Let's be honest, he'd probably rather have the time off to be with his family than piss away his time on a game that in factuality serves the Blue Jackets in no way shape or form. Its an easy way out, I'd take it too and I don't hold it against him.
Or we can take it for what it is- one of his family members is in poor health and he wants to be there for them. If he needs a week or two so what? It's not like it's something trivial.