The Columbus Blue Jackets are nothing short of terrible this season, so far going 2-12-1. They’re the permanent cushion so the Blues (or any other team) can’t fall to last in the Division. General manager Scott Howson understandably wants to add spark to the team, but adding defenseman Nikita Nikitin is not exactly the game changer they need. Nikitin has been benched for poor play the last several days, and the Blues called Ian Cole up from the Peoria Rivermen to take his place. The trade writing was on the wall.
↵Kris Russell has two goals and an assist so far on the season, and is an impressive -1 on an absolutely horrible Columbus squad. He’s also a left handed shot, which is something that the Blues lack at the blueline. Russell has a line of 18-61-79, but the -29 is glaring. It seems with time he’s turning that around.