Bleacher Report - Articles by Bethany P

Columbus Blue Jackets' Rookie Victory and Offseason Updates

Bethany P — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:52:26 -0400

The Blue Jackets defeated the Minnesota Wild yesterday. Sorry Elise. We won in a shootout (shocker, I know). We play our next game tonight at 6 p.m. EST vs. the Dallas Stars' rookies. Good luck, baby Jackets!

Corey Masisak previewed all 30 teams in the NHL; he did a great job, so here is his preview for the Jackets.
Puck-Daddy’s Preview for the Jackets is here. Definitely worth the read.
Bruce Garrioch has the Jackets ranked at 30, because they didn’t do enough. Well, Bruce, honey, they had to keep at least some of the team. Here is who they lost: Gilbert Brule, Nikolai Zherdev, Dan Fritsche, Ron Hainsey, Stefan Legein (retired). They gained: RJ Umberger, Fedor Tyutin, Christian Backman, Mike Commodore, Kristian Huselius, and Raffi Torres. It seems like an improvement to me, and it seems like they did a lot. Not to mention the fact that they still have an abundance of d-men and will likely be trading some of them away.
Training Camp opens up on Sept. 19. You can download the training camp roster by clicking here.
Is it hockey season yet?

Rick Nash Leads Columbus Blue Jackets' Leadership Group

Bethany P — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:56:20 -0400

Coach Ken Hitchcock revealed his leadership group today. According to Puck-Rakers, this is how it’s going to be:

Rick Nash, Fredrik Modin, Rostislav Klesla, Michael Peca, Mike Commodore, and Manny Malhotra.

Nash is to be expected. He’s our Captain, and well, that sort of goes along with that whole thing.

Fredrik Modin is also one that I expected to be in there. If he is healthy, he will do a great job. He has Stanley Cup experience and is one of our veterans.

Rostislav Klesla really stepped up last season when Foote left. Klesla was also the team's first ever draft pick. It’s time he stepped up and led the team.

Michael Peca, well who didn’t see that coming? It was well documented that when Peca was on the bench we played better last season. He will have a better season this year and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get another contract at the end of the season.

Mike Commodore, a new Blue Jacket, is someone who I thought would be involved in the leadership group somehow someway.

Manny Malhotra doesn’t surprise me. He’s always sort of been a leader, if you have watched him carefully on the ice, and sitting on the bench. He is always talking to his teammates which is a great thing to have in a leader.

Do you think there was anyone that should be on that wasn’t? My good friend at Light the Lamp seems to think Chimera was left off. I agree, but that doesn’t mean he won’t step up in the room, or during practice, or during games.

It wouldn’t surprise me if…

Bethany P — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:14:51 -0400

Aaron Portzline put up some things that wouldn’t surprise him, and while I may agree with some of them, I have to say, well, I have my own list. But, first, here are some of Portzline’s that I really enjoyed:

– Rick Nash has a “go” with former captain Adam Foote on Jan. 13 when Colorado plays in Nationwide Arena

– Tollefsen gives Nash two shifts to take on Foote, then does it himself if need be

– Jason Chimera scores 20 goals, a career high

– Michael Peca is better this year than he was last season

– Pascal Leclaire makes the All-Star Game in 2008-09

So, those are just some of my favorites, now to get my list going.

Voracek is rookie of the year.
Pascal Leclaire has a better GAA and save % than some of the ‘elite’ goaltenders
Mason proves himself in the minors, and is called up after we trade Freddy at the deadline
Filatov has an outstanding season in Juniors, and we bring him up for our first playoff run.
Nash has four fights this season.
Michael Peca gets signed for another year.
Nikolai Zherdev scores a hat trick against us.
Adam Foote gets used and abused every shift he is on the ice.
Freddy Modin is healthy the entire season.
We open the season with a win versus Dallas.
We stay healthy, for once.

Anything else you guys?

Blue Jackets Blogger Meetup!!

Bethany P — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:35:25 -0400

Tapeleg is in Columbus for work, and would like to get together with some of the Blue Jackets bloggers. (Yes, that means you, you, you, you, and you…and anyone else I missed.) We are getting together on Monday, September 22, at 6 p.m., at Mac’s (693 North High Street). It should be a good time and even if you’re not a blogger stop by and have some fun. There is an event set up on Hockey Bloggers, so if you are going to come make sure you RSVP. And, if you’re not a blogger and want to come anyway, leave a comment, and let me know you’re going to be here!

Columbus Blue Jackets to retire #…

Bethany P — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:27:18 -0400

Seriously, I have been trying to spend my time wisely. You know, studying, working, writing for the school paper, and well you know, trying to have some sort of social life. But, something came up today, and it really got me thinking. There are a lot of hockey clubs preparing to retire a certain players number.

St. Patrick in Montreal *maybe this will break the curse?*
The Capitals retiring #11 in honor of Mike Gartner.

It got me thinking…do the Blue Jackets have a player that deserves this type of honor?

In reality, the answer is probably, no. Rick Nash will probably get there eventually. But, anyone else? I really can’t think of anyone. David Vyborny pops into my head.

Vyborny played every single NHL game of his career with the Blue Jackets. Every single season, he was the man who gave it all, night in, night out. He didn’t have a good season in 2007-2008. But, he was injured most of it.

What do you guys think? Anyone stick out?

Responding to Kukla…

Bethany P — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:17:17 -0400

Kukla asked a question on his blog the other day, and I felt inclined to respond. Here is what he asks:

I have one question for you today. What NHL player do you look at as having a breakout season this year? You know the type of player I am looking for, maybe he scored 15 goals last season, but you expect 30-35 from him this year. Maybe it is a defenseman, someone who was considered to be a No. 4 or No. 5 dman, but all of the sudden shows the ability to be a No. 2 guy and becomes a force on the power play or penalty kill.

The NHL player I most want to have a breakout season, that is not on my team, is Jason Blake. He had an extremely tough last season, and I’m sure being in the “center of the universe” didn’t help much. The poor guy was diagnosed with leukemia, and undergoing treatment. He managed to get a total of 52 points, (15 goals 37 assists). Because of his leukemia Blake will always hold a special place in my heart. My Uncle died in February of 2007 of leukemia. Well, of complications from the treatment, so when I found out about Blake, I automatically felt a connection to him.

The player on my team that I would like to have a breakout season. That’s easy. All of them. They all need to improve in one way or another. We have to be better as a whole in order to succeed. Pazzy needs to stop a few more pucks, Norrena needs to close his five-hole, Modin needs to stay healthy, Nash needs …well I can’t think of anything, and everyone else has their flaws.

John H. McConnell to be Honored by Blue Jackets

Bethany P — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:17:27 -0400

The Blue Jackets announced today their plan to honor John H. McConnell. The Blue Jackets will be wearing a patch on their jerseys.

“Mr. Mac’s commitment to the Blue Jackets, our fans, and this community was deep-rooted and it will be a privilege for all of us to honor him this season and beyond. This mark will serve as a reminder to all of us to continue to work every day towards accomplishing the goals he set for this organization both on and off the ice.”

Mike Priest, Columbus Blue Jackets President

It is only right that the Jackets honor Mr. Mac. I honestly can’t tell you how much I respect and admire this man. Below is the patch that the Blue Jackets will be wearing. Also, all fans in attendance will be given a hat with the patch on it.

*Courtesy of the Blue Jackets website

More on Stefan Legein

Bethany P — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:32:23 -0400

There is still a lot of speculation out there in the blogosphere and in comment threads. In my little place on the web I have decided that I don’t want the speculative comments, so they have not been getting approved.

I really don’t think people understand that he has the right to quit. He has the right to say goodbye to the game of hockey. He doesn’t owe us, his fans, anything.

I have heard people speculate that this is just a prank. However, his agent has confirmed that he is in fact quitting, and there is no way that an agent would be part of a prank like that.

The other thing that people are saying is that he wants a trade. If that was the case he would have asked for a trade. (Eric Lindros and Blake Wheeler anyone?)

In reality, Stefan has to choose what he wants to do, and if what he wants right now is to take a break…then so be it. The speculation needs to stop, and he needs to be left alone to figure out his life on his own. If you haven’t been following the story, you can click here and get caught up.

100 Facts About Bethany!! Part 3!!

Bethany P — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:29:01 -0400

Here is part 3, to check out all of them simply click here.

51. I have a Canadian flag hanging in my room.

52. I would cheer for Marty Brodeur over the Blue Jackets.

53. I still have my Adam Foote bobblehead, not too sure what to do with it.

54. I love the Montreal Canadiens, and can’t wait to go to Montreal for the Draft!!

55. I love dried flowers.

56. I have pictures with my best friends ex-husband still up in a grame, also I have their engagement photo hanging on my fridge.

57. I love learning about writing, and I strive every single day to improve my writing.

58. I hate writing in journals…but I can blog…go figure.

59. My HLOG girls are like my sisters, I would do anything for them!!

60. I have an addiction to Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha, it’s bad.

61. I don’t like quitters.

62. I can keep a secret.

63. I have felt betrayed by my family on more than one occasion.

64. I believe you should be friends with everyone you meet.

65. If someone is mean to me, I don’t let it bother me.

66. I get so excited that I can’t sleep on Christmas Eve, yes, even now, that I’m 23.

67. I believe chocolate is a cure all.

68. I still enjoy coloring in a coloring book.

69. It wasn’t my idea to create a blog, it was my brothers, and then my mom gave me the idea to write about hockey.

70. I have a Blue Jackets calendar hanging by my desk.

71. I made my school schedule so I could still go to hockey games and watch them from home.

72. I can’t live without DirecTV.

73. I only went to one school dance in high school.

74. I wish I was crafty, and could make stuff like Elisa, I’m a bit jealous.

75. I wish every single day that my Uncle Al was still alive to help me figure out the crazy journalism world. He was a journalist, and probably one of the best in the business.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Random Tidbits

Bethany P — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:41:38 -0400

Richard Matvichuk has been invited to training camp on a non-roster tryout.
The boys at The Cannon have been highlighting the Blue Jackets players. So far, they’ve gotten to Tom Sestito and Kristian Huselius.
The girls at HLOG have been talking about their franchise players, and while I haven’t gotten to that quite yet, there are some really good reads.
The SportSquee Challenge results are up…Rick Nash was voted #4 hottest hockey player in the NHL. *You can view my results here*
ESPN has been ranking coaches, Hitch is in a section called ‘The Proven’ that works…right?
The amazing Christy, from Behind the Jersey *and the gal who hosts my blogs* needs our help. She is in need of knee surgery and her insurance company is denying her. So, she is trying to raise $30,000 to help pay for her surgery. If you can help at all click here, and read up on it, and donate whatever you can. Every little bit helps.
Our logo is 24th worst best in the league…that’s…good…uh right?
The Iowa Chops offered Brett Favre a contract….all I can say is W..T..F.

A Closer Look at the NHL Central: Columbus Blue Jackets, Part Two

Bethany P — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:36:34 -0400

Let’s take a quick look at the Blue Jackets goaltending. I will be looking at The Cannon’s amazing depth chart as a reference.

The Blue Jackets will have their number-one goaltender in Pascal Leclaire. Leclaire was recently signed to a new three-year deal. Pazzy stole the show last season with his nine shutouts, and made Blue Jackets fans fall in love with him all over again.

The question with Leclaire is: Can he stay healthy? It seems to always be a issue for him. He did, for the most part, have a healthy season last year, except for a few times where he had the flu.

Leclaire posted a 24-17-6 record with a .919 save percentage, and a 2.25 GAA. IF Pascal is back into his old form, then we have a solid number-one goaltender.

Fredrik Norrena will be the backup for Leclaire this coming season. He will, however, receive a push from Steve Mason, our ‘goaltender of the future.’ Freddy had a bad season last year, with a 10-19-6 record, a .896 GAA, and a 2.76 GAA. Not all of that is his fault—for one reason or another the team did not play in front of him for most games. Though, there were a few games that could be blamed on him.

In the 2006-2007 Norrena became the first goaltender in Blue Jackets history to have a .500 record. Norrena is in the final year of his contract, and if Mason develops enough this coming season, Norrena very well could be out of a job with the Blue Jackets.

Our goaltender of the future, Steve Mason is expected to play in Syracuse this coming season. Mason was traded to the Kitchener Rangers after World Juniors, to play in the Memorial Cup. However, Mason sustained a pretty serious knee injury, and was unable to play in the Memorial Cup game. And, according to this piece by the Dispatch, as of mid-July Mason could not go down into the butterfly without serious pain.

Mason, if you recall, was the winning goaltender for Team Canada at World Juniors. If Mason’s recovery goes as planned, he will be ready for rookie camp on September 12. Let’s hope so.

I am anxious to see how he recovers from this. You know it had to hit hard not just physically, but mentally also. My guess is that Mason will be called up a few times throughout the year, and will get to play a few games with the Jackets just to see how he does.

Dan Lacosta had a tough season last year also. He was injured in the Elmira bus Accident, suffering an ankle injury. Lacosta played part of a game last season. If there are any injuries to Norrena or Leclaire, Lacosta might come up, but my guess is that job will go to Mason.