from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe,

But even with 10 clubs each year putting up DNQs, the everyone-makes-the-playoffs joke continued. To this day, we still hear the lament that the regular season doesn’t mean anything.

Well, if so, how does that out-of-date bromide apply to these franchises:

■Atlanta — The Thrashers fold shop today with a matinee visit by the Penguins. It’s their fourth consecutive DNQ. In 11 seasons, the distant sons of Willi Plett have qualified but once (2007) for the postseason, which only led to a first-round wipeout at the hands of the Rangers….

■Columbus — The Blue Jackets are DNQs for a second straight season, not so bad in itself, at least outside of Canada. But that quick visit to the postseason in ’09 (a sweep by the Red Wings) stands as their only playoff time in 10 seasons. General manager Scott Howson has been on the job four seasons and really hasn’t moved the meter much beyond where Doug MacLean had it when sacked after the 2006-07 season….

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