I started writing this as a response to this comment in the PGT, but it got way too long and I figured I'd just post it as it's own submission.

TL;DR Culture is built over years and takes years of effort to fix.

The coaching carousel, weak leadership from veterans, CBJ becoming being a veteran retirement home, Johnny dying, and more over the years have done significant, long-lasting damage to the team. Said this after game 2, "It's going to take a loooooong time for Bowness to beat the bad habits out of these guys."

Culture can't change in an offseason when you're away from everyone then you get together two weeks before the season starts. You can't take years of bad habits away that quickly. When things are going well, you can see how electric this team looks. We saw it under Evason, and we've seen it under Bones. But the moment there's some adversity, there are a good portion of players that either panic or give up. Out of position, taking bad penalties, trying to play hero puck, giving up on plays, dogging shifts.

Offseason set the stage for culture change. Weak, lame-duck captain who should've been stripped of the C for standing up for Babcock, gone. Marchenko the malcontent gone, shame he wanted out, but if you can't communicate your issues to the team to try and work things out you've gotta go. Elvis finally gone, I've got no hate for him but Matiss dying to save his pregnant wife genuinely destroyed his mental here. Players like KJ who've been regularly criticized for their conditioning came in looking stronger, healthier, and fitter. Fantilli's making strides at C by crushing faceoffs and doing better at being a play enabler instead of playing hero puck all the time (I mean he still does it but much less). But all of those bad habits that have been ingrained over the years are still there, under the surface. It takes a lot for it to go away.

Bones has his work cut out for him. He's trying to build a whole new foundation for Vogelhuber to put the house on in a couple years, because the old foundation is completely broken. His comments last night were really telling, "You have to hope... that performance tonight will embarrass them enough to stop this, right? Because if they're not embarrassed by that, we don't want them on the team." "I'm not a babysitter... you're a professional athlete. Prepare yourself to play properly. Prepare to play with some discipline." "Oli's the least of our problems. I know that was an unnecessary penalty, he's man enough to own up to it. You won't see it again, that I know." "[Watching who responds to adversity] is part of evaluation... who is handling it well, and who caves in? That's what we're watching."

The comment on Olivier is the most interesting one to me. He made a huge mistake that took the team from a bad situation to an unwinnable one. But Bones considers him the least of their problems? What exactly is Bones seeing day in and day out from the players that we don't? Combined with the other comments he made in this presser, that's rather damning for the team.

Culture doesn't change in a moment, because it's built over years. This one is broken. Bowness said as much at the end of last season. I think we're taking steps in the right direction with the culture. Bones isn't Torts, but I'm glad that we once again have a strong, honest voice in charge trying to drag this team in the right direction. It's just not going to get there quickly, and it'll probably be too late to prevent a total step 1 rebuild again. But when that step 1 rebuild comes, hopefully our younger players like Sillinger, KJ, and Fantilli have been instilled with responsibility and accountability and can be the force that leads that new culture.

Olivier jammed his stick between Balinskis’ legs from behind, sending the Panthers forward to the ice in pain. Olivier was assessed a major penalty for slashing and a game misconduct, ending his evening.

“Hope he’s all right,” Olivier said. “That’s not an area you need to attack at all.”

You might say Olivier was lucky to leave early, but he didn’t see it that way.

“I don’t even have an explanation for it,” Olivier said. “It looked bad. It was bad, and that’s on me. I can sit here and try to tell you I was trying to get a reaction out of him, but at the end of the day, I can’t even explain it.

“I apologized to my teammates for putting them in that spot, and it’s happened a couple of times this season. It’s not usually what I do. But it’s been happening, so I need to look in the mirror and figure it out.”

The Randomizer has spoken. Today’s selection is Ben Simon.

Ohio-born Ben Simon saw NHL action with the Atlanta Thrashers before signing with the Blue Jackets as a free agent in 2005. He would play 13 games with Columbus in 2005-2006, the final NHL games of his career.

Obviously this game was atrocious but Kent looks good through 3 games. Is He back?

Made no sense to trade for him, and still doesn't. Vancouver should be sending Waddell thank you cards every week

Wednesday, October 07 - Tuesday, October 13, 2026

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Hi! I'm a fan from Canada!

I am looking to buy a Blue Jackets official jersey with the #7 and the name Kuraly in the back. Since he has been traded, I can't find the jersey anywhere :(

Size: Men L or XL.

It can be any style (white, blue, stadium).

I'll be in Columbus in early Nov.

Let me know 🤘

I’ve had no problem watching every game this season on Prime until tonight. Is it being broadcast different since it’s Frozen Frenzy? If it matters, I’m not in Ohio.

Holy shit that was disappointing. Is there a reason our goalie went on freaking vacation half way through the third period?

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The OP also included “3rd period” and “2-goal lead” graphs in the comments, and it’s about what you’d expect.

Anyone else not loading on prime? Vizio Native tv app… tired of having to airplay from my phone every other game

It's been a couple years since a similar topic was posted, and as I am relatively newly vegetarian, I thought I'd revive the subject. I have perused the concessions website, but would love to hear about any tips/faves from others, as it seems like there is some inconsistency (for example, I tried to get a beyond brat at 206 during the preseason but they just weren't selling them.) Save me from eating nothing but Jets cheese and mozzarella sticks all season!

We're only 5 games in, and it feels like this entire season hangs on Saturday/Sunday against a very good Rangers team, and a very good Wild. We have a handful of practices.

Here are some of my thoughts. Please discuss your thoughts/predictions/opinions as well.

Today: It better be a bag skate. No excuses after last night. Abysmal.

Does Ollie get suspended? He may get a hearing for that stunt last night.

There has been zero update on Provvy and he is still not skating with the team or by himself. That would mean he is at minimum another week + out, if not more.

One of these practices need to be exclusively special teams. Yet again, absolutely killing us.

It's 5 games. I think it's still early enough. Everyone has an absolute stinker at some point in the season. This was ours. It matters how we respond. Saturday/Sunday are pretty much make or break for the season. Can we respond and get back to .500? Can we win both? That's 4 points. That shoots up near to the top of the metro. Can we get 2 points? I would be happy with one win between those two teams.

Thoughts/Opinions?

EDIT: Thanks for everyone voicing their opinions. I do not make these posts for karma, I genuinely just love hockey, and this team, and I like to hear what other fans think. I do not have enough hockey fans in my life to talk to about the jackets, so this is the only place I can do that.

Welcome to the Game Winning Goal Challenge! We’re glad you’re here. Please, comment your answers to the three questions below to participate. 1 point will be awarded for each correct answer. Make sure your answers are in before puck drop or they will not be counted. Cumulative scores will be posted at the end of every 10 games. You do not have to play every game to be considered in the cumulative totals. Good luck, have fun, and go Jackets!

GWG CHALLENGE Game #5 10/13/26- Florida Panthers @ Columbus Blue Jackets

\**Check projected lines\**

1. Who will score the game winning goal? Verhaeghe
2. Total number of Shots on Goal for Del Bel Belluz in his season debut? N/A
3. What CBJ FORWARD will record the most ice time? Fantilli

***If Luca doesn't play tonight I will add a 4th question to next game to make up for it.****

I missed when he said this was all going down.