this?
Colby Cohen: What I would say is I agree, and normally I wouldn’t be in this position but here’s why I agree. A guy named Adam Fantilli. When you have a player like him, he’s going to be the face of your franchise for a very long time, he has come in and shown that he is a player and that he is the real deal, he’s mature, and plays in all three zones. He’s a year or two away from taking the mantle from Gaudreau and Laine as the face of the Blue Jackets so you need to show him it doesn’t matter who you are. You have an opportunity to tell Fantilli this is the NHL, it doesn’t matter if you’re making millions and on an eight-year contract or on the fourth line, there will be a standard that everyone will be held to. So as much as you’re biting off your nose when you don’t have Laine and Gaudreau out on the ice when you’re trailing by a goal to me I think because you’re sending a message it them but also showing Fantilli that you need to be held accountable. The end game is you’re not going to lose Gaudreau or Laine for good, you might lose Laine but Gaudreau has the fight in him and he knows he’s not playing well as he only has one goal and it’s an empty netter. I’m sorry but you can’t be making $8 or $9 million a year and have an empty net goal as your only goal. He needs to wake them up, things need to be shaken up.
Frank Seravalli: Maybe the Blue Jackets just aren’t good.
Colby Cohen: Well they’re not good. They hired Mike Babcock which was a desperate move for when this team needs a rebuild. I think Jarmo Kekkalainen should be on the hottest GM seat in the NHL. They’ve been mediocre for a couple of years, not got out of the first round, etc.
Frank Seravalli: So what’s the plan? I guess that’s my overarching question is, whether it’s Vincent or the roster, give me a cohesive plan, and tell me how benching these guys repeatedly is suddenly going to make them better.
Colby Cohen: I don’t think it makes them better. I think it will wake them up. Johnny Gaudreau is going to come back, Laine is a bit of a wild card. I still think Gaudreau can consistently put up points in this league for some time still. They need a rebuild, this mix isn’t working. Laine is not a player you’re building around. But now you have Fantilli, a generational talent. We talked about Bedard, but Fantilli looks damn good himself. I think the Blue Jackets are in denial, their roster is not the right mix of players. They brought in Ivan Provorov who’s playing 27 minutes a night, you’ve got Zach Werenski already there, but it’s not working. Start looking at trade partners for Laine, he seems to have issues where he goes.
You can watch the full segment here…