State of the (Blue Jackets) Nation

I’m sure that I am one of many who are excited about the potential of this year’s Columbus Blue Jackets.  Last night the boys in blue lost their second preseason game.  This time to a bunch of Minnesota Wild regulars.  While the Jackets had regulars: Jiri Novotny, Boll, Murray, Hejda and Norrena, the Wild seemed to have their whole squad out there.  The only notable player missing was Marian Gaborik.

 

Nonetheless, our boys hung in there.  Our star?  Young Jake Voracek of course!  Readers can follow the history of the praises I’ve been singing about this kid as far back as when Halifax drafted him in the CHL Import Draft.  It seems that Jake is going to be taking up the role as playmaker - a recently vacated position by Veebs (you can argue that it was vacant last year though) - in the middle of the third period Jake threaded a pass cross-zone to Jiri Novotny for the only goal of the game.  Funny, didn’t Jake make a dynamo pass in the first game?  That’s right!  Somehow he and Brassard fed Jason Chimera - a guy who couldn’t score on a paraplegic guarding a soccer goal.

 

Hitch had better be careful.  He’s already got rookie Brassard centering Nash and Huselius.  I can tell you right now that there is a winger out there in danger of losing his spot on the first line.  I’ll give you a hint… it ain’t Nash.

 

I was going to leave it at that, but let me add this - Huselius is a natural LEFT winger (that’s what he played opposite of Iginla).  Jake on the other hand is a right winger.  Nash needs a playmaker on the right side, anybody see a playmaker who plays the right wing??

 

The first home game of the New Year is Jan 10^th against the Wild.  Here is the line up:

 

Nash - Brassard - Jake

 

Huselius - Umberger - Modin

 

Novotny - Peca - Torres

 

Chimera - Malhotra - Sestito

 

Hejda - Commodore

 

Tyutin - Klesla

 

Russell - Clay Wilson

 

LeClaire

Posted in Bluejackets buzz   Tagged: Columbus Blue Jackets, Derick Brassard, Jakub Voracek