This isn't how the season was supposed to play out in Columbus.
Hope abounded for the Blue Jackets in training camp, but things went south early, putting the team in a hole they wouldn't overcome, even after a coaching change.
Columbus, however, has posted a 23-21-6 record under John Tortorella, including a 6-1-1 run over the past eight games.
Having already added Seth Jones to the blue line at the cost of center Ryan Johansen, and with a high lottery pick on the way come June, president John Davidson maintains his club remains in the building phase, with no plans of a tear down on the horizon.
"We’re in the midst of a build, 3 1/2 years into it," Davidson said, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Post-Dispatch. "Three years into the build, some things have gone well and some things haven’t. But, no, we’re not looking to tear this thing down."
As such, don't even mention the concept of tanking.
"Are you kidding? We have some pieces in place. These guys are going to play every game to win. That’s just in their DNA and the coaches' DNA to win every game they play.
"We’ve gone through a lot this year, but there’s no change in the plan. We’ve done good things; we’ve made some mistakes. But you live with that and continue with your plan. We’ve not giving up our future. No chance, unless it just makes a ton of sense. We’re going to continue to draft and develop and go through the process."
Heading into Tuesday against Boston, the Blue Jackets sit 28th in the NHL, with 52 points through 57 games.
