3 moves Blue Jackets must make in 2024 NHL offseason

Once again, the Columbus Blue Jackets find themselves back at the drawing board following yet another season where they fell short of qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This marks their 17th time in 23 seasons without having earned the right to play beyond the 82nd game of the regular season.

The franchise has essentially just “been there” for most of its existence, and despite several moves in the past by management, they’ve proven unable to get over the hump of even moderate success. What are some necessities that they must undergo this offseason before they reconvene for their 24th season in the fall?

The Blue Jackets must hire a new, proven head coach

Throughout their history, the Blue Jackets have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs six times. On each occasion, except for 2013-14, they were led by a proven NHL head coach. In their inaugural postseason appearance, in 2009, they were guided by the 1999 Stanley Cup-winning coach Ken Hitchcock.

Subsequent playoff appearances in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 saw the fiery yet accomplished head coach John Tortorella at the helm. Tortorella, a Stanley Cup-winning coach in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, orchestrated the Jackets’ remarkable Round 1 upset sweep over his former team, the Lightning, who had tied the NHL record with 62 victories during the regular season.

Following Tortorella’s departure, the Blue Jackets promoted assistant coach Brad Larsen, but they failed to replicate their previous success. In an attempt to elevate the team, former general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and President of Hockey Operations John Davidson sought an experienced NHL coach.

Their choice, Mike Babcock, once lauded as one of the league’s best coaches during his tenure with the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, faced serious allegations of mental and verbal abuse from former players. Matters worsened when reports emerged just before the 2023 Training Camp that Babcock had breached the privacy of Blue Jackets players by demanding access to their personal phones.

Although team captain Boone Jenner downplayed the reports, Babcock resigned before coaching a single game with the team. Assistant coach Pascal Vincent assumed the role. Despite this upheaval, the Blue Jackets endured another disappointing season, finishing 8th in the Metropolitan Division. Meanwhile, Kekalainen would be terminated in the middle of the season.

It’s now imperative for the Blue Jackets to secure a proven head coach without the controversy surrounding Babcock’s tenure, ensuring stability and focus on the team’s performance. The likes of Craig Berube, Sheldon Keefe, former Blue Jackets coach Gerard Gallant, Todd McLellan, and Jay Woodcroft are all currently up for grabs.

The Blue Jackets must trade Elvis Merzļikins

Once seen as the goaltender of the future for the Blue Jackets, Elvis Merzļikins hasn’t been able to put together consistent performances in net, and also has never been the same following the tragic death of fellow Latvian and good friend Matīss Kivlenieks in a fireworks-related accident in July of 2021.

He admitted that the loud cannon that fires after every Blue Jackets goal at Nationwide Arena gives him disturbing flashbacks to the accident, and also recently stated that he believes that he’s more than just a backup goaltender after appearing in only 30 and 41 games respectively the previous two seasons. He also admitted publicly that he requested a trade from management, per Craig Merz of NHL.com.

“After my last interview, everybody knows I requested for (a) trade,” he said. “Everyone was still here, playing for me and blocking the shots for me. This was awesome. I really appreciate [my teammates]. It wasn’t an easy game for me, and they made me feel easier. They let me feel that puck better and easier and I appreciate for that help.”

A change of scenery would not only benefit Merzļikins and give him a fresh start elsewhere but could also benefit Columbus. Daniil Tarasov took a major step forward in his development this season.

The Blue Jackets must deal the underperforming Johnny Gaudreau for a major haul