Howson, Nash & the Blue Jackets: Is THIS the bottom?

Well that could have gone better. You're probably aware of what a disaster this season has been for Columbus, it started shortly after Jeff Carter barricaded himself in his house for a couple days before GM Scott Howson & team captain Rick Nash(they were still buddies then) had to travel to Jersey and convince him to come out of hiding. Your biggest acquisition hiding from your team really set the tone for what can only be described as a massive clusterfuck. Injuries, suspensions, poor effort and general malaise have plagued the franchise this year. It has added up to the worst season in the team's history. 

Then yesterday happened.

Howson knows his back is against the wall, that every move could be his last after a series of missteps. He's fighting for his job and apparently, is willing to fight dirty to keep it. Of course he knows he's close to being fired, the guy who will most likely replace him, Craig Patrick, has been looking over his shoulder for half the season.

Howson dropped the news that it was Rick Nash who asked to be traded, a tactical move that has left writers, and apparently fellow GM's aghast. Why would he tip his hand like that, letting everyone know that Nash is truly unhappy in Columbus and finally wants out? Well, he had to take back control of the situation. Last week Nash's agent, Joe Resnick, offered a quote to TSN.ca hoping to push Howson:

"We're hopeful a deal can get done prior to the trade deadline that is fair and equitable for the Blue Jackets," Joe Resnick told TSN. "However, if a deal is not reached, then the list of acceptable teams will not change at a later date."

Seems pretty innocuous, but howson must have taken this as an agent trying to win the media war, and Howson went nuclear. Knowing this relationship is all but dead, Howson has to keep the best interests of the Blue Jackets in mind, and that means throwing the face of the franchise, who said he wants to leave, under the bus. The offers that were leaked by Nashville(not on Nash's list) and the Rangers(on the list) were pretty generous considering the lack of offers from contending teams. So what was the hold up? What teams are actually on Nash's list? Howson threw Nash under the bus because he's being pressured by Nash's camp in the media to make a deal, but handcuffed by that same group of people to actually make the deal. Nash's quotes to Sportnets' Arash Madani at this mornings press huddle were true to form from a captain who has tried to stay above the fray,

"I believe in ownership, I believe in Scott Howson. I love being a Blue Jacket. I love the city. I love the fans. That won't change."

"When management said they'd make a re-build, I thought the best thing would be to get assets for me and best for my career..."

Another great strategic move. The last quote sounds like someone breaking up with you, while telling you it's for your own good.

So who will cave first? Does Howson get the package he wants from one of these supposed five east coast teams, or does Nash expand his list, expediting his exit from Nationwide Arena while risking that he may not be sent to the surefire contender he wants. 

As a Blue Jacket fan, this will be frustrating and fascinating to watch unfold. Everything has gone wrong this season. The team is finally awful enough to earn a lottery pick at this summer's draft and will apparently continue to explore all options to rebuild...ahem, reshape this team. Perhaps it would be best for the team for both of these guys to go, lackluster effort can be tagged to both of them and how do fans move on with these two still attached to this team?