Written by Adam Burke

---

Just like in other sports, the All-Star Break is a chance to evaluate a team’s performance and begin to load up for a playoff run. Unlike basketball and baseball, with the parity of the National Hockey League, only a small handful of teams are buried to the point where it would take a monumental turnaround to get to the second season.

But, in the NHL, even the second-worst team in the Western Conference has a chance at a postseason berth. The picture is far grimmer for Eastern Conference teams, but as the league enters the mid-season break, the Blue Jackets are the second-worst team in the conference, but are just five points out of the final playoff spot. The Blue Jackets’ 23 wins rank as the third-lowest total in the Western Conference. If they were an Eastern Conference squad, they would have more victories than five teams. Their 51 points would tie them for tenth place.

What will it take to turn the season around? Consistency is the chief objective of the second half. The team began the season 14-6 over their first 20 games. Since then, they have gone 9-15-5, including two five-game losing streaks and a four-game skid. The way to get a firm grasp on the season is to avoid prolonged futility. Answer two-game losing streaks with three-game winning streaks, or at worst, minimize the damage by getting “charity points” for overtime losses.

Realistically, the team should expect to get better over the next 33 games. They endured a coaching change, a change of the entire coaching staff, and, subsequently, a philosophical change. The transitional period is over now. The team has been able to keep their heads above water while playing within a new system and listening to a new voice. Now they will be able to concentrate simply on hockey.

The trade deadline is February 28. The deadline is earlier than usual this year, allowing for more activity and more excitement for the fans. The objective here is to be a relevant party on trade deadline day. The trade deadline can serve as a morale booster or a season-ender. Teams that are buyers get a rejuvenated locker room. Teams that are sellers mostly know that it is over. Teams that do not really do much wheeling and dealing may get a short-term boost from getting the message that the front office believes in them, but if the wins are not mounting fast enough, the message becomes mute.

For now, though, the Blue Jackets need to concentrate on the task at hand. By no means are they out of the hunt. With a game or two in hand on most of the teams ahead of them, they can close the gap quickly by winning those games.

Some interesting Blue Jackets notes entering the break:

Both Steve Mason and Mathieu Garon enter the All-Star Break with the same save percentage at .900. Garon is almost .6 goals against better than Mason, however.

Since returning from a high ankle sprain, Kristian Huselius is a -12 in 20 games. His contract makes him pretty immovable in a trade, but he is clearly hampering the team.

In the team’s 23 wins, Rick Nash has 17 goals. In the 25 losses in which he has played, he has six goals. This team clearly goes as he goes. He had as many goals in December and January combined as he had in November. Ending November, the team was 14-8. Since then, they are 9-13-5.

Derek Dorsett averages 13:26 of ice time per game, yet he is second-worst on the team in plus/minus at -13. His physical game is an asset, but he is a liability. The team clearly misses a player like Ethan Moreau who has missed more than half of the season with assorted injuries.

Other news from around the hockey world:

The NHL All-Star Game will be played in Carolina on Sunday night. This year’s game features a draft by the two captains, Eric Staal of Carolina and Nicklas Lidstrom of Detroit.

Jason Bailey, a player in the Ottawa organization, is suing the Anaheim Ducks organization for anti-Semitic remarks directed toward him by coaches when he was playing for the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors, a minor league affiliate of the Ducks.

Evgeni Nabokov and the Detroit Red Wings agreed on a contract late last week to get him as insurance for Jimmy Howard while Chris Osgood was injured. According to the NHL CBA, players coming from overseas need to clear waivers prior to being signed. Nabokov, who was playing in the KHL, was claimed on waivers by the New York Islanders. When he declined to report to the team, the Islanders suspended him. This likely means “Nabby” will not be joining the Red Wings at any point this season.

Unfortunately for readers of this weekly column, the New Jersey Devils are playing much better of late and are now averaging over two goals-per-game. It looks like the ’53-’54 Blackhawks record is safe.

In this week’s awesome Youtube clip, referee Chris Rooney is going through puberty. At age 35.

A minor league update on the Lake Erie Monsters:

Shin-Soo Choo and a couple other Indians players will be signing autographs at Saturday night’s game.

In terms of the team on the ice, after a rough weekend, the team broke their mini-skid with a 4-2 win over Toronto on Wednesday night. Colorado is getting healthier so the Monsters have gotten a little bit of help back. They may get more help for the weekend if Colorado sends down some players to keep them playing over the All-Star break, similar to what the Blue Jackets did with Matt Calvert.

The AHL All-Star game will also be held this weekend. Ryan Stoa is the Monsters’ representative, but he was recalled to Colorado last week. Mark Olver will take his place in the festivities.

No column next week as I will be on vacation. I hope I will be missed.

Upcoming schedules:

Columbus: 2/1 v. CHI

Lake Erie: 1/29 v. Hamilton