Craig Custance answers reader questions in his mailbag every Friday. Got a question of your own? Submit it here.
Do you think the Columbus Blue Jackets will be competitive by 2030? -- Brandon, Columbus
That's a tough one. It depends on what they get for Rick Nash. When a franchise struggles for a long period of time, through different coaches and general managers, you have to find the common thread. In the case of the Blue Jackets, it's a problem that starts at the top.
There isn't a winning hockey culture in Columbus, and changing directions and philosophies every couple of years doesn't help. Factor in that they play in a division with some of the most stable and successful franchises in the NHL, and I'm not optimistic. But a lot can change between now and 2030.
Why do people continue to be surprised by the Washington Capitals' poor performances? When you look at the team's roster, they do not stand out as a good team. They have a mediocre forward group, below-average defensemen and a solid goalie. Even with Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green back, they just aren't that good. Please folks, temper your expectations. -- Greg, Vermont
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- Senior NHL writer for ESPN The Magazine
- Wrote for Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Wrote for The Sporting News
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Craig Custance
Craig Custance joined ESPN in September 2011 as an NHL reporter for ESPN the Magazine, ESPN Insider and ESPN.com. A graduate of Michigan State University, he lived for nearly a decade in Georgia working for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where he spent time covering the late Atlanta Thrashers. He was the only Thrashers beat writer to get the team to the playoffs.
From 2008-11 he was the national hockey writer for the Sporting News, writing regularly in print and online. A member of the PHWA, he's a proud voter for the major NHL awards and can occasionally defend his selections.
Like hockey, he left Atlanta to return north where he currently lives in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, with his wife Cassie and their three kids.
Follow Craig on Twitter: @CraigCustance
And fire off a few probing questions for his weekly mailbag while you're at it.
