Blue Jackets Nearly Miss Deadline, Avoid Arbitration Nightmare

Columbus came dangerously close to a procedural disaster when the organization nearly missed the NHL's arbitration deadline with one of its players. Missing such a critical deadline can create chaos in contract negotiations and force both sides into unwanted legal proceedings that nobody wants. The Blue Jackets managed to avoid what could have been a messy situation, but the near-miss raises questions about how close the front office was cutting it.