When a team is mired in a six-game losing streak, the onus is on everyone that pulls on the sweater to get their game back on track. That holds doubly true for the veterans, as they get their own game going as well as mentor the younger guys in the room.
The veterans have been around the league and have been through trying times themselves. Whether it's lending an ear or giving pointers, they have to help keep the team focused.
Scott Hartnell (13 years), James Wisniewski (nine years) and Jared Boll (seven years) have 29 collective years of experience in the National Hockey League. They are just some of the veterans that are taking ownership of where the team is and helping to get their collective mindset refocused on playing to their identity.
"We had a lot of talks on Wednesday," Hartnell said. "We had a big meeting and watched game film. It's pretty evident that we're not playing Blue Jackets hockey. Playing against this team for the last couple of years, they've had an identity of skating, working - just being in your face and being pests.
"We've played too soft, too easy the last couple of weeks. We have to get back to what works. We have to play together and play the systems, myself included. We need to be better."
There is no blaming anyone else in the room for the poor play. These guys will be the first to admit that they need to play better themselves as they lead by example.
"For us, being the older guys," said Wisniewski, "we have to take the bull by the horns and demand excellence. First of all, we have to play that way ourselves. You have to be the first guy that shows the hard work, dedication, passion and commitment, and then everybody else follows."
Jared Boll has played his entire career with Columbus. He's been through some dark times as a member of this team and has seen the older guys do their best to help make the younger guys into professionals. He knows the importance of the veterans stepping up to help any way that they can.
"I think it's real important," he said. "Obviously, there are guys in here that have been around the league for a while. At one point, we were the young guys looking up to the older guys for leadership."
"Your first couple of years is tough. It's a hard league and there are no nights off. It's good to have someone to bounce stuff off of and it's good for us to be there for them. It's real important that we turn this around and not get too low. Or when it gets good, not let it get too high."
Getting back to their identity, to playing "Blue Jackets hockey," is paramount. This is something that they've prided themselves on their hard work ethic the last few years and are striving to get back to that.
"Right now, it seems tough because we might not get a bounce going our way," said Hartnell. "Or, you play 90 percent instead of going all-in. There's a lot of indecision. We just have to play simple, play hard, get pucks deep - everything has just been subpar. And it obviously shows in our record."
For many of the veterans, having been in similar positions before, they are trying to show the way out from the hole that has been collectively dug this early in the season.
"That's what makes a good leader," Wisniewski said. "Put the team first and understand your role. Whether you're 100 percent or not you have to go out and do your job. They say that it's a marathon, not a sprint. You can't make the playoffs in the first few months, but you sure can take yourself out of them.
"Granted, you can always dig away at it. And the saying is that by Thanksgiving the playoffs teams are becoming clear, give or take a few teams. It's just the way it's been. You have to keep pace, and right now with the injuries, we have to expect more and keep our heads above water.
"We can't just keep playing playoff hockey for four straight months to try and get into the playoffs - we wouldn't have anything left in the tank at that point."
At the same time, being veterans, they know that the big picture is important, but it's doing the little things that will bring them success.
Scott Hartnell explained, "I think, right now, its baby steps for us. We've got to get that first win. You get one then you get rolling and you get confidence in you. I think when it comes, it will come in bunches.
"This is a big weekend for us to get ourselves back into the winning ways. We just can't look ahead to Saturday. We have to stay focused on tonight."
Over-thinking the game is a trap that many players fall into. At the end of the day, they forget to go out and have fun playing the game that they love. Yes, results are expected. But, that doesn't mean you can't have fun at the same time.
"I'm struggling right now, too," said Hartnell. "Sure, you grip your stick tighter. But, you can't think about 'what if?' You just have to go out and play. That's been the case for a lot of guys, but we'll get through this. We'll be right there at the end I believe. We have to be faster, smarter, quicker - all the little things that add up to a big win."
The schedule is favorable for the team for the next few weeks. There are no long road trips and plenty of rest days to get their bodies in good health. Still, the road back up the standings is a long one. It is frustrating to dig a hole this early.
"Yes, but at the same time," said Wisniewski, "if you win five in a row then the teams above you might go 3-1-1. That's the thing about digging yourself a hole like this - you have to go on tears. I think with our schedule for the next few weeks being Tuesday, Friday, Saturday for the whole month, we can come out with a lot more energy.
"Like I said, we have to keep our heads above water and expect to win every single game, no matter who we're playing. We have to worry about one game at a time. We have to come out and play within our identity. Right now, we're not hard to play against and that's a struggle for all of us.
"We've gotten away from being a tenacious team to play against. We want teams to think that even if they beat us, they'll think 'wow that was a hard game.'"
Taking it one day at a time is sometimes easier said than done. But their eyes were opened by the stretch of bad play over the last few games, with the low point being their most recent loss on Tuesday.
"I think what it's really about is just taking it game-by-game," Boll said. "The last two days of practice were really good days of just getting better, which we needed after that Carolina game (Tuesday). It's not about looking in the future. It's about getting the two points every night and just keep moving forward.
"It could be very easy right now to get down on ourselves and bring a bad attitude into the room. That's not what we need right now. Everyone is upbeat and we're excited to get back at it (Friday). Obviously, we're not where we want to be. It's just a matter of time and we'll turn it around."
For these veterans and the rest of the team, the turnaround has to start Friday night in Raleigh, North Carolina. The road to respectability is long and fraught with danger. But, they've proved the naysayers wrong in the past. They want to do it again.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes. Watch all the action on FOX Sports Ohio beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the pregame show "Blue Jackets Live."
