On the 0-6-0 Columbus Blue Jackets …
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Many thought the Blue Jackets would have made a trade or replaced their coach on Sunday. The team and coach remain intact heading into their game tonight.
“It’s not like I was off on Sunday,” general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said.
Kekalainen met with their hockey operations staff to figure out why they are in this position. Kekalainen spoke with many teams in attempt to find a defenseman or two who could bring some stability to their blueline.
“There’s nothing available that fits out plans, or the price is so steep that … you can’t do that,” Kekalainen said. “Misery loves company, right? So you talk to teams that are in a similar situation and try to work something out, but it’s not easy.”
The asking price is steep at the moment, and may come down closer to the trade deadline. “A player and two prospects? Two prospects and a player? Two first-round draft picks and a prospect?”
Teams are asking for Zach Werenski.
- Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen.
“If there was a change to be made on any level that we felt was the right change and was definitely going to make our team better, we would have done it,” Kekalainen said. “But we believe in this group, and we’re not going to just blow it up because we’re going through a tough stretch.”
Kekalainen said that he’s tried to make a trade, but hasn’t come close. When asked if the Blue Jackets need a new voice behind the bench.
“The only answer I can give you is, we’re going to approach every question we might hear about — whether it’s from meals to equipment to practice to systems to players to personnel — we’re looking at everything,” Kekalainen said.
“When I address things, it starts with myself. I look in the mirror and say, ‘What can I do better.’ And that’s what I expect from everybody else, whether it’s a coach or a player or anybody else. Let’s get doing what we’re doing on the level we should be doing it on, and we should be fine.”
- Larry Brooks: Have been told that the Blue Jackets are looking at John Tortorella and Guy Boucher if the decide to replace head coach Todd Richards.