New York Islanders Metro Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets Swing and Miss

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UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – MARCH 11: Casey Cizikas #53 of the New York Islanders and Josh Anderson #77 of the Columbus Blue Jackets exchange pushes during the second period at the NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on March 11, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The Columbus Blue Jackets went all in at the trade deadline and it simply didn’t pay off. Now with neither the traded-for players and the draft/prospect capital, can the Jackets really compete with the New York Islanders for a playoff spot?

No. Nope. Nah. There are many ways to say it but they all lead to the same place. Jarmo Kekäläinen gets credit for putting his money (and trade assets) where his mouth was, but they are now bereft of NHL talent to overtake the New York Islanders‘ bid for a consecutive playoff birth.

After the excitement of the trade deadline moves wore off, the Blue Jackets limped into the playoffs as the eighth seed with the reward of facing the 62-win Tampa Bay Lightning.

In the time from the trades to the end of the regular season, the Jackets went 12-8-1, earning 25 of a possible 42 points. In the same period, without any move made, the Isles earned 24 of a possible 42 points.

I’ll take the Isles outcome, especially since they haven’t decimated their prospect pool.

You can’t downplay the fact that CBJ swept the best team in the league in the first round. For that alone, some could (and have) argued that the risk was worth the reward. Not surprisingly, I disagree.

Mortgaging your future for the ability to limp into the playoffs and get a second-round exit hardly feels worth it.

But again, for as much hate as I’m giving Kekäläinen, you have to hand it to him for giving it a go. It just seemed a little overly ambitious. If they had been fighting for a top seed then you go for it. To barely get into the playoffs seems misguided.

So where does that leave the Blue Jackets coming into this season?

See our other Metropolitan Division previews:

New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils