The big question, what should the Blue Jackets do to turn their suffering franchise into a playoff team? With a combination of poor decisions and bad luck, the Blue Jackets are facing a much more serious problem than the Leafs have ever faced. They have dug themselves into a hole, a very deep dark hole.

So if you were the general manager of the Blue Jackets, what would be your game plans be for the off-season? Are you going to trade away Rick Nash, what are you looking to get back for him? How will you address the lack of scoring, defense, and overall poor play?

We’d like to stop and take a minute to outline the Blue Jacket’s 2011-2012 season. Let’s have a little fun with this and put ourselves in the shoes of Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson.

-In the 2011 off-season the Jackets trade Jakub Voracek, their 2011 first-round pick, and a 3rd round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for centre Jeff Carter.

-The Jackets sign James Wisniewski, Vaclav Prospal, and Radek Martinek in the off-season through free agency.

-Regular season begins and the Jackets lose 16 games in the months of October and November, triggering the firing of head coach Scott Arniel.

-Jeff Carter is traded to the Los Angeles Kings after 39 games for Jack Johnson and a conditional first-round pick.

-Antoine Vermette and Samuel Pahlsson are traded away at the deadline for goalie Curtis McElhinney and draft picks.

-Franchise player Rick Nash asks for a trade at the deadline, but a deal isn’t completed.

-The Jackets finish dead last, and lose their projected first-overall pick to the Oilers.

Chill readers, we need your feedback. What do you think? What’s your plan? How are you going to turn this failing franchise around? Things can’t get much worse, but with a little magic, maybe things can be turned for the better. Who knows, your brilliant idea just might be overheard by general managers, give it a shot.

The Oilers won the 2012 NHL Draft Lottery last night, picking up their third straight first-overall pick. Edmonton Oiler fans have plenty to be happy about despite failing to make the playoffs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t find any luck at the lottery, failing to move up and will be picking fifth overall at the draft. Morgan Rielly is projected as the fifth overall pick, and if the NHL Central Scouting Rankings are correct, Riely will be a Maple Leaf this June in Pittsburgh.

The drama is unfolding, and the playoffs haven’t even started.