Here’s a hint, he earns 4.5 million a year and pretends to play defense.

That’s right, Ron Hainsey

Why is it important to look at Columbus? Admittedly, most Thrashers fans don’t care much about the Blue Jackets. But, in my opinion, it’s noteworthy to remark their progress because it’s a team who found themselves in a similar situation to that of Thrashers two years ago, but they opted to make a change at the GM position. Whereas, FUBAS did not. Irrespective of the outcome of this year’s playoffs for Columbus, I fully expect the Blue Jackets to avoid the lottery draft in the years 2010 and 2011. Rather, on the contrary, I expect them to challenge for a playoff spot again next season.

Two years later, Atlanta finds themselves in the lottery draft for a second-straight season. And unless they win their season finale, “moving in the right direction” means farther back in their point totals from the previous year. When the Blue Jackets made the change at the GM position, they were only 1-point fewer than their previous season. But their ownership had seen enough. Two years later, in 2009, they were a playoff team.

Now, I’ll be the first to say that, to my knowledge, the Columbus ownership is not attempting to sue each other in open court over buying out a partner, or even potential control of the team. So, it’s not entirely similar. But once Columbus made the decision to look for a new GM, they didn’t have the luxury of being able to romance an upper echelon GM into the fold. Scotty Bowman simply wasn’t coming.

So, what did Columbus do? (A) They got drunk on Tequila. And, on a dare, ate the worm. (B) They felt sorry for themselves, and on some sad, pathetic level, felt they DESERVED to fail, began a rigorous campaign of self-mutilation and/or gorging themselves on Haagen Daz ice cream. Or (C) they systematically scoured the league’s Assistant GM’s, seeking the best candidate of the bunch, ultimately arriving upon the selection of Scott Howson, previously with the Edmonton Oilers.

Watch, a few people will get this one wrong. Yeah, the correct answer is “they ate the worm.”

Way to bail on team paying you a bloated salary you in no way deserve with phantom (read as fabricated) injuries. Set to jump at chance to play for Finland. Guess hangnail will not keep you off that squad. You are a real piece of work! I do not know who Finland plays but I hope they get the Hell kicked out of them EVERY damn game! Do everyone a favor. PLease, PLEASE stay the Hell in Finland!

74-points: Russ, tied to 3rd in the division and 15th in the Conference. ThrasherNY has 74-points, tied to 5th in the division and 15th in the Conference.

75-points: 12345, tied to 4th in the division and 15th in the Conference. Brickhouse, tied to 5th in the division and 14th in the Conference.

76-points: Don, tied to 4th in the division and 15th in the Conference. Glovesave29, tied 5th in the division and 14th in the Conference.

The following bloggers were eliminated with tonight’s regulation time loss:

77-points: Sharon and Smoothie.

78-points: PJ, Brendan, and Polskidawg.

Thanks for playing!

In my opinion neither team had/has a chance of making a serious impact in the playoffs. My measure of success, as applied to Columbus right now, will be improvement again next year. Many teams make the playoffs, and Columbus should be proud for finally making it this season, but they need to continue their upward trend and maybe steal a series this year, or next…but continue to improve.

In my opinion, the failure to stay consistent and possibly improve is the mark of failure in the NHL. Making the playoffs and winning one game is not necessarily success, but making the playoffs, winning a few games, maybe even a series, and then doing it again the next year…that’s the mark of success, to me.