Reliving Adam Foote's departure from the Columbus Blue Jackets
Perhaps it is fitting that Columbus took a name that is so tied to the Civil War when we were awarded an NHL expansion team. For those of you who don’t know, the name Blue Jackets is derived from the union soldiers’ uniforms during the Civil War (no it has nothing to do with a lot of blue bees in the area). There were many stories that unfolded in and around Ohio during this historic time and struggle that shaped our nation. This was on the heels of the most important Revolutionary War when we gained our independence from Great Britain. One of the stories that are often pointed to is the well known story of Benedict Arnold. Benedict Arnold was a great General for the Revolutionary Army who later betrayed the cause for future glory and switched sides to the team he felt would ultimately win the war, the infamous “Red Coats” of the British Army.
"Despite saying all of the right things and going through the tough battles with his teammates, it is apparent that Adam Foote and his family never felt quite comfortable in Central Ohio."
History lesson aside, Tuesday, our hometown Blue Jackets took on what looked and felt like a current day drama of betrayal. That drama has a familiar face both in a former captain of the team, and as a poster child for the comparisons of Benedict Arnold. Both are represented by the same man that now plays for the Colorado Avalanche: Adam Foote.
Let’s rewind a bit: The NHL went on strike during the 2004-2005 season. Many changes were instituted within the game, but the biggest involved the advent of a salary cap that all teams had to adhere to. This shifted many of the “name brand” superstar players to teams that could not afford them in the past because of these monetary constraints put on all teams across the NHL. If you had the New York Yankees complex of paying for a championship and throwing the national debt out as the team’s payroll, it would end. Teams that could afford anyone, anytime, now had parameters they had to work within. This left many high paid players with 'For Sale' signs in their yards and U-Haul trucks ready to be loaded. The movers that were willing to help them move out were often the smaller market teams that could finally put their name in the hat.
In steps Adam Foote. In his years with the Colorado Avalanche prior to the salary cap, Adam Foote was the quintessential defensive player. He was a hard nosed, rugged workman with great leadership ability. Though he never made an NHL all-star game, he was one of the leader’s on teams that won two Stanley Cups and made the playoffs 11 times. He was a proven winner. Because of the new Salary Cap, the Colorado Avalanche could no longer afford to pay him. Guess who could? That’s right, our very own Columbus Blue Jackets. In reality, Adam Foote was the Blue Jackets first real free agent splash in the mad dash that ensued after the lockout and start of the Salary Cap. He was supposed to be a key cog in our ability to compete in the “New NHL.” A three year contract was signed, and the C was placed on his hockey sweater, thus anointing him as the face of the franchise.
As many Blue Jacket fans are all too aware, the Adam Foote era did not live up to its promise. Foote suffered in the new NHL. Rules went into place to free up more scoring opportunities. This involved taking away some of the old school tactics of playing defense (such as grabbing sticks, and slowing down players with your stick) that Foote and other perennial defensive stalwarts utilized. These rules made speed more applicable to defense, speed that Foote does not posses. Injuries and frustration ensued for Mr. Foote, and as we are all too familiar, the Blue Jackets continued to score goals at an “Old NHL” rate, while giving up scoring opportunities at the “New NHL" rate. By any calculation, this does not result in wins or playoff appearances. Lack of wins and playoff appearances in succession has a way of wearing down the team and its leaders.
Despite saying all of the right things and going through the tough battles with his teammates, it is apparent that Adam Foote and his family never felt quite comfortable in Central Ohio. There was talk about the weather being more sunny in Denver (no town can possibly have more sun that Columbus) to go along with comments on Denver radio about wanting to finishing his career there, to his lack of production on the ice.
Things came to a head during last year’s attempted contract negotiations. Foote decided to put an astronomical price tag of $4 Million per season for a player that was in the decline of his career. Despite this hefty number, the Blue Jackets management, eager to show fans and the team that they are making a concerted effort to win, attempted to meet him halfway between the $4 and the $3 Million that they offered as a compromise. There was not even an inch given from Foote’s agent. Usually, the contract game works by setting the bar high on the player side, low on the club side, and then meeting in the middle. Not in this case. Where there was smoke, is there also fire?
More details slowly emerged regarding the situation. Some of it, you have to take with a grain of salt because of the nature of contract negotiations and the rift that can juxtapose itself between a player and the organization. However, that all being said, Blue Jackets management has since said that Foote came into the offices during the contract negotiations and in a rather direct way threatened to give less than his best effort if he was not traded to Colorado. To pepper the situation, it later came out that a box of Colorado Avalanche equipment with the name of Foote labeled to it also showed up in Calgary where the Avalanche were scheduled to play prior to any deal happening. One of the Calgary equiptment personnel was even stiching the last name of Foote on an Avalanche jersey. If we were in a courtroom, certainly premeditation would not be hard to prove. The Blue Jacket front office, having no other option with their disgruntled leader pulled the trigger on the trade so that they at least got something for the would be free agent.
There are ways to handle a situation, and then there are ways to handle a situation. I am all for doing what is best for your family. I have no doubt that Adam Foote had this in mind when he parlayed his way out of town. More power to anyone who can better their situation via a raise or better life. If, however, the things are true about his threats of not giving effort and providing the club with ultimatums while wasting the franchise’s time with ill-perceived contract negotiations are true, then shame on you Adam Foote. By the way Mr. Foote, also keep one thing in mind: Despite how you feel about a particular city, never give any kind of perception that you want to be anywhere else when you are still lacing them up for that fair old city. Any town that has any sense of pride is going to automatically see that as a slap shot to the face.
Tuesday was the first day that Mr. Benedict Arnold was to face off against his former battle tested colleagues since his departure. Amazingly enough, Adam Foote did not make the trip to the cloud capital of the Midwest because of an apparent injury. I will give him a free pass this time, but should injuries and family obligations continue to result in him being M.IA. when Colorado comes to town, then let’s not even assemble a jury and consider this defunct former soldier of ours guilty just as Benedict Arnold was. The next time he comes into town (with a suntan no doubt), how fitting would it be if the replica Revolutionary era cannon goes off in Nationwide Arena signaling an Avalanche defeat at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets just as it did Tuesday night?
Just as Benedict Arnold used an error in judgment in changing sides when things looked bleak, perhaps the Blue Jackets can repeat history by finishing ahead of the Colorado Avalanche in the standings. In case you did not notice when you gazed at the NHL’s Western Conference Standings Wednesday morning, the Blue Jackets sat one point ahead of the Colorado Avalanche for the last and final playoff spot. In some ways, that same cannon fodder that signaled a Blue Jackets victory can perhaps signal the start of the Blue Jacket Revolution that may have just begun at the hands of Foote.