Rough Times in Ohio

The Seattle Seahawks lost again today, and well before this loss, it was obvious that the Seahawks managment screwed up by signing Travaris Jackson in the offseason.  Of course, this was obvious to everyone except the people making the roster decisions.  So, what does this have to do with hockey, you ask?  Well, there's a team that is in a similar predicament in the Columbus Blue Jackets, who can't buy a win to save their lives.  Before you say anything, I'm not talking about Jeff Carter or James Wisniewski, as neither have really been on the ice long enough to make a difference yet.  No, I'm talking about the decision to make Steve Mason the starting goaltender (even though it was obvious that he wasn't the answer in goal) and not have a veteran back him up.  Mason, as you will remember, won the Calder Trophy in 2009.  The next two seasons, he had some really wretched years in which the backup Mathieu Garon outplayed him.  Garon is in Tampa, backing up Dwayne Roloson while management decided to keep Mason as a starter, despite bad numbers.  The back ups this year?  Curtis Sanford and Mark Dekanich.  Neither have had recent NHL experience as anything other than a back up, and only Sanford has had extensive NHL experience, but not very many games since backing up Roberto Luongo in 2009.  The 9-2 whipping at the hands of the Flyers last night is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the Blue Jackets' problems in goal, and yes, not all of the blame for the Blue Jackets' struggles in their existence can be place on the goaltender, as the blue line hasn't been much better and there hasn't been a true first line center on the team (we're waiting on Carter and Ryan Johansen to develop this year, so don't send complaint letters).  However, bad goaltending is bad goaltending, and clearly, Mason has not proven to be the answer in goal for Columbus the last two plus seasons.  Coaching may take the fall soon, but there is no doubt that the General Manager and starting goaltender could be out the door by the end of the season, as well.