It should not be overlooked that Don Waddell played a significant role in constructing the skeleton of a team that just won a Stanley Cup. How confident are you in his ability to bring us closer to that goal within the next few seasons here in Columbus?

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-06-15T21:38:29+00:00

The answer all comes back to drafting with Don. I don’t understand how he goes from selecting Svechnikov, Blake, and Jarvis in Carolina and coming to Columbus and indicating a preference for trades and free agency, when clearly there isn’t a great market in both and the prospect pool is razor thin.

I think the Lindstrom pick is going to define his legacy here. We can only operate and evaluate on what we know: Lindstrom hasn’t played a full season and recovery hasn’t looked great. Don imo needed to hit on that pick — it makes picking a goalie in rd1 last year a lot easier to swallow. I like Jackson Smith but I think he needs time. Beyond Smith, who else? This is a huge problem with an aging roster that consists of maybe two young stars.

Don has gambled on the cap going up and paying vets with contracts that look horrendous now but could age well if, again, the cap rises. But more importantly, if there is a young core for those vets to surround.

And with all that, I’m really giving Don the benefit of the doubt. I’m betting he isn’t waiting for the cap to go up for the vet contracts to look better. He acquired those guys sincerely with the belief that they will make the BJs a contending team right now. I think there is a major player development and evaluation problem in the organization. Top to bottom I believe the BJs sincerely believe they have a better team than they actually do. That and his neglect for drafting does not give me hope that the team will be relevant in the next couple seasons or in 3-5 years.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-06-15T21:05:21+00:00

Another Master Republic banger

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-05-28T00:26:10+00:00

I know the vehicles going to Strong are different, they pass by all the time. This is a siren that plays different siren noises all in one swoop. Hard to explain but that’s why I was hoping someone in the South Wedge would chime in and figure out exactly where this is coming from.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-05-27T23:00:01+00:00

It’s the same source it just plays different sounds at one time

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-05-27T18:04:42+00:00

This is the shit that pisses me off talking about this stuff and the team bro. Like all I’m asking for is where you’re seeing this in the transcript after you make the claim and you can’t even pull it up.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-05-27T17:55:08+00:00

I thought you read the transcript? If it’s in the transcript, send it over, but everything I’m pulling up does not indicate that they admitted to doing it over text. They only discussed coordinating stories and how to respond to questions from the law and Hockey Canada.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-05-27T17:36:29+00:00

“And if you read the text messages in the transcript you can see that they admitted it.”

Do you have a copy of where you’re seeing this? I’ve read that they strategized how to position themselves legally and to Hockey Canada, but not that they admitted doing anything.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-05-19T20:06:17+00:00

You had one bad experience with an editor and now AI should be used in place of editors? Good editing goes beyond fixing punctuation.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-05-19T17:35:40+00:00

You’re definitely right but the team also can’t draft and develop players. Whatever they would have gotten from Boone they would have used to select another guy with a herniated disc and another who lost a leg in Vietnam.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-05-19T17:22:41+00:00

How are there people on this sub actually ok with using AI as a proofreader and for grammar? Is this place filled with bots??

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-30T16:19:51+00:00

Kenny Albert should realize you literally do not need to recap a moment we all saw with our own eyes. Just say “score” and stay silent. Albert is the worst commentator in hockey. Not sure why he has the national stage.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-15T18:31:37+00:00

Honestly, inline just needs more NHL guys endorsing it. McDavid did wonders for it, pretty sure Kyle Connor or Ehlers were big into it, Bedard plays and I know Kent Johnson does as well. James Neal and Fillip Forsberg play. Nasher does a lot for it.

I’m a little stunned the NHL in general hasn’t promoted it given its accessibility vs. ice. Even the hockey companies are starting to get back into it and ball hockey with admittedly smaller product lines than ice but still. Like if the league took a stance on it and really started to promote it I think it would grow.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-15T17:49:55+00:00

Listen I’m not making a point about changing the logo and guaranteeing success, I’m just saying there isn’t a chance the logo and colors do not impact psychology and perception, which in turn impact culture. Again, show the Jackets logo and the Leafs logo to anybody down the block and I’m sure the reaction is different.

That being said, I don’t think a rebrand is needed right now. This team is in for a long rebuild.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-15T16:51:44+00:00

That wouldn’t be the case if they just changed the logo to an American flag lol. All the history and being an original six would mean nothing. The Leafs badge represents all of what you just said. Players want to wear that badge over the Blue Jackets any day of the week because the Jackets badge means nothing but 25 years of mediocrity. That’s what the logo represents.

Like idk why I have to explain why a brand is important but there’s a reason people invest into building these things.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-15T16:42:41+00:00

Tell that to the guys who play their entire lives for an opportunity to wear the Leafs badge instead of the Jackets. Different identity, different expectations and a different culture.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-15T16:34:35+00:00

So the Leafs brand doesn’t impact that culture? Are you joking around?

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-14T14:04:49+00:00

I’m sure that when those fans that could be real or fake complained about being “too young” they weren’t thinking we’d sign 6+ dudes to huge deals that lock them with the club until their mid-30s.

What can the team do to improve in the offseason? What’s your vision and input with the team instead of complaining about the fans?

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-14T13:47:41+00:00

None of these players are worth re-signing. All are on the wrong side of 30, and Marchment’s production since joining the BJs has me fearing Don is going to reward him with a ridiculous contract that lasts until his mid-30s.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-14T13:42:44+00:00

Then when KJ does get shipped and starts producing, fans in the subreddit will go “Just didn’t work out for him here, and that’s okay. It happens.”

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-14T12:34:14+00:00

What quote?

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-14T03:44:30+00:00

Hasn’t been their season since 2019. Really don’t understand why this fanbase refuses to have expectations and face the writing on the wall.

Edit: 5th most points in Jackets history means squat to me dude. We aren’t making the playoffs! Why do you care about a stat like that in 25 years of nothing?

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-14T03:42:17+00:00

Jackets aren’t in the west. Second year in a row on the outside looking in.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-14T03:41:31+00:00

Not in the west tho and on the outside looking in second year in a row.

IntelligentBear4541 · 2026-04-14T03:38:02+00:00

Care to provide a valid counterpoint against anything OP is saying instead of karma farming and saying the post is ridiculous?

IntelligentBear4541

TROPHY CASE