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Removing Interim Tag on Richards, Reveals Much More

May 16, 2012, 7:47 AM ET [12 Comments]
Eric Smith
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The Blue Jackets have named their coach and as expected, by me and many others, the organization stuck with Todd Richards. The reasons have merit as the team did play much better with a rotating roster due to injuries or trades as well as the cloud of the Rick Nash situation and also playing meaningless games night after night. No it doesn't have the sizzle of an outside candidate but not many can fault the team for sticking with Richards.

What this decision does mean is many other things though. It definitely means that Scott Howson will remain the General Manager of the organization for the foreseeable future. The ownership group led by John P. McConnell have also decided to stay the course with Howson and thus let him shape the on ice aspect of the team this summer which could have lasting impact for years to come.

What is also clear is the organization likes the team of Howson and Craig Patrick and how they together create a balanced duo. Howson is the analytical and Patrick judges things that you can't put down on a spreadsheet.

This all means that this is the crew that will handle to the finality of the Nash situation. They will decide what is the best deal for the organization using one of the only golden chips that they have. It will be a transaction that will have lasting effects that will far out live the Richards two year contract and for at least the next five years for the Jackets.

What is also clear, if it wasn't already, is that the organization is moving on with the idea that Rick Nash is not going to be with the team. As reported in the Dispatch, R.J. Umberger stated that Richards had created a “network of sorts by which the team’s leadership group — Umberger, Prospal and defensemen James Wisniewski and Jack Johnson — will stay in touch all offseason.” No mention of Nash being part of that group is not an accident.

Howson and Patrick will also oversee the acquisition of a netminder that will have to be the back bone of this team if it has any hopes of being a playoff caliber team. It is evident with the teams remaining in the playoffs of why they are there. Jonathan Quick for the Kings, Mike Smith for the Coyotes, Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers and the future hall of famer Martin Brodeur of the Devils are the reason why their teams are where they are at. This situation, in my opinion, is even more important to address than even the Rick Nash trade. It might be addressed with a Nash trade but no doubt that it must be the one position on the team that gets the most attention this off season. Going into another year with Steve Mason between the pipes will derail any momentum that the organization is trying to carry into the season.

Also the same management team will be in charge of a draft that will be critical in restocking the talent pool of the team and possibly even drafting with the second overall selection a NHL ready player. They will decide whether to use the L.A. Kings selection in the first round which increasing looks to be one of the last picks of the first round.

Let's don't forget that management will need to install a new coach at their AHL affiliate in Springfield as they didn't re-sign Rob Riley. It may not get the headlines but it will be another critical hire as the organization hopes to do a better job of cultivating home grown talent into NHL caliber players.

For the fans that protested and had petitions signed and delivered to the team, you have gotten your answer to your demands. Though the passion was there, the numbers were not to the movement. The Blue Jackets recognized it but has for the most part ignored it.

All of this revealed from just removing the interim tag from Todd Richards title. By the time the fireworks fly on the 4th of July, much more will be revealed and a far clearer picture of what the Blue Jackets will look like will show itself. So now fans wait with fingers crossed, a book of matches, some sparklers (there still legal right?) and hope that a magical off season happens.
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