Bleacher Report - Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets Vs. Nashville Predators: Pregame Analysis

Ed Cmar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:15:12 -0500

Well, folks, I'm back with another fearless pre-game prediction—OK, I'm really back to save what little dignity I have left after that "epic" prediction that the CBJ would win against Detroit. My guess that eve? Jackets victory, 5-2. The actual outcome? To quote Drew Rosenhaus, "Next question."

As I said in the comments section afterwards, "Well, you've all just witnessed EVERYTHING I know about hockey."

That being said, let's have at it. There's only one direction I can go...

OFFENSE

On the surface, this is an easy one to call: The edge goes to Columbus by a country mile.

Currently, Nashville ranks dead last in both goals scored/total and goals scored/game, at a "prolific" clip of 2.17 goals/game—AKA GFA. Add to that where their few goals are scored from—their leading goal scorer is Shea Weber—need I say more? (Weber is tied in most Preds' goals with five tallies).

Columbus is in ninth place in GFA, and their firepower is primarily forward-based. While, yes, their leading goal scorer is Rick Nash—14 goals, 25 total points—they also have something not seen ever in these parts: that critical asset of secondary scoring, with Raffi Torres scoring nine goals so far this season, and having Kristian Huselius scored eight goals.

As it relates to SOG percent—goal scoring, in relation to shots on goal—no match. Columbus ranks eighth in the league with a SOG percent of 10.4 percent, while the Preds are tied for last at a 7.2 percent clip. If there is one area for improvement, it is that of blueline scoring, with five total goals scored from their blueline corps. Nashville trumps Columbus with 11 blueline tallies.

However, that being said...

Edge: Jackets (Huge)

DEFENSE

From the standpoint of shots allowed, Goals Against Average—GAA, save percent, shots blocked, defense, and offensive production from the blueline, the edge definitely goes to Nashville.

Again, Shea Weber leads the way, with defensive pairing partner Ryan Suter contributing to their blueline scoring. However, there is a big drop off in both scoring and the +/- ratings of their remaining defensive pairs.

In assessing the CBJ's defensive prowess statistically outside of Jan Hejda's +five, +/- rating—granted, Marc Methot has been stout and Mike Commodore are both 0 +/-, the later only playing eight games so far, with limited minutes—the remaining defensive corps' +/- ratings are, well, not good. Rusty Klesla, however, has been playing solid defense lately, stats aside.

Having said all that...

Edge: Preds

GOALTENDING

Steve Mason starts in goal tonight for the Blue Jackets. Once again, shows what I know about hockey, having recently written how the CBJ should stick with Mathieu Garon until he falters. I was wondering why Hitch hadn't recently sent me a text for my insight...

OK, if this analysis was based on last season, this matchup would have been too close to call. However, this is a new season, and while Steve Mason is struggling so far, Pekka Rinne keeps on rolling, as it relates to continuing the solid net minding from his (also stellar) rookie campaign. Again, it helps having continuity/health on the defensive corps, something the Blue Jackets haven't been so lucky with this season.

While the jury's still out for me on Mason's performance of allowing one goal on 26 shots, to be honest, the Stars didn't exactly produce many scoring chances. What also remains to be seen is how Mason reacts should the Preds score early. For those of you who are observant, watch Mason's body language when he lets in an early goal. That should be a harbinger of what to expect.

Edge: Preds

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Jackets PP remains highly ranked at fourth in the league, cranking away at a 25 percent conversion rate—wait, is that a typo? No, it's true. What a difference a season, and better PP personnel, make.

Their PK? Not as stellar, ranked 19th in penalty killing, at just a 79 percent rate. However on the PK side, expect this to improve with both the return of Hejda, as well as the continued return to form, and hopefully improved health and minutes/TOI of Mike Commodore.

As for Nashville, they look much like Columbus' PP, last season—wait, no one is, or was that bad. Nashville's PP is ranked 26th, at a 14.7 percent conversion rate—imagine if they didn't have their first defensive pairing—Ouch! On the PK side of things, Nashville is ranked in the middle of the NHL pack at 16th in the league, with a 80.3 percent kill rate.

This battle should be interesting—a now stellar PP unit with Columbus, against a solid PK unit in Nashville, versus a putrid PP unit with the Preds, against a mediocre PK group for the CBJ.

Before you await—if you are awaiting, you need a hobby—who I give the edge to, keep this in mind: note the history of penalties called against Columbus vs. the penalties called against the Preds at the Preds' home, the Sommet Center.

Something to the tune of about 7-9 penalties against the CBJ, and approximately 1-2 penalties against the Preds. I wonder what part of Nashville the stripes will be from? Oops, did I say that? Just keep that in mind, that's all I'm saying.

Edge: push

X FACTOR

Well, for once, I'll keep this short—the last time the CBJ won at the Sommet Center, Ken Hitchcock was not the CBJ coach, and Doug MacLean was the Prez/GM/Coach Emeritus. Wow, hasn't MacLean been gone longer than that? If only...

Now, I know this is a new darn, this is a new day. However, as most of you know, athletes are a different bunch/lot—until you break the streak, skein, or paradigm, it (a lack of success, either against an opponent or in their building) gets in your head.

Then there's the matter of the penalty disparities at the Sommet Center.

So, as much as I'd like to make this closer...

Edge: Preds (Huge)

Prediction: Preds 3, Jackets 2 (OT or SO)

However, if history, my intrinsic knowledge of the NHL, and this team holds true then Columbus, pop open the cork!

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Solid Coaching Often Not Sexy Enough for Young NHL Players

Steven Ovadia — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:13:16 -0500

Columbus forward Nikita Filatov left the Blue Jackets, choosing to finish the season playing in Russia.

According to Puck Daddy , a huge part of the issue was coach Ken Hitchcock's defensive system, which apparently felt too constricting to the free-skating, offense-minded Filatov.

Meanwhile, under Hitchcock, the Blue Jackets are off to their best start ever.

Over in New York, coach John Tortorella, who gives his players free reign to take as many offensive risks as they want. The Rangers are 4-6 in their last 10, with the only real offense coming from Marian Gaborik. Rookie defenseman Michael Del Zotto, who started the season brilliantly, has just three points in November and is -5 for the month.

It raises an interesting point: Offensive-minded players like offensive-minded coaches, but it doesn't always translate into wins and/or success. Especially with younger players.

Scott Gordon is pushing a high-risk offensive system on a very young Islanders team, and so far, it's only translated into a lot of ties. It could be years before we see the impact his system is having on the development of his players. He could be producing future offensive giants, but he could just as easily be producing talented skaters who have no idea how to play defense; in essence, human pylons.

The NHL is finally transitioning out of its defense-oriented period. More and more coaches are trying to win with stretch passes. Less and less coaches want battles fought in the neutral zone. But still, we're seeing the value of system-oriented hockey.

Over in Phoenix, Dave Tippett has revived the Coyotes simply by instituting a system that lets his young players know where they need to be and when they need to be there—something the team lacked under previous coach Wayne Gretzky.

And out in New Jersey, Jacques Lemaire has found considerable success, especially out on the road, coaching an interesting defensive system that relies on offense, smart passing, and puck-control, almost like a trap that takes place in the offensive zone.

Younger players, like Filatov, don't seem to appreciate the value of systems and schemes, which is a shame, since a lot of times, system-oriented hockey is what takes a career to the next level. Say what you will about the Devils and their style of play, but their system-driven hockey has produced an awful lot of NHL studs over the years.

There's no guarantee Filatov would have ever played his way into Hitchcock's good graces in Columbus, and perhaps he was right in bailing out of the situation, but it would have been great if he had seen fit to stick it out. What if Filatov had learned more of a two-way game? What if he had learned the comfort that often comes from playing in a system? Hitchcock really could have elevated Filatov's game, giving it more dimensions.

Any young players watching the evolution of their equally young cohort in New York will also have to think about the value of a strong coaching style — especially if the Rangers rookie defensive corps continues its stagnation.

Hitchcock might not be the most fun coach in the NHL, but his coaching style prepares players to survive in the NHL. Filatov might not find that same benefit in Europe.

Filatov will certainly put up more goals in Russia this year, but odds are, his game won't improve by simply embracing a style he already knows.

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Filatov Fiasco: The Departure of Hockey's Top Prospect

Ed Cmar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:45:12 -0500

Well, I guess we all received the answer to the question of whether Nikita Filatov was going to log more Time On Ice—TOI.

Oh, there will be ice time logged, but, it won't be here in Columbus—heck, it won't be in North America, in the National Hockey League—NHL.

I don't know about you, but, after something this stunning occurs, my mind tends to reel—I need a little time to process what just happened.

In a startling development, Nikita Filatov opted to leavethe Columbus Blue Jackets to return to his native Russia and play in the Kontinental Hockey League—KHL—for CSKA Moscow, 19 games into his rookie campaign.

Wait, wasn't this the same player who was rated the No. 2 prospect in the draft, behind Steven Stamkos, by the International Scouting Service (ISS)? Wasn't it also the same player who was rated the top prospect—in the later instance, prospect in the sense of not yet playing full-time in the NHL—in all of hockey by every major publication, Hockey's Future, The Hockey News, et al?

Wasn't this also the same player who coach Ken Hitchcock compared to a young Pavel Bure? It just didn't work out, and he's leaving, under a one-year "loan agreement"

(what, are we buying a house?), to "develop his game" and will return for training camp?

Something stinks here, and there's plenty of blame to go around. Spin this "return" though you may, but, I'm not buying it—there are two chances he returns: no chance and no chance.

I think it's safe to say that there are three, and only three, parties to this catastrophe: Nikita Filatov, Ken Hitchcock and Scott Howson.

So, let me address each party: where they errored and where they're coming from - on the later, where they have a valid defense/position.

Nikita Filatov—talent? Undeniable; Baggage/Character Issues?

Undeniable. His perception of waltzing in—reputation/upside, alone, and not earning his way into the NHL and on one of the first lines—won't cut it, especially in playing for a future Hall of Fame coach, one who is known for being "demanding" on players, particularly young players.

Filatov, in an interview, acknowledged that he was considering leaving the Blue Jackets after the fourth game of the season, the first game in which he was benched—in NHL jargon, healthy scratched. Hey, let's not quit too soon, eh? And, it leads to those character

issues/questions: Was he really working on those aspects of the game that are necessary for success in the NHL? Rick Nash changed his game, as did prior Hitch stalwarts Mike Modano, Brett Hull and Eric Lindross.

While each may not have liked the tough love and being thrust into inglorious duty—the dirty work—each transformed themselves from being one-dimensional to being elite, two-way, multi-dimensional stars.

I also recall Filatov making a somewhat snide inference regarding the upside he has against Steven Stamkos, while Stamkos was going through the growing pains of full-time duty in the NHL, last season.

Well, in Stamkos' case, while he indeed struggled, a bit, he also worked to become as complete a player as he could, and, during the later part of the season and into this season, he's elevated his game to being one of the Tampa Bay Lightning's best, most complete, players.

So, right now, given a choice of Stamkos' NHL prospects and Filatov's, does anyone want to take on that bet as to who will be the better professional? I didn't think so.

However, is he solely to blame for this mess? Not entirely—Filatov did put in his time in the AHL, last year. He also was understanding and patient in being assigned to the AHL, for the remainder of the season, a few games after he scored his hat trick against the Minnesota Wild.

Some wondered if he perhaps should have stayed with the parent club, that it was a movebased on mitigating the shortening of his initial option (UFA) year. He quietly watched the double standard of a long leash for the veteran players, even some younger players, and an extremely short leash for himself.

He's told, and knows, that he has world-class talent, yet he sees all those players drafted before him logging significant, first line/pairing shifts in the NHL. He sees veterans who were essentially turnover machines, doing so, without any repercussions, as he was subject to.

He's told that he's in "survival mode"—Ken Hitchcock's words to describe his playing prospects—essentially wrecking any confidence that he had and leading him to try not make a mistake.

Much like Marty Schotenheimer and John Cooper in football (coaching), when you try not to make a mistake, you make several mistakes. Finally, and not to make an excuse, the last I looked, Filatov's an 18-year-old, being asked to come to another part of the world, alone. Think that might be a life-altering change?

Scott Howson—this one really hurts to even infer or question him.

During his tenure, you'd be hard-pressed to find even the slightest blemish—thus, the phrase, "In Howson we trust." On this draft move, however, enter blemish. Since the discontinuation of the transfer agreements between the NHL and Russian players, two seasons ago, has made NHL GMsquite apprehensive towards possibly wasting a draft pick on someone who's essentially a flight risk.

Case in point: Maxim Mayorov, a consensus 10th-15th, overall, draft pick, being drafted by the Blue Jackets in the fourth round, in the 2007 entry draft. If you need further evidence, just ask the Nashville Preds of their comfort level in drafting Russian players, after Alexander Radulov left, two seasons ago, never to return to the NHL and the Preds.

Now that Filatov has returned to Russia, and is now playing in the KHL—not a league I'd put much faith in honoring the loan agreement—the Blue Jackets have lost their no. 1 pick for nothing in return.

In Howson's defense, however, he being an extremely bright, methodical person, he did his due diligence, interviewing him several times, in the scouting/draft process. All signs seemed "a go"—Filatovwasn't under any contract with any Russian league or other impeding promulgating bodies, Filatov expressed a lifelong desire to play in the NHL, he learned English at a relatively young age; basically, he said and did all the right things.

There was also the opposing risk that, had they not drafted Filatov with the No. 6, overall, pick, that the drop-off in talent was quite large. I will also say that Scott Howson never deflects blame, much unlike his predecessor, Doug MacLean - he was aware of the risks.

Ken Hitchcock—much like my previous article, in which I admitted to a Steve Mason vanity plate—before that, I possessed a Ken Hitchcock vanity plate, being an ardent follower of his coaching greatness, and a great fan of his "old time hockey" style.

To this end, however, much as I hate to admit it, I believe the most blame, in this mess, should be placed on him. Hitch does not get off, scott-free—there is a clear double-standard that exists between his younger and older players—see turnover machine Kristian Huselius, during the period in which Filatov was lucky to draw seven minutes of TOI, while Huselius was unscathed, continuing to draw major minutes of TOI, on the first line.

Did Hitch really give Filatov any chance to succeed? That his leash wasn't unfairly short, particularly towards him, versus the veterans? Does the tough love approach really work for everyone, particularly for someone so young, and for someone you've compared to Pavel Bure? Any chance you might have went a bit overboard in trying to prove a point?

Any chance that you might have considered the approach you used towards Nikolai Zherdev, at the beginning of his last season in Columbus?

Even in comparing the handling of last season's rookies, Derrick Brassard and Jake Voracek, it didn't appear they were subjected to the same level of tough love—then again, and that's a by-product of an improved organization, Ken Hitchcock didn't have the same level of talent, at this time, last season.

Again, however, there was enough evidence of veterans who played far worse, and few, if any, repercussions were imposed upon those who were not adhering to Hitchcock's disciplined system.

In defense of Hitch—like he cares that I or anyone defend him—his results speak louder than I or any armchair QB could even dream of—it's pretty simple. He's not in the coddling or patience business, he's in the winning championships business.

He is going to play (both) the players he thinks gives him the best chance to win, those players who sacrifice their individual talents for those of the team, and those who adhere and follow his system. He lives in the day to day—that approach was attempted during the prior regime, and it was a cataclysmic failure. It's about the team and not individuals. This team is a rising power in the NHL—he need no further proof than the team's

An 11-6-2 record and its first-ever playoff appearance—you fail to perform? There's plenty of organizational depth and players who will do all the things necessary to produce victories and, ultimately, Stanley Cup championships.

Oh, and not that it matters to the argument, but, Hitch is a sure fire, Hall of Fame coach. He has a legacy and a track record, Scotty Bowman and Jack Adams, aside, second to none.

He has demonstrated, if you follow his methods and system, players do transform their careers, for the better; teams do succeed—at the Junior level, at the NHL level, the Olympic level, at the international level—Hitch has the hardware to prove it and the game to back it up.

The end result of all of this is Nikita Filatov is KHL-bound on a "one year loan." If you say so...and last year, Filatov was called up from the AHL to "experience" the NHL playoffs. Yeah, I'll drink the Kool Aid.

I sure hope I'm proven wrong—it wouldn't be the first time, more like the 258th time, for those of you scoring, at home—but, I firmly believe Filatov has played his last game as a Jacket.

In a follow up article, I will address what options the Blue Jacket organization, particularly Scott Howson, have to possibly recoup this potential lost investment.

In the meantime, the work goes on—next objective? Defeating the Dallas Stars and working towards a successful, five-game, road trip.

But, one can't help but wonder how all of this could have been avoided.

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Rick Nash: The Best Hockey Player No One Is Talking About

Aaron Tom — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:59:19 -0500

Playing on consistently bad teams can sometimes have its advantages. For example, if you are a poor player, or just an otherwise good player having an off season, chances are you will face less scrutiny if everyone else around you is playing equally bad.

On the flipside, if you are a good player playing on disappointing teams, that generally makes you stand out all the more, thus increasing your perceived value to the league.

Rick Nash is the type of player that falls into the latter category. Able to carry the game on his shoulders when at the top of his game, Nash has been the sole consistent offensive leader for the Blue Jackets ever since his debut season in 2002. In fact, on some nights, he seems to be the only one trying.

Yet he does so without a whole lot of the league-wide recognition of which he is so deserving.

Nash is probably fine with that. Along with a lack of attention comes a serious lack of pressure to produce. But the problem is, he is producing. Pretty darn consistently, in fact, for a team that really has no one that even approaches his level of offense.

Players like Ovechkin and Malkin get so many goals because they are flanked by players that, while maybe not as equally talented, are at least within the same stratosphere. In Washington, Ovechkin's got Alexander Semin; in Pittsburgh, Malkin has Crosby (and vice versa).

Nash's linemates, on the other hand, have never been consistent from year-to-year; Columbus just can't find anyone to center the first line for the left winger. The Jackets thought they had found someone in Sergei Federov a few seasons ago, but we all know what a bust that deal was.

Imagine how things might have been if the Jackets could have found Nash a competent linemate any time within the last...oh...seven years he's been in the league.

Now I'm not saying that Nash should be mentioned in the same breaths as the Washington and Pittsburgh superstars. Absolutely not. But his contributions to the league, and especially to his rather woeful team, should not be overlooked.

Though he has not lived up to the 41-goal season he enjoyed in 2003-04, just his second year in the league in which he was involved in a three-way tie for the NHL goal scoring lead, he has had several excellent seasons, all with little to no recognition outside of Columbus.

His 40-goal season last year was good enough to put him at fifth, behind such lauded players as Zach Parise, Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Jeff Carter. He has also been involved in four total All-Star games as a representative for the West, including the last three in a row.

One would think, and it's completely understandable, that perhaps Nash's success has gone largely ignored due to his team's lack of success. But if that were the case, Nash's stock would be at an all-time high, following the Blue Jackets first foray into the postseason last year.

Plus, it's not like Atlanta, Kovalchuk's team, has really been a shining example of how to be a hockey club over the past couple seasons.

But what makes Nash such an instrumental part to the Columbus franchise is the fact that, as important as he is to the Blue Jackets on the ice, he is just as integral off of it. He won the 2008-09 NHL Foundation Player award for "his commitment and service to charities in his community."

Nash has, and continues to, donate both his time and his money, to local charities. He also started The No. 61 Club (named after his jersey number) that encourages students to live healthy, active lifestyles, and rewards those who do through free Blue Jackets tickets.

In short, Nash is the only constant on a Blue Jackets team that has, in the past, been full of question marks. He brings a high level of intensity to every game, even when the game is out of reach, or the rest of the team appears to be struggling. It is this ability to lead by example, rather than just words, that makes Nash one of the great underrated players of the NHL.

Anyone can talk a good game. Rick Nash consistently goes out and plays them.

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Russians Worth the Risk?: NHL Draft Time Could Prove Answer

Ken Armer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:36:19 -0500

With Blue Jackets prospect Nikita Filatov skipping the country to return to native Russia to play in the KHL, does it serve as an example of a growing problem in the NHL?

It could be that Filatov is an isolated incident, and merely a player incapable of understanding he needs further development and growth to compete at the NHL level, but with draft rankings already coming out for the summer will it hurt Russian prospects? Most likely.

American and Canadian players have no back up option really, I suppose they too could skip off to the failing KHL but there seems to be a difference in the image of hockey between North America and Russia.

I learned of all this thanks to the ever genius Ken Campbell of The Hockey News , but there were some things he skipped over that I feel are important. Campbell made the point Filatov will play in the KHL for $800,000 (his NHL salary) when had he chosen to play in the AHL it would have been $65,000. To quote Campbell "Hard to argue with that kind of logic."

Truthful, but Campbell almost seems to pat the ever child-like Filatov on the butt. We're talking about a kid, regardless of his nation of origin who wants to be an NHL star yet is unwilling to do the hard work to make it happen. I say let him fail, and be stuck in the failing KHL.

Problem is, did Filatov, and a rare few other Russian's who couldn't take the heat of being told they weren't the next Ovechkin their first day in camp and skip back home ruin it for the others?

Maybe, but the problem becomes do they deserve it...

While Filatov clearly appears to be a baby, who couldn't take the pressure of playing with the big boys, or take the criticisms of bench boss Ken Hitchcock, opted for the less successful and stressful KHL—not all players are willing to cry rather than step up to the challenge.

Imagine Alex Ovechkin if he had been told he needed more work and development. Judging by his personality, he would have gone to the AHL, recorded amazing numbers, and busted his butt to get into the NHL. So clearly not all Russian's are to blame, or can be grouped together like Nakita Filatov or Nikolai Zherdev before him.

While many GM's come draft time will possibly be more watchful of Russian players, many already likely look for a player with talent and the personality to take the stresses of development. Being Russian, Canadian, or even Chinese wouldn't matter to these guys, and all will fall under the same scrutiny to general manager eyes.

As the prospect rankings proceed on with the NHL year, the Russian players would be dumb to think such news doesn't hurt their ratings, or marketability, but if their talent and personality show they're not the cry-baby types some of their countrymen are and more like Alexander Ovechkin—who overcomes every challenge—they shouldn't have any problems making it into the league and developing into the superstars they hope to be.

As for Filatov, and those who can't take the heat? They should be barred from the best hockey league in the world, and forced to be labeled as the hack's they are. If you're not willing to do the work, don't waste a GM, team, or fan's time.

Ken Armer is a Community Leader for the NHL and the Dallas Stars for Bleacher Report. He also covers the Anaheim Ducks for SoCalSportsHub.com and covers the Texas and Dallas Stars for Hockey54.com. He can be contacted at karmer@bleacherreport.com.

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Steve Mason: The Sophomore Jinx

Ed Cmar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:20:00 -0500

Let me begin by stating that I am a huge Steve Mason fan. In fact, I'll even go as far to admit that I have a vanity license plate which refers to Steve Mason.

Be that as it may, as much as it pains me to say this, I have to: Steve Mason is in the throws of the dreaded sophomore jinx.

A case could have been made for his extremely high goals-against average, as well as his extremely low save percentage during those games, in which stud defender Jan Hejda was out with a knee injury.

Prior to the game against the Detroit Red Wings on November 11th, the numbers were as follows:

Prior to November 11: 3.27 GAA and a 891 save percentage

Now, Mason's numbers, with and without the presence of Jan Hejda:

4.00 GAA w/o Hejda; 2.45 GAA with Hejda

.861 Sv% w/o Hejda; .923 Sv% with Hejda

Seeing these numbers, and having Hejda back in the lineup, it would lead one to believe Mason would come out and deliver a stellar performance, particularly against a team in which he had great regular season success during the 2008-09 campaign.

The result? Against the Red Wings, Mason had a GAA of10.10, with a save percentage of .704. GASP!

So much for analysis...

...But I should know better, being a nerdy CPA, you have to look beyond the numbers.

Included in the WH (With Hejda), numbers was a performance—if that's what you'd call it—of a GAA of 7.22 and a save percentage of .750.

Now, just to call it the sophomore jinx (and leave it at that) would be lazy journalism. Then again, it didn't prevent some mainstream journalists to use that in their pre-season analysis of the Blue Jackets prospects for this season.

But, in looking even further, maybe it's not a case of the dreaded jinx. It may be a case of the NHL's finest snipers getting "the book" on Steve Mason—his kryptonite, so to speak.

Well, I looked at his statistics, late last season. His GAA, for the last seven games of the regular season was 3.02, and his save percentage was .883.

Then, against the Red Wings in the first round Stanley Cup Playoff series, the GAA was 4.26 and the save percentage was .878. At that time however, the reasoning was—and a valid one at that—was due to the lack of a quality backup, at least one that Ken Hitchcock could depend on. Steve Mason was overworked.

That can no longer be the case, this season. The Blue Jackets acquired a quality netminder in Mathieu Garon, the same goalie who nearly carried the Edmonton Oilers into the playoffs, two seasons ago.

In a case of irony, it appears that the roles for Steve Mason have reversed from that of last season. If you recall, Pascal LeClaire was the Blue Jackets starting netminder, coming off of a solid 2007-08 season. However, due to injuries, LeClaire's numbers, during the 2008-09 season, were as follows:

GAA: 3.83; Sv%: .867

As a result of LeClaire's and backup net minder Freddie Norrena's struggles, Steve Mason was called up, after only a few games, from the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate in Syracuse. The rest was history a Calder Cup trophy, as well as the Vezina runner-up.

Fast forward to this season—Steve Mason's stats, season to date?

GAA: 3.67; Sv%: .879

Let's also look at Steve Mason's full (first) season stats, vs. Pascal LeClaire's 2007-08 season, when he was the starting net minder:

LeClaire: GAA: 2.25; Sv%: .919

Mason: GAA: 2.29; Sv%: .916

Let's now look at Garon's numbers so far this year vs. Mason's first six games last season:

Garon (2009-10): GAA: 2.45; Sv%: .922

Mason (2008-09): GAA: 2.25; Sv%: .912

Eerie, huh?

What the point, you're saying? Well, it's this: Is it really the goalie, or is it Hitchcock's checking, defense-first system? And, be it by injury or via the second time around the league syndrome, there is a significant drop off in productivity by the CBJ's net minder, during year two as the starter. In LeClaire's case, it was due to injury—or injuries, in his case—thus, why he was traded for Antoine Vermette, at last season's trade deadline.

OK so, enough numbers, what's the crux of the issue? Heck, if I knew that, I'd be the goaltending consultant, and not Dave Rook.

But, in watching Steve Mason's performances, this year, there are several causes for concern.

As goaltending is primarily mental, the most primary, bothersome area of concern about Mason is that one of his strongest traits seems to be leaving him—his mental toughness. The mental toughness Mason exhibited last year, was that of a goaltender far beyond his years—think Marty Broudeur or Eddie Belfour, but, on a 20-year old goalie. This year, it's a totally different story. Case in point,

Mason's puzzling assessment of his performance against the Red Wings, in which he said, of the eight goals he gave up, that only one was his fault; he gets rattled by the goals that he gives up—just watch his body language after giving up an early goal, that's all you need to see.

Moreover, he's getting burned in spots that was never beat from, last season—far too many five-hole, blocker hand low, glove hand low goals—last season, it was purely glove hand high.

To that last point, Mason's doing things in the net that makes you wonder if having goaltending consultant, and Mason's goaltending mentor in Junior Hockey Dave Rook around is really helping, or causing more problems, bad habits, or mechanical faults.

As a result of Mason's funk, particularly the awful Detroit game, Hitchcock has started Mathieu Garon in net the last two games, both ofwhich resulted in shootout victories against Anaheim and Edmonton, both by scores of 3-2.

So, do you bench Mason and ride Mathieu Garon as your starter?

In doing so, do you risk shattering Mason's confidence, to a point of no return? The league is littered with stories of stellar rookie campaigns, only to be followed by disappointing sophomore campaigns, and damaged confidence. Former Bruins goaltender and Vezina Trophy winner Andrew Raycroft, is one name that comes to mind, when discussing sophomore slumps.

Should the Blue Jackets bench Mason altogether? At this point no. However, given Garon's stellar play, Hitchcock should keep him in net until he falters. In fact prior to last night's game against Edmonton, Hitchcock mentioned that had he done it all over again, he would have started Garon the game following his 2-0 shutout against the Phoenix Coyotes, earlier this season.

But until Mason addresses his mental/confidence and mechanical issues, given the need to stay afloat in the brutal Western Conference, the Blue Jackets need to continue to start Garon. Mason will be back, but, now is not the time to experiment. Now is the time to continue on with their winning ways, with their hot goalie.

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Now There Are No Doubts: Mathieu Garon Needs to Be No. 1 in Columbus

Aaron Tom — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:51:58 -0500

The plan was simple for Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson in the offseason: Hire a goaltender who would serve as a competent backup to rookie standout Steve Mason.

Sometimes even the best-laid plans go awry.

Now Mathieu Garon should be the go-to guy in Columbus, following his solid performance in net against the Anaheim Ducks last night, a game that saw Garon stop 32 of the 34 shots he faced, including blanking the Ducks in the shootout. Columbus would go on to win that game 3-2.

Garon looked solid, for the most part, but was spectacular when he had to be, making an incredible glove save on Ryan Getzlaf when it appeared the Ducks forward had him beat with 1:01 remaining in the second period.

That save kept the game tied at two, forcing the overtime session and, once that failed to provide a winner, the shootout session.

These kinds of saves are the kinds the Jackets have needed all season, but have not gotten from starter Steve Mason, who has been nothing short of abysmal: His .879 save percentage and 3.67 are at the very bottom of goaltending statistics across the entire league.

But, even though Garon has never been an outstanding goaltender, serving as a backup almost his entire NHL career, he has looked solid between the pipes for the Jackets, going 3-1 in the four games that he has started.

His only flub of the season is that one loss, in which the Jackets held a 4-1 lead against the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 22, and eventually lost 6-4.

That game might have been the reason that coach Ken Hitchcock has been so hesitant to play Garon as of late, but he was left with virtually no choice with Mason's performance last Wednesday against the Red Wings, which saw the team's No. 1 goaltender let in eight goals on 27 shots.

But he has proven himself worthy by rebounding to win his next two consecutive starts since that loss.

Yet the starter for Monday night's rematch against the Edmonton Oilers is reportedly still up in the air, as if there's really a decision to be made.

Whether or not the coaching staff is turning their blinders to it, which it appears that they inexplicably are, Garon is playing one of the finer seasons of his career.

His current save percentage of .923 through seven games, is the third highest of his career, while his 2.60 GAA, while not putting him anywhere near the top 10 in individual games, is still a full goal under Mason's average, and is giving the Jackets a chance to win every night.

The point is, the Jackets need to keep playing Garon while he's hot and winning, if for no other reason than to maintain his confidence level. Since the Edmonton game, he has not let in a soft goal, and is even finding ways to stop shots that should be goals.

Until Mason can do that, there should be no choice in Columbus. Garon for No. 1.

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