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Chris Russell | DISPATCH

The waiting game continues for the captain.

Dispatch Blue Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline answered readers' questions during an hourlong chat today. Here's the transcript:

 11:57:10 Rob_(moderator): Hi, Porty. What's news?

11:58:43 Portzline: The Blue Jackets arrived last night. In Game 60. Nothing's changed, though. Trades on the horizon. Where's this going? We shall see. (Is this a Haiku?)

11:59:02 Rob_(moderator): Ask Oller. Let's roll ...

11:59:05 jackets4life: Does the fact the team is playing better lately give Howson any pause to try again next year (with better goaltending) before he blows it all up?

12:01:25 Portzline: Spoke to him this morning, and I didn't get that sense. To the contrary, actually. To be clear -- no guarantees that he's going to blow it all up, as there are no guarantees he's going to be able to make the deals he wants, or the deals that he perceives to be fair. It could certainly turn out that way, though. If Nash and Carter are gone, you could say the roster's been eviscerated, I suppose. But to answer your question -- what happened last night has not changed Howson's intentions heading into the trade deadline, no.

12:01:43 FormerLeafsFan: The most frustrating thing to me is the Jackets have talent (see: yesterday), but they seem to lack energy and desire more often than not.  Outside of the players being professional and bringing their A-game every night, whose responsibility is it to get the most out of the players?  The Coach?  The Assistants?  The Captain?  The GM?  Leo?

12:05:06 Portzline: Had a similar thought last night, one that was shared by Mssrs Arace and Michell: "What if they hired a tyrant coach?" Randy Carlyle is out there. Michel Therrien is, too. What if they hired a strong personality who could put the fear of God into even the high-end players and had the full backing of management, such that players knew there was no option but to play their behinds off to please the coach. Arniel was very much a "players" coach, and so is Richards. In saying that, it doesn't mean they can't be tough on the players, because quite obviously they can. Just not sure if management here has a stomach for the likes of a John Tortorella. But it makes you wonder what kind of difference it would make. Last night, for many, must have been frustrating.

12:05:28 Boomer's Revenge: Great coverage by you, Shawn and Mike. Have you heard any rumblings about who is on the wish list for the head coaching position? Would Mike Keenan be interested and/or available?

12:07:45 Portzline: Right. Should have mentioned Mike Keenan as a "tyrant" coach in previous answer. Thanks for the kind words, oh, deflated mascot. Right now, I think the coaching position is the furthest thiing from the Blue Jackets' mind. Also, I think the way Richards has carried himself and coached the team has really impressed the Blue Jackets. I think he's really helped his chances over the last six weeks, but we'll see. Howson said last week that Richards coaching well enough to eliminate the need for a coaching search is a "possibility."

12:08:01 jktfn: What's the difference between a no-movement clause and a no-trade clause?

12:09:19 Portzline: No movement means you cannot be put on waiver, demoted to the minors, etc. You cannot me taken off the rosters by any means. A no-trade is less restrictive. It means only that you can't be traded. Some no-trades are "limited", too, which means a player gives the club a list of teams he will or won't approve as a destination in a trade.

12:09:30 I Love Portzline: Aaron, maybe you answered this last week...but if the majority of people think Howson will be fired the second the season ends, why give him the opportunity to completely botch a trade that could affect the future of the franchise for years?

12:12:27 Portzline: You may have answered your question. I have seen or heard nothing from majority owner John P. McConnell or president Mike Priest that would indicate Howson is going to be fired at the end of the season. Their willingness to let him handle the trade deadline would appear to be affirmation. Now ... nothing, I suppose, would come as a complete shock. If a team spends to the max and finishes in the basement, a GM is right to be nervous. Also, with Craig Patrick on board as senior adviser, there's a strong chance the front office could be reshuffled in some manner. But I have no knowledge of this as of today.

12:12:33 Buzz: Do you think there is a chance Howson keeps Carter and Nash and gets rid of guys like Pahlsson, Vermette and Huselius?  Bring in a goalie and tweak the defense a little bit from those players.

12:14:25 Portzline: There's a chance he keeps all of them if the deals aren't right. But I don't think he'll change his mind and decide he wants to keep Carter in the mix, no.

12:14:31 NashIsKing: Porty, great work as always. Keep it up. Was listening to you after the blackhawks debacle on NHL radio. Loved your description of the Toews goal where he blew by Carter saying it was like driving by a fence post on the highway. My question to you is, if Carter had the heart and character of a pro athlete, would Nash be on the block, even with the league's worst record? I was looking forward to the day Nash's statue would go up at Nationwide.

12:17:54 Portzline: I don't think it's fair to throw all of this on Carter. The list of players who could have played better and helped salvage the season is long and expensive. (I still maintain it's a cultural problem.) An error was made in bringing in Carter and expecting him to do heavy-lifting. He's not a heavy-lifting kind of guy. He's an opportunist and a finisher. Thanks for your kind words regarding our coverage. Truly appreciate. And don't give up on that Rick Nash statue just yet.

12:18:01 Mr. Sublime: What are your thoughts on Johansen? He looked good last night, but seemed to lose energy towards the end of each shift, center is a much more demanding position than wing, is it possible that the CBJ recognize he needs to add endurance? When he gets going he's scary--he was all over Couture last night.  Also, any thoughts on whether we see Attkinson this season or does he stay put and try for the scoring title down in Springfield?

12:21:23 Portzline: I'm a big believer that Johansen should be put at center and allowed to thrive and struggle, score and defend, against the best of the best. Maybe they don't win last night against San Jose -- they probably still would have -- but Johansen would come out of the game with a full understanding of what it's like to play against Joe Thornton or Joe Pavelski. Now, he'll have to wait until next season. As for Atkinson, I would suspect he'll have a call-up later in the season. The AHL scoring title is pretty dang impressive, but would be good to have him finish in the NHL.

12:21:29 Methot's Liquid Diet: Is there any truth to the rumor going around that perhaps the front office saying 'Nash is available' gets Howson more calls to extend the dialog for a deal with Carter rather than Nash? (contract lengths and pay being somewhat in the same ballpark, etc). Furthermore, would Nash be in on that internal CBJ discussion and told to "shhh" about it?

12:23:59 Portzline: There is no way they would dangle Nash out there as nothing but bait. Don't know where that came from, but that strikes me as more than a little preposterous. And trust me ... from doing reporting on this story, that's not what is happening. If they get a very impressive offer, Nash could very well be traded. Right now, the asking price is really, really high. But if other teams start to beef up in advance of the big day, maybe the Blue Jackets can get one of these teams to bite. We'll see. I will say this ... the Blue Jackets could start their own arm's race by trading Carter to one of the club that's interested in Nash.

12:24:10 Tribucks: I don't know much about playing G, but doesn't Mase float way too far from the crease at times?  I get cutting the angle but if I were the opponent I'd fire wide on purpose to get the rebound off the boards that goes behind him. Let the scrum ensue.

12:26:25 Portzline: Yeah, I've notice that, too, especially recently. Vs. Chicago, it appeared at times as if he was guarding the crease, not the net. And, like you said, it's not like he's out confronting a shooter, it's just where he's at playing the puck. Having said that, I thought he made some big saves at big times last night vs. San Jose. And Ryane Clowe did the Blue Jackets (and Mason) a hyoooodge favor by taking that double-minor. At that point, the Sharks were flying and the Blue Jackets (and Mason) were in scramble mode. Could have been a different game.

12:26:34 jackets4life: How about the job Noel is doing with the Jets? Did we miss the boat on that one?

12:29:22 Portzline: Major props to Campin' Claude, who's done a very good job with an underpowered Jets club. He might have to delay his annual Boundary Waters camping trip a week or two, as the Stanley Cup playoffs are not out of the question. Tough loss last night. Heard Pavelec was incredible. Who knows how he might have meshed with this group? Pretty wild looking back at the names on Howson's list when Arniel got the job. Boucher, who was allowed to dine with Yzerman, took the Lightning job and made it to the EC Finals. Dineen has had a very good season with Florida. You mentioned Claude with the Jets. And then there's Paul MacLean, who has Ottawa flying high when many pegged them for a last-place finish.

12:29:30 jacketstigers: When you mke it clear that soemone like Nash is available, how tough is it to pull him back off the market and keep him on the team?

12:32:01 Portzline: That's a very good question. It can lead to friction, absolutely. As it relates to Nash, we'd have to know exactly where the players heart is in all of this. If he doesn't necessarily want to be traded, then perhaps they can pull him back, patch it over and everything is fine. But if there's a small part of the player who is ready to move on greener playoff pastures, then not getting a trade done can be quite the opposite. Many people think it'll be too tough to get a trade done for him by the trade deadline, so perhaps we'll find out. But he could still get moved at the NHL entry draft in Pittsburgh this coming June.

12:32:07 Gustavsson for City BBQ: As we all know, at this time of year there are probably more conjured rumours floating around than real rumours. Do you have trouble sifting through the haze the same way us fans do sometimes? Who are some of your favourite ìnsider sources around the league?

12:35:56 Portzline: The gold standard is TSN, with Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger. They are so connected and so well-sourced. In many cases, they know a trade has gone down before the two teams have even gotten approval from the league. Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos is very good, too, very well connected. These are the national guys you can trust implicitly. When it comes to individual teams, there are a slew of newspaper beat guys who are extremely trustworthy. Other than that, I would tread very lightly with internet rumor sources. Many of them are rip-offs or simply fabrications.

12:36:04 Joe Smith: What's the reason for the recent surge in the power play? Why hasn't it looked this good all year?

12:38:32 Portzline: Derick Brassard has been very good on the point. That's really the only substantive change they've made. Richards said yesterday that it's the same system they ran when Arniel was here. But with Brassard on the point, the puck movement has been better. Not just passing the puck -- which he's great at -- but moving his feet, changing the passing lanes, and creating gaps that require adjustments by the PK. Once you get them moving, it starts to open up. Richards has said that they've been better bringing the puck up the ice, establishing the zone quicker before the PK gets settled. I'll by that, too.

12:38:42 hockeytalk: Is there any realistic way (condsidering trades, cap space etc) we can keep the core of this team together with Nash Carter Wiz Prospal etc and also get a better goalie?

12:40:13 Portzline: If they don't trade the first two guys on your list that's possible, yes. There is money coming off the cap this year -- Pahlsson, Huselius, Martinek -- that could be used for a goaltender. Management is dead-set on changing the core of the team, though.

12:40:30 Methot's Liquid Diet: What in your opinion is it in ownership that leans heavily on the side of team building (only 2 GMs in franchise history) instead of coaching (8 disposable coaches in franchise history -- 11 years is staggering)? Is it lack of experience? Is our current GM and Doug Mac that good "in the room" to have ownership convinced they deserve another chance and "these things take time"?

12:43:30 Portzline: That's a good question. Changing a GM is more of an undertaking, because it typically signals a change in philosophy, which means a change in players on the roster. It's seen, in most cases, as taking one step back to go two or three steps forward. Whereas, changing coaches is a quicker, less disruptive change. Also, let's be honest, the owner talks to the GM all the time, typically shared their vision for how to win. If that doesn't work, it must be the players and the coaches, because the stated vision obviously makes sense.

12:43:53 scott: Didn't Hitchcock having the "backing of management" to get the players to play hard?  Seems like he had a style he wanted, but the players did not respond.

12:46:24 Portzline: Clearly he didn't have the backing. One of the rules with a coach like Hitchcock -- and there are others, like Barry Trotz in Nashville -- is that management has to show the room two or three times that the coach is not going to be blamed for the struggles. If you'll recall, there were rumors in year 4-5-6-7 with the Predators that Trotz was in trouble, and each time -- to his credit -- David Poile made it clear that the coach was not going to be fired, that he believed in the coach. Now, Trotz's future in Nashville is not even an consideration. He's the coach. Everybody knows it in the dressing room. I believe there are many within the Blue Jackets -- including some players -- who wish Hitchcock were still the coach.

12:46:31 Ben in NC: Hiring a players coach like Richards seems anathetic to chaning the "country club" atmosphere. Last I asked you thought 50/50 on his being retained. has the team occasionally playing well in meaningless games in front of scouts (aka get me out of here games) really helped his cause that much?

12:48:24 Portzline: Tough time of year to get a read on an interim coach. If they win, it's because there's no pressure on the players and everybody's at-ease. If they lose, it's clear they weren't good enough to make a difference. Rest assured, Richards is being evaluated on ways beyond what fans and even media can see. I think they're impressed. I don't think it's right to say the job is his just yet, but I think they're impressed with how he's handled the situation.

12:48:42 Joe Smith: I thought I heard somewhere that the management is looking to add even more help up top for advising (like Patrick) who else might they be looking at?

12:50:59 Portzline: That's true. We reported that a few weeks ago in the NHL Sunday notebook. There are too many names to list out there. You'd think a fellow like Dave King would make a lot of sense. But that's just a local tie. There are several experience hockey guys in the NHL who would be a fit. Dave Taylor, now a scout with St. Louis Blues, would make an organization stronger. Those are just two examples. There are many, many more.

12:51:06 hdtvohio: You say that you think Howson has the confidence of the ownership...could you speculate on why you think they might give him confidence when so many analysts cite him as the major problem with the Blue Jackets?

12:53:34 Portzline: John P. McConnell has stated his confidence in Howson, but words only mean so much. His actions -- or inaction -- would seem to speak volumes, too, as Howson is still in charge of the roster at this very critical juncture in the franchise's history. McConnell trusts Mike Priest, and Howson is a Priest kind of guy. We'll see where this goes. Again, could be a reshuffling of the front office this summer. Just don't know that yet.

12:53:42 CBJ_Nut: It has been said that Patrick is calling the shots behind the scenes.  I question whether Howson's ego would tolerate that.  If this is so, it seems to me Howson would very upset with his situation.  What do you think?

12:56:52 Portzline: Everything I've seen, heard, etc., indicates that Howson is still very much in control, but that he's leaning heavily on Patrick. As he should be. Patrick has seen and accomplished a lot during his time in the sports of hockey, including -- 32 years ago today -- beating Russia as part of the USA coaching staff at Lake Placid in 1980. As for Howson's ego ... if you've ever met the man, you'd not rely on anybody who suggest he has a big ego. He's as down-to-earth, humble and human as anybody I've ever met in such a power position. That is not an issue.

12:56:54 hockeytalk: On the power play last night I noticed a couple of times 4 players skate up to the blueline and dump the puck back to the 5th player to bring it across the line. Then everyone falls in behind. This seemed to be really effective and different from the usual dump and chase, or everyone cross the line at once, or cross the line and stop in the corner strategies. Is this something new or have I just not noticed it before?

12:58:37 Portzline: Probably noticed it last night as it was specific to how the Sharks PK was defending. Also, that's done to confuse the PK-ers before they can settle into their box or diamond to defends. When a PK picks up the puck-carrier, somebody is going to be left with space once the puck is in the attack zone.

12:58:40 About last night: What's Nash want?  Any idea?  Is he just sitting on the fence saying "whatever"?  Is he liking the idea of getting a seat on the lifeboat off the Titanic?  Is there a benefit to him to stay?

13:00:56 Portzline: He will not discuss the topic. Keeps calling them rumors, which is a bit odd because -- ya know -- he must recall having made a list with his agent before the Blue Jackets started dialing. Anyhoo ... he doesn't want to talk about it, and that's his prerogative. Probably a no-win situation if he starts talking. Clearly he's OK with at least the thought of moving on to a team that is destined to make the playoffs this year and most years. Hey, in that respect, who could blame him, right?

13:01:08 Rob_(moderator): Thanks, everyone. My guess is there will be lots to talk about next week. That's a wrap for now.

13:01:10 Portzline: Thanks for the questions. Have great weeks!