With the playoffs about to go into the Conference Finals, my thoughts turn to what the Jackets need to do to be next season's Buffalo Sabres. Of course, Don Waddell has already done two major things towards that end in getting Bones to stay for another year and signing Charlie Coyle to an extension. However, that is just the beginning. As I see it, there are only a few steps that need to be taken and they are:

1) Get Marchment signed or, failing that, bring in a similar player. Physical players who also score goals, collect assists and play well off the puck are not thick on the ground and Mason Marchment is one of the best. A Marchment - Fantilli - Marchenko line can dominate games. Especially if Bones can get a second line that will force teams to spread their defenders. Too often, Marchment, Fantilli and Kirill were shut down because teams knew that goals by any of the other lines would, essentially, be a fluke. Scoring threats throughout the lineup are essential.

2) Speaking of the second line, find three guys with chemistry and leave them alone. There seemed to be a revolving door on the second line and when it comes to scoring, familiarity and chemistry are all important. Knowing what to expect from your linemates allows you to focus on what's happening and act/react as is warranted.

3) Defensive depth! You know there's a problem when you have to play shuffle the blueliners when one goes down with an injury for the season. Christiansen and Zamora are both 7th D types and borderline at that. Don't need to bring in a star. A dependable 3rd pairing guy or an upgrade on Christiansen and Zamora will be enough, if Gudbranson signs an extension. If not, give a prospect or two a chance. Or sign Andrew Peeke since the word is that Boston intends to let him walk.

4) Invite a couple of Cleveland prospect forwards to camp and see who is ready to take Boone Jenner's roster spot. This assumes that I'm right that Boone's not going to be offered a contract. With Olivier, Coyle and (probably) Marchment and Gudbranson, Jenner's physicality is covered and everything else Boone brings is covered by other players. So this is a good time to have a prospect start getting his feet wet on the 4th line, start fitting in and begin getting comfortable with being an NHLer.

5) What I think should happen, but won't is getting rid of Elvis. Buy him out, trade him, bury him in Cleveland, I don't care. He is not and never has been an NHL caliber starting goalie. He's not even a good NHL back up goalie. And you can tell by how they act when he's in net that his teammates don't trust him to keep them in the game. The only good thing I have to say about him is that, this time next year, he'll be trying to get a contract with a European or KHL team. It's too bad we can't make Jarmo pay the team back for Elvis' salary since it's Jarmo's fault that he has such a stupid contract.

Okay, rant over. Thoughts? Opinions? Let's talk.