Central Division notebook:

To say the Columbus Blue Jackets haven't met expectations this season would be an understatement. 

Coming into the season, the Jackets were aiming to build off the first playoff appearance in franchise history. They had a Calder-winning goaltender and a solid core that had remained together, not to mention a rookie phenom in Nikita Filatov. 

Fast-forward to March. The head coach that led the team into the playoffs? Gone. Their Calder-winning goaltender? Not looking very Calder-ish. Their rookie phenom? Loaned overseas to the KHL after butting heads with the coach (who led them into last year's playoffs, but is now gone).

Suffice it to say that frustration is present. In a recent interview with NHL.com, Rick Nash admitted to as much. 

"It's really frustrating because everyone has the same goal in this league and it's to win. When you can't do it and you've been somewhere for a long time, it gets frustrating," the captain said.

Despite the frustration setting in, there is still a realization that the franchise's future is still bright. 

Interim head coach Claude Noel has coached the Jackets to a 7-5-3 record since taking over at the helm. Hitchcock's departure also is also expected to leave the door open for Filatov's return. 

"I believe in this team, I believe in this franchise and I believe in the ownership and management," Nash continued. "I think we have good young players who will only get better in the upcoming seasons." 

It's hard to argue with Nash's logic when you look at the team. 

Of their nine leading scorers, just one (Kristian Huselius) is older than 30. Of those, only Anton Stralman's contract expires before 2012. 

On top of that, Nash is exactly right – their young players are only getting better. While Derrick Brassard has struggled this season, Jakub Voracek has surpassed his point total from last season, Antoine Vermette has set career highs in assists and points, R.J. Umberger is just two points off of his career high, and Nash is still Nash.

There is still a question mark between the pipes, where Steve Mason has struggled greatly while also showing flashes of the goaltender he was last season. 

To paraphrase Timbuk3: If Mason can return to form next season, with a future this bright, Columbus fans gotta wear shades. 

CHICAGO

Joel Quenneville announced that G Cristobal Huet would get the start on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The news comes in the wake of Antti Niemi's 2-0 shutout against the Coyotes on Tuesday. ... Quenneville called out the team's best players in Monday's practice and, according to the Chicago Tribune's Steve Rosenbloom, they got the message and gave Quenneville the response he was looking for in the team's victory over the Coyotes. ... The Chicago Sun-Times points out that Patrick Kane is heating up heading towards the playoffs. Kane is the first Blackhawk to reach the 80-point plateau since Tony Amonte in the 1999-2000 season. ... The Sun-Times also reports that Bolland is starting to return to form. Bolland is nearly pain-free, with the exception of minor aches and pains, and with Marian Hossa has recaptured some of the chemistry he enjoyed last season with Martin Havlat.

DETROIT

Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press is reporting that head coach Mike Babcock told forward Valtteri Filppula to shoot more. Filppula responded by scoring two goals in Wednesday's game against the St. Louis Blues. ... Booth Newspapers' Ansar Kahn is reporting that Monday's game between the Red Wings and the Penguins drew the highest regular season rating on Versus, averaging 622,000 viewers. ... G Jimmy Howard was less than impressed with Sidney Crosby's antics following Monday's game. The Penguins' center cross-checked and slashed Henrik Zetterberg multiple times following the final buzzer before Howard got involved. Of the incident, Howard said, "He does stuff like that all the time. Somehow he gets away with it." ... Detroit Red Wings blog Abel to Yzerman will be hosting their H2H party on Friday night against the Minnesota Wild in which they are bringing Brazilian Red Wings blogger Guilherme Calciolari to Hockeytown to see his first live Red Wings game.

NASHVILLE

Nate Rau and John Glennon of The Tennessean report that the Predators will reach their critical attendance mark of 14,000 fans per game this season. By hitting that plateau, he Preds can take part in the NHL revenue sharing program, which could allow the organization to gain $10 million in revenue sharing. ... The Preds signed forward Ryan Thang to a two-year, two-way contract on Wendesday. Thang recently completed his college career with the University of Notre Dame. ... John Glennon reports that Jason Arnott is questionable for the game on Thursday against Phoenix after suffering a head injury against the Blue Jackets on Saturday. ... Glennon also reports that the team's youngsters have been instrumental in the Preds' playoff push.

ST. LOUIS

St. Louis signed Notre Dame defenseman Ian Cole to an amateur tryout contract and he has reported to AHL affiliate Peoria. Cole was the 18^th pick in the 2007 entry draft. His contract is considered to be a "bridge" contract, meant to keep his free agency clock from starting. He is expected to sign his entry-level deal this summer. ... Forward Paul Kariya became the 83^rd player in NHL history to score 400 goals on Thursday with his goal against the New York Rangers. ... Jeremy Rutherford took a look at the Blues' home record versus their road record on Monday. ... Rutherford also reports that forward Keith Tkachuk is contemplating retirement after this season. Tkachuk, an 18-season NHL veteran, will turn 38 on March 28.

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