NHL Blue Jackets fizzle in 4th season

They had the second-worst season in the history of the franchise.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Many NHL teams would love to have the Columbus Blue Jackets' future.
Almost none would want the franchise's present or its past, however.
Despite the ascension of Rick Nash, who shared the league lead in goals, and Nikolai Zherdev, who flashed almost limitless potential, the Blue Jackets still suffered through another disappointing season in their fourth year.
"We still haven't learned how to win," Jody Shelley said after the club capped a 25-45-8-4 season, the second worst in franchise history. "We win four, we lose six. Good teams, if they lose one they go and win five. It's part of growing."
The Blue Jackets' 62 points exceeded only three teams: Pittsburgh, Washington and Chicago.
Short of goal
"Obviously we didn't accomplish our goal of making the playoffs," said Nash, whose 41 goals tied him with Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. "We came together as a team and fought through the tough times. I don't really know what kind of strides we made. We're not in the playoffs and that was our main goal."
It's hard to put the blame on the younger players. Nash led the league in power-play goals with 19 and scored a higher percentage of his team's goals than anyone in the NHL.
Zherdev, who like Nash is just 19-years old, didn't join the team until December but scored 13 goals and added 21 assists. After ultimately winning an arbitrator's ruling that he could stay with the team instead of returning to Russia for military service, he was one of the hottest players in the NHL over the final two weeks of the season.
Forward Tim Jackman and defenseman Aaron Johnson have bright futures with the big club, too.
David Vyborny was steady and solid throughout, scoring a career-best 22 goals with 53 points.
Tested players falter
It was the players with the most experience who had the worst seasons. Andrew Cassels, Tyler Wright, Todd Marchant and Jaroslav Spacek were hurt at some point -- and none broke into double figures in goals.
Two veterans who had banner seasons were Manny Malhotra and Anders Eriksson. Both were grabbed off the scrap heap yet reserved spots on the roster next season with their play.
MacLean didn't have the best of years, either. He started the year as coach and barely made it through 2003. Owner John H. McConnell said handling both jobs was too much stress for MacLean.
Assistant coach Gerard Gallant took over on New Year's Day, but the team had only a marginally better record under him. His status for the upcoming season -- much like that of the whole NHL, which must overcome contentious labor strife -- is murky.
"Once we get another year or two with these young kids growing up and maturing and these veteran players playing a little bit better, we're going to be a good, solid hockey team," Gallant said.