Latest news with #DonWaddell
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Changes coming soon, but which UFAs stick around
A collection of notes, insights, ruminations and did-you-knows gathered throughout the week for the Columbus Blue Jackets: Just think, one month from now — after the NHL buyout window opens and closes, the entry draft is held, and the league's free agency bonanza plays out — the Blue Jackets could look significantly different than the club that barely missed the playoffs in April. Advertisement Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell wants to add a top-six forward. He also wants to upgrade the defense, particularly on the right side. And, though everybody within the organization is playing it coy, there's a sense they want to make sweeping changes in goal, too. Yeah, that's all. However, before Waddell gets to his roster adds, he'll have to make some difficult decisions about who stays and who goes. The Blue Jackets have nine players who are pending unrestricted free agents, meaning they could sign with any team on July 1 unless Columbus re-signs them first. Except for two unrestricted free agents whom Waddell wants to sign, this is a landscape with many moving parts, such that a few veteran UFAs might be exposed to free agency even if there's a chance the Blue Jackets end up retaining them. 'I've talked to some of (the UFAs),' Waddell told The Athletic. 'I haven't talked to all of them. There are some priority guys, but we're going to make some changes.' Here's a breakdown of those players, sorted by the likelihood that they'll be back in a Blue Jackets sweater in 2025-26: Ivan Provorov, D: This one has been simmering for some time. Waddell met with Provorov's agent, Mark Gandler, at the NHL scouting combine in Buffalo last week, but it's unclear if anything has changed. Provorov is 28, which makes it the perfect time for him to land a long-term contract. He could sign for seven years on the open market or eight years with Columbus, but the Blue Jackets have tried to get him under contract with a shorter term. Both sides can justify their positions, and the talks have remained amicable. As unsettled as the Jackets' blue line has been, it would be hard to let the sturdy, reliable Provorov walk. Dante Fabbro, D: Playing next to Zach Werenski is a sweet assignment, but not everybody can keep up. Fabbro, a waiver claim from Nashville early last season, clicked instantly and was a much-needed upgrade on the right side. Fabbro had 9-17-26 and a career-high plus-23 in only 62 games, and there will most definitely be a market for him, especially as a right-shot guy with moderate skill. But if the Jackets keep both Provorov and Fabbro, are they making big changes on the back end? Dante Fabbro gets his first goal as a Blue Jacket!#CBJ — FanDuel Sports Network Columbus (@FanDuelSN_CBUS) November 17, 2024 Justin Danforth, F: Not sure what this means — Danforth declined to elaborate — but the 30-year-old versatile forward switched agents this offseason. Pat Morris now represents him. It appears that Danforth wants to stay with the Blue Jackets, which gave him his NHL opportunity. However, Waddell must be smart and remain flexible. Danforth's ability to take right-side faceoffs is a plus, but the Jackets might seek other options if they can't meet on terms. Advertisement James van Riemsdyk, F: It would be hard to let van Riemsdyk walk after all he meant to the Blue Jackets last season. He scored 16 goals and 36 points in limited minutes. He played up and down the lineup, never looking out of place. He was the immovable, marble statue in front of opposing goalies, which every team needs. Those late-season scratches of van Riemsdyk still don't make any sense, do they? Sean Kuraly, C: This one stings. Kuraly signed four years ago with the Blue Jackets, his hometown team, to help stop the bleeding when it seemed like every significant player was requesting a trade. The four years didn't go as he expected, but this season was certainly a high point. Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason sharply curtailed his playing time and curiously took him off the penalty kill, which is usually a sign of disfavor. Jack Johnson, D: The Jackets used Johnson more than they expected. He played 41 games — exactly half the season — and provided some physicality on the third pair and penalty kill, especially after Erik Gudbranson went down. But, seriously, if the Blue Jackets are going to make changes on defense, they can't all come back. Luke Kunin, F: Waddell parted with a fourth-round pick to acquire Kunin at the trade deadline, but it wasn't a perfect fit. He played 12 games to no great distinction. Christian Fischer, F: A waiver claim by the Blue Jackets at the NHL trade deadline, but Fischer played only one game in the final month of the season. Kevin Labanc, F: Waddell added Labanc off waivers before the start of the season because they were desperate for veteran forwards after a crush of late training camp injuries. He played 34 decent games before a shoulder injury ended his season. The Blue Jackets have had seven first-round draft picks in the last four NHL drafts, four of them in the top 6 and six of them in the top 12 of the draft. The building continues, with Waddell looking to make significant roster upgrades. But the rebuilding is done. Advertisement Waddell heads to this year's draft armed with two first-round draft picks: He has the Blue Jackets' pick at No. 14 overall but also has the Minnesota Wild's first-round pick at No. 20. That was acquired early last season when defenseman David Jiricek was traded to the Wild. Nobody expects Waddell to select a player with both of those picks. He's already dangling one (or both) of them in front of other GMs in an attempt to get immediate roster help. The Athletic asked Waddell this week to put a percentage chance on the likelihood he selects a player with each of his first-round picks. 'I think it's 50-50 (that we take) both,' he said. 'I could move both of them. If we're helping our team immediately, I'm not opposed to that, for sure. Probably, though, I would think we'd keep one of them. But I can't say 100 percent. 'Like I always say, you never know what's going to be presented to you or what you can chase down. You have to keep your options open, that's for sure.' The Blue Jackets have promoted Aron Augustitus to video goal coach, replacing Dan Singleton, who had held the position since the franchise's inception until his contract was not renewed after this season. Augustitus had served as Singleton's assistant for the past four seasons. Waddell said he's 'getting close' on hiring an equipment manager and is beginning the process of finding a strength and conditioning coach. In the meantime, Blue Jackets players are utilizing their off-season conditioning resources under the guidance of Ryan Gadbois, who has served as Kevin Collins' assistant for the past four seasons. Late last month, the Blue Jackets informed team services director Julie Gamble, who started during the inaugural season, that she wouldn't be back with the club for next season. Waddell indicated that a replacement will likely be hired from within the organization. Advertisement • It became clear in recent NHL awards shows that the league needed to change the format to breathe new energy into the proceedings. Part of that involves presenting most of the awards before the show, surprising the award winners in meaningful ways, and capturing the moments on video. None were more meaningful than Meredith Gaudreau showing up at the suburban Toronto home of Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan to present him with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. Monahan was surprised, he said. 'I had no idea. I was kind of waiting around all dressed up for a while because I was told we were doing family pictures. My mom was here to help with the little guy (Leo). It was … it caught me off guard. It was presented in a special way. They did a great job to surprise me.' In case you missed the video: • The Masterton Trophy is voted on by members of the Pro Hockey Writers' Association, and 209 members filed ballots this year. Monahan, with 523 points, edged finalists Gabriel Landeskog of Colorado (431) and Marc-Andre Fleury of Minnesota (293) to become the first Blue Jackets player to win the award. Monahan received 75 first-place votes and appeared as a top-three pick on 141 ballots. Other receiving first-place votes: Landeskog (58), Fleury (32), Washington's Alex Ovechkin (16), Vancouver's Dakota Joshua (six), Philadelphia's Ivan Fedotov (five), Tampa Bay's Ryan McDonagh (four), Calgary's Justin Kirkland, Chicago's Pat Maroon, and Utah's Mikhail Sergachev (two), Los Angeles' Drew Doughty, Toronto's John Tavares, St. Louis' Ryan Suter, Carolina's Jordan Staal, San Jose's Marc Edouard Vlasic, Anaheim's John Gibson, Boston's Joonas Korpisalo (one). • Evason finished fifth in voting for the Jack Adams Trophy, awarded late last week to Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery. Evason received five second-place votes and 15 third-place votes, finishing behind Carbery, Winnipeg's Scott Arniel, Montreal's Martin St. Louis and St. Louis' Jim Montgomery. Advertisement • After spending four seasons as an assistant coach with the Vegas Golden Knights and the past two in the same capacity with the Dallas Stars, Columbus native Misha Donskov has worked his way to the cusp of getting an NHL head coaching job. Donskov, who went deep in the process with the Boston Bruins and might have interviewed for other openings this off-season, now has an opportunity before him with the Stars. Last week, Dallas fired coach Pete DeBoer, embarking on a coaching search at a point in the off-season when all of the other openings are filled. Donskov, whose family owns Donskov Strength and Conditioning, Inc. in Columbus, was interviewed by the Blue Jackets after leaving Vegas in 2023, but joined the Stars instead. • The Blue Jackets signed center Oiva Keskinen to a three-year, entry-level deal earlier this month after a solid season for Tappara Tampere in Finland's top league. Keskinen, a seventh-round pick (No. 194 overall) in 2023, will attend the development camp, the NHL prospects camp and NHL training camp, Waddell said, but he'll be one to watch as training camp progresses into its final days. There is a stipulation in his contract that allows him to return to Finland for one more season if he doesn't make the Blue Jackets' roster out of camp. • Cayden Lindstrom, the Jackets' No. 4 overall pick last summer, flew home to Vancouver (from Medicine Hat) earlier this week to get a few days around family and friends. But he'll be back in Columbus later this month, arriving the week of the draft and staying through development camp, which he mostly missed last season (back injury). In early July, he'll head to East Lansing, Mich. — he's committed to Michigan State in the fall — to take part in the Spartans' six-week off-season camp. Then, after a 7-to 10-day trip back to Vancouver, he'll return to East Lansing to prepare for the start of the academic school year. He won't be able to attend the annual prospects tournament or NHL training camp because it conflicts with his college schedule. Advertisement • Lindstrom was asked if he had any issues with the knee-on-knee hit he absorbed from Spokane's Saige Weinstein during the Western Hockey League championship series. Lindstrom was not 100 percent the rest of the way, missing the first game of the Memorial Cup. 'Nah, I walked into that one,' Lindstrom said. 'I was rounding (making a sharp turn) and just ran into him. I have no issues with it. I'd try to lay a hit, too, if somebody was rounding behind the net.' • Simon Olivier, father of Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier, was named head coach of the Victoriaville Tigres of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. After retiring as a player in 2009, Olivier has coached at several different levels, including four seasons as an assistant coach with Victoriaville. • On Dec. 18, 2020, The Athletic published a lengthy piece on former Columbus Chill player Al Novakowski, who detailed the sexual abuse he said he suffered at the hands of former Ohio State team doctor Richard Strauss. Novakowski's story, along with those of other Strauss victims, is told in a one-hour, 48-minute documentary called 'Surviving Ohio State.' The film, produced by George Clooney and directed by Academy Award winner Eva Orner, makes its debut this weekend at the Tribeca Film Festival, which is underway in New York City. The documentary premieres on HBO on June 17. Here's the trailer: (Photo of Ivan Provorov: Ben Jackson / Getty Images)
New York Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Cayden Lindstrom, Blue Jackets' No. 4 pick last June, makes triumphant return
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ever since Cayden Lindstrom had back surgery in November, the Columbus Blue Jackets' seemed resigned to waiting until next season to see their 2024 No. 4 pick back on the ice. Every precaution was taken, and patience ruled the day. But Lindstrom's diligent work during rehab and the Medicine Hat Tigers' long, impressive run through the Western Hockey League playoffs conspired to make the unlikely possible on Friday. Advertisement After more than 13 months away from competitive hockey, Lindstrom played for Medicine Hat in Game 1 of the WHL Championship, assisting on the Tigers' first goal — only 54 seconds into the game — and playing a regular shift in a 4-1 win over Spokane. Lindstrom finished with a plus-1 rating, took a penalty, and won 5 of 10 face-offs while centering Medicine Hat's second line. The Blue Jackets had two scouts on hand in Co-op Place, and several more scouts and executives watching via internet back in Columbus and points beyond. 'Our doctor cleared him a while back, but he wanted him to have a couple of weeks, at least, of contact in practice,' Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said. 'We had a conference call on Monday and another one on Wednesday, and the doctor fully released him. 'If he feels good, he said. He sees no reason why he shouldn't be able to play, and the kid wants to play.' Waddell admits to being initially uneasy about Lindstrom's return. He had told himself and others that Lindstrom most likely wasn't going to play this year, and that was the organization's mindset. But the more he listened to doctors and to Lindstrom, he started to come around. The original prognosis when Lindstrom went under the knife on Nov. 20 was that he could return to play in five months. It's been nearly six, Waddell noted. 'The kid is eager to get back,' Waddell said. 'It's been a long year, and when you're a hockey player and you don't get to play hockey all year … that's tough. 'He's worked his ass off to get to this point. At the end of the day, it's his decision. But like I said to him on the phone Wednesday, 'We're going to support you, Cayden. I just want you to be honest with the team, with the trainers and with us. If you feel anything at all, or if you don't feel like you're ready for a game, you have to be honest with us.'' WHO ELSE BUT ANDREW BASHA?! The @NHLFlames prospect opens the scoring at the #WHLChampionship in his FIRST shift back from injury! 📺🇨🇦 | @TSN_Sports📺🇺🇸| @victoryplustv#FeedingtheFuture | #Flames | @tigershockey — Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 10, 2025 If Medicine Hat, the second-best club in the WHL during the regular season, didn't go on a post-season burner, Lindstrom's return wouldn't be possible. The Tigers have won 11 straight playoff games, including second- and third-round four-game sweeps over Prince Albert and Lethbridge to reach the final. Advertisement 'I haven't played in a while, so there's going to be some bumps and a lot of rust, probably,' Lindstrom told reporters in Medicine Hat. 'The speed might not be there, but, honestly, I'm not too worried about that. I know what I have to do. My game will come as the series moves along.' Lindstrom was a constant presence in Nationwide Arena this season, with several veteran players taking him under their wings as he faced the day-to-day grind of rehabbing with no return in sight. He'd skate on his own during the day, then watch from the press box along with the club's injured players or healthy scratches. On Nov. 20, he had back surgery in Los Angeles. 'You kind of go through the highs and lows. I did, at least,' Lindstrom said. 'I would just go week by week. Some days I'd feel not very good, other days I'd feel great. I tried to stay positive … self-talk, stay positive. 'The guys there were all so supportive in wanting to help me. They did a great job with me there. They all really cared, and that was the big thing.' On Friday, Lindstrom centered a line with wingers Andrew Basha and Hunter St. Martin. On the first shift of the game, Lindstrom went in hard on the forecheck, gathered a loose puck and quickly spun and fed St. Martin in the right circle. He found Basha coming through the left circle for the game's first goal. It was a triumphant night all around in Medicine Hat. Basha, who'd been out since having surgery in December, made his return to the ice on Friday, too. It was Lindstrom's first game since a WHL playoff game on April 5, 2024. 'I thought it was real exciting to have them score on their first shift,' coach Willie Desjardins told reporters in Medicine Hat. 'That was about as good as you could start, for sure. It's going to be exciting having them in the lineup.' Advertisement Patience will still be the Blue Jackets' guiding principle with Lindstrom. Waddell noted that Lindstrom, even if he's feeling completely healthy, may not play every game of the series. There are two back-to-backs in the best-of-seven showdown: Game 3 and 4 are set for next Tuesday and Wednesday in Spokane, Wash., while Game 6 and 7, if necessary, are set for May 18-19 in Medicine Hat, Alberta. The Memorial Cup runs May 22 to June 1 in Rimouski, Quebec. Waddell said he'd travel to Rimouski to watch Lindstrom in person if Medicine Hat qualifies. Either way, Lindstrom will head into the off-season knowing where he stands with his back. If everything goes swimmingly, it would be a big boost to him and the Blue Jackets' future. The Athletic reported last month that Lindstrom had committed to play next season at Michigan State University — per the NCAA rule change, players may now make the leap from juniors to college — but neither Lindstrom nor his agent, Daren Hermiston, have made a public pronouncement of that. The Blue Jackets' depth chart at center is as strong now as its every been. Veteran Sean Monahan, coming off a point-a-game season, and 20-year-old Adam Fantilli, who had 31 goals this season, are locks on the top two lines. Cole Sillinger has settled into the third-line role. Lindstrom, a combative two-way center, projects as a top-six impact center when he's NHL-ready. Nobody can say when that will be, of course. But Friday's return makes it seem less far away.
New York Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
John H. McConnell II Q & A: Blue Jackets' future owner on his transition, NHL's rising salary cap
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets are in transition at the ownership level. While John P. McConnell, 71, remains the majority owner, his son, John H. McConnell II, 41, was elevated to alternate governor last fall and is on track to assume majority ownership of the franchise. He would be the third member of the family to hold a majority ownership stake in the franchise, and early indications suggest John H. McConnell II will be more integrated with Blue Jackets management and the day-to-day operations than his predecessors. Advertisement John H. McConnell, the franchise's founder and majority owner until his death in April 2008, was a beloved figure among Blue Jackets' fans, who often gave him a standing ovation when he waved to the crowd on the scoreboard during games. John P. McConnell has been far less visible to fans, both at games and in public comments, choosing mostly to let club president Mike Priest and others speak on his behalf. The approach by John H. McConnell II seems most similar to his grandfather and namesake, but perhaps even more engaged. He sat beside general manager Don Waddell during this year's NHL trade deadline, made frequent road trips with the club, and has familiarized himself with management, staff and players along the way. The Athletic asked to speak with McConnell II several months ago, but he wanted to wait until after the 2024-25 season. We discussed the transition, what he believes should be the role of owners in pro sports, whether the Blue Jackets will be able to keep pace with the NHL salary cap, whether they've had offers to sell the club and more. Note: Questions and answers have been edited lightly for clarity and length. How would you describe the transition that's underway? It's part of family succession planning, similar to what my father and grandfather did when (my father) was around my age. We're right in the middle of that process now. I'm being active in a different way. I've been with the Blue Jackets in multiple full-time roles for about six-plus years. Is there a timeline in place for when you will become governor? It's just how it continues forward. There's no set time for this. I'm working with my dad as he slowly steps back with different things as he goes into retirement. When did this track begin? I saw you around the club quite frequently this season. I've always been close to it. My dad and I have really always talked through everything. It's never been that I'm not involved in some way, but in an official capacity now of being involved and being in this role, in the process, attending the board of governors' meetings and representing the hockey team. Advertisement What has attending the BOGs been like for you? It's been great. It's nice to see where the league is headed, where we're at as a league as a whole, the dynamics of team ownership, the way they're viewing the future … it's nice to be able to really see it, and be in those meetings compared to hearing more about where we're at. Being there, and being the representative of the ownership group, has been really enlightening, and I'm enjoying the time. What has been the most interesting part of this for you? You sat in with GM Don Waddell at the trade deadline, you've traveled fairly extensively with the club this year, gotten to know the coaching staff … We're very fortunate to have Don Waddell, having somebody in the organization who has the experience that he has. Just being around him and being able to learn from him, with all of his different perspectives. He had a lot of roles and responsibilities in previous organizations (Detroit, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Carolina) … so bouncing ideas off him and getting his thoughts, it's been great to have that experience here. Waddell has seen all of this from the business side and the hockey side. Correct. He's managed arenas before, the business side and the hockey side. I'm, in general, a hockey guy, passionate about hockey, and him being a hockey guy as well, we've had some great conversations, just individually, in how we view the team and how we're going to work together moving forward. What do believe should be the role of an owner in professional sports? For me, it's really how my grandfather and I, and my dad, have viewed this. Hire the right people, give them resources, support them, and we're not going to be the active player in that. We want to make sure we're giving the people who are here, who are in the roles their in, the resources they need to be successful. Is that a difficult balance? You're a guy who knows hockey, has played hockey … could it be a challenge to maintain that delineation? No. Learning from my grandfather in business and with the hockey team, and my father, I represent the ownership group as a whole, I share a deep passion for hockey, and learning how they (the previous two generations) have conducted and carried themselves … I'll do it differently, because I'm a different person, but I will continue in the way they've done it. I attended some road games this year. I plan in the future to attend more road games, but I have a young family as well, so balancing my family time and responsibilities is part of that. Advertisement We have people in place. I want to give them the resources. I can communicate with them directly, figure out what they need. If I have opinions on something, we can bounce ideas at any time. But unless it's a big decision, we're not making a final decision on that. (My role) is really resource allocation at that point. The draft was a real hit here, now almost 20 years ago. You played a role in preparing for the NHL All-Star Game in 2015. The outdoor game this past season was a big moment. What can you say about the franchise's status and how that's changed through the years. Man, the fact that the draft here was in 2007, that makes me feel old. Having these events that help put Columbus on the map is huge. That's part of what we wanted to do in bringing professional sports to Columbus. We wanted to elevate Columbus on a national and international stage. The All-Star Game experience for me (as co-chair of the events committee) was fantastic. But, for me, my direct involvement was in 2013, when the All-Star Game was supposed to be coming (before it was canceled due to the lockout). I had taken another role (two years later). The upside of that was, the playbook was established, the new team took it and made some changes to it, which were great, and I got to experience it from a different lens, because I didn't have the responsibility when it actually came. It was exciting for me to watch and be like 'Look how this turned out! Look how that turned out!' It was fantastic. The Stadium Series (in Ohio Stadium) was an incredible experience. It was one of those events where. you look back … we've been trying for years to try and bring that to Columbus. And it showed. The fans were excited. They showed up. The fan support is unbelievable. One of the things about being in position was talking to all of the stakeholders involved in that. The Columbus Sports Commission, the NHL, Ohio State, the Blue Jackets … everybody in this community worked very well together. It was very collaborative. It felt like something changed that night. Did it feel that way to you? If nothing else, maybe the relationship between Ohio State and the Blue Jackets. I don't know if 'changed' is the word that I would use. It was really highlighting what we already do well as the Blue Jackets, as Ohio State. I'm a double-Buckeye (two degrees), so I have my lineage there. It was really highlighting what we do as a community and highlighting it to a larger stage. The way the game went … with (the Blue Jackets) winning, the fan experience .. that was something to highlight what we do. The NHL salary cap is going up this summer after a long stagnation coming out of COVID. Some estimates suggest it could go up an additional $20 million over the next two seasons. Are there any concerns, as a small-market club, about being able to keep pace? I don't think it's going to continue as an astronomical climb. It's more pairing to the hold that was taking place during COVID and now matching economically where it needs to match between the players, the NHL players' association and the NHL. But we're in a good place for the market adjustment, and we don't see any issues with that going forward. Have there been overtures or expressed interest from others in buying the Blue Jackets? There has been speculation that (Cleveland Browns and Columbus Crew owners) Jimmy and Dee Haslam have been interested. Can you confirm if there has been expressed interest by the Haslams or anybody else, and has there ever been any consideration of selling the franchise? No. I think part of that is the Haslams coming to Columbus with the Crew and expanding their sports network with the Haslam Sports Group in acquiring (a 25 percent stake as co-owners) of the (NBA's Milwaukee) Bucks. We have a good working relationship with the Haslams. We have to, being in a community here, with them down the street with the Crew. It has been a great relationship. But we have no intention of selling the franchise. Can you say if the Haslams have inquired? No. We just have a great working relationship. My discussions and meetings with that team and that (ownership) group have been great. They've been collaborative. I'm also a Browns fan, so that's helped me in enjoying some understanding of what their strategies are and helps us, as a team, in different ways. Advertisement How would you describe the current state of the Blue Jackets' franchise and where do you see it going? We have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL. The young players we're drafted have been in the system and building through it. Some of the changes we made to the roster last season was to get veteran players in here to help get them thinking the way we think, in the way we want to represent our organization and make sure they're getting NHL ready. We've got a great core. We're going to continue to build on that over the next couple of seasons. Do you anticipate an active summer? It's going to be interesting to see. We're going to see how we get to the draft timeframe (mid- to late June). We've got seven draft picks. We're going to be able to see what comes to us, in a lot of ways. Two first-round picks this year gives us an opportunity to make some decisions. And that includes the possibility of not selecting players with those picks. Correct. Do you have thoughts on the draft change? This year, for the first time, there won't be a single location where all 32 teams meet to select players. The NHL will have the top 50 players in Los Angeles, but the franchises will set up camp in their own cities and do the drafting from remote. It makes a lot of sense. It's a big production to put together the draft. Having the league there, and having a war room here, I think it will be conducive to us being able to quickly strategize differently than we would on the floor. What are the benefits of this year's set-up? We'll still have the same level of discussion and connectivity (to other NHL GMs) as we go through it, but we can have different, quicker discussions. If you've been to the draft before, you've seen how everybody is moving quietly around the room and people can catch on to what might be happening, and they can counter or make different decisions. This allows us to have better conversations and more quickly. You're right on, there. There are always a couple of GMs — the ones expected to be active each summer — where everybody has like a GPS read on them as they move about the floor. Yep. 'Look, he's going over there now. Why's he talking to them? What does that mean?' This will allow us to stay focused on making the decisions we need to make and react quicker. Any parting comment, something you'd like to put out there? We're very proud of where we're at as an organization. I've been around it. I've been around 25 years of working my way through all of the companies in our family's business. Advertisement We're going to fight every year to try and win the Stanley Cup. That's the best way to say it. We're going to put the best players, the best coaches and the best management in place to make that happen. The fans have been huge. It has not been an easy season, with the way it started off (the Johnny Gaudreau tragedy). But the fans commitment and everything they've done to make us continue to have success (as a franchise), we're going to continue to try and reward that with success on the ice and hopefully bring a Stanley Cup. (Top photo of Blue Jackets fans at Ohio Stadium in March: Jeff Dean / Getty Images)
Associated Press
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Senators, Blue Jackets, Rangers and Bruins lead an East wild-card playoff race full of surprises
The Ottawa Senators last qualified for the playoffs in 2017, while the Columbus Blue Jackets have only won a round once in more than two decades of existence and none since before the pandemic. The New York Rangers were the top team in the NHL last season before making a run to the Eastern Conference final and losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. The Boston Bruins are just two years removed from setting league records for wins and points in a season. Now those four teams are competing for the two wild-card spots in the East, coming from very different directions. It's a surprise the Blue Jackets are in the race at all, the Senators have showed they belong and the Rangers and Bruins have clawed back in it after underachieving for several months. 'Nobody's giving up, that's for sure,' Columbus general manager Don Waddell said. 'It's going to be a tight race the rest of the way. We're just hoping that we can continue to win more games than we lose, and if we do that we'll be in good shape.' Ottawa Senators The pesky Sens won five of their first six games in March to get in the driver's seat for the seventh seed behind likely playoff teams Washington, Florida, Carolina, Toronto, Tampa Bay and New Jersey. They have 73 standings points with 18 games remaining. 'It's not about being in the playoff picture right now,' alternate captain Claude Giroux said. 'It's just how we're playing. How we want to play, we have a belief that it's going to make us be in the playoffs.' First-year coach Travis Green has set a competitive tone since training camp. 'He had us ready from the get-go,' said veteran winger David Perron, who won the Cup with St. Louis in 2019. 'There's going to be some stretches where you don't play as good, whatever it is, either individually or the team. I think he's done a good job to kind of reset us at the right times.' Captain Brady Tkachuk has a team-best 27 goals, center Tim Stützle has 21 points in his past 16 games to lead Ottawa with 66 and only reigning MVP Nathan MacKinnon has scored more than defenseman Jake Sanderson this month. Add some great goaltending from 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark, and the fun times are rolling on the ice in Canada's capital. 'That's what it's all about,' Perron said. 'You play those kind of meaningful games and those important games that we are right now and that we have been for a little bit, it's the best feeling.' Columbus Blue Jackets The death in late August of top forward Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed along with his brother, Matthew, while riding their bicycles near their New Jersey hometown on the eve of their sister Katie's wedding was the latest shock to a tortured organization that was three years removed from goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks dying in a July Fourth fireworks accident. With Waddell taking over and installing Dean Evason as coach, the expectations on the ice this season were very low — and that was before captain Boone Jenner had shoulder surgery before opening night. Columbus was a 15-1 long shot to even make the playoffs and as high as 25-1 in November on BetMGM Sportsbook. Then point-a-game defenseman Zach Werenski led the way and he and his teammates hold the second and final wild-card spot with 70 points and 18 games left. 'We're just leaving it all out there every night, and we're giving ourselves a chance to win,' Werenski said. 'It's been a lot of fun. It's been one of the more fun years I've had, and it's been a battle. We've been battling every night and it's not been smooth sailing all the time, but I've just really enjoyed battling with these guys.' Waddell conceded he 'kept waiting for the bubble to burst,' but then the likes of tough guy Mathieu Olivier, young Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson and veteran Sean Monahan — a close friend of Gaudreau's — stepped up to keep things rolling against all odds. 'It feels like this year we were turning a corner,' Olivier said. 'We're making a really realistic push for playoffs here, which is our goal.' New York Rangers Bringing back elite center J.T. Miller has paid big dividends for the Rangers, who were in a funk until January. Miller has 16 points in 15 games since the trade from Vancouver, and it has also helped that top players such as Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck have raised their level. They've lost four in a row, but the Rangers with 68 points and 17 games remaining are right in the mix, two points back of Columbus. 'We're in a playoff fight right now,' defenseman Will Borgen told reporters in Winnipeg after losing 2-1 to the Jets on Tuesday night. 'We're battling for every point. ... We've got to string along some wins if we want to make the playoffs.' Boston Bruins A little like the Rangers, the Bruins bought and sold — but mostly sold — at the trade deadline, sending Brad Marchand to Florida, Brandon Carlo to Toronto, Justin Brazeau to Minnesota, Trent Frederic to Edmonton and Charlie Coyle to Colorado. It looked as if they were pulling the plug on a lost season, but beating the playoff-bound Lightning and Panthers back-to-back has Boston right in the thick of the hunt with 68 points and 16 games to play. Coach Joe Sacco knows the spot his team is in and what just happened. Goaltender Jeremy Swayman, as a result, believes he and his teammates are 'getting hungrier.' 'We're not giving up on this group,' Swayman said. 'I just couldn't be more proud of the guys, the way that their effort is and the way that we're competing as a team and just being cohesive and we're obviously getting results.' Also in it The Montreal Canadiens pulled even with New York and Boston at 68 points by beating the Canucks on Tuesday night. Going into Wednesday's action, the Detroit Red Wings (66 points with 18 games left) are four points out. While the Canadiens are ahead of schedule in their organizational retooling effort, the Red Wings came up just short a year ago and are in danger of extending the longest playoff drought in franchise history. Five points back on the very fringe of contention are the New York Islanders (65 points with 18 games left), who have lost seven of 11 and traded pending free agent center Brock Nelson to Colorado on the eve of the trade deadline. ___ ___
