Metro Notes: Blue Jackets Hockey Operations, Laine, Gudbranson, Rust

It’s not a controversial statement to say that the Columbus Blue Jackets have not had the season they were hoping to have. Despite aggressive offseason moves adding key young talents and older veterans, the team is currently among the NHL’s worst, undone by underperformance from crucial stars as well as sudden turnover at leadership positions. With the team looking less and less likely to be a true playoff contender, The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline sought out comment from Blue Jackets ownership regarding the direction of the franchise. (subscription link)

Team president of business operations Mike Priest, who Portzline calls a “close confidant” of owner John P. McConnell said the following regarding the state of the team: “nobody wants to be where we are with our record. That’s not what we expected.” He also added: “I can say we’re all very frustrated, we’re disappointed.” Many have speculated as to whether the Blue Jackets would consider moving on from general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen. Although Kekäläinen oversaw the most successful period in franchise history under John Tortorella, one wonders if he’ll get the chance to lead the Blue Jackets into the future given the rapid disintegration of his plans to return to the playoffs in 2023-24.

Some other notes from the Metropolitan Division:

• In a less big-picture update from Columbus, team reporter Jeff Svoboda confirmed that star forward Patrik Laine as well as defenseman Erik Gudbranson would both be returning to the team’s lineup after battling illness. Both Gudbranson and Laine had not played in a week. Although Laine has struggled this season he is their most talented goal-scorer, while Gudbranson offers a level of physicality and leadership from the team’s back-end that few other defensemen on their roster can match.
• The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Seth Rorabaugh relays word from Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan who states that forward Bryan Rust is still being evaluated with an upper-body injury. Rust exited the third period of the Penguins’ December 6th loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and has not played since. He’s scored 20 points in 22 games, so any extended absence would be a significant loss for the reeling Penguins. As we covered earlier today, the team signed Jesse Puljujärvi to a tryout agreement provide some additional cover from injuries to its forward corps.