The Columbus Blue Jackets Take Step Forward on Day One Of Free Agency

As Day One of the NHL free agency period draws to a close, some Blue Jackets fans may be scratching their head as to why the Jackets traded away a young undeveloped talent for a guy named Raffi, or why Scott Howson couldn't sign the big defensive guns in Wade Redden or Michael Rozsival. 

All I have to say to those fans are:  It's OK!  Don't panic!  It's only day one!

I was certainly in awe at the contracts that were just signed by some of the Jackets' targets, but I was glad that we weren't shelling out all that money for them. 

Scott Howson gave them our best offer, and simply put, some of today's NHL stars just don't want to play in Columbus.  There was nothing Scott Howson could do about that. 

Until the Jackets can go out there and prove they can be a playoff team, the Ryan Malones and Wade Reddens really have no reason to go to Columbus. 

Anyway, things started off with a surprising trade: CBJ sent Gilbert Brule to the Edmonton Oilers for Raffi Torres. 

I certainly heard a lot of "What the...!" from some fellow fans as to why we traded away one of our young guys for nothing more than Raffi Torres.

In my opinion though, Raffi Torres is a great pick-up.  FANTASTIC pick-up.  He was a valuable part of the Edmonton team that made a run for the Stanley Cup in '05-'06, and had his best season statistically, netting 27 goals and 14 assists, with an additional four goals and seven assists in the playoffs. 

He's also a tough, physical presence on the ice, something the Jackets lost significantly following the Jody Shelley deal, and he will fit into Coach Hitchcock's system perfectly, granted he comes into camp healthy. 

His only question mark is his health, following an injury-shortened season.  If he is healthy and fit, and ready to play for Hitchcock, the Blue Jackets just got SIGNIFICANTLY better. 

As for Brule, he just never fulfilled the potential that he showed in juniors, and never showed signs of being the great two-way player he was supposed to be. 

Perhaps he will flourish in a new environment and a new system, but he was not a player that seemed to be in Hitchcock's and Howson's plans for the future.

The other deal of the day for the Jackets was a big one, signing Mike Commodore to a five-year/$18.75 million contract. 

Now, the Jackets WERE out looking for a big name offensive defensemen to fill a huge need on the blueline, but an addition like Commodore is a major overall improvement to the defensive corps. 

He's a big physical guy who will rattle the boards and help get the puck out of the Jackets' zone. 

What more can you ask for, as long as the puck isn't in the Jackets' zone, they can't give up any goals!  He's also a Stanley Cup champion, and he knows what it takes to get where the Blue Jackets want to go. 

He will definitely fit into the new "rough 'n tough" mentality of the Blue Jackets, if not spearhead the effort himself. 

Scott Howson is a very patient man, and that's the one trait that the Blue Jackets really needed in order to start a successful turn of events in Nationwide Arena. 

Some may question his ability to sign the big name guys on day one, but Scott Howson has a Plan B, Plan C, and probably a Plan D in store. 

Look for Kristian Huselius and Brooks Orpik to be two targets for the next few days, who will supplement the obvious number one target in Brendan Morrison.  Both will fill significant needs for the Jackets, and will only make this Jackets team stronger and tougher to play against.

Now, if you're a religious man or woman, there's nothing wrong with praying to the Hockey Gods tonight before you go to sleep. 

This is Columbus after all, but hopefully the rest of the guys on the market will take a chance on Coach Hitchcock and the new look Columbus Blue Jackets