Bleacher Report - Articles by Tyler Charles

Nash, Jackets Agree To Contract.

Tyler Charles — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:16:11 -0400

The wait is over in Columbus.

Rick Nash and the Columbus Blue Jackets agreed to an eight-year, $62.4 million contract, on Friday night, securing the captain for the longest contract term in franchise history. He'll make $7.8 million a season under the deal.

The agreement comes two nights after Rick Nash's surprising comments stirred a negative reaction amongst Jacket's fans saying,

“There were tons of teams throwing some pretty big money around (yesterday),” Nash said. “If this doesn’t get done, I’m sure I won’t have a problem getting signed by somebody next summer.” (Puckrakers)

These comments irked many loyal fans in Blue Jackets country, but in the end, they probably caused Scott Howson to pursue an agreement as soon as possible.

Now, the Jackets have shown the NHL that it is serious about becoming a power in the Western Conference.

Columbus Blue Jackets' New Free Agents Provide a Stable Foundation

Tyler Charles — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:58:22 -0400

After day one of free agency, my previous predictions of signing a decent back-up goaltender and a checking line center were correct. The names are just a little different.

On the first day of free agency, the Columbus Blue Jackets signed goaltender Mathieu Garon to a two-year, $2.4 million contract, as well as Samuel Pahlsson to a three-year, $7.95 million contract.

As you can see above, Garon just won a Stanley Cup. This will bode well for the Blue Jackets, as they begin adding playoff and Stanley Cup experience to their roster for the 2009-10 season.

The most important asset that Garon brings to the Jackets is a veteran leadership in net, which has been the toughest thing for them to find in the past few years. The Jackets have been paralyzed by the lack of an efficient back-up since the inception of the team, and the Garon signing just might signal an end of that era.

Steve Mason is the clear-cut No. 1, but with Garon solidly in place at No. 2, Ken Hitchcock can relieve some of the load that Mason had to carry last season.

Not to mention, Garon was the top shootout goalie in the league in 2007-08, tallying a 10-0 record, stopping 30 of 32 attempts.

The biggest fear for Jackets fans is that either Mason or Garon will fall to injury for a significant amount of time during the season, causing instability in net during one of the most important season in franchise history.

Pahlsson is considered to be one of the premier-checking line centers in the league, and helped lead the Anaheim Ducks to a Stanley Cup championship in 2006-07.

Pahlsson carries a thick 6'0", 210-pound frame, which allows him to become highly physical on the ice, especially on the fore-check, which is such a vital part of the Jackets game-plan. Pahlsson should fit in well alongside Jakub Voracek and Raffi Torres on the third line, who also are not afraid to hit a moving body in front of them.

The only possible downside that some detractors may point out is his decreasing point production the last few years, compounded with his growing age. But what they fail to realize is the intangibles that he brings to the system that the Jackets have succeeded in creating. He will play defense, and he will check.

Mark my words, these two signings, while not as high of caliber as a Marian Hossa, or Jay Bouwmeester, will still have the same impact for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Rick Nash, Center Position Tops Columbus Blue Jackets' Offseason To-Do List

Tyler Charles — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:19:30 -0400

Departures: C Manny Malhotra, D Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, C Jiri Novotny

Restricted Free Agents: D Marc Methot, LW Alexandre Picard, G Dan LaCosta

Unrestricted Free Agents: C Michael Peca, C Jason Wiliams, D Christian Backman, D Aaron Rome, G Wade Dubielewicz

For the first time in their stormy existence, the Columbus Blue Jackets do not have to make huge waves in preparation for the 2009-10 season.

Since going 41-31-0-10 last season and making the postseason for the first time, the Jackets need only to make a few minor tweaks to the current roster, add a few free agents, and re-sign key contributors to remain competitive in the Western Conference.

Sitting at the top of the list is star player and captain Rick Nash.

1. Re-sign Rick Nash.

For the Blue Jackets to capitalize in the coming years on their growing success, they need to re-sign Rick Nash this summer.

Although Nash still has one year remaining on his current contract, it is imperative that contract negotiations reach a conclusion this summer, or the Jackets run the risk of losing Nash to the free agent market next summer.

Nash is due to make $7 million this year, and re-signing him to a long-term deal would, in theory, open up a little cap space for 2010 and 2011, assuming his deal increases in value each year.

Not only will it allow the Jackets to lock up their captain for four or five years, it will allow them to target key free agents in the summer of 2010, when guys like Patrick Marleau, Olli Jokinen, Marc Savard, and Sergei Gonchar hit the market. Keeping Nash on board will make Columbus more attractive to the aforementioned players.

Howson must re-sign Nash this summer, or he will have to deal with a media frenzy throughout the season, led by the one city clamoring for Rick Nash to save their franchise—Toronto.

2. Sign two checking line centers.

Entering the summer, the Jackets had hoped to secure upcoming free agent Manny Malhotra to a new deal, but as July 1 quickly approaches, a deal will not be struck according to both sides.

There may be a chance that Malhotra will re-sign with the club as free agency progresses, but it is unlikely that Columbus will give Malhotra the first or second line money he wants.

Unrestricted free agent Jason Williams proved that he wanted to play in Columbus following his trade from Atlanta in January, and he deserves an offer from Howson this summer. Williams would be a key anchor to either the third or fourth line. While his 29 points with the Jackets may seem minimal, his physical play makes him the ideal player in Ken Hitchcock's system.

Unrestricted free agent Michael Peca made things interesting with his improved play in the Jackets' first round series with Detroit. Despite his less-than-stellar regular-season stats (four goals, 18 assists, -6 plus/minus), he showed management that he was more than capable of stepping up his game in the playoffs.

Peca's playoff effort may have garnered him enough praise to receive an offer from Columbus this offseason, but the verdict is still out on whether or not Peca will remain a Blue Jacket in 2009.

The Jackets are interested in signing Mike Cammalleri, who had a career year in 2008-09, but will not likely be able to afford his salary demands.

Other potential interests include Brendan Morrison, and Chris Gratton.

3. Sign a backup for goaltender Steve Mason.

Steve Mason, the 2009 Calder Memorial Trophy recipient, was overplayed in Columbus last season due to the lack of a skilled, veteran backup goaltender. While Mason handled this pressure well, the Jackets cannot place that much physical pressure on the goalie for a second straight season.

Wade Dubielewicz will most likely not be offered by the Jackets. "Dubie" was not a trusted backup to Mason, and after going 1-2 with a 3.55 GAA, he will probably sign with an AHL team for the upcoming year.

Detroit has said they will not attempt to re-sign Ty Conklin, who started 37 games last season for the Red Wings. Conklin played in Columbus in 2006-07 and has shown in the last two seasons that he is a capable NHL goaltender.

He may end up making more than Mason, but his ability to step in and provide starts every couple of weeks would prove invaluable to the Jackets.

Another guy the Jackets should look at is Jason Labarbera. He played relatively well behind Roberto Luongo in Vancouver, and he has shown spots of superb play during his tenure in Los Angeles. Not to mention, he would be much cheaper than the third possibility for the Jackets.

The third guy on the radar is Manny Fernandez. One of the top goal-tending free agents this summer, Fernandez is to the point where he will not be signed to be a starter on any NHL team.

He paired well with Vezina winner Tim Thomas this season in Boston, and he is a former two-time William Jennings Trophy winner. His ability to provide leadership for a young Mason would be a great benefit, but his price tag may keep the Jackets from pursuing him.

4. Sign a defenseman.

With the departure of Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and Christian Backman, the Jackets need to find a defenseman with big talent to play alongside Mike Commodore, Fedor Tyutin, Rostislav Klesla, Kris Russell, and Jan Hejda.

The big prize this summer was to be Jay Bouwmeester, but his recent trade to the Calgary Flames will give them the first crack at signing the top available defenseman. However, the Jackets would not have been able to pay the salary he is demanding, so it's not too big of a loss.

Kris Russell has been called the "offensive defenseman" the Jackets need, but his play has been sporadic, and unless he improves greatly this summer, they will need to sign a player with the ability to run the power-play, which the Jackets were ranked 30th in last season.

Former Jacket Jaroslav Spacek has the ability to score on the powerplay, as 22 of his 35 points came on the powerplay last season.

Marc-Andre Bergeron recorded seven goals on the power-play last season, which ranked 15th out of all defenseman, and third out of free agents this summer.

The market is rough this summer in terms of power-play defenseman, so the Jackets, if they feel this is a definite need this summer, will need to look at one of these two guys.

5. Develop the younger talent properly.

Under former general manager Doug McLean, the Jackets created problems for themselves by not letting their younger talent develop properly in Syracuse or junior hockey (see Rostislav Klesla). But Scott Howson has preached patience to the fans in Columbus, and it has produced results.

Rookie Derick Brassard was electrifying in his first look with the Jackets this year, before being shelved with a dislocated shoulder.

Nikita Filatov, the Jackets first round pick in 2008, flourished in Syracuse this past season, and even recorded a hat-trick with Columbus on Jan. 10. Howson then sent Filatov back down to Syracuse, where he could continue to properly develop.

John Moore was drafted to be the "offensive defenseman" the Jackets have needed for so long, but will spend this season either played in the OHL, or at Colorado College.

Keep an eye out for Stefan Legein as well, as he may see more time with the Jackets as he continues to grow.

6. Stay the course.

In order to remain a legitimate contender in the Western Conference, the Jackets need to continue progressing, and not make any decisions that would put the franchise back a year or two.

They cannot overspend on free agents this year. They cannot sign a big-name player solely for the sake of having a big name. And most of all, they cannot become disillusioned with last years' success.

The Jackets have drafted well the last four years, and it is starting to show in Syracuse, and in Columbus. Scott Howson has created a core group of players in RJ Umberger, Kristian Huselius, Mike Commodore, Fedor Tyutin, Nash, and Mason, for which to build upon for the next few years.

While the first five points above are vital to the success of the Blue Jackets this year, the sixth point is necessary, or else the first five become null and void. Ken Hitchcock has turned the Jackets into a tough, hard-hitting, fore-checking team that plays the dump-and-chase.

Why is this important? Because now, the Jackets have an identity, and they need to continue to nurture that identity to fruition.

The most important thing for the Jackets to remember moving into 2009-10 is that they cannot be satisfied with "making the playoffs." That goal has been accomplished. The Jackets need to set a higher goal, such as "winning a playoff series," in order to continue the progress built by the organization the last three years.

What's Going on With Roger Federer?

Tyler Charles — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:21:49 -0400

Only weeks after his heartbreaking defeat against Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer took the court for his first match in Toronto and lost.

Wait, say that again? Roger lost?!?

Yep, Roger Federer, the most dominating player in recent tennis history, fell to No. 22 ranked Gilles Simon.

Who?

I suppose the "who" doesn't matter as much as the "why".

This is a sad day in tennis, because its unbeatable, unwavering champion is suddenly looking quite human. Two Grand Slam losses in a row, added to the surprising loss on Wednesday, and suddenly the warning lights are turning on for Roger Federer.

I myself stated that Roger Federer would easily rebound from his loss to Nadal in the Wimbledon final, and that his superb play over the course of the next month and a half would make the U.S. Open one of the most interesting tournaments in recent history.

But I don't think anyone expected this. Is it that Federer is losing confidence in his game? I don't think so. His first set domination proved that he is a long way away from losing his form.

Was it a superior opponent? I do not think so there either. Simon is a great up-and-coming player, but he is not the type of competition that would defeat the great Federer on Day One of a tournament.

Personally, I believe it has been the rising pressure that has been put on Federer's shoulders the last two weeks. The media has been asking "Is this the end for Roger?" and "Has Roger finally been broken?", and that obviously is having a huge toll on Roger's psyche.

For four years, he has stood firmly at number one, and no one has come close to knocking him off his throne. Following his Wimbledon defeat, Federer undoubtedly had to be wondering if he was going to lose the top ranking. Anyone who says that they don't think about that is not being honest, in my opinion.

Federer has lost before in the Grand Slam tune ups, but for the most part it has been in the quarterfinal, semifinal, or the final, and no one has said anything about it, because all players are human. No man can win EVERY tournament he plays in, but it was his ability to make it to EVERY semifinal and final that made him a great player for the last four years.

I, like many, expected Federer to come into Toronto and walk through the early rounds, and make it into the final unscathed, because that is what tennis fans expect of him. It was this expectation, coupled with the immense pressure to prove that Wimbledon wasn't the end of him, that ultimately brought Roger down.

Why did he seemingly shut down after the first set? Some will say he went on cruise control, and thought that he could get through the rest of the match that way. I do not think this was the case.

I think that once Simon showed signs of life in the second set, Roger tried too hard to prove that he was still the dominating force that took him to the top. He started over hitting his forehands, and they weren't hitting their marks, which is very atypical of Federer.

He gave much of the credit to Simon.

"He's a good baseliner. We saw that today. He moves well. He's deceiving because he's kind of thin and tall but moves really well for his height, you know. He flicks a lot of balls with his backhand as well, so when you come in you can't see where he plays." (ESPN.com)

Every sporting athlete will praise their opponent when they find themselves on the losing end of a competition, but in this case, I believe that Roger Federer played beyond his comfort zone, and did not play "Roger Federer tennis".

This is reality check number two for Federer, and just like Wimbledon, this tournament makes the U.S. Open look VERY interesting for tennis fans.

Not only might we see Rafael Nadal emerge as the number one player in the world during the next couple of weeks, but we might also see a broken Roger Federer struggle to find his way back to form before the Open.

After Wednesday, I have a new outlook on the tennis world- NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.

Wimbledon: The Greatest Match Of Our Generation

Tyler Charles — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:13:57 -0400

It was a match for the ages. And, it put tennis back on the map.

It pitted No. 1 vs. No. 2 for the second straight major final, and it pitted the world's hottest player with arguably Wimbledon's most dominant champion ever.

It may have also just made tennis' all-time top ten greatest matches list. Not only that, it might have shot straight to the top.

Coming into Sunday's final, big things were expected of these two players, as they were about to face each other for the third straight year in the final. This was supposed to be the year that Rafa finally ended Federer's dominance on the grass, after punishing him at Roland Garros only weeks ago.

Needless to say, Rafael did just that, but the way that it happened may have saved tennis.

Neither man choked, neither man was off of his game. Nor were they phased by the untimely rain delays, fatigue, or recent history for that matter. If you want to show young players how to play a match, and how to play the sport with skill, grace, and power, you should show them this match.

This match was top-level tennis at its finest, and it showcased the talent of the sport's two main draws at a time when tennis needed it most.

In recent years, the interest in men's tennis in the United States has faded away at about the same rate as Andy Roddick's U.S. Open win in 2003 has lost its luster. Roddick was the new face of USA tennis. The next Sampras, or the next Agassi. But he has vastly underachieved at Grand Slam events since then, and with that, Americans eventually came down from their tennis high.

But there's one thing that American sports fans love more than anything—drama.

And with Federer/Nadal, you have drama. Enough drama to win an Academy Award.

In one corner, you have the traditional gentleman in Roger Federer. He's the quiet, not-too-outspoken leader of the tennis world. He's a gracious champion, and loved by fans across the globe for this very reason. His arsenal includes an unstoppable forehand and an array of "Did he really just do that?" shots.

In the other corner, you have the fiery Spaniard in Rafael Nadal. The lefty phenom is passionate on the court, yet also is just as classy as his counterpart. He has the deadliest backhand on the tour, and is the master of clay. Yet, he appeared on the scene when Federer was rising to power, so his run at glory has been overshadowed by the greatest player of our time.

And when they hit the court against each other, sparks fly. Each have traded Grand Slams on their opponents "home" court, with Nadal as the three-time champion of Roland Garros, and Federer as the king of the grass. Heck, they even played each other on a hybrid half-clay, half-grass court in 2007 just to see who could prevail (Nadal won the exhibition in three sets).

Federer has reigned supreme for the last four and a half years, but Nadal has come ever so close to knocking the king from his throne as of late. All roads pointed to this year's Wimbledon tournament as the turning point in the tennis world.

After a record four hours and 48 minutes, Nadal emerged from the slug fest as the new champion, winning in five absolutely stunning sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7.

This match had 147 winners, countless aces, and rallies that would impress even the most stubborn tennis detractor. And it marked the end of Roger Federer's streak of five straight Wimbledon titles, as well as his 65-match grass winning streak.

Today's match might not be enough to crown Rafael Nadal the new No. 1 just yet, but it will sure make the tennis world a lot more interesting as the U.S. Open approaches later this summer. Now, the little tournaments will matter. Every round of every tournament will help determine the seedings for the U.S. Open.

Federer lost, but he's not one to sit back and feel sorry. He'll be out there this week, being the dominant player he is. He will not make things easy for Rafa in his quest to take over No. 1.

But Rafa will fight. Hot off this victory, he will enter the warm-up tournaments ready to prove that he is the number one tennis player in the world, and like Federer, he will win often.

All roads led to Wimbledon this year, and now that Wimbledon has given us a spectacular result, the focus now shifts to American soil, where tennis has played the understudy to the "Big Three" and...Joey Chestnut.

Will the U.S. Open bring us a new world number one? Will Federer and Nadal take the stage for round three of their 2008 Grand Slam Finals prize fight? Or, will an underdog enter the equation between now and then? And, will that underdog capture the minds and hearts of the American sports fan, or will he succumb to the dominance of the two masters of the tennis universe?

The scene is set.

We know the players.

The question is—will you watch?

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

Tyler Charles — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:19:09 -0400

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