Blue Jackets have something to cheer: a promising team in the front office. (Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

A guide to this morning’s must-read hockey stories:

• John Davidson’s former right hand man in St. Louis is expected to be named the new GM of the Jackets today. Before we bury Scott Howson, here’s the reaction from Columbus and proof that not every one of his moves involved trading superstars for bags of pucks.

• The Anaheim Ducks proved something to themselves and to the rest of the league in their 3-2 shootout win over the Blackhawks in Chicago.

• Nina Falcone breaks down Brandon Saad’s controversial goal from the Chicago perspective.

• Jarome Iginla has lost his speed and his will to compete says a former teammate…and probably former thunder buddy.

• Craig Anderson put on another clinic, making 42 saves in a 2-0 shutout of the Sabres. Meanwhile, Daniel Alfredsson thinks the answer to Ottawa’s scoring woes is right there in the room. What, did they kidnap Thomas Vanek after the game?

• Try to mix in a Dallas Stars game sometime, if only to bask in the nightly brilliance of Kari Lehtonen.

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Was the Blue Jackets’ firing of GM Scott Howson too late of a move for the franchise? (Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

Scott Howson, the second general manager in the history of the Columbus Blue Jackets, was fired Tuesday night.

Certainly no one can be surprised by this, not even Howson himself. The Jackets were miserable under him, his feckless five-year tenure marked by ineffective drafting, under-performing free agents and inept asset management. The team performed accordingly, making the playoffs once on the back of a superlative rookie season from Steve Mason in 2007-08, then descending into the role of punching bag…and punchline.

But the move begs two questions. Why now? And was it too late?

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