Bleacher Report - Articles by Peter Hopey

How the Columbus Blue Jackets Will Shock the Hockey World and Win It All

Peter Hopey — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:14:44 -0400

No, there's no typo in that headline. About every 10 years or so, something happens. Something so big, something so contrary to everything we believe in, something so unheard of, that we all drop our collective jaws in amazement wondering if what we are seeing before us is, in fact, really taking place.

This “something” occurs in two forms. One in which an event occurs, perhaps an individual on a team or a solo athlete does something that we are all in awe over. 1962: Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlain poured in 100 points in a regulation basketball game. At that point in time, who would have ever considered that as a realistic or plausible outcome of an NBA game? I dare say no one.

The other is what is commonly referred to as the “Cinderella Story.” The formula goes something like this: A relatively average team gets into a game or tournament they probably should not have reached due to their mediocre team and abilities.

During the course of the game or tournament, the players are able to dig deep and display talent beyond their normal capabilities. As a result, the team comes close to reaching some significant achievement, or better yet, actually does do something once thought unachievable.

The 1991 Minnesota North Stars (before moving to Dallas in 1993) lost to the mighty Penguins in six games. This after the North Stars had won a mere 27 games during the regular season (they were blessed with playing in a division with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were only able to muddle a paltry 23 wins during that same year).

Minnesota became the fan favorite of many casual NHL watchers as it was, simply put, a “feel good” story that drew attention to the NHL.

The 2006 Carolina Hurricanes also come to mind. They were pushed to the brink by the upstart Edmonton Oilers during a grueling seven-game series. Carolina came into the playoffs as the second seed from the Eastern conference, while the Oilers barely made the playoffs and were the eighth seed from the West. Both teams were not expected to cause the waves that they did that year (especially Edmonton).

While every monkey with their own sports talk radio show was quick to point to the poor television ratings, hockey purists everywhere were ecstatic to see some new blood fighting to be crowned Stanley Cup Champions.

I can recall sitting in a bar in Halifax Nova Scotia (on a business trip) glued to the TV with my coworkers pulling desperately for the Oilers, who were of course the “Canadian” team, and by default, the more popular of the two squads that night. We drank away our sorrows after the loss but had lots of fun in the process.

So Vegas, you can thank me later for bringing you in on my little secret. The Dallas Cowboys of the NHL are about to be reborn. You read it here first. The Columbus Blue Jackets will be 2009 Stanley Cup Champions.

Have another shot of peppermint schnapps, you say? Hardly. It’s barely 8:30 a.m. Give me another hour.

I, along with a million other prognosticators, will be telling you over the next six weeks or so why I think I have got it all figured out. All the great hockey minds, from former coaches to TV analysts to current players, will all tell you who will beat who and why.

And everyone can likely make a case for their prediction coming true. Let’s be honest, unless the games are fixed, the theory of “anything can happen in the playoffs” truly applies. Opinions are like, well, you know. Everyone has 'em. So to discount anything at this point is pure speculation at best.

I mean, really, did anyone see Detroit falling to the Oilers in the first round in 2006? Or did anyone expect them to fall in four straight to Anaheim back in 2003? Not likely. But there seem to be some teams that finish strong in the regular season and then struggle to put it all together when they need to.

Often we hear about how it’s more important that a team be simply hitting their stride as the playoffs begin, and that this is more important then the number of points they finish with at the end of the season. I tend to think there is some merit to that.

In fact, the one wild card I see in the West because of their recent strong play is St. Louis. They have been unbelievable over the last month of the season, and netminder Chris Mason has been a huge reason for that success.

Some say the era of the dynasty is gone. They say the salary cap has watered down the league, forced it to staff itself with mediocrity simply to ensure a certain number of franchises existed. The league is only as watered down as the coaching allows it to be.
I would argue it has in fact allowed some players the opportunity to show their skills to both coach and potential teammates. I have watched my fair share of QMJHL, AHL, NHL, World Cup, Olympics, etc. Blue Jacket fans now know who TJ Oshie is, yes?

The Blue Jackets are about to perform a modern-day miracle. There will soon be some players who will be kicking themselves. Some players (Wade Redden comes to mind) had an opportunity to sign on the dotted line to play with Columbus but chose not to. He was told (in fact) to let Howson know what his best offer from another team would be and Howson flat-out stated that he would do better. Redden didn’t return the call.

Had he looked a little deeper into what the Columbus franchise was building, he too would be sharing the journey to the finals.

With OSU in its backyard, the locals are used to instant gratification and winners. And the novelty of “having a team” started to wear off a few years ago. It’s truly unfortunate that he won’t be around to see this year play itself out.

To refresh everyone’s memory, here are some of my predictions back in August (long before the season started)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/43815-columbus-blue-jackets-playoff-bound-in-2008-09/page/5

1. Between Filatov or Vorachek, I proposed that the latter would be the one to make the team (and Jacob did, putting together 39 points in his rookie campaign during 79 games of play). To compare, Filatov got four points in eight games.

2. I pointed out that Columbus would finish third in the Central Division. I have to eat some crow here given the fact that they technically came in fourth. Cut me a bit of slack in that they finished with the same points, same wins, and they ended up needing to go to other differentiators to break the tie.

3. The need for one or more signings given their room under the salary cap was a no-brainer. Although they did grab Chris Gratton and Antoine Vermette, I will only take partial credit, as I had anticipated bigger names to be brought onboard. Maybe I get half a point for this one.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/43815-columbus-blue-jackets-playoff-bound-in-2008-09/page/3

I also flagged the point that one of the biggest losses (mistakes, whatever) that was made was letting Zherdev get away. Not only was I bang on with this, the numbers that Zherdev put on the board for the Rangers put him second on the team (he would have been first but for Toronto sending over Nik Antropov at the trade deadline for a draft pick).

I don’t mean to “toot my own horn,” but I am trying to give myself an ounce of credibility given some of the predictions that are about to follow. Assuming the standings are as I expect them to be, here is how I see the Stanley Cup finals breaking down. I’ll tell you why each series will end up with the winner I have chosen and I will also highlight some of the keys to the outcome of the series.

And I will attempt to blow your mind.

ROUND ONE

West

1. (a) SJ (1) vs ANA (8) – SJ (1) in 5

Joe Thornton plays the “invisible man” again to a tee; however, upstarts like

Setagouchi, Pavelski, and Clowe all chip in and take out the Ducks. The goaltending

duel will be interesting, although I anticipate desperation will have pundits wondering

who they will start in net by Game Three.

2. (b) Det (2) vs CBJ (7) – CBJ (7) in 7

The usual suspects stand out (Zetterberg, Lidstrom, etc.) while Osgood shows the

chinks in his armor, which are to be the team's downfall. The start of an outstanding

run to the Cup final begins here. The season series is 3-3 and it’s no accident. Nash will

put the team on his back and the possibility of Brassard’s return will give them the will

to overcome the Big Red Machine.

3. (c) Van (3) vs St. L (6) – Van (3) in 7

Luongo holds the Canucks in the game on most nights. Chris Mason will be up to the

task...well, almost. The Sedins will shine, as will Boyes and Tkachuck. Unfortunately the

addition of Sundin will play a factor and the Blues will have their late season surge

extinguished in seven.

4. (d) Chi (4) vs Cal (5) – CHI (4) in 6

Calgary is the “anti-St. Louis.” They are frigid at the wrong time. Iginla will spend too much time in the box trying to motivate the troops with his fists. Khabibulin is sharp and Kipper looks average. Havlat and the kids (Toews and Kane) do enough to win it, possibly making it look easier then it should have been.

East

5. (e) Bos (1) vs Mtl (8) – Bos (1) in 5

This will be the least-interesting first-round matchup due to the total embarrassment

that is the Montreal Canadians. Expect Kovalev to be waving a white flag on the end of

his stick at some point in the series. A fool with cash to spare might bet the Habs to

win. But keep your money in your pocket or put it on the safe bet, the Bruins.

6. (f) Was (2) vs NYR (7) – NYR (7) in 6

Expect this to be a spirited contest. The X-factor is Washington’s goaltending. The

Rangers clearly have the edge there, but not so on the offense. Do not be surprised to

see Varlamov take over for the Caps in net. Technically, Washington is the favorite,

but you will have a hard time telling at any given point during the series.

If it isn’t Ovechkin, it’s Semin. If not Semin, then Federov, or Green, or Backstrom.

Make no mistake, the Caps have lots of firepower. But Lundqvist will keep the Rangers

in the the games long enough for guys like Gomez and Zherdev to net some rubber. The

Rangers will surprise many by taking down the mighty 8 in 6.

7. (g) NJ (3) vs Car (6) – NJ (3) in 7

The Devils have Brodeur, Hurricanes Ward. Tip the hat to NJ. Offensively, the Canes

have balance, while New Jersey has depth. This will be one of the less interesting

first-round series. You'll have plenty of time to run to the fridge for a refill of your

favourite beverage. Not a lot of pucks in the net, and great goaltending for sure. It will

come down to defense and net minding, and Brodeur is the difference.

8. (h) PIT (4) vs Phi (5) – PIT (4) in 4

The Battle of Pennsylvania was once a great rivalry. It is still exciting, but looking at the lineups, the tide has clearly shifted in Pittsburgh’s favor again. With Malkin and Crosbyup front, and Fleury playing like a real No. 1 goalie, I think Philly and their perennial netminding dilemma goes quietly. This may provide the most fisticuffs, but don’t get comfortable to watch this, 'cause if you blink, it will be over before you knew it started.

ROUND TWO

West

9. (i) SJ (1) vs CBJ (7) – CBJ (7) in 7

San Jose bows out as the Joe Thornton shows why he has earned the reputation of

being nonexistent in the playoffs. Jackets will get a balanced attack and, while not

pretty, will muck and grind away rendering skilled guys like Setoguchi and Pavelski

harmless. The second dragon is slain.

10. (j) Van (3) vs CHI (4) – CHI (4) in 7

More changing of the guard in that Chicago will keep rolling along over a team they might have struggled against before. Age catches up to the Canucks as Sundin runs out of gas. He is the heart of the team, make no mistake. My Spidey sense says an injury or two will play a factor maybe on the back end. Hawks keep getting scoring from the kids and guys like Keith and Barker are solid on the back end. The Bulin wall stands tall.

East

11. (k) Bos (1) vs NYR (7) – Bos (1) in 6

Boston shows why they are not a fluke. Thomas starts to put his name on the Conn

Smythe trophy. Avery starts to implode (come on, we all wanted it to happen). The

age and lack of scoring depth is more apparent here, while just the opposite shows up

for the Bruins.

12. (l) NJ (3) vs PIT (4) – Pit (4) in 7

This proves to be one of the more entertaining series of the entire postseason. It will be a shootout. New Jersey ends up in a run and gun with Sid and company, and you know how those types of series end up. If Brodeur can play the series of his life, maybe they pull it off. But seeing how Fleury has evolved, I believe he can keep them in the game each night. Folks will start to wonder if the Pens are ready this year.

ROUND THREE

13. (m) Chi (4) vs CBJ (7) – CBJ (7) in 7

This may be the best of the postseason. These teams know each other well. Nash,
Huselius, Malhotra, Umberger, and others will all chip in to win this series. Ultimately, it
comes down to some key goaltending, and in this series, I tip my hat to youth.

Mason wins out. Havlat will likely succumb to a hangnail (it’s bound to happen) and the regular-season experience of the Jackets will be enough to knock the much improved Blackhawks off to the golf course. Seriously.

14. (n) Bos (1) vs Pit (4) – Bos (1) in 6

I flip-flopped here. Originally I considered upset, but Pittsburgh’s goaltending just is not anywhere near where Boston’s is. In fact, Boston’s backup (Fernandez) could be the starter for Pittsburgh. Expect Thomas to put out the lights in this one. Savard and Kessel dominate, Krejci is a machine, and this one is far from a walk, but the top team will win and win in convincing fashion.

Stanley Cup Finals

15. (o) Bos (1) vs CBJ (7) – CBJ (7) in 7

A final likely no one (but me) predicted. And of course, I will be alone in my contention

that the Jackets will win it. So be it. I believe Thomas becomes human in this series.

The Jackets learn quickly that in order to win, they need to pepper him with shots from

everywhere. All shots, all the time. And Mason will win the series for them, erasing

Thomas’ name from the Conn Smythe and engraving his own.

Vermette, having quietly maintained a solid presence, explodes and makes Scott Howson look like a genius for signing him. The team from the midwest will stand tall and Boston will need to wait for at least one more year for their crack at the Cup.

So that’s the way I see it. Could the Blue Jackets pull off such an upset? Could they roll through the two top teams in the west in the process? Can Mason perform like the Patrick Roy of 1985-86? Can Rick Nash finally put the team on his back and become an elite force in the league? Can the hardest working team in hockey be Stanley Cup Champions? I’m off to Vegas.

Who would you put your money on?

Columbus Blue Jackets: Are Hitch and the Boys Ready for Prime Time?

Peter Hopey — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:01:15 -0400

Hockey’s regular season is down to a few short weeks remaining.

It is exciting! For the first time in many years, I really care about the race to see who makes it in, and who has the offseason to re-tool.

The sun is setting on another NHL regular season, and the sun begins to rise on another, the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to do everything humanly possible to win.

Your mission is to turn childhood dreams into reality.

Your goal is to skate faster, shoot harder, check with more vigor, and play with more intensity.

Your job is to do your family, yourself, and your teammates proud. You WILL lace up those skates, you WILL battle hard and you WILL bleed, for you are among the final 16 teams left standing.

Your only goal now is to win the most cherished trophy in all of sport—the Stanley Cup.

Each year, as the season winds down and the dust begins to settle ever so slightly, all NHL teams will ultimately find themselves falling into one of four possible categories, each of which contains certain characteristics and similarities with each other:

First, there are those teams that have already made the playoffs, having locked in a berth two weeks ago (Detroit with 105 points and San Jose with 104 points).

In some cases, they will have clinched a division title as well, as is the case with San Jose.
Second, you have the teams who are playing some good hockey and are in the first through fourth slots within their division.

Teams like Washington, New Jersey, Calgary, and Chicago all have solid point totals. In many cases they still may move up or down in the standings, but chances of them falling out of the playoff race are relatively slim.
Third, you have your teams that are scraping and fighting for every point they can get. Teams like the NY Rangers, Montreal, St. Louis, and Minnesota. They are often at the tail end of the playoff picture, hovering around the seventh through tenth slots.

Depending on what night of the week it is, it’s conceivable a couple of teams move back INTO the playoff race, and as a result, a couple of OTHER teams get pushed down the ladder out of the playoff picture.
Fourth, and the least popular of the categories to find yourself in, are the teams who fell out of the race a long time ago. Often teams in this category are considered “sellers” in terms of openly shopping one or more players on their teams, often for draft picks in hopes that next year, next year will be different indeed.

Teams falling into that category include Tampa Bay, the NY Islanders, Phoenix, and Colorado.

For the first time in the franchise's existence, the Columbus Blue Jackets are a legitimate playoff team. So much so that for the first year ever, Columbus was a buyer—going out and grabbing Antoine Vermette from the somewhat rejuvenated (but still lacklustre) Senators.

Columbus is playing with a great deal of consistency. This has been one of their biggest criticisms since inception. Being able to string together three wins in a row seemed to be a challenge as seemingly difficult as proving that water wasn’t wet.

Just this month alone they have dealt loses to the Red Wings, Bruins, Penguins, and Black Hawks. These teams are all at or near the top of their respective divisions. No longer do the Blue Jackets get taken for granted as they once did.

If one had to point to a particular player as being the lynchpin to their success, it’s a no-brainer. Or it used to be a no-brainer. This year is different.

In most other years, Rick Nash would have automatically been the answer. Make no mistake. If you don’t follow the midwest or Central Division, you only know Rick Nashfor his highlight-reel goals on nightly episodes of Sportscenter, Sport Night, Sport Monkey, or whatever show you watch to get your fix.

While he is having a “good” year by his standards (67 points in 68 games, effectively a point per game guy), one need only look to the crease for the answer to their success this year.

Rookie Steve Mason has been spectacular. After seeing little puck last year, and starting the season on the end of a scope at the OR, Mason has taken over the blue paint for the Jackets. On more than one occasion he has put that team on his back, kept the score from getting out of control as the defense seemingly parted the seas in front of him, made another timely save, and gave them the opportunity to compete for the win.

And this kid is barely out of training pants!

He has shown night in and night out that he ain’t no fluke. Hence, the Jackets were able to part ways with oft-injured Pascal LeClaire. Pascal was a great goalie, and at face value some think that Howson gave up too much for Vermette. Simply put, were Pascal to be able to stay healthy for more then three months at a time, the team was not “big” enough for both he and Mason.

In a league where the platoon goal-tending scenario seems to be ever more accepted, I don’t sense that it was going to work in Columbus. Veteran and youth goalies seem to be able to coexist, while two goalies that are nearer each other in age and in terms of overall “tending prime”—not so much.

So the team made the best move they could and frankly, I am happy with their outcome thus far. Vermette has been on the score sheet virtually every night they have played so they are getting an immediate return on their investment. And Mason, already blooming with confidence, should feel even more comfortable now that the Jackets are his team, and they will go as far as he can take them.

In terms of where the Blue Jackets fit in right now in terms of the playoff race, I suggest that they fall somewhere in the two or three range. One could suggest two from the perspective that the team has been playing great hockey as of late and would have to be considered a legitimate threat to be taken seriously by Detroit, San Jose, and Calgary alike.

At the same time, one might counter argue that because of the past history, the Jackets may better be referred to as a three. They have, let’s face it, never played in the post season and in all reality, are one key injury (Steve Mason) away from being a team on the outside looking in. After a 5-0 drubbing last night of the Flames, I am ready to say they may be for real.

Make no mistake about it. Mason is the franchise right now, more so then Nash himself. And while he can’t outright win the game for them, he can certainly hold up his end of the bargain night in and night out, and do virtually everything but.

Additions like the pick up of Chris Gratton went almost unnoticed. No longer the thundering checker who topped out at 62 points twice in his career, Gratton was a good move, if for no other reason then to ensure there was a viable centre should they not make any deadline moves (as they did to acquire Vermette).

Raffi Torres, although injured for the majority of the year, seems to be hitting a bit of a stride now. Recently potting two goals in the last few minutes of a come from behind win over the Panthers, Torres seems to be finding his grip and getting comfortable with his linemates Mike Peca at centre and Andy Murray on the right side.

I often pondered the value of Peca, once seen as a lightening rod who could ignite the fire within his team with a tenacious hit, or even a good scrap often with someone inches taller and pounds heavier. He has surprised me a bit by showing glimmers of that old feisty, gritty player who put fear in the opponents' eyes.

RJ Umberger has fit in nicely. Once a Buckeye in his college days, RJ at 26, is still developing that scoring touch. He isn’t quite Rick Nashthe second yet, but he is certainly capable of some highlight-caliber goals of his own.

Umberger made his mark last year in the playoff as a result of his production with the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Jackets made him a “wanted man” in their eyes. Kristian

Huselius has been everything the team had hoped for. Not quite a point per game guy just yet, Huselius has really bought into Hitchcock’s system and taken an interest in his own two way game. His ability to get back to help out the defense has impressed the coach and no doubt helped buy him an additional shift or two each game as a result.

There were two hot young rookie prospects who were fighting to make the team at the beginning of the season, Jakub Voracekand Derick Brassard. Both played their way onto the team to start the season. Unfortunately for Brassard, in what would be considered a case of pure dumb luck at the 31-game mark, separated his shoulder in what would be his first and last tussle of the 2009 campaign, throwing haymakers with James Neal of the Dallas Stars. The injury required surgery and relegated him to the sidelines for the remainder of the year.

Make no mistake though, Brassard was the clear number one centre on the team. His return to the lineup next year will solidify a team that, should they be able to re-sign Vermette, will have depth and youth up the middle of the ice that they had been lacking for some time now.

This is what the loyal fan base have been waiting for since the team first stepped foot onto a clean sheet of ice at the beautiful Taj Mahal fans and report staff alike know to be Nationwide Arena. This brand new facility, not unlike the home town crowds, has been itching to host a first ever playoff game.

The Jackets still hold the dubious distinction of not having ever laced up the skates to play in a playoff game. This year, the buzz in the locker room is different. At this point in prior years, the most exciting aspect of the team was watching to see just how many little balls they would get.

With just eight games remaining on the schedule, the Columbus Blue Jackets currently sit in sixth spot in the Western division. The team is in the process of setting new franchise records in both wins and overall points. Columbus has 85 points, six more than the team in ninth spot on the outside looking in.

Still, the naysayers are creeping. Can they avoid imploding and finally reach the post season? How many times have we wondered if this was the year only to see the team turn tail, let their little tails hit the floor, and saunter away knowing their role in the NHL, that of bumbling midwest team that no one wants to play for. You know, the team who had top-tier players at two positions, but then a bunch of journeymen.

What makes a champion? Is it pure skill and talent? Ask the Rangers or Wings—it doesn’t HURT, but it isn’t going to take home the Cup at the end of the day.

It’s the goal scorers, the guys who aren’t concerned about their daytime-emmy good looks and go hard to the corners. It’s a sprinkling of veterans who have been to the dance and both taken home the prize, AND who have been so close that they could almost taste it.

It’s an exciting time for the Blue Jackets. The world is their oyster. They are masters of their own destiny. If Mason stays big, the defense remains capable, guys like Vermette and Huselius fill their support roles as they are expected to, the big kid from Brampton Ontario is gonna get them over the hump.

The cast is not that of a band of superstars. It’s not exactly a group of misfits who have been cast off the island either. Let’s not go so far as to try and create the Bad News Bears identity either. There are some quality hockey players on this team.

What they have simply not been able to do is put together a string of great hockey that convinces many hockey fans (especially Canadians) that Winnipeg doesn’t deserve a hockey team, and Columbus could be a Stanley Cup Champion.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Playoff Bound in 2008-09

Peter Hopey — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:36:00 -0400

Everyone is great at something.

Some people are great artists. Put them in front of a wall, give them some spray paint, and they create magic.

With others, it’s cooking. They don’t need a recipe, they don’t need measuring cups. Just some ingredients, some fire, and they can prepare a meal fit for a king.

Well, the Jackets are great at something as well. They’re great at being average.

The salary cap helps to significantly level the playing field and ultimately negates the ability for wealthy owners to simply buy championships. The intangibles become what makes a good team great, and what makes a great team a Stanley Cup Champion.

Not only is there an upper limit under which your players cumulative salaries must not surpass, there is even a lower limit, forcing even the most penny-pinching of owners to spend some of their cash.

With all due respect to the late John H McConnell (sidenote: I rode the elevator with him after a Jackets game back in 2000, and he found it hilarious that my wife’s jersey had the C while mine sported the A), the purse strings have simply been much too tight. The Jackets were never any higher then 24th in the league in terms of money spent on player salaries in a given season.

I must stress that one does not assume that a higher payroll in and of itself makes a team better, more competitive, or more likely to win a game. But there absolutely is a correlation between how much a team spends and where they finish in the standings.

Sure, each year there is usually a high-priced team or two who tank and fall flat on their face. At the other end of the spectrum, there is that ragtag, vagabond team of outcasts and misfits that is able to somehow sneak into the playoffs and gets through a round or two.

But at the end of the day, let’s be honest. For the most part, you get what you pay for. Talent wins championships.

What is a bit baffling in the Blue Jackets' case is how the owners and coaching staff seem truly befuddled each and every time they go through a five or six-game losing streak (one of many each year). On top of that, they seem genuinely shocked when many of the games result in a shutout for the other team.

So what makes anyone think that things will be different during the 2008-09 season? Why should I buy what Scott Howson and Ken Hitchcock are selling THIS year?

I must confess, the team does have a different look to it. Given their relatively brief history in the league, the Jackets' facelift during this offseason has probably been the most significant to date.

So we all agree, they’re different, no doubt about that. But are they a better team? Will the notable new faces be enough? Will the talent they put on the ice truly be able to compete with their opponents night after night?

Can they not only shake that playoff monkey off their back, but really have a shot at the most coveted prize in professional sports, the Stanley Cup? Let’s start in the net and work our way out.

No surprise in goal—it’s the returning superstar Pascal LeClaire, who recently re-signed for three years at an impressive $11.4 million. After going down to injury during 2006-07 season, he settled in last year and served up nine shutouts, second in the league behind the Rangers Henrik Lundqvist (10).

LeClaire played in 54 games, and posted a 2.25 GAA, which was seventh in the NHL. His .919 save percentage also put him among the league leaders.

LeClaire overcame what the sophomore jinx so many young goaltenders succumb to and solidified his job as the number one starter. Alongside him was the elder statesmen, Frederik Norrena.

In 2006-07, Norrena stepped in when LeClaire went down, and performed admirably under the pressure. In fact, to his credit he became the first Jackets goaltender to finish with more wins then losses (24-23-0-3).

It will be interesting to see what the Jackets do this year. LeClaire is the clear number one. But they also have a plethora of young talent down on the farm.

Leading the pack is Steve Mason, the stellar netminder from the World Juniors. This kid has a big frame, and his ability to control rebounds is outstanding. He was briefly called up to the Jackets late in the season, but never saw any ice time.

It may just be a bit too early for Mason to handle the pressure. However, if he comes into camp and impresses, he may make a real case to stay with the team to start the season.

Moving out from the crease, we have our first taste of new blood in 28-year-old Mike Commodore. Back in February, he joined the Senators in a trade that saw him and Corey Stillman head to the Sens, while in return the Hurricanes received Joe Corvo and Patrick Eaves.

After an uninspired finish to the season and dismal playoff performance with the Sens, Commodore was nabbed from the free-agent list by Columbus with a five-year deal. He immediately becomes the anchor for a sluggish defense corps, who have become notorious for being slow to move the puck and prone to costly turnovers.

At 6’5” and 228 lbs., Commodore is a mountain of a man. Don’t let the Ronald MacDonald hair fool you. If you find yourself in his crosshairs, eating through a straw for the next four weeks may be a real possibility for you.

Columbus’ original first-round selection (fourth overall) in the 2000 entry draft, Rostislav Klesla played in all 82 games last year, and racked up six goals and 12 assists in the process.

“Rusty”, now 6’3” and 220 lbs., has become a leader in the locker room and on the ice. At 26, he is clearly one of the top-two blueliners and ranked second on the team in ice time at 22:54. He continues to improve, and no doubt his best years still lie ahead of him.

Jan Hejda is a big Czech who quietly patrols the blue line, and has great hockey sense when it comes time to support the rush. His plus-20 is miles ahead of his closest teammate (Klesla, at plus-seven).

Hejda plays mistake-free hockey, and is extremely savvy about knowing when it’s time to lay a thundering hit or to dump the puck in the corner for a change. Hejda has been a great addition to the team, and with his focus on responsibility in his own zone, he can definitely become his goalie’s best friend.

A big blow to the defense corps came when Ron Hainsey signed with the Atlanta Thrashers. Hainsey had developed into a solid two-way player who was fourth on the team with in both points (32) and shots taken (161). He was also third in ice time, averaging 22:53 a game.

The Jackets need to shop the market to fill this hole. Guys like Aaron Rome and Clay Wilson (both in Syracuse and often on the bubble) are clearly going to be fighting for a spot on the roster, but neither will likely be ready to fill the role vacated by a player of Hainsey’s caliber.

The Jackets are relatively sound up the middle—however, many would argue that they are deepest on the wings. Case in point? Three-time All-Star Rick Nash, a workhorse who dominates the game each and every shift.

Nash is strong on the outside and almost unstoppable when he puts his head down and drives the net. I believe he is capable of putting up better numbers.

He’s fourth on the team in ice time, and first among forwards. His 38 goals and 31 assists are certainly not paltry, but given his highlight-reel goals, one wonders why he doesn’t rack up more points.

Nash's defensive skills were once to blame, but he has clearly gotten better on the backcheck and in his own zone. In all fairness, he isn’t exactly surrounded by a cast of All-Stars.

That being said, Nash needs to step up even further this year and carry this team on his back. If he is to be regarded as one of the greats of his time—and I think he is capable of it—he needs to do more.

Hopefully Hitchcock will shorten his bench more frequently, and play Nash at every opportunity.

In one of the biggest offseasonmoves thus far, the Jackets sent centre Gilbert Brule to the Edmonton Oilers for left winger Raffi Torres.

Torres, a 26-year old originally hailing from Toronto, is coming off of a season in which a knee injury restricted him to 32 games. In 22 career NHL playoff games, he has 11 points.

Gilbert Brule had been seeing some time in the AHL, and was in some ways simply a victim of circumstance, as Columbus is deep at the centre ice position.

Brule is about two or three years away from being at his peak while Torres is arguably in his prime. To Howson’s credit, making this type of move may buy some loyalty from the Jacket faithful, as the intended message appears to be “we want players at their peak now.”

The other significant acquisition—which seemingly drew little notice—was the signing of Kristian Huselius, who previously played for the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers. His 55 points in 81 games last year would be a welcome addition to a team starved for scoring talent.

Adding Huselius into the lineup means Hitchcock should have plenty of different line combinations to throw at the opposition, with one or more legitimate scoring threats on the ice each and every shift.

The biggest loss to the team came in the departure of Nickoli Zherdev. He, along with Dan Fritsche, was traded to the New York Rangers for defensemen Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin.

The embattled center had recently suffered through a contract dispute. During this time, management indicated that they were not happy with his performance and felt he was not playing to his full potential. Whether this played a part in his ultimate relocation is not clear.

Prior to the beginning of last season, Ken Hitchcock met with Zherdev, and both agreed to put any past issues aside and focus on hockey. The result was a re-ignited player who went on to have an outstanding season. Unfortunately for the Jackets, something changed, and his services will now be rendered for the NY Rangers.

David Vyborny will also not be with the team this season. He was an original Jacket who patrolled the right-wing position. Last year, however, his game seemed to disappear, and he only put up 26 points in 66 games.

In all fairness, he was playing with injuries. Prior to that point in his career, his durability was relatively unparalleled—in fact, he has missed just 15 of 492 games during his career with the Blue Jackets.

Vyborny, 33 years old, has signed to play with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga this upcoming season. The Jackets, as a result, grow a little younger.

Up the middle, the Jackets made at least one significant move. The splash heard throughout the Midwest involved the signing of RJ Umburger away from the Philadelphia Flyers.

For those who were paying attention, Umberger put together an amazing run in the playoffs, tallying 10 goals and five assists in 17 games. He and Biron stole the show for the Flyers, and he was a big reason they drove as deep into the postseason as they did.

In 74 regular-season games he also put up respectable numbers (13 goals, 37 assists) for a team that often reverted to physical, old-style play as opposed to finesse and skill.

A Pittsburgh native, RJ brings to the team skill, youth (he’s only 26), and a desire to compete. The "hometown boy" (having played his college puck for the Ohio State Buckeyes of the CCHA) will have every opportunity to succeed, as Hitchcock will no doubt be casting him in the role of first-line center.

Michael Peca is back, although given his age and frailty one might wonder if re-signing him was a good move or not. He’s no doubt a character player, but anyone who has watched his game over the last year or two can see he is a step slower, and seems to have lost the passion he once played with.

He also appears to be less willing to deliver that thundering hit, and he just isn’t getting those bounces that translate into goals and wins as he once did.

If Peca can find a way to re-invigorate himself, then he may end up being a key piece of the puzzle in terms of building a contender. If not, expect to see him riding the bench a lot more as games wear on into the third period.

Jiri Novotny is a player who may surprise many. He has logged time with the Capitals and Sabres, but is getting his real shot to perform in a full-time role with the Jackets.

At age 24, he is another young talent with nothing but opportunity waiting ahead for him. With a taskmaster like Hitchcock at the helm, Novotny may just bloom into that second-line winger who puts up 50 to 60 points a season.

There are a couple of young stars that have an opportunity to make the team “birth by fire” style. Jakuv Voracek, the Jackets' top pick in 2007, is a European winger who has adapted quite well to the North American style of hockey.

Voracek can bang and crash in the corners and has the ability to play in traffic. He was named the top offensive rookie in the QMJHL in 2007 and his game is very uptempo.

The other possibility is Nikita Filatov, chosen in this year's draft. This Russian winger was scouted as being the top European player in the draft, and the Jackets were very lucky to have him as their selection.

Filatov has size, skill—and above all else, speed. In 34 games for his Moscow team (equivalent to the OHL/QMJHL/WHL), he put up 32 goals and 24 assists, just shy of avergaing two points per game.

Of the two rookies, Voracek is the best bet to make the squad this year.

This season is clearly a make or break year. Unless the Jackets drive deep into the playoffs, expect to see a big shakeup within the team.

Columbus has rotated through a few coaches now (MacLean, Gallant, King), so the next domino to fall likely will not be that of Ken Hitchcock. Scott Howson has made some bold statements that he will be held accountable for.

Let’s face it, the teams that were put on the ice the first eight years performed to expectations—or perhaps better stated, performed to the skill level on the team. To date, the Jackets have had a sprinkling of All-Star talent (LeClaire, Nash), but for the most part, have gotten by on the “grind it out, work hard, and get some bounces” approach personified by journeymen like Kevin Dineen and Tyler Wright.

There has always been cap room available—but no one has made use of it to acquire the assets needed to put a winner on the ice.

Heading into the 2008-09 season, the Jackets have room under the salary cap left to dabble in free agency. There are still a variety of free agents out there.

I like what the Jackets have done up front. I think they are a move or two away, but I think they did address some of their major concerns, such as providing Nash with some support in the form of guys like Umberger and Huselius.

Where I think they still need some help is on the back end, and there are still a multitude of guys available. In no particular order, the following, depending on the structure of a contract, would all be welcome additions to the roster:

Aaron Ward D (BOS)
Dennis Wideman D (BOS)
James Wisniewski D (CHI)
Jon Klemm D (LA)
Sean Hill D (MIN)
Sheldon Brookbank D (NJ)
Marek Malik D (NYR)
Paul Mara D (NYR)
Andy Wozniewski D (TOR)

The 2008/2009 season will be a defining one for Columbus. Scott Howson has started putting the pieces together to have a competitive team.

There are probably still some skill players to add, and there is clearly a need for some additional help back on the blue line.

But with the additions up front in the offseason thus far (including Umberger, Torres, and Huselius), the possibility of either their 2007 (Voracek) or 2008 (Filatov) draft pick making the team, and some reinforcements on the backend (Commodore, Tyutin), the Jackets just might have what it takes this year to not only get to the playoffs, but to really shake things up.

Expect to see them finish in third spot in the Central, and play their way into the second round of the playoffs before bowing out. By the end of this season, Columbus will have earned the respect of the NHL.

From the Rafters: The No. 3 Seed—an NHL Rule That SHOULD Be Re-Visited

Peter Hopey — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:38:08 -0400

Let me first go on record to say that, I am a No. 3 seed skeptic. Have always been, likely always will be. Unless they fix it.

My premise is simple. Why do we prop up a team with fewer points ahead of another team who has scored more points? Typing it feels wrong, repeating it in my head sounds wrong.

This article looks to discuss how we got here, what it all means, and what I think we should do about it. Then you can decide.

First, let’s look at how the regular season finished up.

East

1. Montreal 104
2. Pittsburgh 102
3. Washington 94
4. New Jersey 99
5. NY Rangers 97
6. Philadelphia 95
7. Ottawa 94
8. Boston 94

West

1. Detroit 115
2. San Jose 108
3. Minnesota 98
4. Anaheim 102
5. Dallas 97
6. Colorado 95
7. Calgary 94
8. Nashville 91

Result here is first round matchups in the East of

Montreal (1) vs Boston (8)
Pittsburgh (2) vs Ottawa (7)
Washington (3) vs Philadelphia (6)
New Jersey (4) vs NY Rangers (5)

And in the west, the first round is as follows:

Detroit (1) vs Nashville (8)
San Jose (2) vs Calgary (7)
Minnesota (3) vs Colorado (6)
Anaheim (4) vs Dallas (5)

Now without the No. 3 seed factor, here is how it previously WOULD have been played out before the changes were implemented

East

1. Montreal 104
2. Pittsburgh 102
3. New Jersey 99
4. NY Rangers 97
5. Philadelphia 95
6. Ottawa 94
7. Washington 94
8. Boston 94

West

1. Detroit 115
2. San Jose 108
3. Anaheim 102
4. Minnesota 98
5. Dallas 97
6. Colorado 95
7. Calgary 94
8. Nashville 91

This would have resulted in the following first round matchups in the East

Montreal (1) vs Boston (8)
Pittsburgh (2) vs Washington (7)
New Jersey (3) vs Ottawa (6)
NY Rangers (4) vs Philadelphia (5)

And in the West, it would have looked as follows

Detroit (1) vs Nashville (8)
San Jose (2) vs Calgary (7)
Anaheim (3) vs Colorado (6)
Minnesota (4) vs Dallas (5)

In an effort to reward a team for winning it’s division, the seeding rules changed such that at the very least, if your team won it’s division crown, you were guaranteed to at least be a No. 1, 2, or 3 seed, even if your point total was abysmal. So it is plausible, something like the following could indeed occur:

East

1. Montreal 100 pts
2. Pittsburgh 99 pts
3. Washington 70 pts
4. NY Islanders 88 pts
5. NY Rangers 87 pts
6. Buffalo 84 pts
7. New Jersey 82 pts
8. Ottawa 80 pts

And that ladies and gentlemen just should NOT be allowed to happen.

This years Eastern conference is a perfect example of what is wrong about the current arrangement. Washington, prior to the revised approach, would have finished in the seventh spot, a significant drop from the No. 3 seed they own now.

Not only do they get to begin the playoffs against a weaker team, they are the proud beneficiaries of home ice advantage. Make no mistake about it, home ice advantage is a statistical benefit.

A quick pass through the final standings this year shows that a mere four teams in the league this year had sub-.500 winning percentages at home. And due to the rules on how the seeding works, there is no re-seeding after each round. So Washington will stay as a No. 3 seed until their last game of the season.

Backtracking a bit, here’s a brief history lesson. One might ask, why did we go ahead with this change in seeding in the first place?

To answer that question, we start by thinking back to the '90s when we were in expansion mode and handing out teams to Ottawa, Florida, San Jose, Atlanta, Nashville, Tampa, and Anaheim. Given all of these additions along with the anticipated entry of Columbus and Minnesota in 2000, in 1998-99 the NHL decided to complete a re-alignment of the divisions to prepare for a league with 30 teams, it’s highest since inception.

Gone were the Adams, Smythe, Patrick, and Norris divisions. In their place stood the newly coined Northeast, Atlantic, Southeast, Central, Pacific, and Northwest divisions, each with five teams.

Reason one for the change in seeding? Location, location, location. The NHL has for years been concerned about ensuring the game is shoved down the throat of the average American, who seems lukewarm at best in terms of his love for hockey.

The last thing Gary Bettman wants to do is have teams like Florida, Tampa Bay, and Los Angeles go multiple years without participating in the playoffs and specifically, without being host to multiple home games.

Home games not only generate revenue to the local team, but it creates a buzz. That same buzz is what puts people in the seats, and what brings them back to the box office for more. The league wants to ensure the largest footprint possible and they belief that this is certainly one way to help achieve that goal.

The second major reason why this change occurred had to do with the uneven distribution of wealth and power in the league (pre-salary cap).

Before the cap, one could eyeball each of the six divisions and at least in one case (I am pointing squarely at the Southwest division), it’s highly possible that in any given year, none of those five teams would finish in the top eight. This would prevent anyone from that division being represented in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The seeding arrangement ensures that at least one of those teams would make it every year. This resembles the handling of the NHL All Star game and their approach to ensuring one player from each NHL team participates.

Some speculate that a third input into the decision to allocate the No. 3 seed in such a fashion is to somehow compensate for some of the other divisions, such as the Atlantic and Northwest. These divisions have the notorious reputation of playing some real grueling and tough conference games throughout the year. Think of the NY Rangers vs New Jersey and Calgary vs Edmonton contests are prime examples.

The game between those two rivals are beyond intense and can often resemble a train wreck. At times the series often ends up being a split but the battle scars are deep. Split series equal lower total point totals at end of year, and as such, the No. 3 seed may help one of those teams to be artificially propped up a little.

In reality, the helping hand may simply be putting them exactly where they belong given the potential to win or lose against out of conference teams. I digress…

As much as I can understand what arguments may have been used to support this No. 3 seed concept, I just don’t buy it. Call me a capitalist or a purist, but I just think it’s yet another little voodoo tweak to the way the game was both scored and played for some 90 years without any tampering.

With the salary cap a thing of the present, the board is much more artificially level thus the argument once used here is a thing of the past. I think if you want to finish third, be the team that statistically has the third most points come game 82.

The only thing that’s good with the No. 3 seed rule is the drama comes game 80 through end of season. It makes for great flowcharts and “if this team beats this team, and the other team goes into OT, the 3 seed then belongs to team X…. BUT…”

I confess, it’s fun to watch all the variations and permutations that the poor moderately skilled labour on the sports shows have to plod through. Given the alternative, however, I'll take good old straight math and hard fought games from bell to bell. Whoever finishes in the third spot stays in third spot. Period.

The Roys: Like Father, Like Son

Peter Hopey — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:55:06 -0400

The other night when Jonathon Roy displayed his total inability to control his emotions and lack of maturity he embarrassed himself and his team in front of the world (let's face it, if you have a tv, satellite, or home computer you have likely seen the video, so this is a broad audience that gets reached). One has to wonder what the two marbles in his head were saying to each other that caused him to think such actions were going to be met with acceptance or approval, let alone fanfare and applause. But, if he DID take the time to evaluate the options and decide to take action anyway, then it simply highlights an even bigger problem, that being a clear inability on his part to judge situations at a mature adult level and make responsible decisions.

How many Todd Bertuzzi or Chris Simon incidents need to occur before everyone gets it? In my mind, this tells me that whatever punishments are being handed down from the NHL or in other leagues for some of the recent violent hockey activities are clearly NOT sufficient enough, as there are clearly NO apparent deterrents here. If there was, people would be thinking twice and choosing an alternative way to express their anger. It just... keeps... happening... So I deduce that the penalties are not yet at a point where they are having any effect on a players choosing to act or not.

Make no mistake about it, I grew up a Philadelphia Flyer fan, turned on to the team by a certain number 27 who patrolled the crease in the late 80’s and 90's. Ron Hextall was one of the first goalies to stand up to those who were crashing his crease. You knew if you were going to be in his way you may pay a price. His jabs and chops with his stick were legendary. But when he two handed Kent Nilsson, breaking his ankle and sidelining him for the rest of the playoffs in 1987, I did not make any effort to defend those actions. He crossed the line and the suspension to start the next year was the punishment he deserved. This was not his only suspension but in any cases, I fully supported the contention that he crossed the line.

Over the past few years, there have been a variety of incidents, from Steve Moore to Chris Simon to Chris Pronger. There has been a crackdown (rightly so) due to the concern that the violence would get out of control. In a day and age when lawsuits are a plenty, the NHL does NOT need to be making the headlines for incidents like this. The discussions have been had and everyone has been made aware of the expectations of the players. That's why when yet another incident like this pops up it is even more baffling. This has been THE topic within hockey. So what aren't these players getting...

Roy displayed a total lack of respect for his team, and for the other goaltender especially. There was absolutely no reason that had to happen, and he is lucky that a significant injury was not suffered. One that would derail Roy's potential future as a hockey player. More disturbing however, are the actions of his father, and team coach. If it holds true that indeed it was Patrick Roy who instructed his son to go looking to fight the other netminder, this incident becomes even more disturbing. Now we are taking the Marc Crawford mentality and instilling it into a bunch of teenagers? What kind of message is that? Roy has been pulling stunts as coach of the Quebec team now since he took the job. Shouting matches when boarding the buses, climbing the glass during games, etc. The passive fan may think this is a coach who is very passionate about his team and hockey. The smart fan knows better. My suggestion? He should be banned from coaching in the QMJHL. Grown men can form their own opinions, but QMJHL players are still tremendously impressionable.

Like father like son, but I don't have to like either one of them when it comes to this incident.

From the Rafters: Columbus Blue Jackets' Fat Lady Sings

Peter Hopey — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:24:32 -0400

With just five games left on the Blue Jackets' schedule, the team remains mathematically in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. (I stress the word “mathematically” as they are all but eliminated, and have been playing to that standard for the last 10–12 games).

They are eight points ahead of last year's pace which, at first glance, may sound positive. Where that argument fails to hold water is the fact that they did not make the playoffs in 2006-07 either.

It stands to reason that, if this was the year the Jackets were supposed to have moved from pretender to contender status, the numbers tell a different story.

My assertions dating back to the trade deadline remain the same, and appear to be validating themselves. Trading Foote and Fedorov was NOT the equivalent of throwing in the towel. That activity was carried out through the INACTION of the team when it came to both replacing the players who were just dealt, in conjunction with adding additional players to supplement and enhance the overall talent level.

Columbus chose to stand pat and watch their peers carry out those activities. The Jackets sat idly by and are paying the price for it now.

Unfortunately the mistakes and shortcomings of few (including Scott Howson and John H McConnell) continue to have catastrophic impacts on the lives of many (aka the team).

How can these two sleep at night? I mean, let’s try and be objective here. A guy like Brian Burke had the liberty to sit on his hands and stick with the team he had. If your roster contained the likes of Neidermeyer(s), Pronger, Schneider, Selanne, and Giguere, you would have that option.

Columbus, however, clearly missed that memo.

There were some key names available that, in my opinion, Columbus had just as much possibility of landing when the trade deadline came and went. Players like Prospal, Campbell, and Marcel Hossa immediately come to mind.

These players are not necessarily going to outright win you games, but there is little doubt in my mind that they would have certainly contributed and given the team a much better chance of being on the inside of the playoff hunt looking out (rather then peering in from the outside as they do now).

Whether a guy like Brad Richards had any real interest in playing short or long term with the Jackets is something we can all speculate on. Evidently the trade was on the table, but the asking price was too high. (Leclaire was to have been included in the deal with Mike Smith, a backup of Marty Turco’s coming back to the Jackets.)

Some surmise that Richards' agent, Pat Morris, might have been negotiating with the Jackets as part of a ploy to drive up the asking price, and that he had no intention of ever signing. Consider this pure speculation on my part.

I never envisioned a big fish like Marion Hossa, Mats Sundin, or another player at that elite level showing up in town, but was certainly convinced a mid-tier player or two would be brought in for a run to the postseason.

Eight years later, I don’t think I am being premature nor do I think I am jumping the gun. Now that they are cycling through their fourth coach (King, Gallant, MacLean, and now Hitchcock) and getting consistently average results, is it time to give serious consideration to a franchise level shakeup? Are some previously unthinkable names available for the right price? My thoughts are yes to the first, no to the second.

One of the most popular statements that has been getting a lot of print and air time lately is from coach Ken Hitchcock himself. He made the statement that he was “ticked off” at the way the team was playing. Ticked off? Ticked off?!?

Can you imagine Scotty Bowman making the statement that he was “ticked off” at how his team was playing? Not a chance. Being ticked off sounds like something that comes from a man who is not performing as a leader. It reeks of schoolyard.

It does not sound like the type of statement that might come from someone commanding respect within the locker room. I can just picture him sitting cross legged in the corner of the dressing room, rocking back and forth mumbling something about being ticked off.

One wonders whether Ken’s shine has already started to fade.

While the team looks poised to finish the year above the .500 mark, unfortunately that is not going to get Columbus into the playoffs. In fact, when a team like Detroit is putting up 100 points per year, 80 points is nothing to write home about anymore. Case in point: The Jackets are 4-4-2 in their last 10. Right on pace for mediocrity. (See this article.)

Barring any asteroid hits in the Midwest US, the Jackets will without question finish either third or more likely fourth in the division, which translates to 13th or 14th in the conference. A far cry from the standards and expectations the fans had for this year.

There have been some strides ahead, but just as many stumbles backwards. Explainable, but none acceptable.

So what went wrong? Where to start?

Fearing I sound like a broken record, I have to re-emphasize the obvious: The team finished last year as an average, mediocre squad with various identified areas to improve.

These included obvious deficiencies in offense at centre, left, and right wing; lack of a solid number one goaltender (LeClaire simply developed into a starter, there was never any acquisition of a bonafide top notch guy between the pipes) and some younger defensemen who could move the puck and score; all-around depth all around; and a new passion for winning. Little of this materialized. Not a drop.

Let me be the first to put together a blueprint which, if followed to the letter, would result in a first place finish and finally some respect in the Detroit dominated Central division.

The Blue Jackets will again have the opportunity make their first selection early on, as they sit with the sixth pick overall. The early choices are projected to be made up of primarily defensemen, with a sprinkling of offense.

The Jackets need two good scorers more then they need one great defensemen. With that in mind, Columbus might want to consider dropping down around the 10 spot if they could strike a deal with a team like Phoenix or Anaheim (who both appear to be targeting defense first). An additional pick early in the second or third round might allow them to snag another good prospect without sacrificing much.

There are a mountain of good offensive options out of North America, as well as the European market. With some teams expressing reservations about the Russians and whether getting the players out of the country will be a smooth transaction, don’t be surprised this year to see a lot of Canadian and US talent go early. Colin Wilson, Josh Bailey, and Mikkel Boedker have been impressive this year and will all likely be around for a selection in the early teens.

If they ignore my pearls of wisdom and follow the more widely accepted train of thought, word on the street at this point have the Jackets interested in 6-foot-2, 212 lbs Luke Schenn from the Kelowna Rockets (WHL).

In 57 regular season games this year he racked up seven goals and 21 assists. Schenn has been a vital part of the Hockey Canada program and has logged ice time with the national junior team, gaining both valuable experience and respect from his peers with each shift.

Doug MacLean said on more than one occasion that he was committed to picking the best player available when it came time to draft, regardless of the position. However, Howson might be more prone to go with his “gut instincts” as he has in the past.

Zach Bogosian will also be on the watch. The 6-foot-2, 200 lbs. rearguard hails from the Peterborough Peetes of the OHL. In 67 games this year he recorded seven goals and 26 assists for 33 points.

What makes this kid a standout is that night after night and game after game his role is to shut down the offensive number one line for their opponent. And he does a fantastic job. What puts him above his peers is the ability to turn on offense seemingly at the drop of a hot. He has natural leadership abilities to boot. This kid is alright.

While the rent a player option was still the right way to go in February, one can not undo the past. This summer is an opportunity to chase down those free agents that the Jackets did not move on already.

On the upper end of the pay scale, you still have Hossa (PIT) who is rumoured (already) to be interested in re-signing with Pittsburgh (playing with Malkin, Crosby, and Staal...who can blame him). The backend is more laden with talent for hire including Wade Redden (OTT), Brian Campbell (SJ, BUF), Mark Streit (MTL), and Joni Pitkanen (EDM).

A smattering of competent scoring threats up front including Daniel Cleary (DET), Steve Bernier (BUF) and Vaclav Prospal (PHI) are once again going to be available on the open market. One signing of this group of talent would not move the yardstick all that much, but given the cash availability and cap room for the Jackets, moving on three or four of these names is not only a possibility, but a real necessity if the Midwest wants to have this team in five years time.

The Jackets should consider their goaltending a non-issue.

LeClaire showed his true colours this year after avoiding the injury bug. The proven international junior Steve Mason is pacing in the wings for his opportunity next training camp to earn a spot with the big club.

Not to be forgotten in this equation is young Tomas Popperle. Although he’s rarely brought up in the discussion, he is proving to be a more-than-competent young 23 year old with statistics to back that up (currently playing with Syracuse and sporting a 2.86 GAA). Norrena should stay in the picture, but only playing a bit part to the netminding equation.

Gilbert Brule has likely earned a permanent spot with Columbus and will be able to focus less on making the team and more on developing the physical game he currently lacks. Stefan Legein will do his best to earn a spot on the squad and Jakub Voracek, playing with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL, should turn some heads.

With any luck at all, a couple of these names will stick with the big team and see play in all club games in the 2008-2009 season.

As a means to move some salary and set the groundwork for a new start, some housecleaning is in order.

Mike Peca proved once again he is as fragile as a little old woman getting out of the shower. Vyborny, sadly, has lost his game and is a mere shadow of his former self. Having watched him closely through the years, he clearly is not going to rekindle the spark he once brought consistently to the second or third line.

Make no mistake about it, this season was a disappointment. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves. What is most disappointing is that it did not have to be this way. It was all preventable, and again will be next year.

The players performed to expectations but deserve to be surrounded with more talent. Nash, Zherdev, and a bevy of 30-point scorers will do little but contend for top draft pick status each and every season.

Columbus Blue Jackets: 2008 and Beyond

Peter Hopey — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:25:19 -0500

This year, my friends, is a perfect example of when the best plan of attack is to start training camp early.

The Columbus Blue Jackets should round up guys like David Vyborny and Michael Peca, put them on the pine for three to five minutes a game, and put in some calls to Syracuse, where the real team is patiently waiting their turn.

The draft this year is devoid of any real talent. If you take Steven Stamkos and Drew Doughty out of the mix, you are left with one of the thinnest drafts to ever grace our poor hockey-fatigued retinas.

At least the Jackets have already started moving in the right direction by getting rid of Old Man Winter (Adam Foote) and Father Time (Sergei Fedorov).

The average age on the team after those two moves alone went from 40 to 28. This set of moves earns management high marks from me.

So what is the plan of attack?

It’s pretty simple. Call up all the same guys you would if this were the preseason and you were trying to fill your backup goalie, your last D spot, and a winger or center on the 2nd line.

I’ll state the obvious. Get Steve Mason in the net for five or six games to finish the year.

He has no shot against LeClaire—he has been the No. 1 star as many times as Nash has, which means a lot—but it would be a great test for Mason.

All the playoff-bound teams are bringing their A game, so he could get a great chance to see what roaming the crease for an NHL squad looks like, and he wouldn't have to suffer through 60 or more regular season games if his performance comes up short.

He’s got the summer to find his game again. Too bad for the OHL, big boy hockey comes first.

I had the opportunity to watch Matt Marquardt during his time on the Moncton Wildcats with the QMJHL, and he is a machine.

This kid dominates every shift and is a man playing with boys. When he is patrolling the wing, guys just get out of his way.

His thunderous checks have left many a defensemen wondering what time zone they had been in, and, consequently, which one they had been knocked in to.

So it’s set then.

Let’s get the jump on the whole training camp garbage that will still happen come September. The summer should focus on tossing aside the elder statesmen.

I am a firm believer that talent wins over experience. Whether a game is played tonight, or 15 years from now the mechanics are the same.

Score more than you let in and you win.

I don’t need a veteran-laden team grasp that concept.

So instead, give me youth. I want the guy who can leg it out and negate the icing, not the guy telling me about the days of wooden sticks.

I am resigned to to the fact that the Blue Jackets have indicated to me that they are not planning on playing very far into April this season. So, at the very least, let’s see what’s down on the farm.

My hope is that we can start the season in October with a significant youth movement. There's no time like the present to see if the kids can skate.

From the Rafters: Rick Nash Requests to be Traded in the Offseason

Peter Hopey — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:42:19 -0500

"I am all about being loyal and all, but my shelf life as an NHL player at my peak is about five to seven years tops...and if I am going to go out and bust my hump night after night for 'the man,' all I ask is that 'the man' put some talent around me so that I could have a remote chance in he** of winning.”

How many more years can pass you and me by before this kind of statement goes from merely a tongue in cheek sarcastic shot of mine directed squarely at a certain GM to a jaw dropping reality leaving a bunch of front office staff baffled at what they would call a move “out of nowhere”?

And frankly, who could blame him.

When I heard the first whispers about Brad Richards having whittled down his suitors to three (with Columbus still in the running), I began to develop cautious optimism. This was not the right move. The better move in this case was no move at all.

I was being duped into thinking that talk at this stage was a sign of good things to come. Richards was a name, Columbus was in the hunt...interesting.

Trade day was going to be memorable. Or so I thought. Eventually Dallas picked up the Island boy, but all was still good. The ball was rolling.

I started picturing Hossa on the right side, Nash on the left, and Vaclav Prospal up the middle. I could envision the highlight reels—two star wingers blasting and wristing home puck after puck. Just when you see them head off, the second line hops the boards. Zherdev, rocketing past his own shadow, leaving a vapour trail somewhere back in the neutral zone, flinging the puck across to Chimera for a backhand, the ever developing Brule draped around the goalie, jamming for a rebound.

Don’t stop there. A move on the backend like adding Campbell would be outstanding—they have cap room. And for a final touch, maybe shake a tree and add the goon Steve Downie who fell out of it to the lineup, for no other reason then because the fans deserve it after this long. Next thing you know you would have had a team worthy of the Cup semi-finals. But instead we get this...

"The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired forward Nate DiCasmirro from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for forward Steve Goertzen," Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson announced Feb. 28.

At the end of the day there are about 19 games left and I am apathetic. I can only wonder how the players feel. Do they care anymore? Hockey players may not be curing cancer or splitting atoms, but they certainly know that they just played the role of sellers, not buyers.

Soon I will have another summer ahead to evaluate whether my loyalty is in vain. Perhaps to humour me they will at least call up Nason and let him get his feet wet in goal. I’ll still be pulling for them, but John H. McConnell is soon going to be off my Christmas card list if he doesn’t start spending.

Rafter Talk: Columbus Blue Jackets Need to Add Players

Peter Hopey — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 05:04:44 -0500

If Scott Howson is reading this, please hear my pleas… SPEND!

Forget naysayers who will tell you that this or that player doesn’t deserve x million a year. Anyone with two detatched retinas and a blindfold can see that the current squad does not match line for line or player for player with many of the teams in the West (let alone the entire league).

If you have to overpay to get a couple of legitimate scorers (pick from the crop of names mentioned daily) you WILL be doing the right thing. You have what, a bazillion dollars left of cap room? Get in the game.

It just seems that there is gross complacency here, and a lot of people crossing their fingers. Perhaps everyone in the front office is expecting a "perfect storm" scenario whereby the Jackets will just miraclously have a magical year like Minnesota in 1991, or Florida in 1997.

Congratulations Scott, this is the deepest into the season the Jackets have been above .500. But that’s not good enough.

Let’s talk moves. Foote is expendable. He is in the last year of his contract and would be good trade bait for any team looking to shore up their defense (they’d be adding a player with two Stanley Cup rings to his credit).

It would be nice to see a competent, younger, and less expensive blueliner come back in return. Perhaps someone like Jean-Michael Liles from Colorado.

In fact, with Foote having spent time with the Avs, that move might seem all too obvious as Colorado is still looking like a team bound for the post season perhaps as a seventh or eighth seed.

Federov to a former team like Detroit is always a sexy proposition. That would certainly draw some attention to the recently slumping Red Wings as they try and gear up for another playoff run. He would likely fetch some draft picks or a prospect or two, but the bigger picture means there should be more cash to use in pursuing other players. I definitely don’t see Detroit having much interest in parting with any of their current roster.

Vaclav Prospal could be a great addition as well. He is a consistent point per game guy and comes cheap relative to other notables. Alex Tanguay may also prove to be a nice addition although one wonders if his days as a top tier player are perhaps gone. Signing a guy like Jokinen would effectively replace Federov. Olli is 10 years younger and comes at a slightly lower cost. And the name everyone has been hearing about for months now, Hossa, should also be on the watch list, and be chased with reckless abandon.

Moving a couple of big salaries would mean the Jackets would have more then enough room to aggressively pursue multiple players. The Blue Jackets are an average team, but they are not an average team without options. Howson should be vigorously working the phones trying to make some trades. If he can’t see the logic in investing in some of the big names available and be willing to outbid the competition, his tenure should be a short one. And if the problem really lies in tight purse strings, then perhaps my friends to the far west in Winnipeg will get another shot at a team because the Buckeye faithful will only take losing for so long.

Columbus Bluejackets Mid Year Report Card - B(ee)

Peter Hopey — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:07:52 -0500

Columbus Bluejackets Mid Season Review

The 2007/2008 campaign for the Bluejackets can best be described as encouraging yet inconsistent. In their 7^th year of existence, they remain the lone NHL team to have never tasted the post season. At mid year, the Jackets stood at a mediocre 15-14-6. But for a brief 4 game winning streak back in October, they have strung together back to back wins just twice. While they are a hot 13-6-4 at home, their road play has been abysmal at 6-11-2.

The biggest reason the Jackets have even competed this year is the outstanding play of Pascal Leclaire. He was injured for the majority of the 2006/2007 season during which he lost the starter job to Fredrik Norrena. Leclaire was a monster in the preseason and reclaimed his starter role as an NHL goalie. The recent call up of Team Canada Junior standout (tournament MVP, most valuable goaltender, gold medal winner) is an interesting move given Norrena’s respectable 2.38 GAA and .913% SV. Unless Leclaire falters, expect to see him remain the starter for the rest of the season.

A resurgent Rick Nash has been more then a welcome sight. Nash has the ability to dominate the game and instill fear in the opponent. He drives the net like no other and looks to be re-invigorated with passion for the game. After narrowly avoiding being shipped out of town, Zherdev has been the other key offensive bright spot. Second in scoring with 33 points, this 23 year old has been stellar in front of the net.

After inheriting the team mid season last year, Ken Hitchcock has made the Jackets a markedly better team on the defensive side of the puck, both on the D and up front. With Sergei Federov dabbling more on the blueline, one may surmise that his time in Columbus may not be over just yet. Mike Peca’s return to the team was a shot in the arm both on and off the ice. He’s on pace for about 35 points, is hovering on the plus side (+3).

Their special teams haven’t been so special. Their power play is 22^nd in the league and their penalty kill is worse at 24^th. With more and more of the scoring coming on odd man situations, they need to dramatically improve in this area.

Looking at the playoff picture, the Jackets remain on the outside looking in (3 pts out). With their solid goaltending, GM Scott Howson should consider what he can get for a veteran like Adam Foote who with playoffs approaching, might be coveted by a team like Minnesota or Atlanta. Columbus has had its issues in attracting players to the market. Stars like Martin St. Louis, and Vinnie LeCavalier may not want to punch their ticket to the Buckeye state, however, a guy like Marion Hossa or a Patrick Marleau might consider the new start. The Jackets need to reach the post season this year. And if they do, anything can happen.