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pollard writes...

Blues Review

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Just some quick impressions from me on the Blues Roster. [b]Goalies[/b] Manny Legace His improved play was just as important to the team improving as Andy Murrays hiring. The team didnt win quite as much as soon as he was injured at the end of the year. It was the right move to re-sign him and it is key that he starts strong next year. Curtis Sanford He was ...
Alright, so a G N' R reference from the 80's isn't the most timely thing I could come up with, but it applies to the Blues right now. Blues fans, I beseach you- be patient. I know we want to see our last two first round picks in the Blue note ASAP, but we may have to wait for both. TJ Oshie (24th pick 2005) annnounced yesterday that he's returning to North Dakota fo...
With the playoffs in full swing and some excellent hockey on Versus, the St. Louis Blues have rarely been on my mind. Don't get me wrong. The team put in a solid Blue's collar effort this season and finished one position better in the standings than I had expected. More importantly, they played entertaining hockey and eliminated the ability of couch-coaches to easily predi...
JacketsWings writes...

Waiting for a Winner...

Posted Saturday | Comments 2
The phrase "Next Year" is often uttered around Columbus this time of year. As I sit here watching the Playoffs begin, I can't help but wonder if the Blue Jackets will ever make it there. It's been 6 years of great fan support, high ticket prices, and high expectations. What do we fans get for our loyalty? Doug Maclean saying, "I feel we're one or two pieces away" or "W...
kansascityblues writes...

My first blog!

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Hello everyone- I would like to use my first blog as a place to introduce myself and my goals as a blogger. I go by the user name Kansas City Blues because I am a hardcore Blues fan based out for Kansas City. I have followed the Blues all throughout my 17 years of life and will always bleed Blue. Living in Kansas City it is tough being a hockey fan. I grew up with the Ka...
pollard writes...

Erik Johnson Signs

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Post-Dispatch reports that Erik Johnson has signed and will be introduced Thursday. He is expected to be on the opening day roster next year, woo hoo. Now lets get a forward for Backman. Next season starts soon right?
For the past couple of weeks I have been enjoying the spectacle known as the NHL playoffs. As a Blues fan and only 24 years old, last year was the first time I have ever watched the post season without my team. The second time around has been a little easier since I know bright things are on the horizon. While our ownership has the people of St. Louis happy, the same can n...
i get rid of the expansion teams including panthers, predators and blue jackets. these cities are stealing valuable talent from the good teams like the flyers and cities that deserve an NHL team......
At the golf course I belong to, I walked into the clubhouse Saturday afternoon to see Jason Chimera and Duvie Westcott had just finished playing. They were talking with the head pro about Chimera leaving for the World Championships, and about Duvie's health. I couldn't help but realize it was April 21, and already the players were fully into the golf season. Year after ...
CBJ09 writes...

Wanted: GM without the ego

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Well, the job's open. Who wants it? There are a slew of potentials, even a few that have been vocal (Craig Patrick, Bob Clarke). Ownership will begin the interview process within the week, and hopefully now that some teams have been eliminated, the search can be narrowed. Dave Taylor from LA and Craig Button, formerly of Calgary, are rumored to be the front-runners, and th...
If you aren't yet familiar with Columbus Blue Jackets right winger Nikolai Zherdev, just take these two words as a hint: Alexei Kovalev. Same game, different body. If Zherdev could speak a word of English other than "puck" or "good", we might be talking about some of his comments in the media. But deep inside of the hearts of all Jackets fans, we know "Z" is one confused g...
Springdogg writes...

Stempniaked

Posted Monday | Comments 0
During the 2005-2006 season, or as us Blues fans called it, Hell, there were few bright spots. One of those shining moments came after sending off Mike Sillinger and Doug Weight; the Blues without their top two point producers put together their best stretch of games all year. During that stretch an OT defeat of the mighty Calgary Flames brought forth a new name to the cit...
from The Checking Line Thanks to a couple bad seasons and a little assistance from the lockout, it’s now been over 1,100 days since the St. Louis Blues have been part of a playoff series. So what are the chances of my beloved Note getting in the dance in 2008? Let’s just say that it’s a good thing that John Davidson and Co. have months to work their magic becaus...
Macazulu writes...

Blue Jackets News

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Here we Go! Well with a less than sparkling season now over it was time for the Jackets to do some "splaining". At the season ticket chat with Hitch things were less than jovial. Questions came in at a fast pace and Hitch was nothing if not sincere. He was quick to let us know that he was disappointed with Zherdev's terrible season saying that Zherdev does not tru...
Springdogg writes...

How Much Does a Coach Help?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Before this year I thought a coach’s impact was minimal. Sure he could design a system and give great pep talks, but it was up to the players on the ice to execute. Then along came the day of December 12, 2006. The Blues were scheduled to play the Blackhawks that night and it was announced that Andy Murray would be taking over the vacant head coach position for the Blues...
Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm a man of wealth and taste. So now that we've got the Stones reference done with, here's the basics: I'm Kevin. I've played hockey for nigh on 15 years now, and have loved the game ever since I first strapped on skates and went around Kirkwood Ice Arena in the St Louis suburbs. I idolized Gretz, Jagr and Hull when I was a kid, and...
Swiss League-A-Club [b]Ambri-Piotta [/b][b]signed [/b]yesterday former Bruins Stay-at-home-D-Man [b]Zdenek Kutlak [/b]to a one-year-contract. He's a gritty player with a decent shot and knows new czech Ambri-Coach [b]Jan Tlacil [/b]from czech extraliga-club [b]Ceske Budejovice[/b]. Ambri signed before [b]Toronto Marlies [/b]Topcenter [b]Erik Westrum[/b]. Kutlak will ear...
ChicosBailBonds writes...

Off-season musings

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
So it's 90 degrees now, several of the local rinks have already switched to running inline or putting turf down for soccer/lax, and I'm blogging on a hockey site. Hopeless, right? Well, this summer I'm turning this blog into a sort of stream-of-consciousness on hockey, music, film and life. --Scott Niedermayer...if you retire on top, you'll be doing a good job, but it'l...
Keith Tkachuk traded back to St.Louis along with 4th round pick in 08 draft (which could be 3rd round in 09) from Atlanta for The conditional 1st round pick in 08 St.Louis would have gotten if Atlanta were to resign Tkachuk. St.Louis now has the exclusive rights to re-sign Tkachuk before July 1st. Tony
As promised a little bit earlier since I have time tonight to blog: 6) Edmonton Oilers----Sam Gagner Sam is a deft playmaker with excellent hands as well. His knack for finding the open man and his deft hockey sense made him the best option at #6 for the Edmonton Oilers. While the Oilers could have taken Alexei Cherepanov, Gagner isn't too far off in skill and could deve...
Here we go again: 11) Carolina----Brandon Sutter May have the best all-around game in the draft, but I still think this is a little high for him consideringCherepanov was still on the board. Needs to fill out a lot and still develop a little more grit. Yes he's a Sutter, but he isn't as Sutter-y as others. Has good character to fall back on if his skills don't make him a...
So it's about 2 in the morning, I'm suffering from severe insomnia, and what am I to do? Well, I've decided to start a series on the 13 or so (fairly well-spent) years I've had in the game of hockey. Please to enjoy. I was about 6, 7 years old, living with my family in San Antonio, Texas (where my father had relocated after Southwestern Bell, his then-employer, shifted ...
Per Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. No word on the others yet. Congrats to a truly deserving guy! Other deserving players are going to have to wait a year unfortunatley, and three more will hear they are in with Al. Great news for the Blues family that Al isn't one of those who has to wait. Way to go Chopper!
Here we go again..... 16) Minnesota(from ANA) ----Colton Gillies A lot of people don't like this kid. I'm not one of them; I love his combination of size and skating ability. The knock on this guy is obviously the lack of offensive ability, but I think he just needs to put himself in better position to put up big offensive #s by putting on muscle so he can drive to the n...
The St. Louis Blues fans have been through a lot these last two years since the lockout. They experienced having the worst team in the league two years ago, injuries, and big-name salary dumps of Bill Guerin, Keith Tkachuk, Doug Weight, Mike Sillinger, and of course by far the biggest name on the list, Chris Pronger. While it all seemed to be heading downhill for the Blues...
Wow, let's just take a look at the kind of team the Blues will have this upcoming season. First of all, it will look so good to see Erik Johnson strap on the Bluenote and patrol the blueline for years to come, fan favorite Keith Tkachuk is back, Manny Legace provides stability in net, Lee Stempniak has broken out as a goal scorer, and now add in All-Star Paul Kariya to the...
The Blues have brought many good players into there system. The thing is they all where old. Kariya is bringing them in the right direction. They still won't be a playoff contender, they need alot more, but they will be better.
According to the Post-Dispatch, Andy Murray was said to already be playing with possible lines in his head. The lines went, "The Blues have a nice supply of forwards now, and the power play should be better. Murray is already tinkering with these line combinations, at least in his head: — Kariya, Tkachuk, Brad Boyes. — Martin Rucinsky, Weight, Jamal Mayers....
BluesFan44 writes...

All Hail the Die-Hards!!!

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[i]The following also appears at [url=http://www.checkingline.com]The Checking Line[/url].[/i] The past two free agent signing periods made Blues fans feel like the kids who got lumps of coal at Christmas time. But John Davidson and Larry Pleau put on their Blue Santa Claus suits, came down the Scottrade Center Chimney and delivered a shiny new Paul Kariya to Blues fan...
BluemanGuruu writes...

Who goes???

Posted Friday | Comments 0
The Blues are into a transitioning mood as we get ready for the 2007-08 season. So far the reports from development camp are more than positive. There are four or more players ready to play now. I'm thinking I like Perron playing in the AHL this year instead of Quebec. This is going to hopefully pressure vetrans to play hard or force them to be traded. Unfortunately s...
ChicosBailBonds writes...

Blues Dev Camp

Posted Friday | Comments 0
I know we haven't seen a blog post from Andy today, so I thought that I'd start this: how many of you are going to the Blues development camp game tonight at the Mills? It's a 7:00 start time, it's free, and there's a lot of things around (the Mills being what it is, after all). I'm just curious how many HB readers are going, because I certainly am.
I have been all around the Blues prospect camp this week and I have been impressed with the amazing talent and skill that is being shown out there by some of the Blues brightest young stars. Some we will see sooner than others, but the future of St. Louis Blues hockey is going to be amazing. Here are some of the players that were quite impressive: (in no particular order) ...
61 writes...

Free Agency: Halfway through July

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Well, this is my first HB blog, so I hope it's a good one. I think with this blog I will have more than the real CBJ blogger, surprise surprise. I can't follow Howson. I don't get why he isn't signing a Sutton or Tanabe for even one year. Then after this season ends, Foote and Fedorov's contracts are up and we can either sign Sutton or Tanabe for a longer contract, or l...
Hello World, and welcome to my first blog entry. This is my first post, so I thought I'd introduce myself, before I start with my first post. My name is Mike, and I am a Columbus Blue Jackets fan from Cincinnati, OH. I have been a hockey fan for most of my life. I grew up watching the Red Wings, but once the Blue Jackets showed up, I started watching them, because I liv...
Hey guys. Seeing as this is my first post I think I should introduce myself. My name is Matt and I'm 15 years old. I live in Cincinnati, OH and I'm mainly a Columbus Blue Jackets fan. I've been a hockey fan my entire life, when my parents raised me on the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL and IHL. And ever since, I've been hooked. With that, let's blog. The one thing the...
sschut40 writes...

What Should the Leafs do?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Well, it appears pretty simple to me. However, I'm not the General Manager. The Leafs lack depth at right wing. Plain and simple. It's time to bring in a top line right winger to complete the trifecta. Blake, Sundin and ............. Hejduk (4m) and Svatos (1.2m) are obviously being targeted by the Leafs management. After hearing Giguere today, commenting on possib...
Yesterday morning Eklund reported that there was a rumor that the Canadiens are interested in Nikolai Zherdev. Eklund also reported a few weeks ago that the Oilers and the Islanders may also be looking at him as well. Dealing Zherdev could end up profitable if done correctly. First of all, Nikolai Zherdev is a forward who has butted heads with Ken Hitchcock. Just like a...
ItsJacketsTime writes...

Central Preview (1 of 2)

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Hola guys. Ice Melts at 32 F, or 0 C for those of you north of the border. And seeing as it got to 92 today, I should be thinking baseball. But with the Reds 40-55 and 13.5 games back, I'm just waiting for the next 78 days to pass, so that I can throw on that sweater and relax. Instead, I'm gonna take a stab at some Central Previews. I'll do another one in September, as...
Before I get to the retro-fun, I would like to comment about the Nashville Predators situation. I went to a Predators game in Nashville about 5 years ago, and I was pleasantly suprised. The fans really get into the game, plus they also know about hockey. I was someone who believed hockey doesn't belong in the south, until I went to this game. It would be a great loss for t...
It's summer, and in North America (can't exclude the Blue Jays!) that means baseball is in full swing. Last night was a rarity in Cincinnnati, OH. The Reds won a game against the Brewers, and the Cleveland Indians were on TV. Being an Indians fan in a rival market, I had an obligation to watch. The Indians were facing the Red Sox last night. Jon Lester, the Red Sox star...
Before I begin, I'm going to make a quick comment on giving Bettman the powers that David Stern has. I personally think its not needed since the worst trouble hockey players get into are bar fights. There's no strip club shootings, or dog fighting, or any other high crimes that have happened yet, and until that does happen, don't give Bettman the power Stern has. Minor int...
Yeah, this doesn't have anything to do with hockey, but I did wear a Hockeybuzz hat to the theatre, so that will have to qualify. Not only that but BluesFan44 demands a review. After much personal anticipation-I have been a Simpsons junkie since the days of the Tracey Ullman Show shorts-I finally got to see a feature film dedicated to my favorite yellow folks and their ...
I've been talking to a few people from both sides, and I've been told that the Oilers are trying to grab Hossa from the Thrashers. Now even if both teams work something out, I've been told that Hossa is unwilling to sign a new deal, and will test the free agent market next summer. Also, don't count out the Sharks or the Habs if the Thrashers really open up talks fo...
In the past few days, I've been kind of thinking about how the Jackets are going to fare this season. Sure, they haven't signed all that much, and that angers me as much as the next guy. However, if you stop and smell the roses, you would be amazed at how Columbus might be better off by just waiting one more year. Because the Jackets didn't spend millions to get big names...
hockeyisgd writes...

Top 35 interested in Columbus

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Yesterday I blogged about how Columbus' waiting game, may help them economically. Today I'd like to take a look at who Eklund is reporting to be interested in playing for Columbus. I will look at his recent list of top 35 UFAs from July 25th. Note: I have removed Jussi Markkanen since he has signed in Europe #5. Andy Sutton Position: Defense 2007 Team: Atlanta Thr...
Now that John Davidson has confirmed that the Blues are sticking to the roster they already have, we can start breaking down the kind of team the Blues will have for the upcoming season. Let's start with the forwards: David Backes - big and strong, was a veteran at the development camp last month, has matured a great deal and shoulc score many goals if he just drives to t...
hockeyisgd writes...

Retro-Buzz: Grant Fuhr

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Retro-Buzz III: Grant Fuhr With all the negative press about Kevin Lowe and the Edmonton Oilers, why not shed a positive light on the team's history. Grant Fuhr was a spectacular goaltender who was the backbone of the Cup runs in the 1980s. Pre-NHL Grant Fuhr was born September 28, 1962 in Spruce Grove, Alberta, outside of Edmonton. In 1979, at the age of 17, Fuhr br...
Before I get to the fun part of this off-topic entry, I'd like to tell you about my thoughts about Patrick Marleau. Ek wrote on Sunday that the Jackets are interested in Marleau. Those of you who have read some of my entries know I have been really hoping that the Jackets could pick up a big scoring forward. So in that case, I'm pretty excited to see if the Jackets will ge...
What does it mean to “overpay” for a player? Since July 1st, fans have been complaining that players are being “overpaid” arguing that a particular players hockey numbers don’t warrant that kind of money. And that may well be true. But those fans are forgetting one thing: the NHL is a business. This isn’t about winning games; this is about selling tickets. F...
In the past few weeks I've been watching ESPN in the morning to watch baseball highlights and to get my daily fix of the "popular" sports news. In these few weeks, I think I've been slowly hating ESPN more and more. Here's 5 reasons why I hate ESPN: Stephen A. Smith Where to start on this guy. First off, this guy makes himself sound like he is the only one in the worl...
CBJ09 writes...

Blue Jackets Sign C Kris Beech

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Yes, this is a one-year, [b]two-way [/b]contract. Many around these parts have harshly critiqued this move by Scott Howson. Why? NHL Central Scouting provides the scouting reports to TSN, and many cringe when they scroll immediately to "career potential." Beech has an NHL-capable frame, and is listed with above-average playmaking skills and vision. Just because a player...
hockeyisgd writes...

A word about Don Cherry

Posted Friday | Comments 1
Before this post, I have a brief announcement. In September, WILY Radio at Purdue University will be airing the second season of High Sticking with Mike and James. I run the soundboard and co-host this live, commercial-free, 90-minute hockey talk show. The day and time is TBD, but will be posted when I find out. The show can be heard at www.wilyradio.com, and there will be...
It's hot, over 100 degrees in Columbus. Free agency has since wound down from the July 1st frenzy and second-tier players are evaluating the market. As my days are consumed with rounds of golf, working and following the Blue Jackets' quest to complete their roster, I can't help but think of reasons why Scott Howson may have passed on Andy Sutton. Thrasher fans have ...
CBJ09 writes...

Training Camp Preview

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
August means NFL pre-season and the final stretch in the pennant races. It means golf's final major, sending kids back to school and getting those last few days in at the pool to drown away the scorching heat. What it doesn't mean, however, is hockey. That means it's up to people like me to lend my insight (or my two cents as some put it) into the upcoming season. E...
CBJ09 writes...

Trade Winds are Swirling....

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Every once in a while you read something and say, "Hmm. Wouldn't that be nice?" An interesting report today from Eklund, one that definitely piqued my interest. The Blue Jackets are speaking with the Leafs currently discussing a deal that would land defenseman Pavel Kubina. This would do two things for Scott Howson: 1. Get the powerplay quarterback that he needs. 2....
Hope everyone had a good weekend. Today I want to tell you 5 teams I'm excited to see this upcomming season. 5. St. Louis Blues After two dismal seasons, the Blues are going to attempt to turn it around this season. After making key additions, I believe the Blues will be headed on the right path this season. GM John Davidson has done a spectacular job of building this ...
This was the term I used to summarize my expectations for the Blue Jackets this upcoming season. I don't mean that I am expecting another wash of a season; I have simply learned over the past seven years to never expect anything out of the ordinary from this team. The rollercoaster of expectations Jacket fans have experienced is in the shape of one that has no end, ...
This was the term I used to summarize my expectations for the Blue Jackets this upcoming season. I don't mean that I am expecting another wash of a season; I have simply learned over the past seven years to never expect anything out of the ordinary from this team. The rollercoaster of expectations Jacket fans have experienced is in the shape of one that has no end, ...
This was the term I used to summarize my expectations for the Blue Jackets this upcoming season. I don't mean that I am expecting another wash of a season; I have simply learned over the past seven years to never expect anything out of the ordinary from this team. The rollercoaster of expectations Jacket fans have experienced is in the shape of one that has no end, ...
This is my first Blog so bear with me. I feel that it is important to talk about the one flame player who I believe is maybe a diamond in the rough. Matthew Lombardi, I believe is a player or two away from Iggy numbers. This off season I thought Sutter might address the Lombo situation, and bring in some young talent to play with Lombardi. But what I can see is that he did...
[i]With all of the big new contracts signed this year, there are a lot of players with big shoes to fill. There are a lot of players with a new responsibility to be "the guy" for their respective clubs. There are a lot of players that need to step it up this season and show why they were worth the big bucks that their teams threw at them. So which players are actually...
So after taking a slight beating in the last entry. I'd like to defend my list. There's reasons why I didn't pick certain teams over others. That's not to say that those teams will be great or what not. I respect all 30 franchises in the NHL, and did not look to disrespect anyone, in all honesty. In a list of 5 theres of course going to be teams that get snubbed. Tony A...
hockeyisgd writes...

An "upbeat" rant about NBC

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
So here's the problem. When I am at school at Purdue University during the winter, there are very few times where I can watch hockey (I can't buy the Center-Ice package because I live in the dorms). NBC tends to be the only time I can realistically watch hockey, and I had no problem with NBC until this past season. My beef with NBC is their game selection. I probably ha...
dagley writes...

The Peca Factor?

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
[img:left]http://mapleleafs.nhl.info.pl/news/data/upimages/Michael_Peca_10.jpg[/img]I don't really have a lot of time to write this blog, I just got back from my grandparents after a long weekend of putting a new roof on the barn here in beautiful Nova Scotia. It was miserable all weekend, it absolutely poored all weekend. I finally got a chance to go for a walk on the bea...
wingedim writes...

Svitov to Play in Russia

Posted Monday | Comments 5
Last Friday the Bluejackets got a big surprise. Alexander Svitov had signed an 3 year deal with Avangard Omsk of the RSL. This was after he inked a 2 year extension with the Bluejackets in July. This really throws a wrench into Hitchcock's plans for the team this year. Up until Hitchcock took over, Svitov never really reached his viewed potential. Once Hitch took over th...
AlexanderScharf writes...

D-Day For Peca

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
After I wrote and posted this blog only to realize that I hadnt signed in and would have to re-write it, I realized that I need some sleep. So Im going to quickly get this out before I hit the sack. Peca will reported decide today regarding which team he will be playing on for the 2007-08 season. http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/blog This comes as...
dagley writes...

Why I love Rick Nash!

Posted Tuesday | Comments 1
[img:left]http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/sports/nash_rick050507.jpg[/img] [b][u]Overview[/b][/u] [b]Name:[/b] Rick Nash #61 [b]DOB:[/b] Jun 16, 1984 [b]Born:[/b] Brampton, Ont., Canada [b]HT:[/b] 6-4 [b]WT:[/b] 215 [b]Drafted:[/b] 1st overall in 2002 Columbus Blue Jackets [b]2006/2007 Season Totals:[/b] 75 GP | 27 G | 30 A | 57 PTS | -8 | 73 PIM | [b]Awar...
CBJ09 writes...

Welcome to Columbus, Mr. Peca

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Depth isn't all that Michael Peca will provide the Blue Jackets, and what a good thing it is. It was reported tonight by the Columbus Dispatch and the NY Daily News that Peca's agent, Don Meehan, and Columbus GM Scott Howson are finalizing a one-year contract. Terms are not immediately available. The official annoucement is expected Wednesday morning. Peca's remar...
AlexanderScharf writes...

Peca To Blue Jackets

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
In the final edition of the Peca blog series, TSN has confirmed the Michael Peca has reached an agreement on a 1 year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets that will be officially anounced later today. This ends a 3 week saga where he was involved with the Rangers, Sabres and Leafs. His signing is welcomed in Columbus, a team that just lost a forward, Svitov, to Russia. The ...
Docwhiskey writes...

Blues hurting rams?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
On my way in to work this morning, I heard a very interesting story. The Blues have a 33% increase of season ticket sales this year (compared to last) giving them 8500 sold so far. The rams, however, are currently looking at more than half of their regular season games not sold out. This is a first since the team moved here in the mid 90's. The radio personality asked ...
When I first heard there was an e3 rumor that Michael Peca was comming to Columbus, I kind of got a little excited. Now that he's signed I really have some mixed emotions about him being on the Jackets. Why I like Michael Peca as a Blue Jacket It seems to me that every year, that the Jackets are a team that look like they can be a decent team on paper, but it never tr...
How many days until training camp opens? Ahhh....too many, of course. It's 95 degrees in Columbus and the only thing representing hockey season is my order form for a new RBK Edge jersey. I'm usually guilty of doing this too much, but for the sake of excitement surrounding the past 24 hours, I'll take a look at the "on paper" Columbus Blue Jackets. [b]FORWARD LINES[...
How many days until training camp opens? Ahhh....too many, of course. It's 95 degrees in Columbus and the only thing representing hockey season is my order form for a new RBK Edge jersey. I'm usually guilty of doing this too much, but for the sake of excitement surrounding the past 24 hours, I'll take a look at the "on paper" Columbus Blue Jackets. [b]FORWARD LINES[...
If there is one team the Detroit Red Wings need to be looking out for in the rear view mirror, it’s the St. Louis Blues, and this year, the Blues are much closer than they appear. No, the Blues won’t contend for a Cup (at least not for a couple more years) but for the time being, they have a real shot at making life hard for the Red Wings in a very weak Central Divisi...
David Singleton writes...

Expectations- Part I

Posted Friday | Comments 0
[b]Originally Posted on [url]www.PredNation.com[/url][/b] Michael Peca signs with Columbus. Detroit signs Brian Rafalski to replace Mathieu Schneider. St. Louis signs Paul Kariya and re-signs (of a sort) Keith Tkachuk. Chicago obtains/signs Sergei Samsonov, Robert Lang, Patrick Kane, Kevyn Adams, and Yanic Perreault. Those are just a few of the moves made by our div...
jammer21 writes...

Save the Blues song!

Posted Monday | Comments 0
For some inexplicable reason, the Blues are considering changing the song they play after the Blues score. Thankfully, they’ve let the fans decide between a new song and the old one, so PLEASE VOTE FOR THE OLD SONG!!! Here's the link. If you're really adamant, you can return to the Blues home page, find the link on the page, and vote again. http://blues.nhl.com/team/a...
jammer21 writes...

Save the Blues song!

Posted Monday | Comments 1
For some inexplicable reason, the Blues are considering changing the song they play after the Blues score. Thankfully, they’ve let the fans decide between a new song and the old one, so PLEASE VOTE FOR THE OLD SONG!!! Here's the link. If you're really adamant, you can return to the Blues home page, find the link on the page, and vote again. http://blues.nhl.com/team/a...
It goes without saying that with no scoring, you likely won't win many games. Coming into last year's campaign, the Blue Jackets and their fans believed en groupe that they boasted a group of forwards that could rival any in the West. On paper, Rick Nash, Sergei Fedorov, David Vyborny, Anson Carter, Fredrik Modin and Nikolai Zherdev looked like an offense that could outsco...
Next, I looked at the Central Division [b]Columbus Blue Jackets[/b] Could this be the year the Columbus Blue Jackets make the playoffs... NO. However they will be better. Mainly because the Columbus Blue Jackets fired Doug MacLean and heired Scott Howson. Also the team got immediately better last year when they heired Ken Hitchcock. The Blue Jackets are stacked with ...
[b]Originally posted (and more readable) on [url]www.prednation.com[/url][/b] In Part I, we took a look back at the expectations going into last season. That look provided a brief glimpse at the players we were going to ice as well. At this time last season, we were a team coming off of a 100+ point season. We were going into the season expecting another 100+ point c...
Until two exciting things will happen. Well, for me and the EA lovers also. My birthday falls on September 12th, but that's not what I think about this time of year. NHL 08 happens to have the release date of September 12th. So for me, it's kind of a birthday on top of another birthday, ya know? Anyways, the Blue Jackets. Ohhh my, the good ol' Blue Jackets. I don't know...
CBJ09 writes...

2007-2008 Preview Part 2: Defense

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Perhaps the achilles heel for any up-and-coming team is a lack of team defense. The Blue Jackets have made a few blunders down the path in the name of free-agent pickups Scott Lachance, Deron Quint, Bryan Berard and Adam Foote. Of the four mentioned, Foote has had the greatest impact on his team- both on the ice and in the locker room. On the flip side, there have been...
Heart. When you hear the word, perhaps, the first thing you think of is that organ beating inside your chest. You also might think of that hard rocking, but IMO god-awful, girl band comprised of the sisters - Ann and Nancy Wilson. Sorry, not a big Barracude fan. When I think of the word "heart," I immediately think of it in relation to organized sports. Not ...
Well, folks. Thursday is the day the Blueshirts officially open the doors to training camp, though reports are circulating that many players have in fact already begun "informal" workouts, both on and off the ice. Players who have already been spotted on the ice include: Brendan Shanahan, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Martin Straka, Henrik Lundqvist, Petr Prucha, Sean Ave...
Time for Part 4 of my 6-part series on the new jerseys. So far, we've covered the Northeast, Northwest and Atlantic divisions. For those who have not read them yet: http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=2407&post_id=2473 http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=2407&post_id=2499 http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=2407&post_id=2552 Up n...
61 writes...

So, a new CBJ blogger? I'm down.

Posted Monday | Comments 0
About time. I get bored of just seeing the same bloggers (not complaining, they do a good job) blog everyday and not one blog about the Blue Jackets has been created. I'm looking forward to reading some of his stuff. Seems like he knows his stuff so we'll see. Good luck, Eric.
You can never win the Stanley Cup in the preseason, but it's certainly possible to take steps backward to relinquish that dream. The Blue Jackets, who were arguable the NHL's most stoic team in the offseason, have a few questions to answer before being fully prepared for next Friday's season opener vs. Anaheim. Unfortunately, the answers will have to come from within. [...
Jackets614 writes...

Scoring.. or lack there of..

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Once again it seems like the Blue Jackets are incapable of scoring enough goals to pull out wins in the close games. 2 nights in a row we have lost to Hurricanes, 1 goal in the 2 matches. Last night was understandable as they lost 3-0 with Mason in net. Tonight however, LeClaire (Who in my opinion will be the starter this season no doubt) was lights out all night until the...
CBJ09 writes...

Welcome to the Show, Boys

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
As reported on Aaron Portzline's blog from the Columbus Dispatch, the Blue Jackets announced a major roster move this evening. Coach Ken Hitchcock informed 20-year olds Kris Russell and Jared Boll that they will be in the lineup opening night (Oct. 5th). Kris Russell, at 20, is the most exciting player to come through Columbus' system since Rick Nash. He was given a so...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have been given a blank slate. That blank slate was given the day that Doug Maclean was fired. Every player is starting anew. The Scott Howson era starts Friday and it is full of promise. Expectiations for this squad could not be any lower. Nobody outside of the Central Ohio area has them above 14th in their Western Conference predictions. T...
npc902 writes...

Leafs & Sens opening Night

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
First off, Go Leafs Go. I will be watching the game on TSN tonight with my 5 month old son, this will be the first NHL game he has ever seen and I am excited! He will likely not understand whats going on, but being a die-hard Leafs fan, I feel it is important he is exposed to the blue and white at an early age! I will remember this night forever as the first time my son an...
After having to sit through another boring baseball season (which was compounded by the Cardinals playing like crap), and realizing that pro football just doesn't seem as much fun anymore (I'm sure my crappy rams have something to do with it, still love college though), I get to finally watch the greatest sport in the world!! Though the season starts tonight (and I will h...
In his classic book, "See You at the Top," motivational speaker Zig Ziglar coined the term, "Loser's Limp." Ziglar explained the term in context of professional sports. He gave the example of an offensive player running for the end zone with a defensive player in hot pursuit. Twenty yards from the goal, it becomes obvious the defensive player won't catch the man with the ...
BluemanGuruu writes...

Blues Thus Far

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
In honor of friendly debate and maybe someone who has as much passion for the Blues as I have I was wondering, if when you have time, we can shoot the S*^t about the Blues. I agree to disagree in the sport of learning something new and seeing things from another perspective. So far this season Salvador has been playing a solid game. What I saw in the preseason gam...
Traditionally, sports in Ohio are generally regarded as mediocre. However this year I feel there is an excitement for Ohio sports that has not been around for a long time. Here is what has been happening: -Last night, the Cleveland Indians defeated the New York Yankees 6-4 to move on to the AL Championship Series. The Indians haven't won a World Series in almost 60 year...
Docwhiskey writes...

Home Opener Eve

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Twas the night before the opener and all through the arena The techs are testing the speakers by playing funky cold medina The Zamboni's are out to make the ice real smooth And the Vendors are hooking up the kegs full of ice cold brews The Skates are being sharpened with oh so much care In hopes that goals will be scored in threes or in pairs And I the ticket holder ...
CBJ09 writes...

Opening with a BOOM!

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
It is far too early to tell if the Columbus Blue Jackets are as improved as they claim they are, but Friday night's 4-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks is definitely a stepping stone. Last season, the Jackets were often guilty (okay, very often) of playing for 40 minutes, sometimes less. They came out with fantastic energy and played in-your-face for two periods, and once t...
Since when did the entire city of St. Louis jump on the Blues bandwagon? I know the Rams are losing and the Cardinals didn’t make the playoffs, but this is ridiculous. Last year, I could walk up the night of the game and get tickets. But now, the first three games are well on their way to becoming sellouts! Only a few very expensive seats remain. I’m not saying t...
CBJ09 writes...

Gretzky's Boys Come to Town

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
An interesting matchup tonight for the Blue Jackets. Coming off what has to be a disappointing road loss in Minnesota, the Jackets have had time to recharge and focus on their opponents for game 3. Though the season is young, it is not premature to call this a "crucial" game. Had the Jackets won more games last year against teams beneath them in the standings, they wou...
CBJ09 writes...

Jackets Defense Stands Tall Again

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
It's hard not to overlook the ridiculous goaltending of Pascal Leclaire through his first two starts, but 60-for-60 to start the year isn't too shabby. The Blue Jackets put Saturday's disappointing loss behind them, and moved on to Wednesday's game against the Phoenix Coyotes. Coach Ken Hitchcock was not particularly impressed with the team's play in the final period S...
predjoe writes...

Preds Take First Loss

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Sometimes it just isn’t your night. That was the case last night as the Predators suffered their first loss of the year at the hands of the division rival St. Louis Blues 4-1. From the start the Preds seemed to be playing the part of the Washington Generals to the Globetrotting Blues. They let them get up early, on a pretty goal from Brad Boyes started ...
CBJ09 writes...

Jackets' Road Woes Continue

Posted Monday | Comments 7
The 2007-2008 season is only four games old, but a disturbing trend has already settled in with the Blue Jackets. After a solid team performance in the home opener against Anaheim, Columbus traveled to Minnesota the next night and played another good team game, albeit for 40 minutes. During the third period of that game, the Jackets diverted from their game plan and...
After a day of cooling off following a disturbing 5-1 loss to the Avalanche, the Blue Jackets returned to practice this morning. Most of the players were present, with the exception being Fredrik Modin. He's been nursing a sore groin, and the coaching staff decided it was best to give him the day off. Aside from the usual morning practice procedure, GM Scott Howson had...
the lines at practive today were... Hagman - Modano - Lehtinen Morrow - Ribeiro - Eriksson Lundqvist - Halpern - Miettinen Jokinen - Barnes - Winchester Fedoruk - Ott - Barch Daley - Zubov Norstrom - Robidas Niskanen - Boucher OK, so I hope this is not the exact example for what will be played in the game tonight.... I dont like Hagman with Mo and Lehts, ...
aisforaaron83 writes...

stars v. jackets recap

Posted Thursday | Comments 4
Stars eek out the win in the shootout. Smitty is perfect against the 6 shootout shooters he has faced. Jussi got the only shootout goal for dallas to put us on top. He looked like he was going to swing wide and try the dangle he is known for, but he saw that Norrena was expecting that and turned with the puck to slide it, more forcefully, in the puck-sized hole between the...
The Blues finally put the POWER back into the power play last night against the 'hawks. PP goals from Kariya and Walt on sweet feeds from Stempy and Boyes and we're back in business! Prior to last night, the 'note had been scuffelling along at a 9.something % clip. 2 fer 20 something (research smesearch) and OH fer eleven since rook Erik Johnson scored the game winn...
BluemanGuruu writes...

Saturday's game

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I usually never try to blame the refs in hockey...it's a tough sport to officiate and i already assume that the refs are gonna basically suck to some extent to someone on the ice. Saturday night though...that was brutal. NHL states that a stick horizontal to the ice surface and placed into an opposing players abdomen area or higher is hooking. Any use of a stick to impe...
CBJ09 writes...

Jackets Start, End Flat

Posted Monday | Comments 0
It was a homecoming of sorts for Ryan Kesler, and he made the most of it. The former Ohio State standout scored two goals, including an empty-netter, propelling the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jackets on a night they would like to forget. Backup goaltender Curtis Sanford, making his first start of the season, stopped 35 shots in the victory. T...
BluemanGuruu writes...

It's Time

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Like Andy Strickland was saying it's time for the Blues to make some tough descions. I think Andy is correct in his opinions about Backman. I think he will be a good player at some point and I wonder if a change of scenery might just be the thing that would do it for him. It will be hard descion to make especially as the Blues start to bring in talent from Sweden. Back...
Isn't it awesome that at this time really all we can do is nit pick the roster and not feel deeply depressed that our team isn't competive like a year ago? I remember everytime I went to the chow hall in Iraq at this time last year snapping up the latest copy of Stars and Stripes(when it was available), and turning to the page with the game summaries and quickly searching...
First off I want to say that the Blues/Ducks game was a well played game by a number of skilled players. After that I want to say the officiating was a bit questionable but understandable, those guys have a tough job and obviously don't see everything...but I'm sure they saw a few things they chose not to call. But what irks me more than anything is the style that the Du...
jammer21 writes...

Blues expected record: 80-2-0

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
At least, in Andy Murray's mind, the Blues should expect to win every game, and that's why I love Andy Murray as a coach. I know every professional goes out to win every game, but I'll never forget the story from last year, as told by John Kelly, the Blues broadcast man, when Murray asked the Blues how many games they needed to win to make the playoffs. No one had a gu...
Jeremy Rutherford who covers the Blues for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and stltoday.com had this to say yesterday prior to the Blues game in Columbus: "[i]Murray continues to emphasize the work Perron is getting off the ice. While everyone agrees with that, I get the feeling that some in the club want to see Perron in a game soon. That decision continues to be left with...
I heard from a buddy of mine that Al, John and Larry were all at the practice on Friday and watching intently Eric Brewer, Jay McKee and Christian Backman. I believe their are preliminary talks involving the Rangers, possibly about Jagr. Besides that there are a few logical conclusions to suggest that a trade could be taking place soon. It revolves around the fact...
The Blues are freakishly healthy right now. With [b]Erik Johnson [/b]nearly set to return, the Blues could have as many as eight "top six" defensemen available on a given night. At forward and in goal they have no one currently laid up. This makes dressing a team each night a good but difficult decision to make for the Head Coach. A lot has been said in the early day...
When a team is said to have potential year after year, at a certain point people start believing that potential is unfulfilled. As the saying goes, potential is often a nice way of saying something simply is not very good right now. Scratch the potential from Columbus Blue Jackets in that case. If you have not noticed, this team is very good. How good? A playoff t...
The Chicago Blackhawks have been up and down so far this season, but Denis Savard took action after Sunday's loss against the Predators. Savard stated that the team "needed to change something up". As a Hawks fan, you should know what needed changing after Wednesday's win against Columbus. Three separate Blackhawks defensemen put goals up on the board, none of which wer...
This started as a response to Andy Strickland's blog on Garth Brooks interest in being a part of a KC hockey team, but it got too long, so here I go. I posted on these message boards about KC hockey before, so I thought I would compile it all into one blog. First of all, I've lived in Kansas City for the better part of three years now, but I grew up a rabid St. Louis Bl...
So far, the young season has provided many highlights for the upstart Columbus Blue Jackets, off to a franchise-record 8-4-2 start. They have taken full-heartedly to Ken Hitchcock's structured mentality, and using their speed and forecheck to pressure opponents into turnovers. Vintage Ken Hitchcock hockey. With a team as young as the Jackets, it is plausible to wond...
I just read an article by Helene St. James of the [i]Detroit Free Press[/i] ( [i]Cloud 9: Wings' streak ties record; Zetterberg extends his[/i]) in which she states that the Joe Louis Arena was only "two-thirds full" last night. This is simply not true and anybody with a calculator can verify the actual percentage. In fact, the actual attendance last night against Co...
BluemanGuruu writes...

CHANGING THE LINES

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
After the game against Chicago I thought the lines were muddled and didn't shine through with players strength. The only line that looked really any good at all was Weight, Marty and Perron. That being said I'd like to propse a few different line possibilities and hear what you think and what lines you can come up with. In the preseason the line of Weight, Boyes and P...
BluemanGuruu writes...

CHANGING THE LINES

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
After the game against Chicago I thought the lines were muddled and didn't shine through with players strength. The only line that looked really any good at all was Weight, Marty and Perron. That being said I'd like to propse a few different line possibilities and hear what you think and what lines you can come up with. In the preseason the line of Weight, Boyes and P...
predjoe writes...

Preds Rolling

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Wins in six out of their last eight games. Points in seven of their last eight. Yes it is time to recognize that the Predators are back. Last nights 4-3 shootout win is proof of that. Sure the Preds gave up a two goal lead but they were able to come away with two points. Following the game their was frustration in the locker room over the fact that they let the Blue ...
jammer21 writes...

Best Al MacInnis moments

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Every time Al MacInnis appears on the jumbotron in St. Louis, the crowd cheers. Al MacInnis is a class act, and his Hall of Fame status has been bringing back great memories. Because of my age, most of my memories come from his time in St. Louis, so feel free to add any more in the comments. Here I go: -His Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe in Calgary. I've only really seen t...
predjoe writes...

Loving The Divisional Games

Posted Monday | Comments 0
[b]The NHL did a great thing[/b] by putting a large chunk of divisional games so early in the season this year. It really gets the rivalries going and gives each team a great opportunity to see what they are competing against in their division. For a long time I was wondering why they NHL didn’t do more of this...to me it seemed so easy a solution to add meaning to th...
predjoe writes...

Are We Hot Yet?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Oh Yes! After losing six games in a row the Predators have stormed back in dramatic fashion. The Preds have won seven out of their last nine with only one regulation loss in that stretch. The boys have turned a corner and have surprised allot of teams including the Blue Jackets whose coach, Ken Hitchcock, thought that the Preds were done for the year when they were struggl...
jammer21 writes...

What really grinds my gears...

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Blues beat Detroit which is always a good thing, but there are a couple things that really irked me tonight... -Night Class. I didn't catch the entire game and only saw the last period. I missed the one freaking time that Blues not only beat Detroit, but beat them on national TV!!! -eric brewer. I didn't capitalize his name because he was very bad. I understand m...
BluemanGuruu writes...

PERRON

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
This is bascially a blog with one message for a very 'special' kind of person. All of us other Blues fans would like to say to you Jackman5, WETOLD YOU SO! So let us get this straight, you think we should send Perron down to juniors after his next game? He, according to you Jackman5, is not a scoring threat. Well buyah buddy, booo--yaaah. Personally, I...
jammer21 writes...

Hawks fans, take notice.

Posted Friday | Comments 0
It's official, Blackhawk fans. I hate your team again. I'm not trying to be mean. It's a [i]good[/i] thing that I hate your team again. Let me explain. During the early 90s, I hated the Hawks. Belfour, Roenick, Chelios...I hated them all with a passion. Nothing was better than sweeping them out of the playoffs. All the fans brought toy brooms and Eddie the Eagle had ...
jammer21 writes...

Hawks fans, take notice.

Posted Friday | Comments 0
It's official, Blackhawk fans. I hate your team again. I'm not trying to be mean. It's a [i]good[/i] thing that I hate your team again. Let me explain. During the early 90s, I hated the Hawks. Belfour, Roenick, Chelios...I hated them all with a passion. Nothing was better than sweeping them out of the playoffs. All the fans brought toy brooms and Eddie the Eagle had ...
predjoe writes...

If...

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
I hate to write blogs based on 'ifs' but this one was too good to pass up. [b]IF[/b] (not the use of bold to emphasize how this is not happening) the NHL season were to end today (it would be crazy for it to since we haven't even hit the quarter pole yet) the Central Division would boast [b]FOUR[/b] (note bold use again...this time to emphasize how crazy this statement...
There are lot of things hockey players will say to each other in the heat of competition, none of which can be reprinted here. But there's one dirty word that no one uses, not even Sean Avery: the "s" word. The "S" word, of course, is shutout. I even feel dirty typing it, and I really hope my Hockeybuzz Id doesn't get suspended for using it. I apologize in advance to an...
This fact is proven with the Blackhawks beating the Red Wings for yet a fourth time already this season, keep in mind the Wings only have five regulation losses, with the other coming against another central division team, the Blues. The Central Division is home to the best team in the Western Conference, the Red Wings, and no other division currently has every single t...
Of course he isn't a dirty player but the headline needs to be an attention getter as well as get to my main point. I realize it's early to be writing this piece but I have a sixth sense about things. If you don't believe me - check out my Forum piece entitled [i]"Prediction: David Perron will return to Juniors". [/i]Yes, I'm quite the prognosticator. EJ is only...
predjoe writes...

Announcement...Game Tonight

Posted Monday | Comments 0
[i](a note to the Nashville haters..can you give us this day? Can you give it to us without the negative comments and Nashville bashing? Thanks)[/i] [b]Well...the day that Pred fans have been waiting for has arrived[/b]. A deal has been reached with the city on a new lease the guarantees that Nashville hockey fans have the Predators for at least five more years. The har...
Let me start off by saying that I have taken notice of Brewer's better puck handling skills as of late, but that does not translate tp playing the point on the power play. Unless he does the old Pronger trick, and heads down to screen the net minder then he's more of a risk factor than having a forward on the point. There's no statistical data I'm aware of to back this...
I was very impressed and excited for the Blues beating a tough Buffalo team on the road. They have played well at home but they were under .500 on the road and this was a big road win and a comeback win at that. Being down 2-0, the Blues could have packed it in, but this team has such confidence and fight in them that they rallied with three goals of their own before Bu...
Elchrisco writes...

The League Thus Far...

Posted Friday | Comments 0
And so we're approaching December.... The teams have established themselves as to where they sit in the league, where they need to improve and so on... one thing that has been very noticeable is just how incredibly inconsistant almost every team in the league has been thus far with only Detroit once again showing the constant and consistant poise it has for essential...
You know you're a Blues fan... - if You think Weight Watchers is a Doug Weight fan club and some chick named Jenny Craig is president. - if You yell 'Blackhawks Suck!'...at a Cardinals game -if your vision of hell entails the Blues losing in the second round of the playoffs with either Detroit or Colorado winning the Stanley Cup -if you realize just how depress...
Hockey Canada is currently waiting for final word from the remaining two NHL teams with Junior eligible players, on whether or not those players will be released to represent Canada at the WJHC. Those two teams are the Edmonton Oilers (Sam Gagner) and the St. Louis Blues (David Perron). Minnesota (James Sheppard), Boston (Milan Lucic), Pittsburgh (Jordan Staal) and Chica...
BluemanGuruu writes...

under construction.

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
the first part and notes for a future blog where i lazily save it onto hockeybuzz instead on my own machine. i repeat, this is not a complete piece. any recomendations, questions and comments that are helpful are welcome. thank for your patience and consideration for my laziness. ;-) here's something interesting my fellow fans. a quote from murray out of rutherford'...
[b]COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS THERE ARE REASONS TO SMILE[/b] The next team on my tour is the Columbus Blue Jackets. People use to think of this team as the ones bringing up the rear, but you cannot necessarily say that any more. They have a strong base of players on which to grow. Every team has to have a strong core to build on, and the Jackets has that. I like the ...
It still hurts to talk about the loss last night. Believe it or not, despite giving up 8 goals, Hannu Toivenan can’t be blamed for the loss. The loss was a total breakdown on all defensive fronts. How many times was brewer going to be out of position? How many times was the 6 foot 2 Backman outmuscled on the puck? How many times did the defense watch Colorado se...
Nationwide Arena - 7pm EST Tonight the Blue Jackets host the Ducks in the last game of the road trip series for the Ducks before they go home. David Vyborny was placed on injured reserve and will not be playing tonight against the Ducks. Instead a young prospect from the Crunch in Syracuse named Derek Mackenzie will be taking his spot for the time being. ...
Anaheim had a terrific power play kill throughout the whole game. After the Ducks tallied back in the second period there was a leverage that would be slightly turned once more for the Jackets until Over Time. Special teams for the Ducks was what won them this game, hands down. These teams are wonderful rivals because when they play each other, they tend to have some very...
It’s time to look ahead to the Blues game tonight against the Edmonton Oilers. Be warned, Blues fans. If the Oilers give up an early lead, by the first intermission, the fans will likely call for the firing of a coach, a GM or a combination thereof. Wait, wrong Canadian team. Do we play the Leafs this year? The last time these two teams met on December 7th, the Oilers...
Norrena is scheduled to start in net against the Avalanche tomorrow Wednesday December 12th 2007. Norrena hasn't started a game in 11 straight days. Pascal Leclaire is taking a breather while letting Fredrik Norrena takes another crack and starting in net since facing the Flames and winning the game. Let's see if Norrena can pick up where he left off as he allows Lecl...
CBJ09 writes...

New Style Brings New Results

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Six years of losing and embarrassment can do a number on the confidence of young players, let alone the fans. Having never been charged with being consistent or organized, the Columbus Blue Jackets fired head coach Gerard Gallant on November 13, 2006. The old cliche "it's easier to fire one coach than the whole team" didn't even need applied- the fans knew what was wron...
One of the main reasons why the schedule changed is so people around the league could see the Alex and Sid shows at least once a year. Okay, yes, I know. A lot of non-hockey fans might come to the game to see them play, but let me just go off on a hockey fan rant here for a second about why I never want to see the best players on the other team. [b]Because, not only ...
I was shocked that the Blues traded Dougie Weight and It is truly sad to see him go. He has been a fan favorite in St. Louis and we were happy to have him back after he won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes. But now this trade marks the end of Weight as a Blue I believe, and I think it is better for him to go to Anaheim and maybe get back on track offensively under a new...
This season, the Blues launched "Louie," a saxophone playing, bear-looking monstrosity that relentlessly annoys fans during the game. Why, God? Why? First of all, the mascot doesn't make any sense. We are the St. Louis Blues, not the St. Louis Saxophone Playing Blue Bears. Everyone laughed when we tried to launch "Kool Kat" with those notoriously hideous third jersey...
jammer21 writes...

Parity or rewards for losing...

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
If you look at the standings as of Tuesday afternoon, 20 teams are above .500 and 4 teams are right at .500. How is this mathematically possible? Is this the ‘parity’ that Bettman insisted would exist under the new CBA, or is it just an illusion? Why are the standings like this? Because the NHL rewards losing teams that are tied after regulation. At one tim...
It's not out of realm of possibility. Andy Strickland was on a local radio station last night and basically summed it up this way: Everyone knows already that Teemu is working out every day. He talks to Paul Karyia every day and if there is anyone that could sell Teemu on the idea of coming to the Blues it's his best friend. Not to mention the chemistry that Selanne...
CBJ09 writes...

Coming Out Party

Posted Friday | Comments 0
This year's crop of rookies in the National Hockey League is impressive. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner, Bryan Little and Tyler Kennedy have made significant contributions to not only their respective teams, but also the fanbases. Often overlooked (due to the market) is Blue Jackets defenseman Kris Russell. With the Medicine Hat Tigers, he was considered one o...
[b]While winning one game stops a losing streak[/b] I don't know how far it will go in turning the Preds season back around. Truth be told I can't get real excited about a home win against the LA Kings. The only thing I knew going into last nights game was one of these poorly playing teams had to win...there was no way around that. [b] The Preds came out flying[/b] and ...
FLAMESTR writes...

Blues Team on the Rise

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
[b]WHAT MAKES THE BLUES TICK?[/b] The next team on my 30 team tour is the St. Louis Blues. The Blues are a terrific team to watch, and they are well coached. I really feel that the Blues have one of the best coaches in the league in Andy Murray. Murray has system in place, and more important, the players have bought into it . The Blues have the talent, but what make...
FLAMESTR writes...

Blues Team on the Rise

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
[b]WHAT MAKES THE BLUES TICK?[/b] The next team on my 30 team tour is the St. Louis Blues. The Blues are a terrific team to watch, and they are well coached. I really feel that the Blues have one of the best coaches in the league in Andy Murray. Murray has system in place, and more important, the players have bought into it . The Blues have the talent, but what make...
predjoe writes...

Merry Christmas

Posted Monday | Comments 1
[b]Nice win by the Preds last night[/b] with a 3-1 win over the Bluejackets...I didn't get to see it but I liked what I heard. One name that I kept hearing last night was that of #22 Jordin Tootoo. I am loving his game and the way he is taking on the responsibility that the coaches are giving to him. Tootoo is making a case for him to be a top RFA signing for the Preds. ...
*UPDATE Rookie winger Devin Setoguchi sent back to Worcester of the AHL. The Sharks want him to keep playing but he has not been good lately and was a healthy scratch in the last game. It has been hard getting back into the swing of things, but I have managed. Tonight the Sharks face off against the Blues in St. Louis. Things have been nothing but good for the Sharks o...
predjoe writes...

12 In A Row

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Last night's 4-3 victory was the twelfth time in a row that the Predators have won over the Columbus Bluejackets. Honestly i can't believe it. Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then! [b] Last nights win did not come easy[/b] though (actually all of the contests between Columbus and Nashville are heavily contested) with Nashville having to come back ...
If there is one thing that annoys me most about the Blue Jackets, its the fact that they still have Jody Shelley. I have no beef with him as a person, however I think he doesnt fit in the Jackets roster, even with the injuries. Sure he might be an enforcer, but I think that position is already been filled by some of the younger players. Shelley's Stats First let's lo...
Let me start out by saying that I'm American. I'm not one of those who acts like every other country is crap and that the American way is the only way. Nonetheless, I am an American and I am proud of it. I have lived in Columbus, Ohio for my entire life. The city is very much a part of me, and I love it dearly (no matter how obsessed it is about Ohio State Football). I wou...
Happy New Year everyone! The High Sticking Show on www.wilyradio.com is comming back later this month. Stay tuned for more details, and I will keep you more up to date this time around! So during New Years I played Rock Band. If you haven't had a chance to play it, and are a big Guitar Hero fan (like myself), you will really enjoy it! The drums are really fun, and th...
Last night the Blue Jackets played their 41st of 82 games, and are now officially halfway through the season. With a record of 19-16-6, 44 points, the jackets are on pace for at least 80-90 points, which may be good enough for a low playoff spot in the Western Conference. Let's reflect back on this up and down season. A great start The Jackets got off to a great start ...
DrFrankentweed writes...

Blues turn the screw

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Damn - I wish I could have watched the Blues savage the Blue Jackets 6-1 last night. Living the UK though, a number of the Blues games don't actually start until 1.30am and I cannot justify staying up for the whole game. Shame. NASN is the satellite channel in the UK that shows a lot of hockey - unfortunately we've only had one Blues game. Which one did they pick? ...
Love it or hate it, the outdoor game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres brought the NHL a lot of attention from people other than hockey fans. The All-Star game is meant to do the same thing; the league showcases their talent to attract new fans. So, my question is, why don't we hold the All-Star game outdoors (that is, when it's not in Atlanta)? Thin...
If there was anyone on the Blues deserving of an All-Star appearance I strongly believe that it would be Brad Boyes. He is having a very solid season, leading the Blues with 24 goals and on many nights, he provides the sole offensive punch. He is 8th in the NHL in goals. But this brings up the question of if Blues were to be represented by one player in the All-Star gam...
I thought about this one for a while a said "Oh what the hell ". It's like Jack Burton in Big Trouble in Little China. Damn what a good movie! So if the Rangers are really going to give this cup run a shot their gonna need a quality 1-2 punch in net. Cujo has had alot of nice playoff performances in his career. Those of you lucky enough to have the NHL Network can see t...
CBJ09 writes...

New Blog!!

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Myself and fellow poster "61" are starting a new blog all about the Jackets! We're going to update everyday, and our stories will be relay-posted on here. Here's the first post: [b]WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE[/b] We find ourselves in a precarious position for mid-January. It’s called contention. The Blue Jackets were embarrassed by the Canucks when they last...
jammer21 writes...

St. Louis Blues wish list

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Despite being in a "rebuilding mode,' the Blues are in the midst of contending for a playoff spot in the very competitive Western Conference. Don't expect the Blues to trade away any picks or prospects, but at the same time, John Davidson wants this team to be competitive. So, if I were JD, these are goals I would have for the Blues lineup: [b]First off: The Tradeable A...
CBJ09 writes...

Pazzy, Jackets Earn Win

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Well, last night I said tonight’s game was almost a must win game. You get two solid efforts at home versus two central division rivals, and have one game remaining at home (Canucks) before the all-star break. Tonight was a key win, Pazzy played good as usual. Russell is finding his form, and Methot has looked solid since he played with us last year. Brassard’s pla...
CBJ09 writes...

Rumors Just Won't Go Away

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[b]According to the Columbus Dispatch[/b], the Blue Jackets are believed to be interested in defenseman Fedor Tyutin of the New York Rangers, and possibly center Erik Christensen of the Pittsburgh Penguins. [b]Could we be seeing the fruits of a long-standing stay [/b]by the scouts of these two teams, especially the Rangers? Tyutin is young (24) and looks to be coming in...
I couldn't care less if you think Columbus is a joke. And I REALLY don't care if you think Rick Nash is overrated, under-performing, and overpaid. Last night, Rick Nash truly showed all of the NHL what he can do - what the Columbus faithful he knew he had all along. With just over 10 minutes to go in the 3rd, Nikolai Zherdev (one of the biggest surprises this season...
Like Frankenstein's Monster, I was nearly driven off the chicagoblackhawks.com message boards the other day by an angry mob of villagers wielding pitchforks, for daring to say that the Hawks had no chance of making the playoffs. "This is a fan board. Why are you here?" One poster reasoned. I am a fan. But I am also a journalist, and therefore I need to make objective...
CBJ09 writes...

There Comes a Time....

Posted Monday | Comments 0
In every season where we have to reflect on what’s transpired, and what must happen going forward. Here we go. This team misses Ron Hainsey, and they dearly miss Sergei Fedorov’s composure. There was a glaring inability to move the puck against Colorado, who really could have taken the night off and won the game. A lack of consistency from the back end on out is ...
John Jaeckel writes...

Sav-oir Faire

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
(All, I am no longer HB28, but my real name. Nice to meet you) I just got done responding on Al Cimaglia's blog with regard to Denis Savard's system. Make no mistake, Savard-Bashers. He has a system. He has a vision. And it's working. As a Hawk fan, it's very easy to be cynical about any member of the front office or staff who comes from within the ranks. For year...
At the beginning of the season, the Blues went on a fairly aggressive ad campaign with the slogan "Whatever it takes". These commercials featured players and/or executives talking about the Blue Note Code. One of the things said in these ads was "we will not be outworked". However, anyone who watches the Blues lately can tell that this as been far from the case. Team...
Andy Murray has done a spectacular job turning this team around, despite the recent slide in the standings. But the honeymoon is over with Murray. Crunch time has come, and the team is flailing. One of the knocks on Murray's coaching style is that he loses control of the veteran players as they lose faith in his system, which sounds eerily similar to the Mike Kitchen fi...
John Jaeckel writes...

Water will find it's level

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
One thing that struck me during the first period of last night's Hawks-Sharks tilt, is that whether or not Al Cimaglia, myself or anyone else thinks the Hawks are a playoff team, the Hawks themselves think they are a playoff team. That matters. And that is a credit to the youthful exuberance of the players, along with Denis Savard and his staff. The Hawks came out flyin...
bobsouth1 writes...

Love that!

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Great win by the CBJ last night in Dallas. What a great time for Russell to get his first and second! Zherdev continues to amaze me with his ability, effort and unselfish play. And how about the fact he was on the ice with Nash up by only one goal with less than a minute left to play! Also, Brassard looks good with Nash and Modin-love the effort by this kid. And what about...
CBJ09 writes...

20-Minute Special

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Every coach uses their favorite phrase: "We need to compete for sixty minutes." It is so often overused that it becomes overlooked. You hear the coachspeak and instinctively turn the other cheek. I'm guilty of it, thank god for a digital recorder. The Blue Jackets celebrated their long-awaited return to Dallas (turns on sarcasm detector) on Tuesday night, looking for an...
In a previous blog, I stated that playing San Jose was a better measure of the Hawks' playoff-worthiness than the Hawks' previous four opponents. And in some ways, so is Columbus, who the Hawks face off against tonight at the U.C. With San Jose, it was more a question of: if the Hawks win, then yes, they should be considered a serious playoff contender. But if they ...
Different game, same story for the St. Louis Blues in their 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. For the second time in as many games, the Blues had a goal disallowed at a critical juncture of the game, and this time, the marker would have been the game winner. Both times, the play was blown dead, even though the puck was in the goal and the goaltender didn't have possess...
CBJ09 writes...

Solid Road Trip

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Finishing with 3 wins and 2 losses. Could have been two wins, with three losses. Or four wins and one loss. But, we finished 3-2. Winning two in a row, and both could have just as easily been losses. Ugly games.. you gotta win them. Unless you don’t wanna make the playoffs. If you don’t wanna make the playoffs, lose the ugly games, I don’t care. The Jackets are ma...
CBJ09 writes...

Time to Move On

Posted Monday | Comments 0
[b]The first person to tell you he is disappointed [/b]about not receiving the MVP award in the All-Star game will be Rick Nash. Yes, he had a hat trick, and you could certainly make the argument that all three were very nice goals. [b]The All-Star game is billed as a showcase of talent[/b]- the game's best players on the same stage for one night. Hockey fans cannot den...
Conceptions around the NHL world differ on a newly implemented system – the NHL salary cap. It is a system that guarantees hope, even if it is an illusion to some, for less-talented teams that befall the lower class of the league. The point of this experiment was too create a more competitive and intense league. So the NHL decided to bring in a system that rewards a p...
I was an advocate of the shootout competition to begin with, just because I thought it would be more fun than it turned out. Think about it: what do you do whenever you have rink time with your friends just to goof around with the puck? You "pull a Michigan" behind the net, point like Owen Nolan, or fling the puck lacrosse style. So that's what I imagined the skills ...
CBJ09 writes...

Blue Jackets Trade Jody Shelley

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[b]To say that it was inevitable is an understatement[/b]. Tonight, the inevitable became a reality. The Blue Jackets traded long-time fan favorite and noted pugilist Jody Shelley to the San Jose Sharks for a 6th-round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft. Not a glorious return, but seemingly a good bargain for both sides. [b]Not a huge financial gain for the Blue Jackets[/b...
The first game back from the All-Star break was an unimpressive one for the Blues, but they managed to pull out a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night in the Air Canada Center in Toronto. Keith Tkachuk scored two goals in the first 5:48 of the first period, and David Backes scored a goal of his own in the second period to lift the Blues to...
predjoe writes...

This Means Something

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
[b]For years games between the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets[/b] have meant very little to either team. In the beginning of this division rivalry the games resembled more of a fairgrounds wrestling night than a hockey game. Both teams lacked talent but made up for it with gritty players who were not afraid to drop the gloves. The Preds took many of the earl...
CBJ09 writes...

Curse Reversed, Right?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
[b]The road ahead for the Blue Jackets doesn't get much easier[/b]. Following what could have been this year's most disappointing loss (at home to Phoenix), the Jackets pack their bags and head down to Darth Vader's lair. True, the Blue Jackets ended their 12-game losing streak to the Predators in Nationwide Arena on January 12, but playing in Nashville has been an entirel...
[b]From another name in the rumor mill to a foundational player[/b] in the Preds future. JP Dumont has played all parts this past week in the press and I, as a Pred fan, could not be happier in the role he is ultimately cast. There is no denying that JP has been red hot and the Preds had to be fielding calls from interested GM's wondering about the availability of the ...
CBJ09 writes...

Caps Roll In, Other Thoughts

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[b]Not counting Saturday's loss to Minnesota[/b] (which I refuse to blog about), it's been a quiet few days for the Blue Jackets. The deafening silence may soon be lifted, however. The acquisition of defenseman Dick Tarnstrom from the Oilers signaled a ray of hope from GM Scott Howson, parting with an expendable asset in order to get something the Blue Jackets need- tra...
jammer21 writes...

St. Louis Blues firesale?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
In years past, the Blues have virtually stripped their roster at the deadline by trading away veteran UFAs for picks and prospects. From Doug Weight, Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin alone, the Blues received: 3 first round picks (Ian Cole, Patrick Berglund, David Perron), a second and third round pick, Jay Barriball (the former leading goal scorer at the University of Minnes...
[b]The Blue Jackets suffered yet another humiliating defeat tonight.[/b] This time, it was the red-hot Washington Capitals who rallied from 2-0 and late 3-2 deficits to win in overtime, 4-3. Alex Ovechkin scored the overtime winner at 2:28, and added the Caps' first goal of the night. Backup Brent Johnson shook off a rough start and carried the Capitals into overtime, m...
Coming out of the All-Star Break, the Blues started out great, winning their first two games against Toronto and Anaheim. But recently, they've squandered an opportunity at four easy points against an injury-depleted Colorado Avalanche team, and a down-and-out Tampa Bay Lightning squad. Saturday's game against Colorado was a perfect example of not taking advantage of a per...
Eschroe55 writes...

Dissapointing

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
As I attended the last two home games of the St. Louis Blues the title is the only word that can describe the feeling I had walking out of the Scottrade Center. After a thrilling shootout win over a very good Ducks team, the Blues got outworked and didn't show any sense of urgency the past two games. Granted, Manny was his All Star caliber self the past two games, but seri...
The Blues today called up goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu and forward Yan Stastny from Peoria, and have sent backup goalie Hannu Toivonen to the Riverman for conditioning. Toivonen started Saturday night in a 6-2 defeat to the Dallas Stars, and was pulled in favor of a sick Manny Legace after allowing four goals. He is 5-6-3 in 16 games played this season with a goals a...
CBJ09 writes...

Help Wanted...Quickly

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[b]The past week has not been the best for the Blue Jackets[/b]. The embarrassment at home to Minnesota, the frustrating loss in OT to the Capitals, the back-to-back solid road efforts in Phoenix and San Jose…the list goes on. The latest in a string of futility was the shootout loss at home to the league-worst Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. [b]Effort being a common deno...
I have talked to a couple of people tonight that have told me the Blues and Penguins are definitely talking trade. The Blues apparently have expressed interest in defenseman Ryan Whitney and forward Erik Christiansen, among a few others. If a trade is indeed made, it looks as if defenseman Barrett Jackman is one of the definite names mentioned to be heading to Pittsbur...
John Jaeckel writes...

"Stop It Right There!!!"

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
If last night provided a snapshot of the Hawks' lineup the rest of this season and next (with a few tweaks), then Hawk fans have a lot to look forward to: three scoring lines and a really active, dominant defense. Yes, Columbus came out flat. And they were also without their standout goaltender, Pascal Leclaire. But all games, and all teams, are in some ways measuring s...
predjoe writes...

Hawks In Town for V-Day Date

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
[b]The high octane Chicago Blackhawks[/b] come calling tonight to the Sommet Center fresh off a 7-2 thrashing of the Bluejackets last night. One can only hope that they used up their allotment last night. Led by a core of youngsters that will make this team dangerous for years to come the Blackhawks have fallen out of contention and appear to be destined to be a .500 ho...
predjoe writes...

Cliches Abound

Posted Friday | Comments 0
[b]Man...I could think of a many headlines to describe last nights game[/b]. I could go for the obvious and make reference to a St. Valentines Day Massacre. Maybe the Preds had a Red Wing hangover following their emotional win on Tuesday. I could go subtle and talk about how the Preds 'Do Little' after a brilliant rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by Melinda Doolittle ...
CBJ09 writes...

When Five Become One

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
[b]It's the Cabo san Lucas to Tony Romo[/b]. It's the kryptonie to Clark Kent, the Jennifer Aniston to David Schwimmer. Call it what you want, Joe Louis Arena has not exactly felt like a La-Z-Boy to the Columbus Blue Jackets. But they busted out a bag of Cheetos and made themselves at home tonight. [b]This time, it was the Blue Jackets who vaulted[/b] to a multi-goal...
CBJ09 writes...

Trouble Brewed

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
[b]It's not very often that you can say the Columbus Blue Jackets [/b]have embarked on a very important road trip. Having dismantled the Detroit Red Wings just two nights before, using common logic one could deduce that the Blue Jackets may be starting to build momentum. Where the encouraging victory would lead them, however, follows a common theme. [b]The Blues did not...
CBJ09 writes...

Into the Spotlight

Posted Monday | Comments 0
[b]The Blue Jackets arrived in Toronto yesterday[/b], undoubtedly hockey's hotbed and also the breeding ground of immense speculation over the past couple of months. Maple Leafs interim general manager Cliff Fletcher has been rumored to do everything to his roster except put Vesa Toskala at center. [b]From Columbus' perspective, it offers them another chance [/b]to pla...
CBJ09 writes...

Rick Comes Home

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[b]Tonight's game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Toronto Maple Leafs [/b]presents an interesting set of circumstances for the visiting squad. Coming off a putrid effort Sunday night in St. Louis, the Blue Jackets will look to exploit one of the league's worst defensive teams and get back on track. [b]Left winger Rick Nash, born and raised in nearby Brampton...
CBJ09 writes...

How Much More Can He Take?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
[b]Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock[/b] looks as if he's aged forty years in the past four days. And rightfully so. His team's performance has been brilliant in minute stretches, pitiful in large quantities and unspirited for the majority. After a solid start to the season, his team is now last in goal-scoring in the National Hockey League, and have fallen from a top ...
CBJ09 writes...

Who Needs the Coach, Anyway?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Hockey fans don't hear of this too often, nor will many of us ever see it again. The Blue Jackets coaches did not run practice today in Ottawa. Head coach Ken Hitchcock stuck around long enough to apparently alert captain Adam Foote of the proceedings. According to Aaron Portzline of the [i]Columbus Dispatch[/i], Hitchcock used a strategy similar to this when he coa...
CBJ09 writes...

The Old Hitch Trick Works

Posted Friday | Comments 0
The Blue Jackets head coach pulled an old rabbit out his hat at Wednesday's practice in Ottawa. It may have worked, if only for one game. But what a momentum-building game it could be. Rick Nash scored his team-leading 32nd goal of the season in the second period and added the game winner in the shootout, and the Blue Jackets defeated the Senators 3-2 in Scotiabank P...
As far as I'm concerned, the Blues season ended on Sunday night with a 2-0 loss in Phoenix to a Coyotes team they are chasing in the Western Conference. Oh, it's a long way from official since they are still six points out of a playoff spot with two games in hand over eighth-place Nashville, but it's obvious that they simply aren't good enough to return to the postseason t...
I agree with Blues Blogger Matt Rainey about the Blues' season being unofficially over after losing in Phoenix tonight. The last three games killed them. When you lose to teams you ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BEAT if you want to get in the playoffs (Los Angeles = last in the west) and (Phoenix =team just in front of STL in the standings) the Blues dropped the ball here. With a n...
In my opinion, the re-signing of Barrett Jackman has set things in motion for the Blues to make a much larger deal before the 2:00 PM CT trade deadline Tuesday afternoon. For weeks, the Blues and Jackman had discussions on a contract extension, but it didn't get any further than both sides tossing out numbers. Jackman beleived he was worth "market value", that being the $3...
consider for a second the last draft pick from the judge huston ordeal was zach parise and then think of what that has made us fans feel. now flash forward. salvador not the greatest to play the game but a guy worth more than a cam janssen and yet this is what we got. now last year during the draft the bllues went with in the late rounds peluso instead of picking up the...
3-1 Dallas This was trade deadline hockey. Dallas picked up one of the prizes of the trade deadline, and tonight's game was indicative of that. The piecemeal lineup Dallas had out there tonight is something we likely won't have to see again, but the determination they showed in the third period is something very positive to take away from this game. They were backe...
Docwhiskey writes...

Trades

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
A little commentary on the trades. First we will start with the moves that weren't made. First, we will address getting rid of Rucinsky. Honestly, I am sure they tried but just couldn't find anyone willing to give up much for him, especially since he is a FA at the end of the season, teams knew that unless they thought he was a missing piece to a playoff run, he could b...
All in can say about the Sharks performance tonight against the Blue Jackets can be summed up in one word: WOW. Yes the Sharks were playing a depleted Columbus team that is out of the playoff picture. But tonight's performance showed that the Sharks are definately going to stake a claim to the playoffs in a big way. Sitting in the 3rd row off the glass was a great sp...
As Blues fans may have noticed, rookie forward David Perron has been spending a lot of time in the pressbox during games instead of being out on the ice with his teammates. Perron has played in two out of the last six games recently. An article written by Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch describes why coach Andy Murray and team president John Davidson conti...
[b]A lot has been said about the events of the past few days[/b]. Rightfully so, no doubt. But sometimes, it's lack of foresight and hindsight that alienate some people from others--those who are quick to judge the decisions of a man far more educated in the subject matter. Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson isn't a first-timer at this, people. He's been in h...
i began calling for about two and half weeks ago, or before the blues had the mini explosion of wins,the tanking of the season. this way you end up with steve stamkos. then you dump half of these worthless non goal scoring schmos. tops on my list to not resign or those who need to be traded: 1)tkachoke(keith tkachuk). when you see a guy show up once in a while...
[b]Following Wednesday night's loss [/b]to the San Jose Sharks, head coach Ken Hitchcock showed a rare bit of emotion and compassion for his players. Vouching for a brief recovery following the departure of their captain and veteran Sergei Fedorov, Hitchcock made a point to right the ship quickly. Seemingly down and out, clustered by the suffocating Vancouver "squee...
CBJ09 writes...

What Might Have Been

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The Blue Jackets, coming off an impressive come-from-behind win Friday night in Vancouver, had seemingly shrugged off the disappointment of Tuesday's trading deadline. Departing captain Adam Foote, the subject of a heated exchange of words via the media following his trade back to Colorado, was alleged to be the glue that held together the locker room. Though his presen...
After some technical difficulties last week, the "Fire the Cannon" Blue Jackets talkcast will return tomorrow night at 7pm eastern. It's been an eventful week for the Blue Jackets, and we encourage fans to email questions or call in to the show. We will undoubtedly touch on the Adam Foote controversy that has sparked in recent days, as well as the leadership void bei...
In honor of my fellow Blues fan and friend [i]BluesFan44[/i] and his sick and twisted sense of humo(u)r....... The Blues marketing has given us [b]Blue Note Code #1[/b] - Whatever it Takes. I give you the other (9) Blue Note Codes that will be coming to a billboard near you: [b]Blue Note Code #2[/b] - We will take no shot before it's time. [b]Blue Note Code #3[...
CBJ09 writes...

Getting Back on Track

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
With just 14 games remaining in the regular season, the Blue Jackets are aware of the road that lies ahead. To get to the postseason, they'll have to avoid the potholes along the way. Accumulating 70 points in their first 68 games, the Blue Jackets will need at least 22 points from here to the house. A record of 11-3 or 10-2-2 isn't by any means impossible, but it wo...
CBJ09 writes...

When the Lights Turn On

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
[b]In yet another Jekyll and Hyde performance [/b]this afternoon, the Blue Jackets offense did the damage in a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Not a misprint. The NHL's worst offensive team exploded for five goals and broke a listless streak (0-31) on the power play with Jason Chimera's game winner with 3:44 left. Nikolai Zherdev fired a one-timer through the legs...
mapleleaf92 writes...

On Pace For....

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Assuming that everyone's win-loss-otL-soL ratio stays the same, I took the time to calculate how many points everyone will have by the end of the season. [b]Eastern Conference[/b] NEW JERSEY DEVILS- 102 Points Montreal Canadiens 100 Points CAROLINA HURRICANES- 91 Points Pittsburgh Penguins- 100 Points Ottawa Senators- 97 Points New York Rangers- 96 Points Boston ...
In a historic and uncharacteristically decisive win, the Calgary Flames beat the St. Louis Blues 7-3 at the Saddledome tonight. The spotlight in this game was on Jarome Iginla, who, at 18:27 of the 1st period, passed Theoren Fleury to become the franchise's all-time goals leader at 365, one-timing a pass from Kristian Huselius at the left circle. However, Iginla was not th...
Last night's 6-3 Hawk victory in Columbus was gratifying for a few reasons: snapping a 4-game losing streak, keeping the club's faint playoff hopes alive and icing an intriguing new set of lines. First of all, no surprise, neither Nikolai Khabibulin nor Marty Havlat were in the line-up. More on that in a moment. Last night's first three lines were: Ladd-Toews-Byfu...
I have been criticized recently because of my extreme pessimism regarding the Calgary Flames' chances for the rest of this NHL season. Well, I point the optimists in the direction of the Flames' latest disaster, a 3-0 drubbing by the 12th place Columbus Blue Jackets, in which they were outshot by a ridiculous margin of 38-18. There is little that can be said about such a l...
CBJ09 writes...

Secondary Scoring Shows Up

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
[b]Every now and then, the Blue Jackets decide that their coach knows a thing or two.[/b] When they listen, good things tend to follow. Tonight was no exception. From the drop of the puck, the Blue Jackets played with an intensity that reminded fans of the team they watched early this season, one that forechecked aggressively and played collective defense in front of t...
predjoe writes...

Marked Man

Posted Friday | Comments 0
[i]Preds tough guy Tootoo could be marked man tonight...[/i] [b]At this point in the season[/b] every game for the Predators carries huge playoff implications. To say we need every point we can get is a huge understatement and tonight's tilt against division rival Columbus is as big as they get. The Preds are coming off a hard fought (literally and figuratively) 3...
The NHL draft lottery may have seen the Tampa Bay Lightning win the big prize, and most assume it to be Steven Stamkos, but the Blue Jackets made out better than anticipated. Of course, after the first few weeks of the season, no one expected the Blue Jackets to be hunting for a lottery pick. Some didn't think they would be looking at a top-ten pick. But with the team s...
CBJ09 writes...

Big Changes Coming in Columbus

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
[b]Following a humbling defeat at home[/b] by the Detroit Red Wings, Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock claimed that he didn't think his team wanted to beat their division rivals. What he really wanted to say was that he's sick and tired of coaching AHL talent and trying to make a winner out of players that just don't have it, but I'm not going to put words in the man's mout...
tallpaul6635 writes...

I lost my blog!

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
I'm just trying to find my other blog..............
Fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets have known tears of disappointment for seven years, but with the passing of team owner John H. McConnell, the tears cut deeper, and go far beyond the game. The gentleman so highly regarded by players, coaches and fans all over the National Hockey League lost his battle with liver cancer on Friday. For fans like myself, his loss feels li...
Former Dallas Stars GM Doug Armstrong has reached a five-year deal to become the Director of Player Personnel for the St. Louis Blues. An official announcement could come as early as today. Armstrong will work in an assistant capacity to current Blues GM Larry Pleau for the next two years, and then will take over the GM duties once Pleau's contract is up with the Blues....
Kinglove1 writes...

Kings make a Trade!!!

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Kings have aquired St.Louis Blues 2009 5th round draft pick for 20 yr old T.J. Fast. Fast spent last year in WHL. Fast, 20, was selected by the Kings in the second-round (60th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He played in 71 games this past season with Tri-City of the Western Hockey League where he recorded 54 points (17-37=54) and 92 penalty minutes. I think t...
With free agency fast approaching, there are many questions for the Blues to answer. The team has five unrestricted free agents and two restricted free agents, and they have to figure out who to sign and who to dump. The list is as follows: [b][u]UFAs:[/u][/b] Martin Rucinsky Ryan Johnson Mike Johnson Yan Stastny Matt Walker [b][u]RFAs:[/u][/b] David Backes ...
icedog97 writes...

Ryan Malone - Part 2

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
I don't usually do "Part 2" of anything here. I usually try to say it all in "Part 1" and then move on. In reading the recent rumors and apparent "truths" about the Ryan Malone situation, I heard some things that I wanted to comment a little more about (even if nobody else reads this!!!!) The "negotiations" with Malone and the Pens, and I use that term loosely be...
According to the Ottawa Sun, SI.com, and XM Home Ice Radio, the Blues are trying to work a deal to get much-maligned goaltender Ray Emery out of Ottawa. One of the Blues' main targets this offseason is to find a suitable backup goaltender to starter Manny Legace. The deal mentioned has Emery and offensive prospect Ilja Zubov going to the Blues for defenseman Jay McKee,...
The Fan 590 out of Toronto reported earlier today that the Blues have been approached by the Pittsburgh Penguins about the possibility of trading for winger Yvgeni Malkin. The Penguins are asking for the Blues' number four pick in Friday's draft, along with two or three prospects. Los Angeles is also one of the teams in the mix for Malkin. This may be just a pipe dre...
David Poile should play poker professionally. He should. I saw him on local news tow nights ago saying "I am not confident at all that we will be able to sign Dan Ellis. I think he wants to test the free agent market." Well...I'll be jiggered if he didn't go and pull off a deal that cleared the way to get Ellis to sign by trading Mason away to the St. Louis Blues. This ...
Word around the Blues' front is that they're working on something major for tonight's draft. In the past day-and-a-half, they've traded longtime winger Jamal Mayers to Toronto for a third round pick, and acquired goalie Chris Mason from Nashville in exchange for a fourth round pick. The name I've been hearing bantered about the most is Ottawa's Jason Spezza. Spezza is e...
I went to the first day of the Blues' development camp today. This is the second year of this event, where fans can watch some of the Blues' top prospects practice under the wings of some of the Blues' coaches and personnel. After watching the first day of practice, here are some of the things that stood out: - Defenseman Jonas Junland definitely stood out from the rest...
NickBoston writes...

Blues Development Camp: Day 2

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Here are some notes from day two of Blues development camp: - Except for a select few, everyone came out skating hard today. Some looked like they had something to prove to the coaches and staff. - It wasn't as full today as it was yesterday. If I had to estimate, I'd say there were about 35 people in the stands today. - One thing about Anthony Peluso: For such a ...
Today I had the chance to interview St. Louis Post-Dispatch Blues writer Jeremy Rutherford. Here's the transcript of the interview: NB: What will be the biggest difference and/or change between last year's team and this year's team in your opinion? JR: [i]Well I think it's one more step towards the youth movement. Last year you had kids like Erik Johnson and David ...
Here are some notes from day three of Blues Development Camp. Today was based solely upon endurance training. - Today's training was maximum reps endurance skating. Players skate from goal line to goal line and are timed by a stop watch. It's basically a last man standing event to see who has the most endurance. - Gold team was out first. They were split up into two ...
Yesterday, I had the chance to interview Blues' up-and-coming prospect TJ Oshie. Here's the transcript of the interview: NB: TJ, you participated in this development camp last year. What's the biggest difference between last year and this year? TJ: I think it's just being more confident and comfortable on the ice. Last year, I was new to everything and really didn'...
Friday, I had the chance to interview Blues' President John Davidson on a number of topics. Here's what he had to say: NB: We're in year two of the Youth Movement. What can Blues' fans expect to see from this year's team with the additions of TJ Oshie and Patrik Berglund to the roster? JD: I think we're in a position where we have veteran players who can give us mo...
Cusejetsfan83 writes...

first posting

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
hey ya'll my name is ryan and i am from syracuse, ny i will be blogging on my takes about columbus bluejackets and the buffalo sabres.... also i will pretty much be exclusively giving my takes to the syracuse crunch of the AHL (minor league affiliate of the columbus bluejackets)
According to TSN, the Canucks have signed Blues' forward David Backes to a three-year offer sheet at about $2.5 million per-year. The Blues have seven days to match, otherwise, they receive a second round pick from the Canucks as compensation. Honestly, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see the Blues match the offer sheet. Stay tuned... Nick Boston [code]s...
As I mentioned in my previous blog not to be surprised if the Blues match the Canucks' offer for David Backes, they did. Backes remains a Blue after the Blues matched the three-year, $7.5 million offer for the 23-year old winger. It was a smart move by the Blues, because as John Davidson said in an interview here in St. Louis, "Backes is a major part of our youth moveme...
NickBoston writes...

Blues re-sign Yan Stastny

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
According to Andy Strickland of ESPN 1380 in St. Louis, the Blues have re-signed winger Yan Stastny to a two-year deal. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed. The first year of the deal is a two-way contract, and the second year is a one-way contract. Stastny, 25, played in 12 games with the Blues, notching one goal and one assist. He's expected to fill the role...
After going over player rosters and watching some of the Jackets Press conference on the Tyutin trade, I looked at the line up. I saw # 49 Fritsche in the Columbus fowards column.He's not on the Rangers roster anymore either. However there are no updates to his contract status. He was filing for arbitration and I'm not sure if Sather let Dan Walk back to Ohio. Ok so...
The Blues signed RFA forward Steve Bernier to a one-year, $2.5 million contract today. The Vancouver Canucks have seven days to match the offer, or they will receive the Blues' second round draft pick in next year's draft as compensation. Bernier, 23, totaled 32 points last season (16 goals, 16 assists) between the San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres. He was acquired via...
According to XM Home Ice Radio, there is a rumor that the Blues, Kings, and Blackhawks are working on a possible deal. The rumored deal has the Kings acquiring goalie Nikolai Khabibulin from Chicago and defenseman Jay McKee from St. Louis; St. Louis would get defenseman Tom Preissing from Los Angeles and forward Martin Havlat from Chicago; and Chicago would get St. Louis' ...
jammer21 writes...

The Central Division

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Today, I picked up the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and saw a story about the competition in Rams training camp for the 3rd string quarterback position. So, I decided it was time to start writing about hockey, because I’m already sick of football and baseball. Since the Post-Dispatch isn’t going to satisfy my hockey craving, I’ve taken matters into my own hands. Today, bo...
The Blue Jackets are transitioning into a new team - we have a new captain, a capable coach with a plan, a GM that is willing to shake things up, a Civil War-era cannon that commemorates the Blue Jackets' connection to Ohio's role in the Civil War. GREAT!!! So why stop there? Why be happy to remain mediocre? Here is what I think (and I will disclose that some of thes...
This is my first blog on hockeybuzz so here goes, I have been an avid blues fan since birth and this year has to be the most anticipated year of blues hockey that I can remember. I think John Davidson is taking this team in the right direction and if we as blues fans can be patient we might soon be seeing the blues raising a stanley cup banner of there own real soon.
I have read various reports about the status of defenseman Erik Johnson. Some have said he's fine, and others have said they've seen him walking around with a noticable limp. I honestly don't know what to expect, but if the MRI of Johnson's right knee tomorrow comes out not looking good, then expect the Blues to look elsewhere for help. I just got done talking to a sour...
The news has come out regarding the status of Erik Johnson's knee, and it isn't good. I just got done talking to a source within the organization that told me the Blues' defenseman is out 3-4 months. Doctors in Cleveland discovered a torn ligament in his right knee after taking an MRI. Johnson injured his knee last week while on a team golf trip. Expect the Blues...
NickBoston writes...

Blues Cut Roster to 38

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Blues announced the folowing cuts today: Nicholas Drazenovic, TJ Fast, Nikolai Lemtyugov, Tomas Kana, Eric Neilson, Cam Paddock, Thomas Potulny, Ryan Reaves, and Julian Talbot have been sent to Peoria. Jake Allen, Mark Cundari, and Anthony Peluso have been assigned to their junior teams. That leaves the following players: [u]Forwards:[/u] Paul Kariya, Brad ...
What I have to say might sound crazy to some. But I'm going to pick my top nine teams in each conference to make the play offs. Top nine you say? Well considering that each season one of the divisions always appears a bit weaker than the others and nearly or completely blocks out a team with a better record. Western Confernce: Detriot- Though I think the road for ...
NickBoston writes...

Blues Roster Cut to 34

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
The Blues have sent defensemen Alexander Hellstrom and Jim Jackson, and goaltenders Marek Schwarz and Ben Bishop to Peoria. The last line of cuts will come after after Monday and Wednesday's games against Toronto, which is a home-and-home series. Nick Boston
NickBoston writes...

Woywitka Out 4-6 Weeks

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Injuries are starting to pile up early into the year for the Blues' defense. First was Erik Johnson's freak knee injury, then it was Jonas Junland injuring his shoulder in the first preseason game in Kansas City, and now comes word of another big injury. Jeff Woywitka will be out for 4-6 weeks with a cracked bone in his right foot. The injury occurred after he blocke...
The Blues announced today they have assigned Trent Whitfield, Brad Winchester, Matt Foy, Charles Linglet, and Andy Wozniewski to Peoria. The Blues also announced they have placed forward Cam Paddock on waivers. If Paddock clears (which is likely), he'll be sent to Peoria. In Wednesday night's preseason finale against Toronto, Chris Mason is expected to start in goal ...
The Blues are now in uncharted territory. For the first time in a long time, the Blues are drafting and developing their own talent, and we'll start seeing the fruits of their labor. Prior to the lockout, the last legitimate Blues first rounder that stayed in the organization and developed with the team is Barrett Jackman, drafted in 2000. That was 8 years ago. Whil...
NickBoston writes...

Blues Reduce Roster to 26

Posted Monday | Comments 1
The Blues announced today that they have sent forward Chris Porter and defenseman Tyson Strachan to Peoria. The roster as it stands going into the season opener October 10th looks like this: [b][u]Forwards:[/u][/b] Paul Kariya Keith Tkachuk Brad Boyes Andy McDonald Lee Stempniak Jay McClement David Backes Patrik Berglund TJ Oshie Cam Janssen Yan Stastny D...
In an online chat Blues President John Davidson had with fans today, he mentioned that despite the injuries and the influx of young defensemen on the roster, there will be no waiver wire pickups being made by the Blues going into the season. There had been some preliminary discussions between the Blues and the agents for both Bryan Berard and Kyle McLaren, but Davidson ...
All speculation is over on who is going to make it (the only one of significance in debate was Filatov), who we would lose on waivers (none), and would we pick up anyone (no). We now have our team built by the architecture firm of H&H Architects. This team screams Hitchcock. With few exceptions, this team is big, strong and fast. All will compete, there will be no excep...
jammer21 writes...

The enigma of Eric Brewer

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Eric Brewer holds the dubious distinction of being the man who was traded for Chris Pronger. At first, fans rode Brewer hard, taking their anger from the trade out on him. Interestingly, Pronger himself was ridiculed for being “soft” and for terrible play after Mike Keenan traded Brendan Shanahan for him. But while fans eventually came to love Pronger, not every...
Anne Hier writes...

Rorschach Inkblot Logos

Posted Tuesday | Comments 8
Good logo design is simple. Good logo design is strong. Good logo design quickly conveys an image that identifies a team. Hockey has quite a few logos that fit that description, among them: Red Wings Maple Leafs New Jersey Devils (clearly the most creative marriage of letter abbreviations and symbolic images representing a devil). There are also some logos that a...
Last year the Blues' roster was filled with underproductive guys, many of them being paid lots of money to score, but never amounting to much. So the Blues said goodbye to Doug Weight, Petr Cajanek, Martin Rucinsky, and others and welcomed the next generation of players, the future Blues. And I don't know if it comes as a surprise or not that these players have stepped ...
We're early into the season yet and but a few patterns have emerged. The obvious one being the Blues penchant for falling behind and the other being they usually come back. Another pattern is the inability of some of our defense to make a good breakout play or pass. None of the D-men seem to keen on rushing the puck or making the move on the intial forechecker but are q...
It told us we still have offense. It showed what happens when we have a decent time in the transition game. BUT...oh yes the but. But in the end Florida was pretty sluggish and did not truly resemble the team I'd seen this season. Their forecheck was not as strong as it usually was and that still means seeing the turnovers throughout the game that the Blues major issue...
There's some sarcasm in the title. I know why there are so many officials but I no longer know why they are all on the ice. Maybe the NHL should consider putting an official either between the penalty boxes or between the benches. What, why? If you watch as much hockey as me you've probably noticed how manytimes the officials get in the way of the play or can't bel...
[b]The Good[/b] Murray - He was on fire last night. He's really playing hard every night it seems. His shorthanded breakaway, with 2 shot attempts really shows something. (how many guys have we seen skate off into the corner after their 1st shot on the break-away.) Murray, rather, shoots at the rebound, then goes behind the net, steals the puck, and has the presence to pa...
[b]The Good[/b] Nash @ Center ends quickly, as he is moved back to his normal LW position after getting caught out of position and taking an interference penalty because of it. As a result, Chimmy is rejoined with the kids and the Goat line produces another solid night. Toughness... Avs bring in goon Tucker... Dorsett and Tucker go toe to toe with some quick jabs ...
Can it get any worse for the Blues? The rash of injuries the Blues have had early on this season has now spread to Paul Kariya. He is flying back to St. Louis to have an MRI taken on what is being called a "lower body injury" by the team. Kariya was injured in the second period of last night's game against Anaheim, and didn't return. While nothing has been leaked about ...
Can it get any worse for the Blues? The rash of injuries the Blues have had early on this season has now spread to Paul Kariya. He is flying back to St. Louis to have an MRI taken on what is being called a "lower body injury" by the team. Kariya was injured in the second period of last night's game against Anaheim, and didn't return. While nothing has been leaked about ...
Can it get any worse for the Blues? The rash of injuries the Blues have had early on this season has now spread to Paul Kariya. He is flying back to St. Louis to have an MRI taken on what is being called a "lower body injury" by the team. Kariya was injured in the second period of last night's game against Anaheim, and didn't return. While nothing has been leaked about ...
Can it get any worse for the Blues? The rash of injuries the Blues have had early on this season has now spread to Paul Kariya. He is flying back to St. Louis to have an MRI taken on what is being called a "lower body injury" by the team. Kariya was injured in the second period of last night's game against Anaheim, and didn't return. While nothing has been leaked about ...
Buffalo Sabres 8-3-2 6th in East St. Louis Blues 5-7-1 15th in West Last week: Sabres - 1-1-1 Blues - 0-2-1 Powerplay: Sabres: 21.6% 5th Blues: 27.1% 2nd Penalty Kill: Sabres: 88.7% 5th Blues: 81.0% 15th Goals per game: Sabres: 2.93 t-16th Blues: 3.00 t-10th Goals against: Sabres: 2.21 t-3rd Blues: 3.38 25th Team leaders:...
I could never understand how teams made bold trades or adjustments when they were on top of the league. When Claude Julien got dumped by Jersey a few days before the playoffs I laughed. When the Rangers moved Mike Gartner to the Leafs at the deadline in 94 I cried ( well a little) . But the truth is sometimes these head scratchers become huge chess moves in capturing t...
Wow. Lee Stempniak exchanged for Alexander Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo. I like it, and here's why: Steen has plenty of potential. Ever since his 45-point rookie season Leafs fans have been anxiously awaiting his top-six winger potential to unleash on the NHL. Many, including myself, predicted Steen to establish himself as a 60-point guy who is responsible in his ow...
The significance of Atlanta’s brief appearance in 2007’s Conference Quarter finals would not have been lost on the Blue Jackets board of governors. In a city obsessed with the Buckeyes hockey has been a hard sell and with Atlanta making the post season, Columbus were left as the only late 90’s expansion franchise not to make the cup run. With nearly 600 regular seaso...
It was recently revealed that Columbus Blue Jacket prospect Stefan Legein has decided to resume his hockey career and attempt to make it back into his old form. It was about 3 or so months ago that the news first surfaced that feisty Blue Jacket prospect and Ice dog star had lost the passion for the game and had decided to hang up his skates. But now it appears the passio...
The Calgary Flames did not show up to play the Blues, as the Defense stood around and Kipper bailed out the team. The main concern I have is that this team has been like this all year. I thought they were snapping out of it, then they put on a game like this tonight. They were terrible in the first period, a period that was dominated by the Blues, who came out with a 2-0 ...
Ok so I am writing this right now very frustrated after watching the Blues get handled in San Jose tonight. Granted the Sharks are a good team but the Blues gave the Sharks every chance to get back in the game and tie it (stupid penalties, turnovers, not scoring on 2 4-minute power-plays) and the Sharks just picked away at the Blues lead, went ahead, and then won it on a n...
The Flames roll into St. Louis on Tuesday to face the injury riddled Blues. With likes of key players such Paul Kariya , Manny Legace, Andy Mcdonald, Eric Brewer, D.J. King , and Erik Johnson all out of the line up. One would assume Calgary should easily be able to manhandle the basement dwellers of the western conference. St.Louis 's pains are Calgary's gains. The rec...
bcallaway writes...

Are the Blues in Peril?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
On more than one occasion I have heard rumblings that the St. Louis Blues may be facing money problems in the very near future. Which begs the question: Do they panic and change course? Will they panic and change course? The Blues have stressed patience, drafting and developing of a nucleus of young players, many of whom still have not reached the NHL. How long ca...
Happy Holidays to all of my fellow HockeyHeads out there... I Wish the best to all into the New Year which, for the NHL, begins at the corner of Clark and Addison for the 2nd Annual Winter Classic--which seems like an oxymoron, but I digress. In a very short time, the W.C. has unquestionably become one of the too few highlights for the NHL (regular season) that really ...
As most Blues fans will tell you, the reason to watch the Blues isn't because they're going to win or make the playoffs. The excitement is watching the young talent on this team and salivating over the potential. Thank God for that shred of hope, because watching the Blues right now is maddening. [b]The Good.[/b] (In no particular order) The emergence of David Backes ...
On a day that the country paused to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, the St. Louis Blues went into the TD Bankworth Garden in Boston and stole two points right from under the skates of the Bruins. It has to be because of the Monday afternoon holiday games this season for the Blues...there's no other explanation for it. Remember back to October 13th of th...
Marek Schwarz, who was once considered to be the top goaltending prospect for the Blues, has left the Alaska Aces of the ECHL to play in his native Czech Republic, according to Aces' coach Keith McCambridge. It's a sad story for a guy that the Blues spent a first round draft pick in 2004 on, and coming out of Sparta Praha of the Czech Republic was highly-touted as the n...
The news just doesn't get any better for the Blues these days... According to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Andy McDonald limped off the ice during practice at the United Center in Chicago today, with what appears to be another injury to the same ankle he broke in November. McDonald slipped and fell in the corner of the ice, threw his stick down i...
Even though the rumors of the Blues being up for sale have been constantly denied by everyone within the Blues organization, some people apparently aren't buying it. Sportsnet hockey analyst Mike Brophy was on Fan 590 in Toronto today, and said that Chris Pronger could be traded to the Blues because they "might be put up for sale" and that "a new owner would love to hav...
First of all, I would like to say that I'm not happy at all with the effort and the way the Flyers played tonight. It was as craptastic of an effort that you could ever see from the Flyers. It was a bad, bad game for the Flyers as Chris Mason made 36 saves for his third shutout of the season to help the Blues beat the Flyers 4-0 tonight. Even though the Flyers had 36 shots...
After dwelling in the basement of the Western Conference for most of the season, including dead last at #15 only 19 games ago, the Dallas Stars have battled all the way back to the #7 seed. According to the NHL, the Players Association, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement ... that means the Stars are currently a playoff team! With their domination over Detroit this y...
Before I start with the call-ups, I wanted to mention the game the Blues played last night against Philadelphia. This is exactly the type of game the Blues' fans were expecting to see from the Blues coming out of the All-Star Break. The Blues showed heart, intensity, desire, and passion...something that seemed to appear obsolete against Ottawa Thursday night. With the exce...
BluesHockeyOhBaby! writes...

Not Giving Up Yet

Posted Tuesday | Comments 1
I was at the Joe last night for the Blues-Wings game and I couldn't help but be very impressed with the Blues and how they played. They out-hustled the Wings to every loose puck, their offensive forecheck was great and it created some Red Wings defensive zone turnovers, and I really like the Blues for the most part being very active and aggressive on defense. I think th...
According to a league source, The Blues are very close to finalizing a deal to open the 2009-10 season in Stockholm, Sweden. The opponent for the Blues in this game... The Detroit Red Wings. This has been going about the rumor mill for a while, but it seems as if this is really going to happen. What an opportunity for the NHL, the Red Wings, and the Blues to be ab...
The St. Louis Blues have been on quite a roll recently. They have won six out of their last 10 games, and have taken at least one point in nine of those 10. After defeating Colorado Saturday night 4-1, the Blues have crawled all the way back from seemingly nowhere to within five points of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. This has a lot of fan...
The St. Louis Blues announced today that they have signed center Andy McDonald to a four-year contract extension. McDonald has played in 16 games this season with the Blues, tallying six goals and 12 assists. He has been sidelined since November 16th, when he broke his ankle in a game against Montreal. McDonald was set to become an unrestricted free agent after this sea...
After missing the past 36 games with a broken ankle, Andy McDonald has been cleared to play and will be in the lineup tonight when the Blues take on the Vancouver Canucks. McDonald practiced at full-speed this morning and everything checked ok, so coach Andy Murray and the Blues' trainers gave him the green light to return to the lineup. However, McDonald will not be...
Many supporters of Leafs Nation have been truly skeptical of the career of Nik Antropov. It went from the Leafs taking him in the 1st Round, 10th overall, when many believed he would be an early second rounder. But he had a very dominant season in the second tier of then, RSL, and so the Leafs went out of their way to make him apart of their future. He went from being #11,...
The Blues passed phase one tonight. They defeated the reeling New York Rangers 2-1 in front of a packed house at the Scottrade Center, thanks to BJ Crombeen's 10th goal of the season late in the third period. Now comes phases two, three, and four: beat Columbus and Nashville on the road, and Nashville at home. The way the schedule pans out this week, not only for the...
[b][u]UPDATED[/u] --- Ouch! Just as everyone was healthly and really clicking, we have just found out that Brad Richards broke his wrist last night and will miss 6 - 8 weeks. He will most certainly be missed . . . but maybe not as much as it would appear. I'll grant you that he is highly skilled and a necessary piece of the puzzle, but he is not centering the top line a...
The Blues got some great news on the defensive front as Roman Polak, who has been out of action since breaking his foot almost a month ago, is on the team's current road trip and could be back in the lineup by Thursday at the earliest. X-rays on Polak's foot Monday showed the broken bone in his foot is nearly healed. It's possible, though, that the Blues could hold him ...
The Blues made a minor move today, placing forward Yan Stastny on waivers. Stastny was just recalled yesterday after his two-week conditioning assignment with Peoria. Stastny broke his thumb in early January and missed almost a month of action. The Blues will find out by 11 AM Wednesday if Stastny has been claimed by another team, which is not expected to be the case...
Cam Janssen received a $2,500 fine from the NHL after his hit on Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Zbynek Michalek last night. Janssen left his feet and got an elbow up on Michalek behind the Phoenix net during the first period of the Blues' 2-1 victory over the Coyotes last night. The NHL stated, however, that he will not be suspended for the hit. The hit that Janssen l...
Many people in the Hockey community are not aware of the tragedy that struck two St. Louis Blues fans and a future St. Louis Blues fan a week ago. As reported by the St. Louis Post Dispatch ( http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/1D2B34AF39C85DB686257565001231FF?OpenDocument ), "a man and his pregnant wife were killed Saturday afternoon in a...
Bluesfan78 writes...

Blues? Playoffs?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
From 1980-2004 the St. Louis Blues were a staple in the NHL playoffs. Now after a 4 year layoff(counting the lockout year of 2004-2005) I like many other Blues fans are hoping the Blues can make the most of their last twenty games, continue their strong play, and win themselves a playoff spot. It was only a few weeks back that the Blues seemed a lock to finish ...
Garth Algar writes...

Blues Playoff Picture

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
As of right now the Blues have a chance to be in the 8th spot come late Tuesday night. Tonight: Need the Ducks to lose. Monday: Need the Preds to lose Tuesday: Need to win. Need the Wild to lose Wednesday: Need the Ducks to beat the Sexual Predators. If the Ducks win tonight this game makes it impossible for us to keep the 8th spot. The NHL is ridiculousl...
As of right now the Blues have a chance to be in the 8th spot come late Tuesday night. Sunday Needed the Ducks to lose. Got it Monday: Need the Preds to lose Tuesday: Need to win. Need the Wild to lose Wednesday: Need the Ducks to beat the Sexual Predators. Thursday: Need to win to keep the spot or need Oilers(vs AVS) and Predators(vs SJS) to lose. Both...
jpl0219 writes...

Different way to do things..

Posted Wednesday | Comments 2
Ok so now this is in no way bashing shootouts. I'm fine with the shootouts. But, why not make the game more interesting, and make teams fight for every game by eliminating the extra point for the OTL or Shootout loss? Looking at this year it would not effect the standings much, maybe a spot or 2 here or there, but if the extra point was eliminated, the Standings would look...
The Blues applied their best pressure of the series late in the second period last night. They tied the score at 2-2 with two goals and again had the puck in front of the net and close to the goal line. Luongo never appeared to have the puck covered as it was sliding around in the crease area and eventually crossed the line and into the net. It was ruled that the puck h...
That was the worst finish I've ever seen in my life for a series-clinching game in the NHL playoffs. What a joke! All the many calls let go and the linesman decides to make that ridiculous call at that critical moment of the game. Pathetic! The Blue Jackets deserved better. The linesmen should be embarrassed ... the refs should be embarrassed ... and the league should...
The story is known around the league. A team left for dead at the halfway point by bloggers, journalists, and insiders alike. A team depleted by injuries mid way through their rebuild. Fans are talking Tavares vs. Hedman and if the Western Conference cellar dwellers will play as bad as the East to get a shot at the Canadian Sniper or the Swedish Pronger. Enter the Manny...
Just put this up on my site, [url=http://thebluenotezone.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/thought-of-the-day-04-29-09/]Link Here[/url] thought I would share here as well. Once again the San Jose Sharks have flopped out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A Coaching change was made, key veteran additions were made, and sadly San Jose met the same outcome. Is it possible that it is not ...
ASandler writes...

The Dream: Edition 1

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
So, here we are. The draft is coming up, and the Blues sit with a plethora of capable defensemen, and not so much offensive pure scoring depth. I think we can all agree one more potent scorer would put this team over the top. Tampa Bay sits at the #2 pick, and are seeking some high caliber defensemen in exchange for the #2 (or Lecavalier, for that matter). The Island...
Ineedanother175 writes...

Draft Day.

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The NHL Entry Draft will soon be upon us and the Blues are looking to have another strong draft weekend. The Blues have an amazing prospect cool, but it could stand to get better. After take the time to analyze team needs and prospects that could be available at the given times the team will be selecting players. Round one: Given Jarmo's track record with late 1st r...
kariya78 writes...

The Blues Next Move ?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
I here every one talking about a big trade or move coming the blues way. I think what’s on most of the fans minds are will it include sticking to the plan or straying from it. what I mean by that is will the blues be throwing some draft picks another teams way or will they put one of the young players up in a deal. I think most people who call them self a blues fan would...
The Blues, coming off of last season's remarkable stetch run that led to their first playoff appearance since 2004, followed by a crash-and-burn effect in the first round of the playoffs against Vancouver, have seemed to be relatively quiet this offseason. Other than the typical few moves here and there to bolster depth, nothing has really stood out to me in what they've d...
With the most recent signing of two Swedes by Burke and the need remaining appearing to be scoring and penalty killing, look at the following names. Huselius is apparently on the block in Columbus for a puck moving defenceman. The sticking point is that the Jackets want to save salary after doing the big Nash deal. A checking player with speed, possibly Blair Bet...
2007 Blues' first round draft pick, and highly-touted defensive prospect Ian Cole has decided to stay at the University of Notre Dame for his Junior year, instead of joining the St. Louis Blues for the upcoming 2009-10 season. Cole recently had a meeting with General Manager Larry Pleau, Team President John Devidson, and team scout Al MacInnis to discuss his immediate f...
It's the question Blues' fans seem to be asking these days... What about the defense, and are the Blues going to trade for/sign a puck-moving defenseman? It's something the Blues have sorely missed since the days of Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis. Let's face it...they haven't had one since that time. The draft pick of Erik Johnson in 2007 was specifically designed to...
The Blues and defenseman Steve Wagner have come to terms on a one-year contract. The new deal is a two-way contract, which means he'll earn $575,000 in the NHL with the Blues, or $75,000 in the AHL with Peoria. The 25-year old defenseman will most likely begin the season in Peoria. At times, though, he has shown flashes of being a capable defenseman at the NHL level....
NickBoston writes...

Blues Make a Depth Move

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
The Blues today make a depth move, signing free agent defenseman Bryce Lampman to an AHL contract. He will report to Peoria's training camp in September. Nick Boston
The Blues made a depth move on defense today, signing defenseman Brendan Bell to a one-year, two-way contract. Bell, 26, scored six goals along with 15 assists in 53 games with the Ottawa Senators last season. In his career, Bell has tallied seven goals and 21 assists for Ottawa and the Phoenix Coyotes. This move gives the Blues an experienced blueliner that can be p...
Blues' defenseman Erik Johnson, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL in his right knee, has officially recieved full medical clearance from his doctors to resume on-ice hockey activities, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The 21-year old star blueliner was injured before the 2008-09 season even began, while on a team bonding golf t...
Now, I've officially seen everything... Former NHL goaltender Ed Belfour has been hired by the St. Louis Blues to become their minor-league goaltending consultant on a part-time basis, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The job became available when Dave Rook left that same position to become the golatender coach of the Columbus Blue Jacke...
We're halfway through Gary Bettman's 15th year as the first ever Commissioner of the National Hockey League. Bettman has been labeled in hockey circles as "controversial", an acceptable moniker considering the decisions Bettman has made pertaining to the NHL. Like him or hate him, he's lived up to that moniker quite well. With the latest news coming out that the ...
Blues fans, we are just over four weeks away from training camp, which means one thing... St. Louis Blues hockey is fast approaching for the 2009-10 season! Coming off of a 2008-09 season filled with excitement, drama, ups and downs, and an unbelievable stretch run that catapulted the Blues into the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2004, I'm sure Blues fans are ...
The Blues have invited free agent defenseman Darryl Sydor and left winger Ryan Bayda to training camp on a professional tryout, sources have confirmed. Sydor, 37, tallied three goals and 12 assists in 73 games played with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Dallas Stars last season. Bayda, 28, had five goals and seven assists in 70 games played with the Carolina Hurricanes i...
Good game from Nashville. Preds come back from a 2 goal deficit and score the final 3. Sullivan left the game in the 1st. Later it was released it was a groin injury and was held out as a precaution. Just yesterday Sully mentioned "his groin" on his twitter account: "ice bags all day today on the groins". Enough of the groin talk lets get to the game. [b]Over...
You won’t find much about hockey in this blog but rather some words of wisdom that may save you the pain we have endured over the last 24 hours. I hope you all are as lucky as I am to have found a special someone who not only humors your passions in life but truly shares in them as well. Much to my surprise, my bride of more than 10 years suggested that we take a much...
mslepp writes...

Week 1 Power Rankings: Top Ten

Posted Thursday | Comments 1
Please read and post your thoughts and what you like/dislike or what you'd change. Well, it's early... and it's very safe to say that Power Rankings at this point in time in the season don't mean very much. They're mostly a combination of last year's finish and this year's promise. I like James Duthie's column on TSN.ca about Premature Evaluation, in reference to ju...
Newman writes...

Limping Home

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Well, a game removed from the biggest collapse in NHL history and the Flames should come out angry as all hell, right? Wrong The Flames were out shot 33-23 and if it were not for Kiprusoff, this game would have been 6-1. Kipper made several tremendous saves to keep the Flames up 1-0, but finally succumbed to the pressure of a 5 on 3 powerplay and let in two goals in jus...
TheRev writes...

Blue Jacket Blues

Posted Friday | Comments 0
I received an interesting email today from the Columbus Blue Jackets. I’ve been on their mailing list for a couple of years after buying tickets from their website, but haven’t unsubscribed as I enjoy getting some of their offers. For example, last month, I received an offer of a lower bowl ticket, a pre-game buffet in the club section and a beer in their in-arena pu...
The Islanders gave away a win last night that they should have easily held on to. The Wild were playing with a depleted roster that is trying to perform under a new system, much like the Islanders of last year. Despite gaining a 2-1 lead after being down a goal in the first period, the Isles failed to hold on in the final minute as Owen Nolan buried the puck passed Biron. ...
The Preds are playing good hockey and not even some bad breaks could knock this team off of its winning ways. The Preds topped the Blue Jackets 4 to 3 in a SO. The first goal by the Blue Jackets was initially ruled no goal by the on ice official. After review the reversed the call. I have no clue how Toronto could have overturned the call. There is supposed to be ...
Despite the Blues needing a shootout to beat the Dallas Stars 4-3 Wednesday night, they completely dominated the play for the majority of the game. Their forecheck was exceptional, aggressive and relentless. Just like it should be. As a result, they forced the Stars d-men to turn the puck over, which turned into scoring chances. What impressed me about the game was how ...
Newman writes...

Flames Take Two

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
The Flames went into two arenas that have been quite unfriendly in the past and walked away with 4 points. First, the Flames shut out the two time defending Western Conference Champion Red Wings in Joe Louis Arena, which is no easy task. For the first time since 1977, the Red Wings were shutout twice in a row at home; the Flames being the back half of that equation. The fo...
As the game wound down, it seemed to be just another night where the Blues gave an all-out strong effort yet came up short. It happened Monday night in Columbus, as the Blues came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game and control the action. But a goal in the third deflated them for good, and the Jackets added two empty netters, which made the game's box score look m...
BluesHockeyOhBaby! writes...

Avs 4 - Blues 0

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The home futility continues for the St. Louis Blues. If they could play all of their games on the road I bet they would consider it at this point. It's a completely different Blues team on the ice at home than on the road, which is quite frustrating for Blues fans...and like Monday night, can get quite embarrassing. The Blues came out flat against the Avs but seemed lik...
In front of a packed house at the Scottrade Center on Brett Hull night, the Blues pulled out a rare home victory on a beautiful late goal by T.J. Oshie. It was a great play set up by the forecheck of David Backes, allowing Paul Kariya to take the puck and feed Oshie with a beautiful pass that Oshie roofed. Another rarity, the Blues scored a power-play goal. That unit st...
[url=http://bluenotezone.com/2009/12/20/how-i-would-fix-the-blues/]How I Would Fix the Blues[/url] Fans of the St. Louis Blues have been crying for change most of the season. Some of it hasty, some of it on point. The call has increased recently. Even after Owner Dave Checketts "Get you butt in gear" speech in mid November, the Blues are still consistently inconsistent....
Now that's the way the Blues should play every game. Against the best home team in the NHL, the Blues came out and completely out-worked Vancouver. They were faster, stronger, dove for loose pucks, and blocked shots during crucial penalty kills. It's that type of game the Blues should strive to play every single game. Despite being dead last in the West heading into Sun...
Newman writes...

Feeling the Blues

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The Calgary Flames are officially in a slump. They are not playing desperate hockey and are not playing well. After a nice three day break where they could take some time to work out some of the kinks that have been bothering them over this stretch, it seemed as if this would be a perfect game to bounce back in. The Blues, after coming off of big wins in both Edmonton and ...
[img]http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=media%2Fapphoto%2F16fb2ef1-6d5f-44d7-af63-e2ec402fdc41.jpg&w=512&h=407[/img] Home sweet home for the Blues....or anything like it. The Blues-Sabres game tonight went like a classic home game for the Blues. They battle for about two periods, take a lead and tease the hometown fans....then completely fall apart by game's end. While...
WAACHCast writes...

Canucks 7 Blue Jackets 3

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Hands up if you called the score in this one? Yeah, no one could have predicted this one, even as bad as the Blue Jackets have been lately I don't think anyone would have foreseen this. Especially they way they found themselves up 2-0 early in the first. Instead of seizing the opportunity, the Jackets looked bewildered, and a mere 29 seconds after Kristian Huselius made it...
BluesHockeyOhBaby! writes...

New Coach, Old Blues

Posted Thursday | Comments 5
More proof that the REAL problem was the players....the Blues lose another game in classic fashion. They lead for most of the way, but inevitably give up the game-tying goal and eventually lose the game. If the Blues thought they could beat San Jose in their own building, with a single goal, they had to be crazy. This was not going to be a 1-0 game, and the Blues sat back ...
[img]http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=media%2Fgettyphoto%2FGYI0059328895.jpg&w=715&h=477[/img] It was a hard fought game through two periods, and you couldn't help but feel good with the Blues only down a goal going into the third period. But getting the next goal was critical for the Blues and it just did not happen. Erik Johnson committed a cardinal si...
Gameday previews, player audio interviews, Darche recalled, Price in nets? Read it all and more at Habs To The Top: http://www.HabsAddict.com UPDATE: Habs media departement announces donations to Haiti relief. Details on Habs To The Top. K.
Habs rally falls short, Habs BUYOUT LARAQUE's contract, Price gets into fight... http://www.HabsAddict.com K.
[b]Game Summary:[/b] I can't do it....no wait...maybe I can...I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, ummmm, ya....errr....nope, I can't. That is probably the best way to describe the Habs 3-4 overtime loss to the Blues last night. There were bad, they were good, they were up, they were down, they were losing, they came back but ultimately lost it all on a weak goal ...
[img]http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=media%2Fapphoto%2Fc58d240a-e197-499f-92cc-467f3d3b4afc.jpg&w=512&h=312[/img] I don't think there is a better word to describe what the St. Louis Blues have been able to do, or not do, when holding a big lead in the third period than "collapse". Perhaps the most epic of collapses, based on the playoff magnitude of the ga...
Newman writes...

Lucky Number Seven

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Question: What is the difference between a falling tree and the Calgary Flames? Answer: A tree never gets booed out of its own forest. Lucky consecutive loss number 7 for the Flames tonight, as they were shut out for the 2nd time in 3 games on home ice. They have scored a staggering 2 goals in their last 4 games at the Saddledome. They must be reading the Tiger Woods...
[img]http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=media%2Fgettyphoto%2FGYI0059435216.jpg&w=715&h=476[/img] I've been thinking all night about how much the Blues are actually underachieving up to this point in the season, and I think they're right where they should be. Last year's blistering finish to claim the sixth spot in the playoffs created high expectations for this team...
BluesHockeyOhBaby! writes...

Enough Is Enough

Posted Friday | Comments 2
[img]http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=media%2Fapphoto%2Fc70cfebc-f290-4fce-9c39-48940666083e.jpg&w=512&h=358[/img] Another classic Blues loss Thursday at home against San Jose. Blues rally back to within a goal, but then give up a nail-in-the-coffin goal that puts them away. Conklin has to make that save on the shot from the side by Nichol. It was not re-di...
(2) The Lightning apparently have their owner's permission to spend at the deadline, though realistically, they will have to move out some salary to add anything significant. Vinny is NOT going to move, get that out of your mind in this Cap-restricted NHL, at least not at a time when the Bolts are struggling for a play-off appearance and buyers would have to dismantle t...
It's looking more and more likely that the Paul Kariya era in St. Louis is about to end. There have been rumors floating around St. Louis from varying sources (including one very reputable source) that Blues winger Paul Kariya is on his way out of St. Louis, and is headed up north to play for his hometown Vancouver Canucks. These same sources have said that Kariya has w...
According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, the Blues front office sent out an e-mail today to the other 29 teams notifying them that winger Brad Boyes is availabe for trade. The Blues did the same thing last week in regards to defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo. Boyes does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, so moving him would be much easier than someone like ...
After all of the speculation concerning the possible movement of Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk, Brad Boyes, and Carlo Colaiacovo, the Blues listened to the offers given but said "Thanks, but no thanks". Instead, the Blues kept their main roster together as they head into the final 20 games of the season, and potentially a spot in the playoffs. Rumor had it that Kariya w...
[img]http://media.canada.com/bdbffb02-dc75-420e-8b09-c7871e3d0f7a/2511cory2.jpg[/img] With the trade deadline now past and the Blues currently on a great five-game win streak, I want to take a brief look back a few days to the trade deadline and a few thoughts I have on the matter. I can't help but be disappointed about two things the Blues did approaching the deadli...
JV writes...

My Sip of Coffee in the Bigs

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
A blog written by Leaf reporter Howard Berger entitled "Close encounters Along the Way" about his memories celebrating 30 years in the business, inspired me to reflect on my very brief sports writing "career"- a full 3 MONTHS in the business. Reading Howard's stories were quite interesting and gave a personal side to reporter's lives who, in most cases, sports viewers k...
There's a lot of interesting players in this draft. As always it depends on who is drafting in front of you and who they chose and how you have your draft board ranked. I'm of the opinion that you go for skill heavily balanced with character. You only break from character in later rounds looking for home-run picks, the kind which can gain value in a potential trade. ...
I'm tired of hearing year after year, "were going to stick with rebuilding and not sign anyone this year." We have a good young core of players now, we need a shut down defenseman and a forward like Tomas Plekanec or even Maxim Afinogenov. Basically we should've never traded Chris Pronger, and we would have been in the playoffs for the last three years, and then to put ...
Annotated Mock NHL Draft 2010 V-3.0 11. DALLAS STARS MIKAEL GRANLUND - F *A young Saku Koivu* Intelligent and quick, with exceptional skills and great vision, this kid will juice up the stars offence for years to come. There was some concern that Granlund might be smaller than his stats listed, and if he turned out to be 5’8” or 5’9” he would hav...
NickBoston writes...

St. Louis Blues Quick Hits

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Here are some quick little nuggets of news pertaining to the Blues on this, the first day of free agency... - The Blues got a real bargain in re-signing Alex Steen for what they did. The Blues were expecting to have to pay a lot more than the $3 million per season they signed him for today. This now frees up money for other uses the Blues may need in free agency. - I...
Two years ago, the Blues fleeced the Maple Leafs in a deal that sent Lee Stempniak to Toronto for Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo. At the time, I might have been the only person in St. Louis who liked that deal. I felt Stempniak was a flash in the pan, and that either Steen or Cola straight up would have been a good trade. But Stempniak was a fan favorite in the STL, proba...
[b]Primary Staff:[/b] Scott Howson (GM), Scott Arniel (Head Coach) [b]2009-10 Stats:[/b] 82GP 32W 35L 15OTL 79PTS [b]Place:[/b] 5th Central, 14th West, 27th NHL [b]Top Scorer: [/b]Rick Nash – 76GP 33G 34A 67P [b]Captains: [/b]Rick Nash (C), Mike Commodore (A), RJ Umberger (A) [b]OFF-SEASON MOVES OUT:[/b] Nathan Paetsch (Signed with Florida) [b]IN:[/b] ...
BluemanGuruu writes...

My Picks

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Western--- 1)San Jose 2)Vancouver 3)Chicago 4)St. Louis 5)LA 6)Edmonton 7)Nashville 8) Colorado Eastern--- 8) New York Rangers 7) Carolina 6) Buffalo 5) Toronto 4)Pittsburg 3)Philly 2)Boston 1)Washington
BluesHockeyOhBaby! writes...

Blues Lack Closers

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Maybe Davis Payne should bring Mariano Rivera in to lecture the Blues on how to finish goals and games. After scoring two in the first four minutes, the Blues couldn't find the net the rest of the game and let 2 points slip away in a 3-2 shootout loss to Dallas. But they had plenty of chances. Patrik Berglund hit the crossbar on a beautiful move during a power-p...
Tonight's loss to the Hawks must really sting for the Blues. They played tight defense and shut down the champs for about 54 minutes and Jaroslav Halak was showing exactly why the Blues gave up a former first-round pick for him. But naturally the Blackhawks stormed back and won it in overtime. The second straight game the Blues have lost in OT after leading 2-0. ...
You can't help but think there is just something special happening with the Blues. This isn't the same team that would cough up third-period leads last year, or would get caught watching the play, getting pushed off the puck, or getting pushed around physically. No, this is a Blues team that has flipped last year's script and are doing to opponents what they fell vic...
I'll keep this short and to the point. Thanksgiving is over, yet the Blues felt the need to give that game away like a three-button coat at the Salvation Army. They struggle SO MUCH to score any goals, yet let in garbage like that. This was their game, but instead of going home with 2 points and a chance to sweep the home and home, they're going home dejected. J...
If the Sabres only played once a week they might be the best team in the league. After five days of rest, the Sabres played their most complete game of the season, defeating Columbus 5-0 on Friday at HSBC Arena. The victory marked the first time the Sabres have defeated the Blue Jackets since 2004. There was not much more you could ask for out of the Sabres on F...
Newman writes...

Flames Roll into Break

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The Flames are rolling into the All Star break with four straight wins and now sit only two points out of a playoff spot. Head on over to the Sports Roundup to read more about the Flames impressive string of play. http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/01/flames-roll-into-break.html Newman @TSRNewman www.thesportsroundup.com www.thecheckingline.com
The Atlanta Thrashers "Sense of Urgency" should have nothing to do with the ownership & their cash problems. The real urgency is in the standings and the Schedule. With 24 games left, now is the time to make a move. After the March 27th game, against the cellar dwelling Ottawa Senators, all the remaining games are against a team that is above them in the standings as ...
The Sabres acquired for Blues forward Brad Boyes late Sunday evening for a 2nd round pick in next year's draft. The move has garnered quite a bit of attention in both markets involved. It's obvious the Sabres were in need of a top 6 forward who can score, skate hard, and check harder. Boyes can backcheck and forecheck with the best of them. He skates with intensity that I ...
Come stop by at www.thecheckingline.com for a live blog from the Nassau Coliseum press-box as I will be covering the Islanders matinee against the visiting St. Louis Blues! Join in at any time during the game to talk about what's happening on the ice or anything that's going on in the hockey world! -Rob McGowan Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/IslesRM
New post over at The Checking Line covering the Islanders 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues this afternoon at the Nassau Coliseum http://thecheckingline.com/blog/rob-mcgowan/new-york-islanders/isles-defenders-tune-out-blues-5-2-win -Rob McGowan Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/IslesRM
The last time Ray Emery was in the Ponda Center, June 6th 2007, I was standing on my seat serenading Emery and laughing my head off when he scored on himself playing for the Ottawa Senators. (http://videosift.com/video/Stanely-Cup-Game-5-Chris-Phillips-Own-Goal) We (Anaheim fans atleast) knew that the Ducks were going to with the cup much earlier then this. With Teemus ...
Newman writes...

Newman on CBC Radio

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
In case you missed it I was on the CBC Homestretch this afternoon talking about the Flames playoff chances. Come to The Sports Roundup to have a listen. http://www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/04/tsr-talks-to-cbcs-homestretch.html Newman Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/TSRNewman
Normally around this time of year most Blues fans would feel mad cause we got knocked out of the playoff's by Detroit, Vancouver, or someone else. However for the last five years that has went the other way. One playoff apperence in 5 years and now trying to find a second new owner since the lockout, not since 1983 when the team was up for possible relocation to Saskatchew...
I believe I picked the right day to start my blogging adventure...yesterday at about 2:00, I went onto Hockeybuzz to look if any trade rumors concerned the Flyers. The only rumor I saw was Robyn Regher possibly waiving his NTC to go to Buffalo. Thinking nothing will happen in the next 20 minutes (Who would've thought something did happen?) I go to get cleaned up for the ...
NickBoston writes...

Blues Rumblings: June 29th

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
After a long absence, I'm back... It's been a while since I've written a blog, but with the July 1st "Free Agent Frenzy" upon the horizon, I felt it was a fitting time to return to what I enjoy...writing about my hometown St. Louis Blues. From now through the entirety of the upcoming free agent period, look for updates regarding player movement as it pertains to the ...
NickBoston writes...

Blues Re-Sign TJ Oshie

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The St. Louis Blues announced this morning they have re-signed forward TJ Oshie to a one-year contract worth $2.35 million. Oshie, 24, played in 49 games last season, registering 12 goals and 22 assists with a +10 rating. Oshie missed significant time after breaking his ankle in a scrum during the end of a game against Columbus last October. In three seasons with the...
NickBoston writes...

Blues Showing Interest In...

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
A quick update for you all... There seems to be some growing interest in the Blues' front office in signing one of either Jamie Langenbrunner or Tomas Fleischmann. Langenbrunner's interest is obviously because of the connection he and General Manager Doug Armstrong had when both were in Dallas. Langenbrunner, as I mentioned in a previous blog, would provide some...
Quick update before I go back to work... The Blues are finalizing a deal that would bring back forward Matt D'Agostini. The deal should be announced soon, but sources indicate it's a two-year contract. More to come, Nick Boston http://twitter.com/Nick_Boston
Like the last three years, the first day of the NHL Free Agency Period is met with the same response from Blues' fanantics around 4 PM CT. They're losing their minds. Frustration, anger, disgust... Those would be three of many words that could be used to describe the Blues and their activity (or lack thereof) in the free agent market. This year more than ever,...
NickBoston writes...

Blues Sign Brian Elliott

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Quick Update: The Blues have signed goaltender Brian Elliott to a one-year, two-way contract. Elliott, 26, played in 55 games with Ottawa and Colorado last season, tallying a record of 15-27-9 with a 3.34 GAA and an .893 save percentage. Elliott also had three shutouts last season. Elliott is expected to battle with goalie Ben Bishop for the backup goaltender job ...
The Blues yesterday afternoon announced the signing of defenseman Kent Huskins to a one-year, $1 Million contract. Huskins, 32, played in 50 games last season with the San Jose Sharks, registering two goals and eight assists and had a +8 rating. Huskins gives the Blues another left-handed shot on defense that they've been rumored to be looking for. [u]Other r...
Two signings the Blues have made today... The Blues Tuesday afternoon signed center Scott Nichol to a one-year, $600,000 contract. The 36-year old veteran played in 56 games last season with the San Jose Sharks, tallying four goals and three assists. Nichol has also spent time in his 12-year career with Buffalo, Clagary, Chicago, and Nashville. Nichol is known ar...
The Blues today signed forwards Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner to one-year contracts. Both players signed for $2.5 million, with bonuses adding up to potentially $2.8 million. Langenbrunner, 35, played in 70 games with New Jersey and Dallas last season, registering nine goals and 23 assists. The former Devils' captain was also the team captain of the 2010 USA O...
NickBoston writes...

Blues Sign Cheechoo

Posted Tuesday | Comments 1
The Blues today signed forward Jonathan Cheechoo to a one-year, two-way contract. Cheechoo, 30, played in 55 games last season with Worchester of the AHL, totaling 18 goals and 29 assists. The former 56-goal scorer last played in the NHL in 2009-10 with the Ottawa Senators. Cheechoo will make $600,000 on the NHL roster, and $225,000 in the minors with Peoria of the ...
NickBoston writes...

Blues Re-Sign Reaves

Posted Sunday | Comments 1
The Blues today re-signed forward Ryan Reaves to a one-year, two-way contract. The 24-year old enforcer agreed to a deal that will pay him $525,000 on the NHL roster, and $105,000 with Peoria of the AHL. Reaves is penciled in to be the team's fourth-line tough guy, replacing Cam Janssen, who signed with the New Jersey Devils late last week. Last season, Reaves pla...
Might as well be a month ahead of everyone's blogs saying whose gonna finish where and whatnot...not like anyone cares, but this is for my own sake and something official when a team makes the playoffs that no one even considered, i might be the one who told u so and have it officially out there, but anyways, i say 50% of what im about to write will come true! if not, i wi...
BINGO! writes...

Who Are The St. Louis Blues?

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Over the past several seasons, we have seen an enormous amount of transition in the Blues franchise. Since 2004, the Blues have seen 2 owners, 3 Head Coaches, and 2 GM's and now the franchise is for sale yet again. How has this affected the team? Well, beginning in 05-06, the Blues have wound up with 57, 81, 79, 92, 90, and 89 points in each season respectively, whic...
BINGO! writes...

David Backes: Scoring Star?

Posted Friday | Comments 0
With high expectations from the fans, much of the success or failure of this season for the St. Louis Blues rides on the shoulders of David Backes. Named to the All-Star Game last season, Backes racked up a very solid 31 goals and 62 points last season, all the while amassing 93 PIMS and a +32 rating. While not exactly the season many were hoping for from the team, Bac...
Over the Next 30 days I will be Previewing each of the National Hockey League Clubs heading into the 2011-12 season starting from the Anaheim Ducks. Day 8 of the series belongs to the official AarifDeenReport Columbus Blue Jackets Preview. Please resort to myhockeybuzz page for previews of teams falling before this team. [b] Follow me on Twitter @AarifDeenReport plea...
jeffgreig writes...

Hey there fantasy freaks

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
So anyone out there in need of a website that not only gives you the in and outs of the hockey world? I mean not just the major teams in the leagues I mean even the low traffic teams like the hurricanes Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets. All the teams have fantasy relevant players and sleepers that everyone should be able to find out about. So have a peek at the newest we...
icedog97 writes...

Nobody Asked Me But...#2

Posted Monday | Comments 0
...The Tomas Vokoun signing in Washington appears now to be about as much like the Ilya Bryzgalov signing in Philadelphia as their two salaries are for 2011...which is to say "not much". Initially people compared the two with the idea being that both clubs were obtaining "top" netminders to make them legitimate cup contenders. Washington seemed to get the better deal becau...
irabkin writes...

Same Old Jackets.

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Before the season started, there was so much hope that this year would be different with the likes of Carter, Wisnewski and Prospal joining the club. Hopes that maybe this will be the year that Steve Mason finally plays like he did in his rookie year. The excitement has been replaced with calls for the heads of everyone from Howson to Arniel to Mason to Nash. I guess that ...
With a number of teams struggling between the pipes I thought it would be fun to take a look at the goaltender market. I will look at each potentially available goaltender and the possibilities of them being moved this season. First up in a series of articles is... Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames We start off in Calgary where the Flames are struggling mightily and ...
Since winning the Calder Memorial Trophy for being the top rookie in 2008-09 Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets has been downright terrible. Mason had a terrific rookie year posting a 2.29 GAA with a .916 save percentage to go along with an incredible 10 shutouts. But since that fabulous debut Mason has posted a GAA of over 3 with a save percentage of .901 along wit...
Recently Eklund has posted a rumor suggesting that the Columbus Blue Jackets are interested in Chris Mason and/or Antero Niittymaki. Now while I don't doubt the Blue Jackets have interest in both goalies, and all goalies for that matter, I do doubt the fact that they will be able to get either of these goalies. Lets start with Chris Mason, who is currently injured bu...
habsteen26 writes...

Quarterly Review + Crosby

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Its official: Its been one of the wackiest quarters in NHL history. After the most tragic summer in the NHL in recent memory, maybe even ever, we have indeed had quite the first quarter of the NHL season. The Minnesota Wild are 2nd in the NHL, The "revamped" Columbus Blue Jackets are in last (
yave1964 writes...

Is there hope for Columbus

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Going into this season, the Bluejackets made a splash, trading for Jeff Carter, signing Prospal and Wisniewski, kids like Clitsome and Johanson coming on, mixed with stud Rick Nash and carry overs Vermette, Mason, Umberger and Brassard.The CBJ actually going into the season have a top six payroll, and looked likely to compete for a bottom three playoff spot. well, i...
Brassards agent rips Arniel for leaving him in the locker room as a healthy scratch again, saying Arniel is making Brassard the scapegoat for the teams wretched start. Well...... Rumors have it columbus is trying to trade Brassard. Two ways to fascilitate this, one, play them and feature their skills to prespective bidders. Two, sit them and hope that absence makes...
The Chicago Blackhawks will look to continue their winning ways tonight when they matchup with the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center. The Blackhawks are coming off of an exciting 5-4 shootout win against the struggling New York Islanders last night and look to build on that success. This will be the second matchup of the season for these two teams, with the Blues ta...
In the words of one Charlie Sheen: “Winning!” Could the Lightning be onto something right now? With two wins in a row, the team is finally starting to show that hunger and tenacity that we all came to know and love last season. Yes, it was only the Columbus Blue Jackets but a win is a win is a win. Every two points in this league count and these ones may go a lon...
mcefalu writes...

Welcome Back, Defense

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
It appears that the Chicago Blackhawks defensive issues are no longer much of an issue at all. The Chicago Blackhawks used a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center to maintain first place in the NHL with 50 points. Red-hot Viktor Stalberg scored two goals, Dave Bolland and Marian Hossa posted two points apiece and the Blackhawks won their sec...
electric81 writes...

Red Versus Blue

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
It’s been a long time since I posted anything (which is to say it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to watch a Red Wings game in its entirety). Ironically enough, the last game I was able to watch was December 6 at St. Louis. It appears the tables have turned in the steadily-heating rivalry against the St. Louis Blues with the Wings taking this battle 3-2. ...
yave1964 writes...

Wings Hawks rivalry

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Finally!! When the schedule makers came up with the idea of pushing the Chicago/detroit series off until this late in the season, could they have known how much it would be anticipated? Chicago with 50 points, Detroit with 47, the Blues playing like annoying little brother wanting to play with the big boys, all together three of the best teams in hockey. Chicago is o...
Yellowknife, NT [img:left]http://nyrnation.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/sean_avery-300x3001.jpg[/img] Welcome to the first rendition of the Broadway Blueshirt Blogger. You will have to forgive me as I am not a professional writer or journalist. I am simply a die hard New York Rangers fan. I signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent fan on July 21, 1996 alon...
The Chicago Blackhawks are the top-ranked team but GM Stan Bowman is prepared for trade talks anytime now as the trade deadline is soon coming up. Some concern that Bowman has is his secondary scoring. The Hawks have great players to begin with and they are showing the numbers. Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa always put a good game on and than you have you...
Yellowknife, NT [img:left]http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/p/sp/getty/aa/fullj.62fe0168591164499a23e1265e45da05/62fe0168591164499a23e1265e45da05-getty-136322072.jpg[/img] The New York Rangers have long been known for their deep wallet and infamous free agent signings. Some of the worst Ranger signings in history include the likes of Bobby Holik, Darius Kasparitus, Theoren...
Jackets GM Scott Howson has mentioned that he is going to make his last-placed club and make it a top 10 team. He has also mentioned that his team will be shaken up in the up comming weeks leading to the Febuary, 27 trade dealine. Now the Columbus Dispatch has mentioned that the Blue Jackets' players are feeling some sort of effects that moves are comming up and they a...
Well in my last post I was talking about the Jackets and in that there where some rumors of Jeff Carter being shiped off to Toronto. Now the Leafs would and I know for a fact go for this. The Leafs are 19-15-5 and are 10th in the Eastern Confrence 1 pt behind the red hot Devils. Now the Leafs could possibley offer Kadri, Grabovski and a pick for Carter. That sounds reasona...
scottregnier writes...

Get It Back!

Posted Monday | Comments 1
Hitch would have freaked out. He would have absolutely lost his mind. No one pinching. No one forechecking. Open passing lanes. Open in front of the net. I was losing my mind watching the Hawks and Wings on Saturday afternoon. The St. Louis Blues play a gritty style of hockey. They take no shifts off. They put the opponent under pressure from the get-go and neve...
scottregnier writes...

Guts Abound

Posted Tuesday | Comments 1
The Blues and Stars played one of the toughest games I've watched in a long time. Gritty, old school hockey was the name of the game. The goalies, especially Halak, were absolutely huge. Both teams crowded the other out the whole game. An inch or two here and there was going to make the difference. Tough game indeed. The Stars played with a bit of an edge. They we...
scottregnier writes...

Sign Em Up

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Doug Armstrong is going to be earning his paycheck the rest of this calendar year. Besides trying to figure out what to do about possibly picking up a player for the playoff push, he's going to have to figure out a lot of contract situations for next season. My gut tells me that he won't make any deals the rest of the way this year. Andy McDonald is coming back (hopeful...
Having a couple days off can be great for getting healthy, getting rejuvenated, and getting hungry.....but it can also be great for getting lazy. Tonight is one of those cliché "trap games" everyone always talks about. A bad team coming into your barn where you're the best in the league looking to make a statement without 3 of their top 4 scorers against a red-hot goalt...
scottregnier writes...

Where Are Hull & Oates?

Posted Friday | Comments 0
The Blues need Andy McDonald right now. There's no way they can keep this kind of winning up. 1-0 after dominating the WHOLE FREAKING GAME is crazy. They had at least 15 shots before the Oilers got their first. That sort of thing just doesn't happen. And it also shouldn't be that the Blues can have that many shots 10 minutes into the first period without a goal to sho...
The next two nights are going to be tough. Detroit forgot how to lose at home and the Penguins have been on a tear as of late. These are two legitimate teams playing some great hockey. The Blues are going to have to play their butts off to win both of these games.....and here's how they're going to do it. Jeremy Rutherford reported via Twitter this morning that the l...
scottregnier writes...

One More For The Road

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The Blues are going to have to cherish their break. Only one guy is going to the All Star Game and that's the "backup" goaler. Everyone else gets to play around, rest up, get healthy, and refocus for the second half of the year. If it was me, I'd be spending some time on my couch....because that couch is going to be lonely the rest of the season. February is pretty spl...
scottregnier writes...

No One's Safe

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
If for no other reason the St. Louis Blues need a top notch goal scorer is to get more calls I'm all for it. I am sick and tired of watching the "best" teams get every single freaking call all night long. Malkin falls down twice, Blues get penalized twice. Brad Stuart drops his gloves first, Chris Stewart gets 2 minutes for the instigator and a 10 minute misconduct. It...
Gambi99 writes...

Parise Singing The Blues?

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
There have been a lot of talk about Parise lately and where he'll end up. We heard from site to site different stories ranging from him resigning with the Devils to being traded at the deadline to almost every team in the NHL. So last night I started thinking, which doesn't happen much at my age, and started to look around the league to find a right partner for Parise if a...
Andy McDonald.......you're close, you're really close to making every St. Louis Blues fan very happy. Your speed, your vision, your finishing touch, your experience.....oh how we've missed you. You are the missing component in making the Blues go from a contender to a legitimate favorite come playoff time. Your impact on the ice will echo a great deal off the ice where ...
dante writes...

Vote for Youth Hockey

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
This summer, I took part in a charity ice hockey tournament called Checking For Charity. Although it was a painful way to learn just how badly my skills have deteriorated since the last time I played regularly, it was one of the most fulfilling weekend experiences of my life. I discovered the event around the same time that I learned about Defending The Blueline(DTBL), a...
scottregnier writes...

Blue Line Howitzers Wanted

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Maybe I'm thinking about the Blues' scoring woes the wrong way. Maybe they don't need a scorer via trade. Maybe Andy McDonald and Alex Steen aren't as essential as I originally thought. Maybe they need a defenseman or two to change the offense. Maybe.... Pietrangelo is becoming a legitimate #1 defenseman. Shattenkirk isn't far behind but he's more an offensive play...
As the trade deadline approaches there is much speculation, anticipation, and reservation to go around, depending on where your rooting interests lie. Sometimes it is easy to predict the players that will be traded, but where they go and for who can be a little tougher to pick. Instead of trying to figure the future out, I am going to revisit some recent trades that invo...
scottregnier writes...

Get Stupid With It

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
In my lifetime I've seen the St. Louis Blues play hundreds of games. I've seen them at the Checkerdome/Arena/Greatest Place Of All Time. I've seen them at the Kiel Center/Savvis Center/Scottrade Center. I saw them play last season in Buffalo at the HSBC Arena. Nothing compared to what I saw at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Predator fans are definitely one-of-a-k...
Part two of revisiting some of the recent bigger deals in the NHL involves the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Philadelphia Flyers. They got together on one of the bigger deals that happened in the summer of 2011: [img]http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/001/404/296/129037043_crop_650x440.jpg?1318893095[/img] [img]http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/...
I read a brief "what if" that suggested Jeff Carter might get traded for Alex Semin. There are virtually NO RUMORS to support this particular trade...at least that I have seen or heard. All that we know for sure is that both players have been mentioned as available. I thought about this for about 2 minutes and realized this is the no-brainer trade that HAS to be m...
scottregnier writes...

EVERY Play Counts

Posted Friday | Comments 0
He scored a goal last night and got an assist on another.....but I'm getting really irritated by Chris Stewart. He can be fairly lazy out there. The Deveils' second goal was on him. He was flat-footed, lethargic, uninspired in going to Henrique after being picked on his way to the puck. He didn't care. He didn't think anything would happen. Well.....dammit......Henri...
Andy McDonald came back with a vengeance last night at home against the Sharks. The Blues looked instantly charged up. They looked faster. They looked tougher. They definitely didn't look like a team who played the night before. The previously absent power play showed up. The Blues looked better. Andy McDonald.....you are the man. Does that mean that Doug Armstro...
One of this seasons biggest surprises has been the St. Louis Blues. With the hiring of Hitchcock, they have been one of the best defensive teams in the league. They have signed backup Brian Elliot to a two year extension giving them two more years of affordable goal tending. There defense at one time was said to be lacking a veteran, but do you mess with the succes...
[img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_k0Vz_Y5pA_A/TJLEjq7DMVI/AAAAAAAAAA0/8WxV8Au3Rl4/s1600/nash.jpg[/img] It just might be that time. Will Columbus do the right thing for their franchise as well as their franchise player? This of course would be trading Rick Nash. Speaking as a hockey fan I think that most would agree, Rick Nash deserves better and NHL fans would benefit i...
To the Blues Management and Coaching Staff, Please do something with Chris Stewart. He's not helping the team. He's not a good player right now. He's not producing. He's not working. He's not a Blue. It's way past time for something drastic. Was today the day? Reports from practice today are coming in as positive as ever for #25. Hitch, good job in putting hi...
Something is happening this year with the St. Louis Blues. Something is different. Things are changing. A 5-1 victory, in years past, would call for a parade down market. Nothing but good feelings. No matter how the team would have played the score would have dominated the coverage, the reaction from the fans, even the players and how they talk about the game. This y...
The dreaded nine-game losing streak endured by a severely frustrated Chicago Blackhawks team came to an end on Thursday night with a victory over the best team in the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers. Chicago now prepares to avoid a similar fate tomorrow afternoon when they are hosted by the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets. This will be the fifth of six meetings bet...
The Chicago Blackhawks have rebounded nicely after losing nine straight games, some of those to division opponents, and added a solid team effort against their rivals to the south by defeating the Blues 3-1 at the United Center. There was no magical formula consumed by the Hawks a la "Space Jam" to bring about this recent successful play - pretty simply, the Blackhawks'...
[img]http://www.thesenatereform.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/MikeRichardsJeffCarter.jpg[/img] Thursday evening Jeff Carter was reunited with his former teammate and captain Mike Richards as the LA Kings made the move to acquire his services. [i]LA sent defensemen Jack Johnson and a conditional first round pick to Columbus (2012 or 2013) for Jeff Carter. [/i] The...
It must have been hard for Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke not to concede that the group that has seemingly kidnapped his team and played oh so poorly in their place since their win against Edmonton on February 6th had to be compelled with the power of the trade deadline. However Burke has managed to see the forest for the trees and has...
It must have been hard for Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke not to concede that the group that has seemingly kidnapped his team and played oh so poorly in their place since their win against Edmonton on February 6th had to be compelled with the power of the trade deadline. However Burke has managed to see the forest for the trees and has...
It must have been hard for Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke not to concede that the group that has seemingly kidnapped his team and played oh so poorly in their place since their win against Edmonton on February 6th had to be compelled with the power of the trade deadline. However Burke has managed to see the forest for the trees and has...
It must have been hard for Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke not to concede that the group that has seemingly kidnapped his team and played oh so poorly in their place since their win against Edmonton on February 6th had to be compelled with the power of the trade deadline. However Burke has managed to see the forest for the trees and has...
Newman writes...

Flames Sing the Blues

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
What the hell was that? The Flames looked terrible tonight against a much better Blues team. Read more here: http://west.thecheckingline.com/blog/derrick-newman/calgary-flames/flames-sing-blues Newman
icedog97 writes...

Nobody Asked Me, But...#4

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
- The whole Rick Nash saga played out about as I expected, although it may not be for exactly the reasons I described here [url]http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=6464&post_id=13064[/url]. I honestly think that Scott Howson really had no intention of dealing Nash unless someone was going to give up the house...and no one did. He did get a fair return for Jeff Carter...
At a point in time when points matter most in the standings, the Chicago Blackhawks were unable to match the work ethic and effort in a 5-1 loss to their division rivals, the St. Louis Blues at the Scottrade Center tonight. The Blackhawks didn't do themselves any favors by allowing the Blues to skate circles around them for sixty minutes and leaving their goaltender, R...
andydrmm writes...

NHL Semifinals 2011-2012

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Wow, that was an exciting first round with numerous upsets, and plenty of teams having some very close calls over the past 2 weeks. Like you, I’m surprised about several of the teams that are still alive and kicking in the NHL playoffs. Here’s my take on the 2nd round, and predictions as to who is moving on to the Conference Finals. http://betweenthebenches.com/?p...
With my local home team out of the playoffs after a mostly successful season, you can understand how attention has turned to the completed sale of the team and toward potential moves the team may make for next season. There have been many articles written about the financial struggles and questionable long-term profitability of teams like the Blues and Coyotes. Articles ...
As we get closer to Sunday fans cannot seem to contain their excitement, expectations and fears. It is that time of the year again. The draft has concluded and each team's fanbase awaits news from the front about who their team is pursuing. Free agency will be upon us. For some teams, there is new found money to spend. Exits from the playoffs put strain on GMs to rethink ...
If you, like most of us hockey fans out there, have been left scratching your head about some of the Blue Jackets’ off-season moves you’ve come to the right place. Finally, Scott Howson explains exactly why he’s been stocking up on number 2 or 3 goalies. After announcing the free agent signing of Curtis McElhinney, Howson took time to clarify. ...
The Blues need someone to pair up with pietrangelo. And the Blues as you remember from the playoffs petro went down, no one was there to carry the load.. Shattenkirk could not handle it by himself. Figuring that Jason Garrison signed 6 years 4.7/year. Figuring carle will recieve 4 years about 4.9/ year.. Now carle will most likely wait till suter goes. The blues do have ...
The Blues need someone to pair up with pietrangelo. And the Blues as you remember from the playoffs petro went down, no one was there to carry the load.. Shattenkirk could not handle it by himself. Figuring that Jason Garrison signed 6 years 4.7/year. Figuring carle will recieve 4 years about 4.9/ year.. Now carle will most likely wait till suter goes. The blues do have ...
The Blues need someone to pair up with pietrangelo. And the Blues as you remember from the playoffs petro went down, no one was there to carry the load.. Shattenkirk could not handle it by himself. Figuring that Jason Garrison signed 6 years 4.7/year. Figuring carle will recieve 4 years about 4.9/ year.. Now carle will most likely wait till suter goes. The blues do have ...
The Blues need someone to pair up with pietrangelo. And the Blues as you remember from the playoffs petro went down, no one was there to carry the load.. Shattenkirk could not handle it by himself. Figuring that Jason Garrison signed 6 years 4.7/year. Figuring carle will recieve 4 years about 4.9/ year.. Now carle will most likely wait till suter goes. The blues do have ...
The Blues need someone to pair up with pietrangelo. And the Blues as you remember from the playoffs petro went down, no one was there to carry the load.. Shattenkirk could not handle it by himself. Figuring that Jason Garrison signed 6 years 4.7/year. Figuring carle will recieve 4 years about 4.9/ year.. Now carle will most likely wait till suter goes. The blues do have ...
The Blues need someone to pair up with pietrangelo. And the Blues as you remember from the playoffs petro went down, no one was there to carry the load.. Shattenkirk could not handle it by himself. Figuring that Jason Garrison signed 6 years 4.7/year. Figuring carle will recieve 4 years about 4.9/ year.. Now carle will most likely wait till suter goes. The blues do have ...
The Blues need someone to pair up with pietrangelo. And the Blues as you remember from the playoffs petro went down, no one was there to carry the load.. Shattenkirk could not handle it by himself. Figuring that Jason Garrison signed 6 years 4.7/year. Figuring carle will recieve 4 years about 4.9/ year.. Now carle will most likely wait till suter goes. The blues do have ...
The Blues need someone to pair up with pietrangelo. And the Blues as you remember from the playoffs petro went down, no one was there to carry the load.. Shattenkirk could not handle it by himself. Figuring that Jason Garrison signed 6 years 4.7/year. Figuring carle will recieve 4 years about 4.9/ year.. Now carle will most likely wait till suter goes. The blues do have ...
The Blues need someone to pair up with pietrangelo. And the Blues as you remember from the playoffs petro went down, no one was there to carry the load.. Shattenkirk could not handle it by himself. Figuring that Jason Garrison signed 6 years 4.7/year. Figuring carle will recieve 4 years about 4.9/ year.. Now carle will most likely wait till suter goes. The blues do have ...
The Blues need someone to pair up with pietrangelo. And the Blues as you remember from the playoffs petro went down, no one was there to carry the load.. Shattenkirk could not handle it by himself. Figuring that Jason Garrison signed 6 years 4.7/year. Figuring carle will recieve 4 years about 4.9/ year.. Now carle will most likely wait till suter goes. The blues do have ...
There are plenty of topics regarding the Union Blue that I could pinpoint in my first piece for this site. That, in large part, is because the 2011-2012 season of Blue Jackets hockey was like that scene in [i]The Strangers[/i] where the record player begins to skip as Liv Tyler painstakingly searches her dark cabin for maniacs. The point being: there’s work here to be do...
[b]For everything hockey - 24/7 news updates, scores, humour, blogs, and everything else in between, please follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind.[/b] LINK TO PART ONE: [url]http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=13838&user_id=131735[/url] Today is day two of a six-day series that will look at the job done by the 30 GM’s around the league. Fr...
[b]For everything hockey - 24/7 news updates, scores, humour, blogs, and everything else in between, please follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind.[/b] LINK TO PART ONE: [url]http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=13838&user_id=131735[/url] LINK TO PART TWO: [url]http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=131735&post_id=13858[/url] [b...
With the St. Louis Blues home opener scheduled for less than a month away, we, as Blues fans, should be waiting for the NHL premiere of Vladimir Tarasenko and the proud moment when we get to lift a championship banner to the rafters, but instead Vladi is in Russia and the banner is probably getting hung up without a celebration. So, what is there to do during the lockou...
gkmkiller writes...

How Columbus Can Contend

Posted Sunday | Comments 1
I’m sure the first question many of you are asking yourselves is why I, a passionate Rangers fan, am writing a blog on MYHB about the Columbus Blue Jackets. In my nearly four years of contributions on this site I can only think of one time I wrote about a team or a player of another team that was in no way related to the Rangers. So why start now? I have a couple of rati...
Last night, the Phoenix Coyotes played against the St. Louis Blues in their second game in as many nights. After losing to Anaheim 2-0 the previous game, the Yotes were looking to have a solid rebound game against a banged up Blues squad. Unfortunately for Coyotes fans, the Blues had their way with the Coyotes last night. The final was 6-3, but it wasn’t even that close ...
The Phoenix Coyotes took on the Columbus Blue Jackets looking to try to improve their standing in the Western Conference and stop the Blue Jackets point streak. This will be a quick recap as there was NO scoring in this game. The game was a back and forth affair with good team defense from both sides. The Coyotes managed to get more shots on the Blue Jackets… but many...
The Sabres should look into a trade with the St.Louis Blues. The Blues have alot of young great talent, both on offense and defense. They also hav alot of players who will be restricted free agents after the season, while the Sabres have some assets that the Blues could use for a deep playoff run this year. Darcy should look into a trade that sends [u][u]Stafford and Re...
Chris Stewart plays the game with power and finesse. Often when talking about a particular player it is custom to make a comparison in order to paint a clearer picture. No two players are alike, but if comparisons are a must, Chris Stewart’s game resembles that of Cam Neely, Todd Bertuzzi and Jarome Iginla. The big righty with good hands and a great shot can score. It...
There are about nine teams in the Western Conference that certainly care about the Columbus Blue Jackets right now. Perennial losers they may be but CBJ are not letting their past stop them from making a serious push for the playoffs this season. Since February 26 the Jackets have gone 6-0-5, earning points in eleven straight games. The streak has allowed the Jackets t...
Tonight the Calgary Flames play head to head with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The rumours surrounding the future of Jarome Iginla as a member of the Calgary Flames make this game a little more interesting than your average epic Flames/Blue Jackets showdown. Over the next two weeks the Flames and Iginla will receive some very tempting offers that will greatly affect the f...
This is a plea to the supporters of all the teams trailing in their series. rnInstead of saying we just stayed alive in the series, it should be: our team forces game 6, game 7. Instead of struggling to keep up with the other team, it should be: our team is about to exploit their weaknesses. Instead of blaming and focusing on a single mistake, it should be our responsibil...
bacheesh writes...

Blues Offseason Plans

Posted Tuesday | Comments 1
Hey all, my first blog post here and I'll be covering the St. Louis Blues. Looking forward to writing blogs and connecting with people on this website! If the playoffs taught us anything, it's that the Blues are sorely lacking in the offensive department. 10 goals in 6 games is simply unacceptable if we want to make a deep cup run in the future. Yes, I do realize Quick ...
bacheesh writes...

Some Blue Notes

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Just going to make an update about several Blues related topics. - Looks like Adam Cracknell has been signed to a 1 year contract worth 600k. Well deserved for him, the CPR line was a treat to watch down the stretch, and I'm more than happy to be able to see Cracknell back in the note in October. He knows how to use his body to shield the puck, and can lay out devastati...
bacheesh writes...

Blues Report Cards - Part 1

Posted Friday | Comments 0
Since the Blues season ended a while back I've been meaning to make a blog about grading each players performances. I will be taking into account the regular season as well as the playoffs. Today will be the forwards, and the other half will be the D and goalies. [b]Forwards:[/b] [b]David Backes: B-[/b] There's no denying that Backes had a down year, managing only ...
Going into the offseason, the St. Louis Blues are in an interesting position. They have a few key RFA's they need to get signed. Beyond that, it will be tough for them to improve the team, and likely they will go into next season hoping that the maturing of their young players combined with Ken Hitchcock getting his first shot at a full training camp and season with the te...
bacheesh writes...

Berglund signed

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Patrick Berglund has agreed to a 1 year contract in principle at $3.25 million. He will still be an RFA after the contract is up. My thoughts on this deal? No complaints. Berglund is an enigma of sorts, he has the ability to be an immovable tank or just simply a ghost. Berglund's tenure thus far in the note has been a rollercoaster ride, literally. Coming off a bril...
bacheesh writes...

Blues Draft Recap

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The St. Louis Blues entered the 2013 NHL Entry Draft with 6 picks. They left with 4 thanks to a couple moves by Doug Armstrong. Let's take a look at the prospects. [b]Tommy Vannelli D (2nd round, 47th overall)[/b] An interesting pick to say the least. Almost every Blues fan was praying for Armstrong to snag a center at this position, someone like John Hayden, Jimmy Lod...
GM Doug Armstrong and the Bluenote brass have done what they set out to do. No, they didn't sign the top 4 centers available to solidify the position where we diehards have placed this offseason blame, but they did address an obvious need. In the span of three days we (and yes I say we. At this point so much sorrow shared by such a large group of people can only be descri...
I know it has been a while since the 2013 NHL Draft came to a close, but this is something I have been meaning to comment on for a while and simply haven't gotten around to writing. Since its been a while, here is a list of who picked whom and in which position. 6th Overall - Calgary - Sean Monahan Center - 6'2"/185 lbs 8th Overall - Buffalo - Rasmus Ristolainen D...
So Ek says Ken Hitchcock is willing to do whatever it takes to get Hank and Danny out of Vancouver. Not likely to happen but it's a fun thought. But for 2 players of their calibre, St.Louis WILL have to pay pretty heavily. [u]IF[/u] it was to happen what is a fair price? I for one have loved [b]Chris Stewart's [/b]game for a long time. He fills that RW hole we ha...
This is my first attempt ever to write a blog, errors will be made and all this is my outside opinion, will not have proof for any of my statements just thoughts and point of view from a fan outside of Columbus area. With 2013 camp opening yesterday I would like to give my insight to which rookies will survive the cut and the dream of becoming an NHL player becomes a re...
Nova_CBJ writes...

If I were Richards...

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Preseason is coming to an end and with the roster already trimmed I feel like I can make my predictions on the opening night lineup. rnrnStarting with just the roster: rnrn[u]Forwards[/u]rn10 MARIAN GABORIK rn17 BRANDON DUBINSKYrn42 ARTEM ANISIMOV rn13 CAM ATKINSON rn11 MATT CALVERT rn18 RJ UMBERGER rn71 NICK FOLIGNO rn19 RYAN JOHANSEN rn55 MARK LETESTU rn14 BLA...
Nova_CBJ writes...

If I were Richards...

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Preseason is coming to an end and with the roster already trimmed I feel like I can make my predictions on the opening night lineup. Starting with just the roster: [u]Forwards[/u] 10 MARIAN GABORIK 17 BRANDON DUBINSKY 42 ARTEM ANISIMOV 13 CAM ATKINSON 11 MATT CALVERT 18 RJ UMBERGER 71 NICK FOLIGNO 19 RYAN JOHANSEN 55 MARK LETESTU 14 BLA...
Nova_CBJ writes...

If I were Richards...

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Preseason is coming to an end and with the roster already trimmed I feel like I can make my predictions on the opening night lineup. rnrnStarting with just the roster: rnrn[u]Forwards[/u]rn10 MARIAN GABORIK rn17 BRANDON DUBINSKYrn42 ARTEM ANISIMOV rn13 CAM ATKINSON rn11 MATT CALVERT rn18 RJ UMBERGER rn71 NICK FOLIGNO rn19 RYAN JOHANSEN rn55 MARK LETESTU rn14 BLA...
Nova_CBJ writes...

If I were Richards...

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Preseason is coming to an end and with the roster already trimmed I feel like I can make my predictions on the opening night lineup. rnrnStarting with just the roster: rnrn[u]Forwards[/u]rn10 MARIAN GABORIK rn17 BRANDON DUBINSKYrn42 ARTEM ANISIMOV rn13 CAM ATKINSON rn11 MATT CALVERT rn18 RJ UMBERGER rn71 NICK FOLIGNO rn19 RYAN JOHANSEN rn55 MARK LETESTU rn14 BLA...
[b]Twitter:[/b] @ProspectReport After a long hiatus, I'm back to cover Calgary again. What felt like an eternity, the summer is finally over and hockey is back. Calgary lost their opening night 5-4 to the Washington Capitals in a hard-fought game. There are a lot of positives to take away from last nights game. Calgary absolutely dominated the first period, and made...
After starting out their 8 game road trip 0-2, the Ducks have defeated both Ottawa and Columbus to get a .500 record half way through this trip. The game against Columbus has been the 1st game of this road trip that I have been able to watch in its entirety because all of the games on this road trip so far have started either at 4 or 4:30. While it wasn't the Ducks best ga...
I've been a Blues fan for a long time now and it ceases to amaze me at how little attention the team gets, both in local and national news.rnrnrnrnI realize that St. Louis isn't considered a major market, when it's compared to cities like New York or Pittsburgh, but what does a team have to do to get some respect. Right now, the Blues are at the top of the Central Divisio...
[Note: I think it's too bad that one of the best teams in the league is currently without a blogger. Therefore, I took it upon myself to preview the Blues upcoming game. If you do not like it, feel free to let me know in the comments section and I will not post anymore. Thanks for reading] On Saturday night the St. Louis Blues (21-6-3) will travel to Columbus to take on...
30 games into the season, the St. Louis Blues are 21-6-3, a record that most fans would be proud of. However, the Blues have struggled recently, particularly against teams in the California district. The Blues are 0-4 against these teams, with 2 losses to the Sharks, and 1 each to the Kings and Ducks. If the Blues want to finally make some noise in the postseason, they're ...
30 games into the season, the St. Louis Blues are 21-6-3, a record that most fans would be proud of. However, the Blues have struggled recently, particularly against teams in the California district. The Blues are 0-4 against these teams, with 2 losses to the Sharks, and 1 each to the Kings and Ducks. If the Blues want to finally make some noise in the postseason, they're ...
Friday, February 28, 2014 (or March 28, 2014 if you read the Buffalo News), marked the end of an era in Buffalo. It was an era that a lot of people didn’t necessarily want to see end, but we knew was coming, even if we didn’t want to admit it. [b]Ryan Miller, is no longer the goalie for the Buffalo Sabres. [/b] Miller has been haunted by trade rumors for the pas...
Flash4 writes...

Is It Really Miller Time?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Ryan_Miller_skating_2011-10-15.JPG[/img]rn[img]http://twopadstack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/nhl_g_miller01jr_576x324.jpg[/img]rnrnrnrnRyan Miller has a reputation of being an all-star goaltender, and was part of a trade this year that sent him from Buffalo to St. Louis. St. Louis wanted better goaltending in an ...
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Ryan_Miller_skating_2011-10-15.JPG[/img]rnrn[img]http://twopadstack.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/nhl_g_miller01jr_576x324.jpg[/img]rnrnrnRyan Miller has a reputation of being an all-star goaltender, and was part of a trade this year that sent him from Buffalo to St. Louis. St. Louis wanted better goaltending in an ...
As I was listening to the new and improved Hockeybuzzcast and hearing the sparkling reviews and praise for the Columbus Blue Jackets especially from Josh Rimer. I knew I had to check this series out. Now, even though the Blue Jackets couldn't put together a full 60 minute effort and come out on top in this game, I was thoroughly impressed. And for a lot of reasons I ...
Brayton writes...

Welcome to the NHLol

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Welcome to the National Hockey League! Where our inconsistencies make our league a laughing stock in sports! The NHL are up to their usual antics of throwing random suspensions at players for their illegal actions during hockey games. It has been a reoccurring event for the NHL to be doing this ever since the Department of Player Safety was created. The latest string...
A 4-2 series victory over the Blue Jackets in round 1. It's about what I expected. Sure, like a lot of Penguin fans I would have loved to see a 4-0 series sweep...with dominating performances by our top guys and stellar goaltending by MAF. But...this is the NHL. Two quality teams play each other and rarely does one dominate the other (no...I am not forgetting the...
stljam writes...

In Allen they trust?

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Are Blues fans and the Blues organization read to put a lot of faith in Jake Allen to take the reins and try and lead the team to the holy grail? Allen has been paying his dues in the AHL since 2010 while enjoying a successful February 2013 with the Blues. He's been a good organizational team player and seems ready to be given a bigger opportunity. I hope he is able t...
Spezza will be on the St. Louis Blues for next season. Look for a return of Derek Roy and a 2nd round draft pick with a prospect in return. Spezza will fit in extremely well with the offense in St. Louis. Kessler is in the cross hairs of Anaheim, and the Ducks wont let any other team snag him without having a good back door plan to add forward with heavy fire power. ...
While it may not have been The Curious Case of Vladimir Sobotka, the closing of t he Roman Polak Door in St. Louis sure does appear to very curious, at least on the surface. While most hockey pundits had speculated about the Blues wanting to get tougher on the blue line this offseason, the Blues traded away one of their toughest blueliners for another puck moving, transit...
After the 2014 NHL Trade Deadline a lot of people (including myself) considered the St. Louis Blues to be favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately their run in the playoffs didn’t even last one round thanks to their division rival Chicago Blackhawks. The team finished sixth in goals scored during the regular season and with the loss of Ryan Miller, GM Doug Ar...
Around a month ago, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock anointed Brian Elliott as the incumbent. It "is Brian's job, he's earned the right, he's improved every year, he's waited patiently...it's his turn." He further commented that "this is the first time Brian gets to carry the ball for a little while and I think you're going to see Brian play better because he knows he's going to ...
Re-posted to fix the formatting issues... Many around St. Louis are scratching their heads regarding the defection of Vladimir Sobotka to Omsk of the KHL. While I won't claim to have seen this moving coming from a mile away, I can't understand why people are so surprised when they look at the situation from both sides' perspectives. [b]The Sobotka Perspective:[/b] I...
If a tie is like kissing your sister, then the points awarded for shootout losses seem like a consolation or attendance prize. I realize that the shootout is here to say. The league loves it. Casual fans love it. Traditional fans stand to watch it. Blah. Blah. Blah. I have resigned myself to accepting that the shootout is here to stay. One of the things that I don't ...
[b]Follow me on Twitter @DailyNHLGRIND[/b] [b]A Glance Back[/b] I don’t think anybody could have predicted the outcome of the brutally nicknamed metro-terrible division last season. Columbus impressed while the Capitals faltered. The Penguins took a dip in the playoffs while the Rangers surprised many after a rough start. Other teams sort of slotted right into thei...
[b]Follow me on Twitter @DailyNHLGrind[/b] [b]A Glance Back[/b] Looking back, it’s insane to think that this division didn’t win the Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks were amazing, the Blues were great, and the Avalanche were simply fantastic. They actually stole the title from St. Louis during the final days of the season. Patrick Roy got the best out of pretty muc...
You can find me at https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind With training camp just weeks away, the amount of big name restricted free agents is seemingly a lot longer than years past. Even though award-winning players such as Ryan O’Reilly and PK Subban have already come to terms, the names highlighting the list of RFA’s this summer still without a contract are valuable t...
[b]Please follow me at https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind[/b] The Western Conference also boasts a few good names still left unsigned. Jaden Schwartz headlines the group that includes a goalie that won a couple playoffs games this year and a young winger that scored a series-winning goal. The rest of the group all gained playoff experience except for the young Predators ...
The case of arguably the most prominent restricted free agent remaining unsigned this summer took another turn yesterday. Columbus Blue Jackets President John Davidson chose to voice his displeasure surrounding the contract situation between the team and restricted free agent center Ryan Johansen. Not only did Davidson himself voice his displeasure on a personal level, he ...
As the St. Louis Blues training camp starts, I think we can all agree that, barring an injury situation, the Blues will carry 2 goalies, 7 defensemen, and 14 forwards on the 23 man roster. So who will those seven be? You have to think there are six complete locks barring a trade with those being right handers Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk along with left hande...
As I discussed in my prior blog, the picture for the Blues defensive corps for 2014-15 is fairly clear with Cole, Prosser and Butler fighting to sort out the scraps unless there are injuries or trades. The forward picture is a lot more crowded and a lot less clear with likely only fourteen roster spots available. Some might argue there are nineteen NHL capable or soon to...
Holy Crap! What is with all of these Restricted Free Agents missing their teams training camps because of contract disputes?!?! Torey Krug, Rielly Smith, Cody Eakin, Brendan Dillon, Ryan Ellis, Jaden Schwartz, and perhaps the biggest name in the group Ryan Johansen. All seven of these players are still negotiating new contracts with their clubs in September after becoming ...
In a bit of a pattern developing in the preseason, the Blues didn't start playing at the drop of the puck and couldn't fully recover. They came out flat and allowed the first four goals to Columbus and came up a short at the end. On the first goal, the puck almost gets out of the Blues zone but gets held at the line and Oshie's back side pressure on Nick Foligno isn't ...
stljam writes...

Afternoon quick hits

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Just a few quick hits for you Blues fans. It appears Chris Butler and Colin Fraser cleared waivers and that Brian Elliott will start tonight at the Scottrade and get two out of the last three preseason games. Per JR, here is tonight's expected lineup: Berglund - Backes - Oshie Steen - Stastny - Lindstrom Fabbri - Lehtera - Tarasenko Mueller - Jaskin - Paajarvi (the...
The Blues came out strong in the first period, outplaying and outshooting the Hurricanes fourteen to six in the first period with little to show for it. Even with their strong play, they were unable to get a puck past stingy netminder Cam Ward. They were however rewarded at the end of the period with Vladimir Tarasenko and David Backes drawing penalties, allowing them to...
FINAL UPDATE - The events and outcome of the game last night mattered little in perspective as a 34 year old female fan lost her life at the arena shortly after the game. According to various reports, she fell off a second floor escalator. I hope you will all keep her family, friends, and the other fans and Scottrade employees that witnessed this tragic event in your th...
Update 1:18 pm Reports are that Butler, Lindbohm and Jaskin have been assigned to Chicago and Fabbri back to juniors. I am trying to research how Lindbohm can go as it was my understanding that his Finland contract only had an NHL roster out. More to come on that front. JR is saying that Lindbohm choose to go to Chicago over Finland because he was told that he was c...
stljam writes...

Dominating bounce back game

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
ETA: I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of our friends and relatives in Canada a wonderful Thanksgiving. Those of us here in the US are happy to have you as neighbors. Original: The Flames couldn't handle the Blues Saturday night and showed their youth and inexperience with numerous fumbled pucks and chances. The Blues jumped out to an early lead ...
stljam writes...

Miller expected to start tonight

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Update to add JR's projected lineup. Just a quick hit for you all in case it wasn't posted around. According to Canucks.com - Although an official announcement was not made, the early indications after yesterday's optional practice suggested that Miller would get the call for tonight's tilt. With Miller in net, I really am disappointed I can't attend tonight's g...
[b]Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind[/b] The Avs remained winless both in overtime and in divisional play Saturday night when they lost a shootout to the St. Louis Blues. The Blues skated away with a 3-2 victory after holding a 2-0 lead early in the third period. The Avs used their power play to tie the game before the third period even went to ...
In the era of the salary cap, a GM can't be judged based only on his players performance, sans them winning the organization a Stanley cup. Rather, each player selection whether it be via draft, trade or free agency, is judged based on the players performance relative to their own contract, to their peers and their contracts, and to the overall market place throughout the...
sweetblue99 writes...

Scoring Blues for St. Louis

Posted Thursday | Comments 1
Although this is an exciting year for the St. Louis Blues with the emergence of an up and coming star in Vladimir Tarasenko, the core of the gritty hockey club seems to still produce average offensive numbers. ...
[b]Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind[/b] Paul Stastny made his long awaited return to the Pepsi Center to play his former team tonight and came away with a victory after the Blues defeated Colorado 3-2 in overtime. The centerman signed a 4-year $28 million contract with St. Louis after spending eight years as an Av. Stastny however was not a fac...
[b]Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind[/b] The Avalanche is back at .500 in time for the Christmas holidays. Colorado scored early and often as they shut out the Blues 5-0 Tuesday night in Denver. Semyon Varlamov returned after missing six games with a groin injury and recorded his second shutout of the season. “It’s a big win for us. You know...
The Christmas break has had me thinking a lot about where this Blues team stands after 34 games. The 3-game losing streak was ugly. They gave away points like a 3-button coat at the Salvation Army. The 5-0 drubbing in Colorado was the icing on the cake. I agree that this team is getting complacent, but every Blues fan has seen this before, many years now. These are the ...
[b]Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind[/b] Tonight may very well go down as the final meeting ever between two NHL greats—Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur. With one of them a coach and the other nearing the end of his career as a player, Roy and Brodeur’s storied rivalry will go down as one of the best between two goaltenders in NHL history. Tonigh...
[b]Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DailyNHLGrind[/b] Colorado suffered a heartbreaking loss Sunday night in Denver. It was a game they wanted to win, perhaps should have won, and more importantly—needed to win. David Savard took a shot from the point with 61 seconds remaining and it bounced past Varlamov off of Borna Rendulic. The Blue Jackets cemented their...
Erik Condra had the lone goal, and once again a strong effort from the Sens in a very winnable game that slipped through the fingers of the 26th overall Sens team. A lot of things looked very good in their 51st game of the season, the offence seems to be building chemistry but just can't manage to finish consistently. This shouldn't be too upsetting for Sens management,...
In a 2-1 loss to Columbus Thursday night, Pittsburgh continued to struggle on the power play. They failed to score again in the defeat, going 0-2 with the man-advantage. They now have gone 21 opportunities without a goal, and it is becoming a concern for the Pens. Despite having the star power to excel on the power play, Pittsburgh has been unable to do that recently...
The Penguins got a huge win Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues, one of the best teams in the National Hockey League. Pittsburgh won 4-2 on two goals from forward Blake Comeau, who, along with all other Pens forwards, was playing with a different line. Comeau played with Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz on the second line, and they were clearly the most productive lin...
The Penguins came up with a huge non-conference win against St. Louis Saturday. The top reason for the convincing victory was some line shuffling by coach Mike Johnston. Pittsburgh needed a boost on offense after failing to win in four straight games despite stellar performances from goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. They got the boost with the reformed lines. On line one, ...
As the Blues travel east through Canada, they look to add to their 7-3-1 record against Canadien teams, including a 3-1-0 road record in Canada. They also hope to add to the Oilers two game home losing streak While the Oilers have improved in the last 10 games, it's like saying your kid improved in school by going from a 45% on their first test to a 55% on their second...
stljam writes...

Blues trends continue

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
The Blues continued recent trends in their 2 -1 victory over the host Edmonton Oilers, winning their second road game in a row on Canadian soil and handing the Oilers their third straight home loss. it also kept Elliott undefeated against Canadian teams this year. In the victory, the Blues failed to score more than two goals yet again even though they were facing an Oi...
Evgeni Malkin scored three points for the third consecutive game, and the Penguins defeated the Blue Jackets at home on Sunday. The score was 5-3, and Malkin scored two of the goals and added an assist to lead Pittsburgh to their fourth straight win after a loss in Columbus on Feb. 19th. rnrnThe Pens’ power-play put up three goals in the second period alone to take contr...
Thursday night the Blues head to the city of brotherly love to take on the Flyers. This is a precursor for next Thursday's tilt at the Scottrade Center. The Flyers have been strong ta home posting a record of 18-8-6 while the Blues have been extremely strong on the road going 18-10-3 and finding ways to salvage points like the game in Vancouver. Both teams have been...
stljam writes...

Blues look to rebound in Toronto

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
ETA - All of the trends continued with Steen getting three helpers, Oshie a goal and an assist and Backes with a goal and the Blues winning yet another game against a Canadian team. After struggling in the city of brotherly love on Thursday, the Blues look to right the ship in the friendly confines of Canada. They hope to improve on their 8-3-1 overall and 4-1 road rec...
Despite the solid play of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and the Penguins’ much better play in this game than in other recent games, the Pens failed to pull off a victory at home against the Blues. They had a 2-0 lead at 8:58 of the second period, but two former Pens negated that advantage. After Steve Downie’s goal made it 2-0 midway through the second period, Blues ...
One of the biggest storylines of the season is the Minnesota Wild and Devan Dubnyk who will be facing off against Central Division leaders the St. Louis Blues. Dubnyk (.936Sv%, 178GAA with the Wild) started 39 out of the Wild’s last 40 games of the season. He took the Wild from miles out of the playoffs into clinching the top wild card spot in the West. Many thought Dubn...
There are two paths the Sabres could take this offseason, and which one of the two is correct is up to the individual. Path A is one of immediacy which consists of the Sabres looking to upgrade their top 6, specifically the right win position, ASAP. There are targets the team could make outside the almost endlessly mentioned obvious candidate who shall not be named to s...
For the fun as the season has had several changes here are my early predictions. NHL Atlantic Division: rn1: Tampa Bayrn 2: Montrealrn 3: Detroitrn 4: Floridarn 5: Bostonrn 6: Ottawarn 7: Buffalorn 8: Torontorn I predict a dog fight between Montreal and Tampa, Tampa will emergeduring the season, with Detroit not far behind as the quality is still there despite ne...
In this article, I will outline which teams I believe will ice the top special team's index's this upcoming season. For those who are unsure what a special team index is; It is a number developed by adding both the PK% and the PP% of a specific team. As a reference point, last season the St. Louis Blues had the best index at 106, while the Sabres posted the worst index a...
[b]Update 2[/b]: STL Post Distpatch's Tom Timmermann is reporting that the Blues signed Scottie Upshall today to a two-way deal and that the Blues are interested in a deal with Gomez (ugh). NOTE that this leaves the Blues with 14 forwards INCLUDING Berglund who by all accounts has not been placed on Injured Reserve as of yet but he will be. Infer what you will but this a...
The Blues start a very tough road trip (6 games in 10 days) by heading to Minnesota, hoping to begin avenging last seasons playoff loss and to begin asserting their dominance in the Central division. While the Blues and Wild split the regular season last year, the Blues fell to the Wild in 6 games in the first round of the playoffs. In past regular seasons, the Blues h...
In the first game of a back-to-back situation, the winless Blue Jackets will attempt to defend Nationwide Arena in a matchup against a struggling Toronto Maple Leafs squad. This is the first time both teams will meet in the regular season, and the Jackets have changed their lineup ups bit. David Clarkson is expected to debut against the team that traded his massive salary ...
Zak MacMillan writes...

Richie Removal Rumors

Posted Friday | Comments 8
Since the start of the 2015-2016 regular season, there have been talks around the league that Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards could be on the hot seat or fired from his position. Richards was hired by Columbus in 2012, and helped lead the Jackets into the playoffs for only the second time in the club's history. He also coached the same team that won their fi...
Talk about ugly. Last night was tough to watch for Columbus Blue Jacket fans everywhere. The final score of the game was 6-3 for the Maple Leafs, which earned the Leafs their first win of the season and for new head coach Mike Babcock. Leo Komarov scored twice, including an empty-netter. Also, Jake Gardiner, JVR, Nazem Kadri, and Joffery Lupul scored for the Maple Leaf...
Quick Notes 1. Its the first time these teams will face each other since the blockbuster trade this summer. It is the first time the Blackhawks will face Brandon Saad in a Blue Jackets uniform, and the first time the Jackets will face Artem Anisimov in a Hawks uniform. 2. Same Lineup, Different Goalie- After last night's loss and since it is two games in two nights, ...
The debut for Brandon Saad at United Center did not end up good for the Blue Jackets. The final score of the game was 4-1, bringing the Blue Jackets to their worst start in franchise history. The Jackets are now the only winless team in the league. For the winning team, the Chicago Blackhawks scored 4 goals in the final 40 minutes of the game. Patrick Kane, Marian Hoss...
Over the summer, the Blue Jackets stood pat with their young backend. Six games into the regular season and it is still a problem, and bigger one now. Ryan Murray has not developed as expected due to a number of injuries since being drafted in 2012. David Savard is still unproven yet he signed a long-term deal. Kevin Connuaton had one solid month of offensive p...
With rumors swirling in Columbus as result of a possible shakeup, John Tortorella and Guy Boucher have been mentioned as possible replacements for current head coach Todd Richards. It is just really wrong for there to be so much blame on Richards since there are a couple reasons why his squad may not be off to the greatest start. He has had slow starts to the season wi...
In a quest for their first win of the young regular season, the Columbus Blue Jackets will try to do so at home against the New York Islanders. The Jackets are going with a different lineup for the third straight game. Alex Wennberg is back in the lineup after suffering a concussion on the first game of the season. Rene Borque is also expected to be in after being a la...
Close but no Cigar. Until the third period. After a very good game last night played in Nationwide, the Columbus Blue Jackets left the ice in defeat. The New York Islanders shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 4-0. For the Islanders, Nikolay Kulemin Thomas Hickey, Cal Clutterbuck, and John Tavares scored. Nikolay's goal came off poor defensive...
Zak MacMillan writes...

RIP Richie

Posted Wednesday | Comments 5
Todd Richards: 2012-2015 John Tortorella: 2015- For everyone that wanted something to happen, this happened. Todd Richards was fired and replaced by John Tortorella following a 4-0 shutout last night. Personally, it's sad to see a really good coach leave a really good team because that is what this team is. Richards led this young squad to multiple 40 win seasons,...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Trade Rumors Begin

Posted Thursday | Comments 4
The hunt for a defenseman is on for Columbus. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch suggests the Devils and the Jackets may be talking a trade. Porty reports interest in Adam Larsson for Columbus and Cam Atkinson for New Jersey. Apparently, New Jersey has been eyeing Atkinson for a couple of seasons. Last season, Todd Cordell of Hockeybuzz rumored Columbus and New J...
Tonight is the first game of four in a road trip for the Columbus, and it is also the debut of new head coach John Tortorella. Columbus plays the Minnesota Wild, the same team they traded Jordan Leopold to in a friendly deal that benefited everyone, and the same team that stole Mike Reilly from us. The Wild are pretty much the same team, besides Reilly. The Jackets are...
Through 7 games CBJ is without a point in the season standings. The hockey world has waited with trepidation since Bob-O came out of the no-confidence closet. The hockey world waits again to see if Torts’ reform is the answer. Tortorella has proven himself as a winner, and as a sore loser. Can Torts steer this ship back on course or will the elusiveness of a winn...
The road trip starts the same way the Jackets left Nationwide Arena- losing. The Jackets lost to the Minnesota Wild by a final score of 3-2 in John Tortorella's Blue Jackets debut. Minnesota Wild only had 23 shots in the entire game, but had more goals than the opposition.For the Wild, Zach Parise, Nino Niederreiter, and (my player to watch) Thomas Vanek scored. Deva...
The road trip continues in Denver with a catch. Ryan Johansen will be out of the lineup due to an illness, which means other players will be seeing more ice time- primarily the centers of the club. The Jackets come into this game winless and have different lineups because of Joey's illness. Tonight, Rene Borque is in. As for the Colorado Avalanche, this is the firs...
A victory at last. Saturday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Colorado Avalanche by a final score of 4-3. The struggling Avalanche had goals by ex-Jacket Jack Skille (in the first); Jarome Iginla (in the second); and Nathan Mackinnon (in the second), my player to watch. Also, ex-Blue Jackets Nick Holden, Blake Comeau, and Francois Beauchmin each had helper...
What craziness around the league, huh? Let's just focus on Columbus here. First thing first has to be star center Ryan Johansen. Joey did not play in Saturday's game due to an illness, and was flown back to Columbus for evaluations. Aaron Portzline reported Johansen was checked this summer for an accelerated heart rate. The agent of Johansen says his injury has nothing...
The road trip continues for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but they are closer to home now. Tonight will be a goalie battle between Columbus and the New Jersey Devils in Newark, New Jersey. The Jackets have not had much success at the Rock (Prudential Center), and only won once in that arena in franchise history (and that was last season). The Devils are a very different t...
Back to Back. The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the New Jersey Devils by a final score of 3-1. For the Devils, Kyle Palmieri scored the Devils' ice breaker with 3 minutes left in the game. Travis Zajac, my player to watch, had a helper on the power play goal. The Jackets only had 14 shots, and Cory Schneider stopped 11 of them for a 0.786 save percentage. As for t...
The Columbus Blue Jackets are apparently underwhelmed by the offers for right winger Cam Atkinson. Atkinson has been rumored to be on the move since the trade deadline and has come close to being moved. At last year's trade deadline, Colorado, Boston, New York (Rangers), and Montreal were interested in him. Instead of getting moved, the Connecticut native signed a 3 year, ...
Zak MacMillan writes...

In and Out

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Joey Joining Fray Apparently, Ryan Johansen is expected to return to the lineup on Friday in the Verizon Center. Johansen was out for both of the Jackets victories this season. Joey was supposedly ill and flew back to Columbus last week with a trainer. It was also reported by Aaron Portzline that Johansen was hospitalized this summer for an irregular heart rate. Hopef...
The final game of the road trip brings Columbus Blue Jackets to the nation's capital where they play the Washington Capitals in the Verizon Center. Tonight, like last game, may come down to a battle of goaltenders- Sergei Bobrovsky against Braden Holtby. Holtby broke out last year with Barry Trotz, and played 61 games last year, coming very (very) close to the Vezn...
Tonight is the home opener for John Tortorella as the Columbus Blue Jackets take on the Winnipeg Jets. There are a couple of questions surrounding the Jackets tonight after last nights lost to Washington. Are they back to they played at the start of the year? Are there going to be any surprise healthy scratches? Is there really tension between Torts and Ryan Johansen? ...
Back-to-back loses hit the Columbus Blue Jackets Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday, the Jackets lose to the Washington Capitals by a final score 2-1. Last night, they lost to the Winnipeg Jets 3-2. In both games, the Jackets didn't score first, and had to claw back in the game to make it close. In D.C., summer acquisitions Justin Willams and T.J. Oshie scor...
Back-to-back loses hit the Columbus Blue Jackets Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday, the Jackets lose to the Washington Capitals by a final score 2-1. Last night, they lost to the Winnipeg Jets 3-2. In both games, the Jackets didn't score first, and had to claw back in the game to make it close. In D.C., summer acquisitions Justin Willams and T.J. Oshie scor...
With October now behind us, it is time to look back at a very hard month of hockey to watch. After a very impressive preseason where the Jackets looked like a playoff team, a very slow start in the early stages of the regular season results in the removal of Todd Richards and the hiring of John Tortorella. With the new hiring of Torts, back-to-back wins result in b...
With October now behind us, it is time to look back at a very hard month of hockey to watch. After a very impressive preseason where the Jackets looked like a playoff team, a very slow start in the early stages of the regular season results in the removal of Todd Richards and the hiring of John Tortorella. With the new hiring of Torts, back-to-back wins result in b...
A couple weeks ago, John Tortorella got approval to put the last names of the Jackets' players on their practice jerseys. Personally, I think this is a great move by the Jackets to listen to Torts on this idea. It is a great way to help the media identify who is on the ice, and help the fans see their favorite players in non-competitive action as practices are open to ...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ: Potential Options

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
With the Blue Jackets still on the market for a defenseman, Cam Fowler's name has been surfacing around the league as of late. Fowler was drafted 12th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. This year, he has 2 points in 11 games. Boston reportedly has interest in Fowler. Buffalo also appears to have interest in him as well as teammate Frederik Andersen. But would Columb...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ: Potential Options

Posted Tuesday | Comments 2
With the Blue Jackets still on the market for a defenseman, Cam Fowler's name has been surfacing around the league as of late. Fowler was drafted 12th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. This year, he has 2 points in 11 games. Boston reportedly has interest in Fowler. Buffalo also appears to have interest in him as well as teammate Frederik Andersen. But would Columb...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ: Potential Options

Posted Tuesday | Comments 3
With the Blue Jackets still on the market for a defenseman, Cam Fowler's name has been surfacing around the league as of late. Fowler was drafted 12th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. This year, he has 2 points in 11 games. Boston reportedly has interest in Fowler. Buffalo also appears to have interest in him as well as teammate Frederik Andersen. But would Columb...
Let the California trip begin. First for the Columbus Blue Jackets is the San Jose Sharks in the Shark Tank (SAP Center). This is the first meeting between these teams this season, and what better way for each team to get a couple points by playing each other as they have not been hot as of late. The Sharks have only won 2 of their last 7 games where the Jackets have o...
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the San Jose Sharks by a final score of 5-2 in the SAP Center, where the Sharks usually dominate teams. For San Jose, their captain scored both goals, putting Joe Pavelski at 8 goals this year. Other players that got points include Joe Thornton, Justin Braun, and Joonas Donskoi. My player to watch, Paul Martin, was a p...
Game No. 14- CBJ @ LAK The Cali trip continues with the Los Angeles Kings in the Staples Center. The Jackets are fresh off a win against the Sharks on Tuesday night, while the Kings blanked the St. Louis Blues in Missouri. This is the first time these teams meet this year, and the Kings were filled with offseason changes after missing the playoffs. Robyn Regher reti...
The final game in California brings the Jackets to Orange County to take on the struggling Ducks. The Ducks and Jackets have the same amount of wins this season: three. They also have the same expectations- playoffs. But different expectations into the playoffs. Last season, the Ducks were one game away from the Stanley Cup finals. The Jackets' upgrades in the offseaso...
The final game in California brings the Jackets to Orange County to take on the struggling Ducks. The Ducks and Jackets have the same amount of wins this season: three. They also have the same expectations- playoffs. But different expectations into the playoffs. Last season, the Ducks were one game away from the Stanley Cup finals. The Jackets' upgrades in the offseaso...
The final game in California brings the Jackets to Orange County to take on the struggling Ducks. The Ducks and Jackets have the same amount of wins this season: three. They also have the same expectations- playoffs. But different expectations into the playoffs. Last season, the Ducks were one game away from the Stanley Cup finals. The Jackets' upgrades in the offseaso...
On Thursday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Los Angeles Kings by a final score of 3-2. This improves the Jackets record to 4-10-0 on the season. The game was a very physical game, including two fights and eight total minors. Captain Nick Folingo dropped the gloves with Kyle Clifford. Gregory Campbell fought Andy Andreoff. Also, each team had 26 hits e...
On Thursday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Los Angeles Kings by a final score of 3-2. This improves the Jackets record to 4-10-0 on the season. The game was a very physical game, including two fights and eight total minors. Captain Nick Folingo dropped the gloves with Kyle Clifford. Gregory Campbell fought Andy Andreoff. Also, each team had 26 hits e...
rnrnThis week has been a relatively quiet week in terms of hockey news, but there was one major transaction and a big injury. rnrnAustin MadasikyrnrnEarlier this week, the Jackets placed defenseman Austin Madasiky on unconditional waivers for the purpose of termination of his contract. rnrnMadasiky was a 5th round pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He sp...
This week has been a relatively quiet week in terms of hockey news, but there was one major transaction and a big injury. Austin Madasiky Earlier this week, the Jackets placed defenseman Austin Madasiky on unconditional waivers for the purpose of termination of his contract. Madasiky was a 5th round pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He spe...
Hockey is back in the Buckeye State. Tonight, the Columbus Blue Jackets are hosting the Vancouver Canucks. The Jackets are just coming off a successful California trip, where they went (2-1-0), earning a possible 4 of 6 points. Now, they are poised they get their first home victory of the season. As for the Canucks, they are currently on a three game losing streak, and are...
On Tuesday night, Military Appreciation Night, the Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Vancouver Canucks by a final score of 5-3. This is the first time John Tortorella played his former team, and the veterans of the opposing team avoided Columbus from getting their first home win of the season. For the Canucks, the top line had four of the team's five goals- Jannik ...
Fedorov Is First Sergei Fedorov becomes the first player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame that played for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Federov had a legendary career in Detroit, playing offense and defense. He also played for the Might Ducks of Anaheim, Columbus, and Washington, before finishing his career back in Russia. For me, I only saw Fedorov as an older pl...
In the second game of a back-to-back, the Columbus Blue Jackets are back on home ice and are set to battle the Arizona Coyotes. This is the first time these teams are meeting this season, and the Coyotes made some light changes. They lost Sam Gagner in a trade to the Philadelphia Flyers. They added Nicklas Grossmann and the contract of Chris Pronger from the Philad...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have successfully conquered a back-to-back stint against two different organizations, Improving their record to 6-12-0. On Friday night, the Jackets defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins by a final score of 2-1 in regulation. For the Pens, fiesty winger Patric Hornqvist scored their only goal in the final minute of the game. For the Jackets, B...
What a battle of opposites tonight in Columbus. The rested Blue Jackets are battling the fatigued St. Louis Blues. The Jackets are on a roll, winning two in a row. The Blues are just coming off a win against the Winnipeg Jets last night. This is the first time these teams are meeting this season, and the Blues made a couple interesting moves in the summer. They sur...
What a victory for the home team last night. The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the St. Louis Blues by a final score of 3-1. This improved the Jackets record to 7-12-0. The Blues record sticks at 11-8-0. For the Blues, their only goal scorer was Kevin Shattenkirk. Other players that got points include Magnus Paajarvi and Dmitri Jaskin. My player to watch, Colton Pa...
What a victory for the home team last night. The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the St. Louis Blues by a final score of 3-1. This improved the Jackets record to 7-12-0. The Blues record sticks at 12-6-1. For the Blues, their only goal scorer was Kevin Shattenkirk. Other players that got points include Magnus Paajarvi and Dmitri Jaskin. My player to watch, Colton Pa...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Catch Up du jour

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
The Columbus Blue Jackets' rumors have decreased as a result of consecutive wins; however, there is still discussion around the league of players' availability. Let's start with the number one center. According to The Fourth Period, teams around the league called Columbus regarding Ryan Johansen. Simply, almost every talented superstar is somewhat discussed in trad...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Catchup No. 2

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Last night, it was reported of the trade request by New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic. It is a surprise call by a young potent defenseman whom could improve from a top-4 to maybe a poor man's top-2 d-man. The apparent list includes Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. The Manitoba native's reasoning for the trade is family reasons, so nothing ...
CBJ Game No. 20- Columbus Blue Jackets @ Ottawa Senators Let the back to back begin in Ottawa. Here are the lineups Columbus Blue Jackets Boone Jenner – Ryan Johansen – Brandon Saad Matt Calvert – Nick Foligno – Cam Atkinson Scott Hartnell – William Karlsson – Rene Bourque Kerby Rychel – Gregory Campbell – Josh Anderson Jack Johnson �...
CBJ Game No. 20- Columbus Blue Jackets @ Ottawa Senators Let the back to back begin in Ottawa. Here are the lineups Columbus Blue Jackets Boone Jenner – Ryan Johansen – Brandon Saad Matt Calvert – Nick Foligno – Cam Atkinson Scott Hartnell – William Karlsson – Rene Bourque Kerby Rychel – Gregory Campbell – Josh Anderson Jack Johnson �...
l The Jackets are finishing another back-to-back series at home tonight against the Nashville Predators. The Predators are a very offensive team with the coaching system they have in place, and as a result are one of the best teams in the division. As for the Jackets, they are still rebounding from a poor start and are getting better under John Tortorella. This is t...
l The Jackets are finishing another back-to-back series at home tonight against the Nashville Predators. The Predators are a very offensive team with the coaching system they have in place, and as a result are one of the best teams in the division. As for the Jackets, they are still rebounding from a poor start and are getting better under John Tortorella. This is t...
l The Jackets are finishing another back-to-back series at home tonight against the Nashville Predators. The Predators are a very offensive team with the coaching system they have in place, and as a result are one of the best teams in the division. As for the Jackets, they are still rebounding from a poor start and are getting better under John Tortorella. This is t...
l The Jackets are finishing another back-to-back series at home tonight against the Nashville Predators. The Predators are a very offensive team with the coaching system they have in place, and as a result are one of the best teams in the division. As for the Jackets, they are still rebounding from a poor start and are getting better under John Tortorella. This is t...
On Wednesday, the NHL announced a new realignment of the NHL All-Star Game for the upcoming game in Nashville, Tennessee. Here is the new format...(via NHL press release) *The 2016 Honda NHL® All-Star Game will be a three-game tournament played in a 3-on-3 format with a prize pool of $1 million to be paid in its entirety to the tournament’s winning team. *...
In Kanata, Ontario, Canada, the Columbus Blue Jackets' winning streak ended as a result of a shutout by the Ottawa Senators, blanking the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 3-0. In Thursday's game,Craig Anderson stopped 25 shots, and earned a .100 save percentage (100%). They got goals from Erik Karlsson (2G, 1A), and Kyle Turris (1G, 1A). They also got points fro...
The NHL announced that each team will have a five-day bye week starting in the 2016-2017 regular season as a result of the 3-on-3 All Star Games. Each team's bye week will occur between the start of the new year and prior to the NHL Trade Deadline. Some of it make sense as the players get some rest that they deserve, plus the inclusion the NHL sponsored World Cup n...
The NHL announced that each team will have a five-day bye week starting in the 2016-2017 regular season as a result of the 3-on-3 All Star Games. Each team's bye week will occur between the start of the new year and prior to the NHL Trade Deadline. Some of it make sense as the players get some rest that they deserve, plus the inclusion the NHL sponsored World Cup n...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Injury Update

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Fedor Tyutin is out with an upper-body injury sustained in the first period against the Nashville Predators. Tyutin's injury is a broken nose. Cody Goloubef is out for several weeks with a broken jaw. He sustained the injury in the first period after blocking a wrist shot from the stick of Colin Wilson. The Jackets have recalled defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk fro...
The battle of fire is occurring tonight in Columbus as the red hot Blue Jackets battle the red hot and fatigued San José Sharks. The Sharks defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 last night without head coach Peter DeBoer. Columbus last played Thursday, and defeated Nashville 4-0. These two teams played earlier this month, with Columbus coming out on top in California. ...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ Post-Game- No. 22

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
The home game winning streak ends at three for the Columbus Blue Jackets, as the San Jose Sharks defeat the Jackets 5-3. The Sharks got goals from Joe Pavelski (2), Brendan Dillon, Patrick Marleau, and Brent Burns. Other players with points include Joel Ward, Justin Braun, Marc- Edouard Vlasic, Joonas Donski, and Chris Tierney. Alex Stalock stopped 28 of 31 shots f...
It's time to fire up the cannon for quarter season thoughts of the Columbus Blue Jackets, as that's where we are right now. The Jackets are currently 8-14-0 with a grand total of 16 points in 22 regular season games played. Their first eight games were part of a losing streak that ended the coaching career of Todd Richards in Columbus. Not long after his exit, gene...
What a battle tonight in the rock for the Blue Jackets as they visit the New Jersey Devils in Newark, New Jersey. As we pass the quarter season, the Devils are a playoff team, while the Jackets have a mountain to climb. Last time these teams meet, John Tortorella earned his second win as coach of Columbus. That day was October 27, 2015, and it was a 3-1 win. Tonight, t...
Breathe in... Breathe out... Thanksgiving getting to me. Maybe. In this weird rumor blog, I discuss the Ryan Johansen rumors in Columbus Let's start with the facts- Darren Dreger reported that Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen might be available as teams have called Columbus about his availability. Also, one team said he is "softly" in play. Let's state th...
Breathe in... Breathe out... Thanksgiving getting to me. Maybe. In this weird rumor blog, I discuss the Ryan Johansen rumors in Columbus Let's start with the facts- Darren Dreger reported that Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen might be available as teams have called Columbus about his availability. Also, one team said he is "softly" in play. Let's state th...
In Pittsburgh, there was an incident in the second period between Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Blue Jackets alternate captain Brandon Dubinsky. During the incident, Dubinsky and Crosby were in front of the Penguins goalie. Dubinsky was playing the man and was trying to create space for himself to score a goal, and Crosby was putting pressure on him. Dubin...
What good hockey for Columbus the past couple of days. The Jackets played three games in four nights, and in three different cities, and went 2 for 3 during the stretch. Here is what happened. On Wednseday, the Jackets were in Newark battling the New Jersey Devils, and won 2-1. The Devils' goal came from Adam Henrique, and the only assist was from Mike Cammalieri. ...
What good hockey for Columbus the past couple of days. The Jackets played three games in four nights, and in three different cities, and went 2 for 3 during the stretch. Here is what happened. On Wednseday, the Jackets were in Newark battling the New Jersey Devils, and won 2-1. The Devils' goal came from Adam Henrique, and the only assist was from Mike Cammalieri. ...
Over the weekend, it was discussed in a rumor blog that the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders were in serious trade discussions. The apparent rumor is Ryan Johansen and a second round pick for Kyle Okposo, a first round pick, and Travis Hamonic (who would then be dealt to Calgary). For the pieces the Islanders are giving up, that is a lot to give up...
Bonjour tout la monde! This evening, the Columbus Blue Jackets travel to the Bell Centré to battle the Montréal Canadiens. The Habs currently sit atop of the Atlantic Division; the Jackets are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The last game these teams played (not against each other), the Habs lost to New Jersey in overtime; for Columbus, it was a regulation...
Bon matin mes amis. Hier soir, les Canadiens de Montréal à gagné encore. Le finale est 2-1. C'était un bon match de hockey pour les Canadiens et les Blue Jackets. The Jackets stayed with Montréal until the end of the game, but the regulation loss doesn't help Columbus in their climb back up the standings. The Habs got goals from Paul Byron and Max Pacioret...
Bon matin mes amis. Hier soir, les Canadiens de Montréal à gagné encore. Le finale est 2-1. C'était un bon match de hockey pour les Canadiens et les Blue Jackets. The Jackets stayed with Montréal until the end of the game, but the regulation loss doesn't help Columbus in their climb back up the standings. The Habs got goals from Paul Byron and Max Pacioret...
The back-to-back series starts up again for the Blue Jackets. Tonight, the Jackets battle the Florida Panthers. Both teams have loads of young talent and are looking to make the playoffs in the coming years, and both teams have really good young pieces that can help themselves out. The Panthers are riding a five-game winning streak, which was extended last night agains...
Another successful back-to-back series has finished for the Blue Jackets, earning a three of possible four points over a 24 hour span. On Friday night, the Jackets last to the Florida Panthers in a shootout. This loss is the Jackets first overtime loss of the season. The final score was 2-1. For Florida, Vincent Trocheck scored his goal after it hit off Justin Falk...
A quarter way through the season and no trades by the Blue Jackets to acquire a defenseman. With plenty of teams with defensemen on the market, here are some logical ones that may make some sense in Columbus. 1. Roman Polak, Toronto Maple Leafs. This should not come as a surprise to anybody. The Leafs are at the bottom of the league and are looking to rebuild. The ve...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Rumor Chart

Posted Sunday | Comments 1
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be moved? W...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Catchup (12/7/15)

Posted Monday | Comments 0
It has been a while since news of the Blue Jackets has been said. So here it goes. Lake Erie Adds With there being more injuries in Columbus, more players from Lake Erie have been recalled. Last week, Bill Zito signed former Blue Jacketd Manny Malhotra to an AHL tryout offer. Malhotra has previously played with Vancouver, San Jose, Carolina, and Montréal. Welco...
What a matchup in Columbus tonight. This evening, the Jackets host the Los Angeles Kings at Nationwide Arena. The Kings are in the midst of a four-game winning streak, and are starting a long-term road trip. Columbus has picked up points in two straight games, and are looking to make it three straight. This is the final meeting between these teams this year, until next...
What a matchup in Columbus tonight. This evening, the Jackets host the Los Angeles Kings at Nationwide Arena. The Kings are in the midst of a four-game winning streak, and are starting a long-term road trip. Columbus has picked up points in two straight games, and are looking to make it three straight. This is the final meeting between these teams this year, until next...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ Post-Game- No. 29

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
Oh boy, that was tough to watch. The Los Angeles Kings extended their streak to five games in an 3-2 overtime victory against Columbus. The Kings got goals by Christian Ehrhoff, Jeff Carter, and Alec Martinez. They also got helpers by Alec Martinez, Milan Lucic, Nick Shore, and Dustin Brown (my player to watch). Jonathan Quick stopped 21 of 33 Jacket shots for a 0....
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ Post-Game- No. 29

Posted Wednesday | Comments 4
Oh boy, that was tough to watch. The Los Angeles Kings extended their streak to five games in an 3-2 overtime victory against Columbus. The Kings got goals by Christian Ehrhoff, Jeff Carter, and Alec Martinez. They also got helpers by Alec Martinez, Milan Lucic, Nick Shore, and Dustin Brown (my player to watch). Jonathan Quick stopped 21 of 33 Jacket shots for a 0....
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- The Injury Report

Posted Thursday | Comments 6
In the late stages of Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Kings, Sergei Bobrovsky sustained an apparent lower-body injury. According to Torts, he is "day to day". The Jackets recalled Joonas Korpisalo from the Lake Erie Monsters. He apparently ranks 7th in save percentage at 0.913 save percentage. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a game in this week during B...
This afternoon, the Edmonton Oilers placed defenseman Mark Fayne on waivers on the purpose of assisgnement. If he clears, he would be assigned to the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League. Earlier this season, there was discussion of a potential Fayne-Hartnell swap. Fayne has one assist in 24 games this season. If he were to come to Columbus, he may surpas...
Buuurrr ehh? Columbus is in Manitoba tonight to battle the Winnipeg Jets. Both teams are very similar- youth, non-playoff teams, and plenty of injuries. The Jets have very young stars in all positions- winger Nikolaj Ehlers, defenseman Jacob Trouba, and goalie Connor Hellebuyck. For Columbus, they have center Alex Wennberg, defenseman Ryan Murray, and goalie Joonas Kor...
l On Saturday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets battled the New York Islanders in Nationwide Arena. The final score was a close one, 3-2 overtime. The Islanders got goals from Kyle Okposo (2), and Frans Nielsen. They also got points from Nick Leddy and Josh Bailey. Jaroslav Halak stopped 28 of 30 Blue Jackets' shots for a 0.933 save percentage (93.3%) For the Jac...
Does Jarmo have the upper hand when he's listening to offers for Johansen because of how strong we are down the middle even without him? Dubi, Wild Bill, Wennie, Soupy (with Jens, Fligs, and Chaput able to step in) = stacked. On Tuesday, Aaron Portzline answered fans' questions through an online chat. It is amazing he can do what he does. He is an amazing writer. Ho...
When in need, you need a spark. Or in tonight's case, a bolt. Tonight, the Lightning travel to Columbus to play the Blue Jackets. The Jackets last played Saturday and suffered an overtime loss to the Islanders. The Bolts last played Saturday and suffered a regulation loss to the Capitals. Both teams are starting back to back match ups- Columbus plays in Dallas tomorrow...
Yeee-yahh. In Dallas tonight, the league best Stars battle a fatigued Blue Jackets team, in the second half of back-to-back games for the Blue Jackets. Dallas last played Saturday, suffering their first shutout loss of the season to divisional rival St. Louis, 3-0. Columbus played last night, suffering a 2-1 regulation loss to the Bolts. This offseason turned out t...
In Dallas, the Blue Jackets were dominated by the Stars, 5-1. A slow start by both teams, Dallas pulled through the tired Blue Jackets. The league's best team gets better, and the league's worst team stays at the bottom. The Stars got goals from Tyler Seguin (2), Johnny Oduya, Alex Goligoski, and Mattias Janmark. Other players with points include Ales Hemsky, Jamie...
What a turn of events for Columbus in the past couple of hours. John Tortorella has scratched Ryan Johansen; and Jack Johnson is a question mark for tonight, resulting in an emergency call-up of Justin Falk. And David Savard is injured. With those events said, they are playing an injured Arizona Coyotes team, that has recently lost their starting goaltender, Mike Smit...
What a turn of events in Arizona. On Thursday, Columbus scored goals a plenty against the Coyotes in a 7-5 onslaught. This marks Columbus' second win in December. Arizona got goals from Tobias Reider (2), Antoine Vermette, Viktor Tikhnov, and Jordan Martinook. Other players with points include Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Shane Doan, Michael Stone, Nicklas Grossmann, and ...
Let the excitement begin now for an event next year. As many now, the NHL is bringing back the World Cup of Hockey next year in Toronto. Today, the league announced training camp sessions and pre-game action prior to the event. Major cities were picked globally to present these activities, including Columbus, Ohio; Washington, DC; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Montréal, Q...
With the World Cup of Hockey in about 9 months, why not look now to see who may make each team. Instead of focusing on the entire league, and being a Columbus. Blue Jackets blogger, lets look at this roster before the entire league gets involved in my predictions. Team USA. 1. Brandon Dubinsky- His play earlier this year may got the attention of Dean Lombardi. ...
With the World Cup of Hockey in about 9 months, why not look now to see who may make each team. Instead of focusing on the entire league, and being a Columbus. Blue Jackets blogger, lets look at this roster before the entire league gets involved in my predictions. Team USA. 1. Brandon Dubinsky- His play earlier this year may got the attention of Dean Lombardi. ...
CBJ- Still Last, Trade or Keep 1st Overall Pick? The Columbus Blue Jackets remain dead last in the entire league as they are nearing the halfway mark of the regular season, almost where they were last year before a turnaround that got them to eighth worst in the NHL. Without any lottery, and to my reference earlier, the Jackets would have the first overall pick in the 2...
Roughhouse hockey was key in a huge shootout victory for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Philadelphia Flyers. The final score of the matchup was 3-2. The Flyers got goals from Jakub Voracek and Scott Laughton. In the shootout, they got a goal from Wayne Simmonds. Other players with points include Matt Read, Nick Schultz, Sean Couturier, and Shayne Gostisbehe...
Roughhouse hockey was key in a huge shootout victory for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Philadelphia Flyers. The final score of the matchup was 3-2. The Flyers got goals from Jakub Voracek and Scott Laughton. In the shootout, they got a goal from Wayne Simmonds. Other players with points include Matt Read, Nick Schultz, Sean Couturier, and Shayne Gostisbehe...
Roughhouse hockey was key in a huge shootout victory for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Philadelphia Flyers. The final score of the matchup was 3-2. The Flyers got goals from Jakub Voracek and Scott Laughton. In the shootout, they got a goal from Wayne Simmonds. Other players with points include Matt Read, Nick Schultz, Sean Couturier, and Shayne Gostisbehe...
Roughhouse hockey was key in a huge shootout victory for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Philadelphia Flyers. The final score of the matchup was 3-2. The Flyers got goals from Jakub Voracek and Scott Laughton. In the shootout, they got a goal from Wayne Simmonds. Other players with points include Matt Read, Nick Schultz, Sean Couturier, and Shayne Gostisbehe...
In Pittsburgh, two struggling teams are on the ice tonight. The injury stricken Pens battle the inconsistent Columbus Blue Jackets. The last time these teams played, Dubinsky sustained a suspension by cross-checking Sidney Crosby. Tonight, there is no Crosby, Fleury, and Letang for Pitt; however, the Pens hired Mike Sullivan and acquired Trevor Daley from Chicago for R...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Rumor Chart

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be move...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Wish List

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
With the holiday season in full bloom, here are some things that the Columbus Blue Jackets players, coaches, and management might be asking for for this time of year. 1. A time machine. This bad start of the season is the reason why they are in a big hole, at the bottom of the league. If Tortorella was here since the start of the season, the Jackets would be above ...
Things have not changed yet in Columbus, and it still shows for the Blue Jackets after the Christmas break in Florida. In Tampa, the Bolts won 5-2. The Lightning got goals from Steven Stamkos (2), Nikita Kucherov, Mike Blunden, and Jason Garrison. Ben Bishop stopped 30 of 32 shots for a 0.938 save percentage (93.8%). Columbus got goals from Rene Borque and Scott Ha...
This is a list of 15 things to remember from the Columbus Blue Jackets through a bizzare year for the franchise. The Big Bonus: The NHL All-Star Game. This was such an amazing thing for the city. The cannon going off after each goal scored. The festivities in the NWA and around the arena. It just boosts the city and shows that they can be a big hockey city. The W...
On Saturday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets edged the Washington Capitals by a final score of 5-4 overtime shootout. The Caps got goals from Evgeny Kuznetsov, Marcus Johansson, TJ Oshie, and Jason Chimera. In the shootout, Oshie scored a beauty on Anton Forsberg. Other players with points include Nicklas Backstrom, Matt Niskanen, Tom Wilson, and Karl Alzner. Brayd...
What a wild one in store tonight for the Blue Jackets as they host the Minnesota Wild at Nationwide Arena. The Wild last played Sunday in Sunrise, and falling victim to the red hot Florida Panthers. The Jackets last played Saturday, upsetting the Meto leading Capitals. The Wild's leading point scorer is their assist leader and number one center- Mikko Koivu (32 poi...
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be move...
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be move...
The Blue Jackets winning streak ends at two at home in a 4-2 defeat to the Minnesota Wild. The Wild got a hat trick from Zach Parise and an empty-netter from Mikael Granlund. The only other player with points last night was Ryan Suter. Devan Dubynk made 29 saves on 31 shots against for a 0.935 save percentage (93.5%). The Blue Jackets got goals from Cam Atkinso...
The latest deferment of news and happenings is back to start the new year. Today's will discuss the World Junior Championships, trade rumors, injuries, and more. WJC Congrats to Team USA and captain (and Blue Jacket prospect) Zach Werenski and winger Sonny Milano on winning bronze in an 8-3 route on (CBJ prospect) Gabriel Cleasson's Team Sweden. Here are som...
The latest deferment of news and happenings is back to start the new year. Today's will discuss the World Junior Championships, trade rumors, injuries, and more. WJC Congrats to Team USA and captain (and Blue Jacket prospect) Zach Werenski and winger Sonny Milano on winning bronze in an 8-3 route on (CBJ prospect) Gabriel Cleasson's Team Sweden. Here are som...
The latest deferment of news and happenings is back to start the new year. Today's will discuss the World Junior Championships, trade rumors, injuries, and more. WJC Congrats to Team USA and captain (and Blue Jacket prospect) Zach Werenski and winger Sonny Milano on winning bronze in an 8-3 route on (CBJ prospect) Gabriel Cleasson's Team Sweden. Here are som...
The latest deferment of news and happenings is back to start the new year. Today's will discuss the World Junior Championships, trade rumors, injuries, and more. WJC Congrats to Team USA and captain (and Blue Jacket prospect) Zach Werenski and winger Sonny Milano on winning bronze in an 8-3 route on (CBJ prospect) Gabriel Cleasson's Team Sweden. Here are som...
The latest deferment of news and happenings is back to start the new year. Today's will discuss the World Junior Championships, trade rumors, injuries, and more. WJC Congrats to Team USA and captain (and Blue Jacket prospect) Zach Werenski and winger Sonny Milano on winning bronze in an 8-3 route on (CBJ prospect) Gabriel Cleasson's Team Sweden. Here are som...
Boom! Boom! Boom! Was yesterday the trade deadline with all the transactions occurring? The Jackets finally made the trade they were looking for, in a gutsy one for one trade with a talented Western Conference squad in Tennessee. To Nashville: C Ryan Johansen Ryan Johansen is an extremely talented number one center on any team in the NHL; however, he has not had...
2013 was a big draft, with plenty of names, including Nate MacKinnon, Alex Barkov, and Seth Jones around the league; and Alex Wennberg, Kerby Rychel, and Marko Dano in Columbus. This was a great draft with plenty of first rounders making it to the NHL. Now, there are two guys that have not cracked their roster yet, and are looking for new addresses as a result. With bo...
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be move...
Kerby Rychel may not be as high profiled as the case of Jonathan Drouin, but plenty of teams around the NHL have expressed interest in Columbus Blue Jackets prospect. According to multiple reports the 21 year old Rychel requested a trade prior to the 2015-2016 season. Teams such as Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks...
On Friday night, the Carolina Hurricanes spoiled Seth Jones' Blue Jackets debut in a 4-1 loss in Raleigh. The Hurricanes got goals from Elias Lindholm (2), Chris Terry, and Jordan Staal. Other players with points include Kris Versteeg (2), Jeff Skinner, Riley Nash, Eric Staal, and Jacob Slavin. Cam Ward stopped 35 of 36 Blue Jackets shots for a 0.972 save percentag...
On Friday night, the Carolina Hurricanes spoiled Seth Jones' Blue Jackets debut in a 4-1 loss in Raleigh. The Hurricanes got goals from Elias Lindholm (2), Chris Terry, and Jordan Staal. Other players with points include Kris Versteeg (2), Jeff Skinner, Riley Nash, Eric Staal, and Jacob Slavin. Cam Ward stopped 35 of 36 Blue Jackets shots for a 0.972 save percentag...
This afternoon, the Columbus Blue Jackets have placed defenseman Kevin Connuaton on waivers for purpose of assignment to the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL). Connuaton, 25, was a third round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He was dealt to the Dallas Stars in exchange for center man Derek Roy. Connuaton was claimed off w...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Catchup (1/14/16)

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
CBJ Post-Game No. 44/45- Columbus Loses Powerball With the lottery breaking a record of 1.5 billion dollars (US), the title seems fitting doesn't it? The Blue Jackets went one for two in a battle of back to back match ups in two different cities- Brooklyn and Toronto. On Tuesday night, the Blue Jackets fell to the Islanders in their alternate black colored jerseys b...
Blues vs. Carolina Hurricanes - 1/14/16 game day preview The Blues continue their home stand against their second consecutive Eastern conference team when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes at the Scottrade Center at 7pm tonight. The Hurricanes come in on a hot streak, winners of their last 3 games and taking points in 8 of their last team. Even with the hot streak...
Every team in the NHL has now played 41 games in the 2015-2016 NHL regular season. Columbus ranks dead last in the NHL with 36 points. They are on pace for at least 70 points by the time the season ends, keeping them close to or at the bottom come April. The Jackets current leading point scorers (top 3) are Scott Hartnell (31), Brandon Saad (30), and Cam Atkins...
At Nationwide tonight is a battle of East v. West. Both teams are in a fight to avoid the bottom of the league. Columbus is there now. Colorado is on their way. The Avs are loaded with former Blue Jackets on their active roster- Andrew Bodnarchuk, who they claimed off waivers recently; Jack Skille, who signed with them over the summer; Nick Holden, whose been there for...
At Nationwide Arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Colorado Avalanche by a final score of 2-1. Colorado got their lone goal from Chris Wagner, who they picked up from Anahiem off waivers earlier this season. Jarome Iginla and Chris Bigras had the helpers. Matt Duchene, my player to watch for Colorado, was a plus/minus -1 and had six shots on net. Speaking ...
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be move...
In the latest installment of the Ottawa Sun, Bruce Garrioch wonders if the Blue Jackets could be interested in Canadiens center Lars Eller. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen drafted Eller when he was with the Blues. His reasoning is that he believes the Blue Jackets are in need of a number one center. You could agree with that, but the Jackets have wingers that could pl...
The Blue Jackets are staying at home to battle the Washington Capitals. The Jackets are well rested after taking a couple days off, even after a late win to the Avs. They also got their number one goalie back in the pipes, Sergei Bobrovsky, after missing near 20 games with a groin injury. The Caps just got Mike Richards into the fray, but lost Brayden Holtby to dehydra...
Last night, the Washington Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 6-3 in the return of Sergei Bobrovsky. Washington got goals from Andre Burkavosky, Nick Backstrom (2), Alex Ovechkin, Marcus Johanson, and Jason Chimera. Other players with points include Evgney Kuznetsov (4), Matt Niskanen (2), Justin Williams (2), and TJ Oshie. Braden Holtb...
Last night, the Washington Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 6-3 in the return of Sergei Bobrovsky. Washington got goals from Andre Burkavosky, Nick Backstrom (2), Alex Ovechkin, Marcus Johanson, and Jason Chimera. Other players with points include Evgney Kuznetsov (4), Matt Niskanen (2), Justin Williams (2), and TJ Oshie. Braden Holtb...
CBJ Game Bad on road v. Bad at home. What an interesting battle at home tonight for the Jackets as they welcome the Flames as they looking for a start to an awful first half of the 2015-16 season. As mentioned through the first sentence of my blog, the Flames are not a good team away from the Scotiabank Saddledome. As for the second half of the intro, the Jackets have ...
With Columbus recently acquiring Seth Jones from the Nashville Predators, I look around the league at future top pairings in the league to see who could be really good and bad. These are also bold predictions as players' potentials are getting better and better, and there are some really good players left off as this is a look ahead. If you don't like what you see, ple...
With my recent blog of future defensive parings, I am doing one of other guys that may become valuable defenders. Anahiem: Cam Fowler, Brendan Montour Arizona: Jared Tinordi Calgary: TJ Brodie Carolina: Ryan Murphy, Hayden Fleury, Roland McKeown Chicago: Ville Poka, Viktor Svedberg Colorado: Duncan Siemens Columbus: Zach Werenski, Dillon Heatheringto...
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be move...
Last night, at home, the Columbus Blue Jackets were defeated by the Calgary Flames by a final score of 4-2. The Flames got goals by Sam Bennett (2), Michael Frolik, and Johnny Gaudreau. Other players with points include Dougie Hamilton, Mark Giordano (2), TJ Brodie, Mikael Backlund (2), and Kris Russell. Johnny Hockey was my player to watch, and has his 20th goal t...
To TD Garden for the Blue Jackets tonight where they take on the Boston Bruins for the first time this year. Last year, there was vengeance as there was the Prout v. Lucic fight. This year thing are different. With the firing of GM Peter Chiarelli (whose now in Edmonton), new GM Don Sweeny moves Milan Lucic (LA), Dougie Hamilton (CGY), and Martin Jones (SJ) out for two...
Over the weekend, the Boston Bruins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 3-2 in a shootout. Boston got goals from David Pastrnak (my player to watch) and Brad Marhand in regulation. In the shootout, Boston got goals from Ryan Spooner and Torey Krug. Other players with points in 60 minutes include Spooner, David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, and Loui Eriks...
What a treat for Columbus. The struggling Habs come to Columbus to battle here tonight prior to crossing the border tomorrow. The Jackets are still without head coach John Tortorella after suffering broken ribs during a practice outside at the a Winter Park, colliding with ex-Hab Rene Borque. The Habs have been struggling lately in every position, and the biggest r...
Oh my goodness. Last night, the Blue Jackets snapped their losing streak to the Montreal Canadiens, by a final score of 5-2. Montreal got goals from Brendan Gallagher and PK Subban. Other players with points include Andrei Markov and Jeff Petry. Lars Eller, my player to watch, played 15:22 last night with a plus/minus -1 rating and one shot on net. Mike Condon allowed...
CBJ Game No. 51: Columbus Blue Jackets @ Montreal Canadiens Bonjour mes amies. Ce soir, les sont voyages à Québec. Hier soir, le est frappe les Canadiens, 5-2. Tonight, revenge is on the mind of the Habs after losing to Columbus last night. The question is how tired are both teams. Projected Lineups Columbus Blue Jackets Boone Jenner – Brandon Dubins...
CBJ Game No. 51: Columbus Blue Jackets @ Montreal Canadiens Bonjour mes amies. Ce soir, les sont voyages à Québec. Hier soir, le est frappe les Canadiens, 5-2. Tonight, revenge is on the mind of the Habs after losing to Columbus last night. The question is how tired are both teams. Projected Lineups Columbus Blue Jackets Boone Jenner – Brandon Dubins...
CBJ Post-Game No. 51- Looking Up The Jackets did it last night. They completed a home and home series that now has them inching up the standings. The final score was 5-2. They are now tied with Edmonton and Toronto, but they have played the most games. Montreal got goals from Alex Galchenyuk (my player to watch) and Devante Smith-Pelly. Other players with points inc...
CBJ Post-Game No. 51- Looking Up The Jackets did it last night. They completed a home and home series that now has them inching up the standings. The final score was 5-2. They are now tied with Edmonton and Toronto, but they have played the most games. Montreal got goals from Alex Galchenyuk (my player to watch) and Devante Smith-Pelly. Other players with points inc...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Center of Attention

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
CBJ- Center of Attention With the blockbuster trade of 2016 happening in Ohio's capital, the team's future goes from finding a number one defenseman to a new number one center. With a solid three man backend in Seth Jones, Ryan Murray, and Zach Werenski, the team seems to be okay for the future. With Brandon Dubinsky being the team's number one center followed behind by...
CBJ- All Star Game Predictions With the All Star Game on Sunday and the skills competition on Saturday, I give to you my predictions to what will happen in the events. 1. Matt Duchene will win fastest player award. 2. A Hometown Nashville player will win the Breakway Challenge on the Hometown goalie 3. She's Weber will obliviously win the Hardest Shot 4. T...
CBJ- All Star Game Predictions With the All Star Game on Sunday and the skills competition on Saturday, I give to you my predictions to what will happen in the events. 1. Matt Duchene will win fastest player award. 2. A Hometown Nashville player will win the Breakway Challenge on the Hometown goalie 3. She's Weber will obliviously win the Hardest Shot 4. T...
1. Scott Hartnell for Colin Wilson will happen on trade deadline day. 2. Columbus will have a second half very much like last season's. 3. Curtis McElhinney will backup Jonas Korpisalo until Sergei Bobrovsky comes back. 4. Jared Boll will be waived and sent to the AHL. 5. Zach Werenski joins Columbus this season. 6. One or both of Dalton Prout and Jus...
What a spectacle in Smashville. This weekend could not have worked out better for the city of Nashville and for the league. Let's look at my predictions again: 1. "Matt Duchene will win fastest player award. 2. A Hometown Nashville player will win the Breakway Challenge on the Hometown goalie 3. She's Weber will obliviously win the Hardest Shot 4. The skills ...
Updated: Feb. 2, 2016 Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now bec...
Prior to the NHL All Star Weekend, Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman hit a referee from behind. The ref got up and seemed to be okay after the collision. Prior to the hit, Wideman was hit from behind by Nashville Predators winger Miikka Salomaki. Wideman appeared to be dazed, and immediately went to the bench holding his arm, but claimed he had a concussion. Her...
Hockey is back tonight, and the big headline is the return of Connor McDavid. Tonight, the Jackets battle him and his squad first in their swing against Western Canada. Both teams have had forgettable first halves, and what better way to start the second half right against one of the worst teams in the league. The Oilers have made a lot of changes since the summer....
Last night, hockey retuned to Columbus where they battled Edmonton, and suffered a 5-1 defeat in the return of Connor McDavid. Edmonton got all their goals in the final 40 minutes, getting tallies from Eric Gryba, his first as an Oiler; McDavid (my player to watch); Benoit Pouliot; Leon Draisatil; and Jordan Eberle. Other players with points were Zach Kassian; ex-Blue ...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Solution Out There?

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
With my recent article of number one centers out there, a solution may have just appeared. Last week, rumors were out of center Tomas Hertl being available. The Sharks center was drafted 17th overall by this organization in 2012. Hertl has 26 points this year, and five away from the career high he had last year. He could end up with as much as 50 points this year, and that...
The Western Canada trip started on a sour note for the Blue Jackets, and look to rebound in a series of back-to-back match ups over the course of the next two nights. First for the Jackets, the transitioning Vancouver Canucks. These two teams faced each other on Novemeber 10. For the Canucks, the top line had four of the team's five goals- Jannik Hansen, Daniel Sedin, ...
The back-to-back was successful for the Columbus Blue Jackets as they defeated the Calgary Flame in the Scotiabank Saddledome by a final score of 2-1 in regulation. This makes their Western Canada trip a success as they went 2 for 3 against these clubs, falling only to Oilers. The Flames' lone goal scorer was from Jiri Hudler, who is having a down year similar to Nick ...
On Friday night, after Columbus defeated Calgary in regulation and Carolina defeating Winnipeg in regulation, there was a six way tie for last place in the NHL. Those six teams- Columbus, Toronto, Edmonton, Buffalo, Calgary, and Winnipeg. All six of these teams are looking to improve between now and the end, and the parody leads to ask who is the worst team of these six, o...
After a couple days off from game action, the Columbus Blue Jackets are back on the ice tonight where they are taking on the New York Islanders. The Islanders last played Sunday in a dominating 8-1 performance against the West's worse team- the Edmonton Oilers. On January 12, the last time these teams played each other, the Blue Jackets fell to the Islanders in their a...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Looking Into Loui

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
A rumor came by this weekend that the Columbus Blue Jackets could be looking into acquiring winger Loui Eriksson from the Boston Bruins as he appears to be pricing himself out of Beantown. His price tag is one hard to grab as it varies between one of two things. One day, it is a first round pick; next is a top four defenseman. If Boston truly wants a first round pick f...
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be moved? W...
Last night, the Islanders struck early, late, and in extra time to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 3-2 in a shootout. The Islanders got a goal from Ryan Strome (my player to watch) 56 seconds into the game. Three minutes into the final frame, Andres Lee ties the score on a power play goal. Other players with points were John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, a...
CBJ Game No. 56- Columbus Blue Jackets v. Anaheim Ducks Lineups Columbus Blue Jackets Boone Jenner - Brandon Dubinsky - Cam Atkinson Brandon Saad - Alexander Wennberg - Scott Hartnell Matt Calvert - William Karlsson - Nick Foligno Kerby Rychel - Gregory Campbell - Rene Bourque Ryan Murray - Seth Jones Jack Johnson - Cody Goloubef Fedor Tyutin - Dalton Prou...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Murray Staying

Posted Friday | Comments 0
The Columbus Blue Jackets and defenseman Ryan Murray have agreed to a two year bridge deal, worth about $5.65 million. The news broke last evening courtesy of TheFourthPeriod and TheHockeyNews. His new contact shows that the team is committed to him, but are not ready to pay him a big salary just yet. Murray was drafted second overall by the Jackets in the 2012 NHL...
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets managed a comeback victory over the Might Ducks of Anaheim by a final score of 4-3 in a shootout. This win pushes the Jackets further up the standings, putting them at 26th overall, and one point behind 25th (Winnipeg). This win for Columbus got Anaheim a point, which helps them creep closer and closer to second place in the Pacific Di...
That now seems to be the latest possibility. According to the Fourth Period, the Detroit Red Wings are interested in Fedor Tyutin. The veteran defenseman seems to have fallen out of favor in Columbus like last season with James Wisniewski- a big time salary that doesn't perform the way the club wants him to. According to the website, two scouts/former Red Wings, Kirk Maltb...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Jack Johnson Rumors

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
Recent rumors have been that the Columbus Blue Jackets may be looking to dangle defenseman Jack Johnson. This article will explain why and why not to listen to the rumors. First, here is a quick breakdown of his career. Johnson was drafted third overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. A couple months later, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings...
In early January, the Columbus Blue Jackets traded center Ryan Johansen to the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Seth Jones. Jones is a pending RFA at the end of this season, and will be expecting a major raise after two really good seasons with the Nashville Predators. After seeing and hearing what he did for the Predators against the Blackhawks without ...
The home stand continues for the Columbus Blue Jackets as they welcome a different looking Ottawa Senators club. This week, the Senators pulled off a inner-division trade with rival Toronto Maple Leafs where Milan Michalek, Jared Cowen, Colin Grenning, Tobias Lindberg, and a 2017 2nd round pick were moved for captain Dion Phaneuf, Matt Frattin, Casey Bailey, Ryan Rupert, a...
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Ottawa Senators by a final score of 4-2. Ottawa got both their goals in the final frame. Bobby Ryan netted his 20th goal of the season two minutes into the third period. With less than five minutes left into the game, Cody Ceci got his 6th goal of the year. Mika Zibanejad got assists on both goals; and Erik Karlsson an...
With the Blue Jackets reportedly looking to trade defensemen Jack Johonson and Fedor Tyutin, they will need to find defensive replacements whether it's internally or externally. Here are a couple of guys on other teams that may intrigue the Blue Jackets. [u]Justin Schultz[/u] If Jack Johnson is on the trade block, there needs to be an offensive defenseman to replace...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Who Could Go?

Posted Monday | Comments 0
With the trade deadline coming up, this blog will look at which Blue Jackets could be moved, and what asking price might be. The order will go as I do with the lineups- forwards first, defensemen second, and goaltenders last. Offense Scott Hartnell (LW) It seems like the reason current Flyers general manager Ron Hextall traded him here is the reason why the Blue Ja...
The home stand for Columbus continues as the Blue Jackets battle the Boston Bruins. The B's have been red hot as of late. Watching the game on Valentine's Day between them and the Detroit Red Wings (who the Jackets play next week) was a game to watch for sure, with 11 goals scored in the game. These teams played on January 23, 2016 and Boston won 3-2 in a shootout. ...
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Boston Bruins in overtime, 2-1. Boston got their regulation goal from Patrice Bergeron in the first period. He was a game-time decision for the B's last evening. His goal was his 22nd on the year, and was unassisted. 33 seconds into overtime, Loui Eriksson netted the game-winning goal. It was his 20th of the year. Torey...
Last season, it was around this time of the year where the team took it upon themselves to not tank and perform up to expectations. The same seems to be happening this year, and it is a great learning curve for the young prospects on this team. However, the difference between last year and this year is new players, injuries, and a new coach. First up is the players. L...
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be moved? W...
The last game of the home stand is tonight for Columbus as they take on a young and struggling Buffalo Sabres club. With the trade deadline being 10 days away, both teams have similar approaches at the deadline as both teams are sellers; however, the difference is how each team will deal the players they wish to rid themselves of. These two teams last played in early O...
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets were blanked by the Buffalo Sabres by a final score of 4-0. Buffalo got goals from Jamie McGinn (2), David Legwand, and Sam Reinhart. Other players with points include Jack Eichel (2), Evander Kane, Zemgus Girgensons, and Rasmus Ristalonen. Robin Lehner stopped all 38 shots faced. The Jackets were just off their game, but they ...
With the trade deadline being on February 29th, this article will be the beginning of a four part series of where I preview what each team needs, where they stand, and what they could acquire or move. The order of teams will go by where they stand in the standings. For February 20th, the Metro goes as follows: 1. Washington Capitals 2. New York Rangers 3. New York Isl...
The Blue Jackets are in Beantown tonight to take on Boston, which is also the first game of back to back match ups for the Blue Jackets. The Jackets are well rested, playing lost on Friday in a loss to the youthful Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins last played Saturday and whooped the Dallas Stars in their building. These two teams played last week, and it resulted in a 3-2 o...
The Blue Jackets are in Beantown tonight to take on Boston, which is also the first game of back to back match ups for the Blue Jackets. The Jackets are well rested, playing lost on Friday in a loss to the youthful Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins last played Saturday and whooped the Dallas Stars in their building. These two teams played last week, and it resulted in a 3-2 o...
The Blue Jackets are in Beantown tonight to take on Boston, which is also the first game of back to back match ups for the Blue Jackets. The Jackets are well rested, playing lost on Friday in a loss to the youthful Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins last played Saturday and whooped the Dallas Stars in their building. These two teams played last week, and it resulted in a 3-2 o...
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Boston Bruins by a final score of 6-4. The Bruins first goal came 15 seconds after the Jackets scored the first goal of the game. 11 minutes and 7 seconds into the game, Loui Eriksson scored his 22nd of the year, with helpers by Torey Krug and David Pastrnak. In the second frame, Matt Belesky scored his 10th of the sea...
With the recent announcements of outdoor games in 2017, and the recent outdoor games for 2016, is it time for the Columbus Blue Jackets to throw their hats into the ring? First, let's go over the games for 2016. The Winter Classic was on New Year's Day between the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins. Not to down the city of Boston and the people of Massachusetts, b...
(NBCSN) For the first time this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets battle the Detroit Red Wings, and face them three times in four weeks. For Columbus, this is the second of a back-to-back matchup for them. The Red Wings last played Sunday on NBCSN, and lost to the New York Rangers in overtime (1-0). Looking at the stats, this is how the Wings are doing. They hold th...
What a game on NBC Sports Network last night. Columbus gets the national spotlight, despite being defeated by the Detroit Red Wings by a final score of 2-1 in a shootout. This point means Columbus has earned points in 11 of their last 13 games, whereas Detroit inches closer to the second seed in the Atlantic Division. Detroit got their lone regulation goal in the secon...
Sorry for not being able to get the pre-game coverage up like I normally do. It was a busy day yesterday. Same with around the league. I will do a reaction blog after the deadline. As for last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets dominated the New Jersey Devils by a final score of 6-1. New Jersey got their lone goal in the early stages of the second period. Reid Boucher sc...
Sorry for not being able to get the pre-game coverage up like I normally do. It was a busy day yesterday. Same with around the league. I will do a reaction blog after the deadline. As for last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets dominated the New Jersey Devils by a final score of 6-1. New Jersey got their lone goal in the early stages of the second period. Reid Boucher sc...
The Lake Erie Monsters are looking to get stronger as they look towards a post season appearance. Columbus is looking to do that by placing defenseman Justin Falk for the purpose of player assignment. Falk is on a two-way contract, but since there were injuries to the defensive core of the Jackets, he was called up early in the season. Now, the team is healthy, and is ...
The Lake Erie Monsters are looking to get stronger as they look towards a post season appearance. Columbus is looking to do that by placing defenseman Justin Falk for the purpose of player assignment. Falk is on a two-way contract, but since there were injuries to the defensive core of the Jackets, he was called up early in the season. Now, the team is healthy, and is ...
In 2014, startling news shook the National Hockey League to the core, and none of it was positive. About two years ago, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, saying he had only $50,000 in necessities. Johnson stated his parents were to blame for spending money on present luxuries and gambling on the defenseman' future earnings. ...
Even though I have heard nothing in regards to trade rumors at this point in time, the Blue Jackets may have to look into their goaltending depth as a result of the hot streak of current goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. The Jackets have a good amount of depth behind starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, even though most of them are prospects. First is the veteran- Curt...
CBJ Game No. 63- Florida Panthers v. Columbus Blue Jackets Today's NHL Free Game of the Day on the App. The Jackets stay at home today to take on the Florida Panthers in an afternoon tilt. Florida is on top of the Atlantic Division, and are looking to remain there by pulling a season sweep on the Jackets. The Panthers last played on Thursday against the Arizona Coyo...
CBJ Game No. 63- Florida Panthers v. Columbus Blue Jackets Today's NHL Free Game of the Day on the App. The Jackets stay at home today to take on the Florida Panthers in an afternoon tilt. Florida is on top of the Atlantic Division, and are looking to remain there by pulling a season sweep on the Jackets. The Panthers last played on Thursday against the Arizona Coyo...
What an awesome trade this is for both teams. Scott Hartnell scored his 100th point as a Blue Jackets prior to his departure, and he reunites alongside Ryan Johansen. Kevin Fiala is Nashville's top prospect, and replaces Marko Dano on Columbus' depth pool. Fiala has had a tough top satisfying GM David Poile, and can now do what he pleases in Columbus. Fiala and Hartnell we...
Columbus gets the win at home in what looks to have been Scott Hartnell's final game as a Blue Jackets. The game seemed to be outshined by big trades during the games, but the Jackets win 4-3 in a shootout, to avoid the season sweep. Florida struck halfway through the first period on a goal by Alex Barkov. The goal was his 19th goal, and they got helpers by Jaromir Ja...
With so much criticism about his play this year, Thursday night's impressive performance may have eliminated the doubt in Columbus' captain Nick Foligno. On Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils, the winger scored a hat-trick and added an assist. He has nine goals this season, but also had 23 assists, which is near the top for his team. That is extremely impr...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Rumor Chart

Posted Sunday | Comments 0
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be moved? W...
A quiet day for both Columbus and the Rangers on deadline day; however, the Blue Jackets are first up to challenge Eric Staal in a blue sweater. My blog will be out on that soon though, and the rest of the trades. To the Garden tonight are the Jackets to take on the Rangers who are without Rick Nash, but are with Eric Staal. The Jackets send Kerby Rychel to the AHL; Re...
CBJ- Rumor Chart Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes ...
This trade deadline was one filled with rumors, and the first I have publicly covered. From a Columbus standpoint, this is the quietest deadline Jarmo Kekalainen has participated in. There were rumors of Scott Hartnell, Fedor Tyutin, and Gregory Campbell being traded, and all remain in Columbus sweaters. For the players, it means they are safe, for now. However, th...
The Columbus Blue Jackets were defeated by the New York Rangers in the Garden by a final score of 2-1, in regulation. The Rangers scored with 2:19 left in the first period, and it came from Mats Zuccarello. The goal was Zucc's 21st of the season. Dan Boyle got a helper on the goal. With 2:48 remaining in the game, Derek Stepan scored a highlight reel goal on Joonas Kor...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- On Fire In February

Posted Wednesday | Comments 1
February was a month to remember for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets went 7-3-3 in the month, and it may be their best month of the season, and their best record in one month under John Tortorella. The Jackets have also seen Boone Jenner sign a two year extension with the team. He will be paid an average of $2.9 million dollars per season. The Jackets go...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- 75% Through

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The Jackets have completed about 75% of their games played this season, and they have moved out of the basement. They rank 24th, and are trying to get better and not tank. Here is who they have left to play in March and April. March 4- V. Edmonton March 5- @ Philadelphia March 8- V. Detroit March 11- V. Pittsburgh March 13- V. Tampa Bay March 17- V. Detroit M...
On Wednesday night, March 2nd 2016, there was the unveiling of the jerseys and preliminary rosters for all the teams competing in the World Cup of Hockey. For the Blue Jackets, three players made it onto Team North America, a team that makes up the best players ranging between the ages of 18-23, but not over 24. Ryan Murray, Seth Jones, and Brandon Saad are the thr...
The home stretch continues for Columbus tonight, where they take on the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers have some new faces on the team since the Jackets last met them, and have seen some other Oilers go. The Oilers traded goalie Andres Nilsson; winger Teddy Purcell; and Defensemen Justin Schultz and Martin Gerant. They have acquired wingers Patrick Maroon and Adam Cracknell; ...
What an entertaining night in Columbus, where two of the youngest teams in the league battled back and forth for two points. Last night, in the final matchup of the season between Columbus and Edmonton, the Blue Jackets defeated the Oilers by a final score of 6-3. Edmonton scored their three goals in the final two frames of the game. Less than five minutes into the sec...
The back to back continues for Columbus tonight where they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Flyers, who are looking to get into the playoffs. The Flyers made no moves at the deadline, but did move out Vinny Leclavier and Luke Schenn to Los Angeles in January. The last time these teams played was December 19, 2015. The final score of the matchup was 3-2. The F...
In Philadelphia, the Flyers blanked the Blue Jackets on the second half of a back to back night of game action for this young squad. The final score was 6-0. The Flyers got two goals in each period, and the best player on the ice last night was defenseman Radko Gudas. On the Flyers first shot, which came 3:40 into the game, he passed the puck to winger Michael Raff...
With the recent contract extensions to Boone Jenner and Ryan Murray, do fans around the league already know what the Blue Jackets will pay Seth Jones? Or, since he is a proven commodity from another team, could we see a Brandon Saad like deal for the defenseman? Boone Jenner, 22, set a career high in goals with 22, and only managed a bridge deal that earns him under $3...
After playing back to back nights over the weekend, the Blue Jackets are back on the ice to take on Detroit, who is fighting mightily to stay in the playoffs. It feels as if there are three teams fighting for two playoff spots- Detroit; Pittsburgh; and Philadelphia. These teams last played February 23, 206 on NBCSN. The Wings came back to win in a shootout, 2-1. Ri...
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets upset the Detroit Red Wings by a final score of 5-3, further hurting hopes of 25 straight playoff appearances for the Wings. Detroit got all their goals in the final 30 minutes of the game. Ten minutes into the second period (10:24), Team USA forward Justin Abdelkader scored his 16th goal of the season. Gustav Nquist and Mike Green...
Earlier this month, the Blue Jackets have witnessed the returns of David Clarkson and Jared Boll. These two provide secondary scoring and grit that this team needs. To the injured reserve are Jack Johnson and Brandon Saad, two of the club's most important players. Johnson is a two way defenseman that will soon be the "veteran" on this team once they find a taker for Fe...
Rivalry night has arrived for Columbus fans when they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins come to Ohio's state capital in a fight for their playoff lives as the Wings and Flyers are collecting points. There is drama headed into this game on both sides. Earlier this week, former Blue Jacket and current Penguin Tom Sesito called out Brandon Dubinsky because of ...
The Pittsburgh Penguins' comeback second period helped them defeat the home Columbus Blue Jackets and a healthy Columbus netminder by a final score of 3-2 in regulation. The Penguins scored their three goals starting from late in the first period until early in the second. At 14:23, Kris Letang scored a power play goal for his career high 13th goal of the season; Evgeni...
An early afternoon tilt for the Blue Jackets where they take on the Bolts. The Bolts appear to be a lock for the playoffs, but have lost twice to the Flyers recently. Revenge might be on their minds. The Jackets have made life for Detroit and Pittsburgh difficult, but not the Flyers. Projected Lineups Columbus Blue Jackets Bonne Jenner - Brandon Dubinsky- Cam Atk...
The home stand of the Blue Jackets continues with another loss, and this time it was to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The final score of the contest was a 4-0 shutout. Tampa Bay got their goals in the final 40 minutes, and two by the captain. Steve Stamkos' first goal came 5:25 into the second period, and it was his 30th of the season; Nikita Kucherov (player to watch) had ...
The league is looking into an incident between Dalton Prout and Nikita Kucherov in the second period. Midway through the second period, Ben Bishop (TBL Goalie) went behind his net to grab the puck, and CBJ captain Nick Foligno tripped him from behind leading to a scrum. Andrej Sustr and Nikita Kucherov were the first two to go after Foligno, and Prout came barreling in...
The home stand continues for the Columbus Blue Jackets where they battle Detroit for the third and final time of the season. These teams have met each other three times (including tonight) in the previous four weeks. The season series is tied at one game a piece. They first played on NBCSN where the Red Wings won in a shootout (2-1). In Columbus, the Jackets beat the W...
Last night, the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 3-1. Detroit got their first goal in the ten minutes from center Luke Glendening (5th of the season); Riley Sheahan and Andreas Anthansiou earned the assist. In the final frame, the Wings got two goals in five minutes. Captain Henrik Zetterberg scored his 13th goal of the season 7:...
A milestone evening alongside the end of a home stand and the start of a back to back and home and home series is on tap for the Blue Jackets where they take on the New Jersey Devils. Head coach John Tortorella is coaching in his 1,000 NHL game. This is an amazing milestone as he is the first Jackets to accomplish this feat. It's also to interesting to see an extremely...
CBJ Post-Game No. 71- Bjork Brings Back Win On a milestone night for head coach John Tortorella, his Columbus Blue Jackets brought home a big win against the New Jersey. The final score was 6-3. The Devils started scoring in the second period, with two power play goals in a span of 3:15. Kyle Palmieri potted the first goal in for his 26th of the season; Damon Severs...
After playing each other last night, the Jackets and Devils travel to the rock to play each other yet again, but for the last time this season. Projected Lineups Columbus Blue Jackets Scott Hartnell - Brandon Dubinsky - Nick Foligno Brandon Saad - Boone Jenner - Cam Atkinson Matt Calvert - Jared Boll - Oliver Bjorkstrand William Karlsson - Michael Chaput - G...
The Jackets have failed the season sweep to the New Jersey Devils, losing to them in the Rock by a final score of 2-1. The Devils' goals came during the odd numbered periods of the game. In the first period, Reid Boucher scored his 7th goal of the season; Kyle Palmieri and Andy Greene had the assists. In the final frame, Devante Smith-Pelly scored his 13th goal of the ...
The Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off a major comeback upset victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in extra time. The final score of the game was 3-2 in a shootout. Philadelphia had control of the game for most of the time, and scored two in the first 51 minutes of the game. In the first period, Captain Claude Giroux netted his 20th of the season at 11:46; Brayden Schenn...
In last night's contest between Columbus and Philadelphia, winger Jared Boll interfered with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and got a 5 minute major for interference and a game misconduct. The question is whether or not the league will suspend him. Since this is not a face to face meeting, it will be less than five games. Boll was suspended almost a year ago today for an illegal...
CBJ Post-Game No. 74- Canes Collect Points From Columbus Last night, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 3-2 in regulation. Carolina got all three goals in the third period. The Canes got all three goals in a span of less than two minutes. Viktor Rask scored his 17th goal of the season 52 seconds in. At 2:19, Chris Terry sc...
The Blue Jackets will be looking forward to a long offseason, but for the upper management, it will be only the start of their work. Columbus has five draft picks in this year's draft- their first, second, third, sixth, and seventh. Their fourth round pick is in Chicago courtesy of the Brandon Saad blockbuster; their fifth is in St. Louis from the Jordan Leopold trade. ...
Columbus travels to Nashville where Seth Jones is back to play the team that drafted him. The Jackets are looking to get back on track against a playoff team that will most likely play the winner of the Pacific Division. Columbus and Nashville last played each other on November 20, 2015, at Nationwide Arena. The final score of the game was 4-0. Columbus got goals from ...
The Nashville Predators and their elite defensive group dominated the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 5-1. The Predators scored early and often, scoring twice in the first two frames and once in the final one. James Neal netted his 30th of the season 3 minutes in; Ryan Johansen (player to watch) and Roman Josi had the assists. At 17:33, Mattias Ekholm scored ...
Columbus travels to the nation's capital to take on the league's best team- the Washington Capitals. One more win will earn the Capitals the President's Trophy for a team that has already clinched top spot in the East. It has been a while since these two clubs have played, and the Capitals have made several changes to their team. The Caps acquired Mike Weber from the B...
In the nation's capital, the Capitals defeated the Blue Jackets by a final score of 4-1 to win the President's Trophy. The Captials scored most of their goals late, but did pot one early on. At 16:30 into the first period, Justin Williams scored his 22nd of the season; John Carlson had the lone assist. In the third period, they scored 3 goals in 14 minutes. At 3:46, T...
As you could tell by the title of the article, this article is about Russian hockey players and what in the world is going on with them. Hockey is a business and for the apparent stereotype for Russians is to be number one. The question is whether or not these Russians are looking at that at this point in there careers. This article will look at four Russians in particular...
The New York Islanders defeated the Cooumbus Blue Jackets to sweep them, 4-3. The Islanders got the upper hand early on, scoring three goals in the first period. John Tavares scored his 28th of the season (7:25); Ryan Strome and Josh Bailey had the assists. Later on, Thomas Hickey scored his 5th of the season (17:51); Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen had the assists. 32 s...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Prospect Pileup

Posted Friday | Comments 4
CBJ- Zach Werenski Signs With Columbus The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed their top prospect, defenseman Zach Werenski to a three year entry level deal. Also, the Lake Erie Monsters, the Jackets affiliate team, signed him to an amateur tryout offer. Werenski was drafted eighth overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The past two seasons, Werenski...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have defeated the Carolina Hurricanes by a final score of 5-1. The Hurricanes lone goal was the first one of the game, which came in the first period. Jeff Skinner scored his 28th of the season; Jacon Slavin and Viktor Rask had the assists. Eddie Lack was the starting netminder for the Hurricanes, and he stopped 22 of 27 for a 0.915 save perce...
The New York Rangers defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 4-2. With this win, the Rangers have earned a playoff spot. The Rangers scored early and often. In the first frame, Chris Kreider scored his 20th of the season (16:17); Derek Stepan and Henrik Lundqvist got the helpers. At 5:28 of the second, Dan Boyle scored his 9th of the season. Late in the ...
The Battle For Last is taking place in the Hockey Capita of the World tonight when the Blue Jackets head north to the Air Canada Center to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck drop is at 7'clock tonight. Both teams have been battling tremendous difficulty for different reasons this season. With the Jackets, an early loosing streak got them down early, followed up with...
The Columbus Blue Jackets come to Canada and earn a comeback win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning by a final score of 5-1. The Leafs' lone goal was the first one of the game. In the early stages of the 2nd period (1:43), Morgan Reilly scored a short handed goal for his 9th of the season; Frederik Gauthier and Brooks Laich had the assists. Garrett Sparks was in bet...
OHL Playoff Predictions Round 2 Series E (East) 1 KINGSTON vs. 4 NIAGARA Game 1 - Thu Apr 7 7:00 PM Niagara at Kingston Game 2 - Fri Apr 8 7:00 PM Niagara at Kingston Game 3 - Sun Apr 10 2:00 PM Kingston at Niagara Game 4 - Wed Apr 13 7:00 PM Kingston at Niagara Game 5 - Fri Apr 15 7:00 PM * Niagara at Kingston Game 6 - Mon Apr 18 7:00 PM * K...
Source: NCAA.com April 7 (Tampa, Florida) Quinnipiac vs. Boston College (5:00; ESPN2) North Dakota vs. Denver (8:30; ESPN2) Championship: April 9 (Tampa, Florida) (8:00 ESPN2) Predictions North Dakota will beat Denver in regulation. Quinnipiac will squeeze out a narrow victory against BC. In the championship game, North Dakota will lose a close b...
Work and illness have put me down the past couple of days but it did not slow down the Blue Jackets. The Jackets managed back to back wins, including a domination and a come back. First, the Jackets defeated the Buffalo Sabres in First Niagara Center by a final score of 4-1. Buffalo's lone goal came in the early stages of the second period. Sam Reinhart scored his ...
Zak MacMillan writes...

WHL Playoff Predictions

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
Eastern Conference 1 Brandon Wheat Kings v. 6 Moose Jaw Warriors 3 Red Deer Rebels v. 7 Regina Pats Western Conference 1 Victoria Royals v. 2 Kelowna Rockets 3 Seattle Thunderbirds v. 5 Everett Silvertips Predictions Brandon will beat Moose Jaw in 6. Regina will have a tough fight considering they have the league's top scorer in the regular season...
To all my readers, This is a pre blog to my actual blog. As the Jackets are not in the playoffs, it is not as easy as it once was to right blogs on a regular basis as there was action regarding them. My plan for the offseason is to keep you up to date. I will continue making playoff predictions for the NHL and also for other leagues and tournaments, including playoffs i...
To continue the last CBJ Progression article I did, this one continues the discussion of goal scoring in Columbus. During the 2015-2016 season, the Jackets had two 30 goal scorers in Brandon Saad (31) and Boone Jenner (30). Also, they had two guys score over 20 goals, being the first team to have four players get to 20 goals. Cam Atkinson and Scott Hartnell were th...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Gabriel Carlsson to a three year entry level deal. Carlsson was drafted 29th overall by the Jackets in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. This draft selection was the second first round the Jackets had in the draft, moving up in a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Per Elite Prospects: "Big stay-at-home defenseman with excellent...
The associate coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets has retired to spend time with his family. Hartsburg, 52, has enjoyed three seasons in Columbus, including a postseason appearance. Hartsburg coached three games this year when John Tortorella was out with broken ribs, going 2-0-1. With his retirement, this means Tortorella can go out and get a guy he likes, unless he p...
The minor league team of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Lake Erie Monsters, advance in the AHL Calder Cup playoffs to the Western Conference semifinals after sweeping the farm team of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Rockford Ice Hogs, 3 games to 0, in the best of five series. In game one in Rockford, the Monsters beat the Ice Hogs, 5-2. For Rockford, they got goals from Ty...
Most, if not all, will pick the Blues to advance to the Western Conference Finals. It's going to be tough for the boys in Victory green but not impossible. Here are 5 reasons I'd put my money on Dallas.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
The odds were in the Blue Jackets winner on Saturday night. Because of the new NHL draft lottery, there could be a new order as any eliminated team has a chance to win picks 1, 2, or 3. With the new lottery and the results of the lottery on Saturday, here is the new order. 1. Toronto 2. Winnipeg 3. Columbus 4. Edmonton 5. Vancouver 6. Calgary 7. Arizona 8. ...
Columbus Dispatch/Blue Jackets Aaron Portzline answered readers' questions during an hourlong Here's the transcript: Note: Transcript is from April 13. My answers will follow instead of his. 1. Do you think the NHL will adapt the AHL's standings system of winning percentage trumping points? In your view, does this help balance the impact of 3 point games? I t...
After four years of draft eligibility, the Jackets' 2015 seventh round draft pick, Finnish defenseman Markus Nutivaara has signed a two year entry level deal with the organization. My guess is because of his age, he signed to a lesser term, but it is good to see the Jackets lock up a young defenseman. The funny part is all this is another Finn is buying into Finnish genera...
Welcome to another Q & A session of mine. This time, I answer questions from Rob Mixer from NHL.com and his Mailbag. These questions are posted through Twitter, which explains the hashtags. What's a bigger need for the CBJ, improving the defense or finding help at center? Both are very important things to look find at any time of year, and they are two of the h...
Even though this may become my most controversial blog to date, my Blue Jackets progression article today discusses the upside that head coach John Tortorella has for this young club. Tortorella is a proven winner. He is the winningest American hockey coach with 480 wins. He has won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004 with guys including Brad Richards, M...
thejonathans writes...

Trade Idea CHI-STL

Posted Monday | Comments 0
This Is A Trade Idea That I've Come Up with. To Blackhawks - Alex Pietrangelo To Blues - Jonathan Toews Toews Is great defensively, but not as defensive as Pietrangelo. The Blackhawks need defence, so they can get Defence, and i'm sure they're not Happy about his salary. Toews struggled this year, so with a fresh start, i think he can do better than he did this year...
thejonathans writes...

Trade Idea MTL-CBJ

Posted Monday | Comments 0
Trade Idea.rnrnTo Montreal Canadiens To Columbus Blue Jacketsrn4th round pick in 2017 Lars EllerrnrnThe Blue Jackets Need 4th Line Help, and the Canadiens Don't need some of their players because they have too many guys that would normally be in the lineup.
Hello Blue Jackets fans. It's been a while since I wrote because of work and school and other things, but I am back with a bunch of mini articles for everyone as the Jackets are going through quite a quiet offseason thus far. CBJ- Boedker As A Blue Jacket? According to Pelle Eklund of Hockeybuzz, the Blue Jackets have a level of interest in Avalanche winger Mikkel B...
Welcome to another edition of CBJ Progression, and today's blog will discuss the success of professional scouting. Even though we have seen guys like Artemi Pinarian, Sergei Plotkniov, Viktor Tikhonov, and Evgeny Mevedev appear this year, there are other under the radar guys that the Blue Jackets. Right of the preseason, Swedish center William Karlsson made the Jackets...
Welcome to another edition of CBJ Progression, and today's blog will discuss the success of professional scouting. Even though we have seen guys like Artemi Pinarian, Sergei Plotkniov, Viktor Tikhonov, and Evgeny Mevedev appear this year, there are other under the radar guys that the Blue Jackets. Right of the preseason, Swedish center William Karlsson made the Jackets...
Zak MacMillan writes...

LEM- Clean Sweep

Posted Monday | Comments 0
The Lake Erie Monsters have swept the Ontario Reign 4-0 in the best of 7 series. The Monsters' top six has really stepped up and has made themselves a force to reckon with against the Eastern Conference Champions. The Monsters have a new leading point scorer- Lukas Sedlak, who has averaged a point per game in the playoffs (13 points in 13 games). On the defense, Zach We...
Zak MacMillan writes...

LEM- Clean Sweep

Posted Monday | Comments 2
The Lake Erie Monsters have swept the Ontario Reign 4-0 in the best of 7 series. The Monsters' top six has really stepped up and has made themselves a force to reckon with against the Eastern Conference Champions. The Monsters have a new leading point scorer- Lukas Sedlak, who has averaged a point per game in the playoffs (13 points in 13 games). On the defense, Zach We...
Some of the best players in the world will be playing in a competitive tournament representing their nations. There are eight teams in the World Cup of Hockey- USA, North America, Europe, Canada, Russia, Finland, Sweden, and Czech Republic. Out of all those teams, there are six Blue Jackets on the World Cup rosters. Sergei Bobrovsky (Russia) Brandon Dubinsky (USA) ...
Some of the best players in the world will be playing in a competitive tournament representing their nations. There are eight teams in the World Cup of Hockey- USA, North America, Europe, Canada, Russia, Finland, Sweden, and Czech Republic. Out of all those teams, there are six Blue Jackets on the World Cup rosters. Sergei Bobrovsky (Russia) Brandon Dubinsky (USA) ...
The farewell tour begins for the St. Louis Blues bench boss. Ken Hitchock is coaching his final season in the NHL next year, with the Blues. At the age of 64, Hitch has had quite a successful career, including a Stanley Cup. He won a Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Dallas Stars and the controversial Brett Hull goal. Hitchcock also coached the Philadelphia Flyers when...
Jared Crozier, the Ottawa Senators of Hockeybuzz, started the idea of coming up with ideas of looking at who the Senators could target in the upcoming draft. Now, it's my turn to do so with the Columbus Blue Jackets. It's already a forgone conclusion that Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine are the top two draft picks. Columbus at the third pick has options on the table...
The Lake Erie Monsters have done the unexpected. Winning is back in Cleveland. The Monsters defeated the Hershey Bears to win the Calder Cup. And it was not even close. The hardest series for the Monsters was the second round, where it is usually the first for most teams. First, they swept the Rockford IceHogs, the minor team for the Chicago Blackhawks. In the...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- AM?

Posted Saturday | Comments 0
According to @RumorBreak, a Twitter page run by Michael Grosso, the Columbus Blue Jackets made an an offer to the Toronto Maple Leafs to acquire the first overall pick of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The deal apparently involved the third overall pick, other draft picks, and prospects. If Columbus is giving up forward prospects, the deal makes more sense as the Blue J...
With plenty of options on the board for Columbus, they have the room to do what they want. One guy that has been on the ride is center Logan Brown, an underrated guy that could become a number one center. At 6' 4" and coming out of the Ontario Hockey League, he has a chance to be a successful guy. However, the Jackets seem to be high on him according to sev...
CBJ Rumor Chart- Offseason This chart won't be that big but there are rumors and activities out there throughout the entire league. This chart brings those rumors to light in one place, with Blue Jackets guys and who is rumored to come to Columbus. 1. Scott Hartnell (Columbus Blue Jackets)- EDM, LA, OTT, FLA, BOS, STL, MIN, NJD,PIT, NSH 2. Nick Foligno (Columbus B...
With my rumor chart live, I will also have tons of rumors ready for the week in paragraph view. Today, let's discuss who has been in the news lately. Let's start with the captain. Sportsnet first reported that there could be some teams looking at Captain Nick Foligno. He makes $5.5 million per season, and comes off what might being one of his worst years of his career....
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Grading the Offense

Posted Wednesday | Comments 3
Looking at what the majority of writers have done in the offseason, they graded their players on the teams they covered. For one, I am not a fan of this because every player tries their best to perform to an A+ performance, but nobody is perfect. It is hard to judge an individual in a team sport. This game isn't the NBA or the NFL or the MLB, where stars dominate games an...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Gradin the Defense

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Justin Falk Falk has been a tweener this year for Columbus. His huge frame causes fear, but he is not that fast. He can shoot and score from the backend, but doesn't do it often. Grade: C Cody Goloubef He was injured half the season, and was also scratched as he was the team's 7th defenseman. Grade: C- Jack Johnson Johnson is a talented defenseman a...
Sergei Bobrovsky Early into the season, we saw that he lost his confidence. He rebounded, but sustained long term groin injury. He needs to rebound and have a veznia caliber year next season. Grade: C- Anton Forsberg It's Anton Forsberg. He is horrendous on the NHL level. The AHL, he is a beast. Grade: D Joonas Korpisalo He carried the team duri...
1. Toronto Maple Leafs- Auston Matthews 2. Winnipeg Jets- Patrik Laine 3. Columbus Blue Jackets- Jesse Puljujarvi 4. Edmonton Oilers- Matthew Tkachuk 5. Vancouver Canucks- Oli Juolevi 6. Calgary Flames- Logan Brown 7. Arizona Coyotes- Alex Nylander 8. Buffalo Sabres- Jacob Chychrun 9. Montréal Canadiens- Pierre-Luc Dubois 10. Colorado Avala...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Finn Avoids Finns

Posted Saturday | Comments 2
With Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine going one and two respectively, Columbus had the rest of the deck to draft whoever they wanted. The best player available according to many was Jesse Puljujarvi. Jarmo Kekalainen went with his list, which was a major off the grid move to acquire a center. On his 18th birthday, a life changing move happened to Pierre-Luc Dubois by b...
CBJ Rumor Chart- Offseason This chart won't be that big but there are rumors and activities out there throughout the entire league. This chart brings those rumors to light in one place, with Blue Jackets guys and who is rumored to come to Columbus. 1. Scott Hartnell (Columbus Blue Jackets)- EDM, LA, OTT, FLA, BOS, STL, MIN, NJD,PIT, NSH 2. Nick Foligno (Columbus B...
The rumors have finally ended surrounding Kerby Rychel. The former first round pick was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Scott Harrington and a conditional fifth round draft choice in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. After years of being buried by young and emerging wingers, Rychel is now in a position to become a top six or top line winger with t...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Draft Review

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
The 2016 NHL Draft was filled with interest and intrigue. In my review, I will provide who was selected by Columbus, and will let you, the reader, learn a little more about them. I will also be reviewing the whole draft as well, and letting you guys in on who I think were winners and losers of the draft. Listed Players Selected #3- C Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton...
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be moved? W...
So i was talking to someone with direct knowledge of the situation that there was almost a 3 way trade done on day 1 of the draft just before it began. They had mentioned that there was a trade in the works that would have sent the 3rd overall pick (clb) to calgary for the 6th overall pick + but that the blue jackets did not want to move to the 6th spot. Enter the oi...
Welcome to the Columbus version of the rumor chart. This is a very simple way to get fans the latest rumors of players that could head to Columbus. However, this chart will also show other teams that will be interested in players. This chart will also show players rumored to leave Columbus, and teams interested in them as well. The question now becomes who will be moved? W...
July 1 came and went, and the Jackets are mostly the same roster, despite heavy rumors of big acquisitions. There were rumors of Frans Nielsen and David Backes (per Rob Mixer), Eric Staal (per Eklund and Kevin Allen), Sam Gagner (per Hockey Press and Eklund), and Jason Demers and Dan Hamhius (per Michael Grosso). Nielsen, Backes, and Demers took long term deals with lo...
D Kevin Connuaton (from Arizona to unrestricted free agency) G Jeremy Smith (from Boston to Colorado) D Justin Falk (from Columbus to Buffalo) LW Jerry D'Amigo (from Buffalo to unrestricted free agency) D James Wisniewski (from Carolina to unrestricted free agency) RW Tim Jackman (from Chicago to unrestricted free agency) G Michael Leighton (from Chicag...
D Kevin Connuaton (from Arizona to unrestricted free agency) G Jeremy Smith (from Boston to Colorado) D Justin Falk (from Columbus to Buffalo) LW Jerry D'Amigo (from Buffalo to unrestricted free agency) D James Wisniewski (from Carolina to unrestricted free agency) RW Tim Jackman (from Chicago to unrestricted free agency) G Michael Leighton (from Chicago ...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have made their biggest free agent acquisition in the month of August. While the news broke over the weekend of a deal being finalized, the Jackets have signed center iceman Sam Gagner. His cap hit is $650K. Wow. Gagner was a former first round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. After management changes, the Oilers flippe...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have made their biggest free agent acquisition in the month of August. While the news broke over the weekend of a deal being finalized, the Jackets have signed center iceman Sam Gagner. His cap hit is $650K. Wow. Gagner was a former first round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. After management changes, the Oilers flippe...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Hartnell Trade Rumors

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
With rumors swirling since the trade deadline, and the need for top six forwards around the league, the rumors of Scott Hartnell being traded are back for Columbus. According to The Hockey Press, there were discussions between the Blue Jackets and the Senators involving his services. THP further discovered a potential deal may have involved Matt Pumpel (former 2011 1st...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Hartnell Trade Rumors

Posted Wednesday | Comments 2
With rumors swirling since the trade deadline, and the need for top six forwards around the league, the rumors of Scott Hartnell being traded are back for Columbus. According to The Hockey Press, there were discussions between the Blue Jackets and the Senators involving his services. THP further discovered a potential deal may have involved Matt Pumpel (former 2011 1st...
Coming from Springfield, Massachusetts, the home of the former Blue Jackets affiliate, the Springfield Falcons. According to multiple outlets, the Columbus Blue Jackets have expressed interest in the services of winger Jimmy Vessey, the highly sought after collegiate free agent. Vessey was a former draft pick of the Nashville Predators, and was flipped to the Buffalo S...
In a recent article written by The Hockey News, Sean McInode, or known on Twitter as @DownGoesBrown, wrote an article about five "ridiculous" trades that almost happened. The one trade that was Columbus central was former first round pick Gilbert Brule to be flipped to the Vancouver Canucks for Cory Schneider. Imagine Cory Schneider as the number one goalie in Colu...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Crunch Time

Posted Tuesday | Comments 3
As the World Cup of Hockey slowly approaches, the Blue Jackets have been a busy team under the radar. With the loss of Jared Bednar to the Colorado Avalanche organization, the Jackets named John Madden the head coach of the Cleveland Monsters. Madden is a NHL veteran from the New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild; and spent last season as an assistant coach for the Flor...
The Columbus Blue Jackets' best prospects will travel to Traverse City, Michigan to compete in a tournament against other teams' prospects. There are eight teams in the tournament including Columbus- Minnesota; Detroit; Carolina; New York Rangers; St. Louis; Chicago; and Dallas. The tournament starts on Septetmber 16th and wraps up September 20, and features three of C...
With training camp coming out soon, the Jackets have signed three players to professional tryout offers, and all three are former Edmonton Oilers. C Jarrett Stoll D Marc- Andre Bergeron RW Mike Brown Stoll is a veteran center that can also play the wing. He has played with Edmonton; Los Angeles; New York Rangers; and Minnesota in his career. He won two ...
World Cup of Hockey The semifinals are starting soon for the World Cup, and Group A features Canada against Europe. Group B features Sweden and Russia, which means the only Blue Jacket remaining in the tournament is Sergei Bobrovsky. The players from Team North America and Team USA are expected to be home by the weekend. Traverse City The Blue Jackets could n...
With training camps officially opening up all across the league, and with the World Cup of Hockey in the semifinals, this creates an interesting scenario in Columbus. With the USA and North America guys in question of coming straight into camp or taking a couple days off, this gives the youth movement in Columbus more time to impress, besides the Traverse City Tourname...
With training camps officially opening up all across the league, and with the World Cup of Hockey in the semifinals, this creates an interesting scenario in Columbus. With the USA and North America guys in question of coming straight into camp or taking a couple days off, this gives the youth movement in Columbus more time to impress, besides the Traverse City Tourname...
Preseason hockey has arrived to the hockey world. For the Blue Jackets, they play a split squad matchup against the St. Louis Blues. Since it's the first games, I will let you guys know who the Blues added, lost, and who is on PTOs before getting into the lineups, so you guys know whose there. The Blues lost veteran players in Steve Ott (DET); Troy Brouwer (CGY); A...
Another game tonight for the Jackets as they travel to Beantown to take on the Boston Bruins. Because of the World Cup, the Bruins are without three of their top players in Brad Marchand; Patrice Bergeron; and captain Zdeno Chara. Speaking of Marchand, he agreed to an eight year contact extension with the Bruins, $49 million total. For scoring over 30 goals last season...
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Boston Bruins by the final score of 3-2 in a shootout victory. After a scoreless first period, Sonny Milano netted the first goal of the game on the power play in the second period. Because of no video editing, the play could not be reviewed, and the call was cut close as Milano celebrated first prior to the arrival of...
Tonight, the Blue Jackets welcome the Nashville Predators in a highly anticipated game for the Jackets. Tonight is the preseason debut for Zach Werenski; Jack Johnson; and Brandon Dubinsky. The Jackets are 1-2-0, only beating the Bruins, and losing to the Blues twice, so they are looking to get back to 0.500 hockey. The Predators have changed their bottom six to pr...
Tonight, the Blue Jackets welcome the Nashville Predators in a highly anticipated game for the Jackets. Tonight is the preseason debut for Zach Werenski; Jack Johnson; and Brandon Dubinsky. The Jackets are 1-2-0, only beating the Bruins, and losing to the Blues twice, so they are looking to get back to 0.500 hockey. The Predators have changed their bottom six to pr...
Tonight, the Blue Jackets welcome the Nashville Predators in a highly anticipated game for the Jackets. Tonight is the preseason debut for Zach Werenski; Jack Johnson; and Brandon Dubinsky. The Jackets are 1-2-0, only beating the Bruins, and losing to the Blues twice, so they are looking to get back to 0.500 hockey. The Predators have changed their bottom six to pr...
In the span of 24 hours, there have been plenty of cuts. On Wednesday September 28, the Jackets cut the seven players, and announced the injuries to two of the team's top prospects- 1. Vitaily Abramov --> QMJHL 2. Sam Ruopp --> WHL 3. Kole Sherwood --> OHL 4. Calvin Thurkauf --> WHL 5. Francis Beauvillier --> UFA 6. Jeremy Brouder --> UFA 7. Stephen Gibson -->...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have come back to defeat the Nashville Predators by a final score of 3-2 in overtime. The Predators got both their goals last night from defensemen, continuing to prove that's their strongest suit. In the midst of the second period, defenseman Anthony Bitetto got a power play marker with assist from Matt Carle and Pontus Aberg. In the early s...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have come back to defeat the Nashville Predators by a final score of 3-2 in overtime. The Predators got both their goals last night from defensemen, continuing to prove that's their strongest suit. In the midst of the second period, defenseman Anthony Bitetto got a power play marker with assist from Matt Carle and Pontus Aberg. In the early s...
A thrilling Metropolitan Division matchup is coming to Columbus tonight where the Blue Jackets take on the defending Stanley Cup Champions- the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins' offseason was short and busy, but not with much activity. The Penguins lost defenseman Ben Lovejoy (NJ) and goalie Jeff Zatkoff (LA) to free agency; and traded winger Beau Bennett to the Devil...
A thrilling Metropolitan Division matchup is coming to Columbus tonight where the Blue Jackets take on the defending Stanley Cup Champions- the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins' offseason was short and busy, but not with much activity. The Penguins lost defenseman Ben Lovejoy (NJ) and goalie Jeff Zatkoff (LA) to free agency; and traded winger Beau Bennett to the Devil...
The Jackets travel south to Tennessee to take on the Predators in the Bridgestone Arena. Here are the projected rosters: Nashville Predators Colton Sissons Mike Fisher Craig Smith James Neal Calle Jarnkrok Mikka Salomaki Fredrick Gaudreau Viktor Arvidsson Vlaidslav Kamenev Austin Watson Kevin Fiala Ryan Johansen Anthony Bitetto Yannick Weber...
The Jackets travel south to Tennessee to take on the Predators in the Bridgestone Arena. Here are the projected rosters: Nashville Predators Colton Sissons Mike Fisher Craig Smith James Neal Calle Jarnkrok Mikka Salomaki Fredrick Gaudreau Viktor Arvidsson Vlaidslav Kamenev Austin Watson Kevin Fiala Ryan Johansen Anthony Bitetto Yannick Weber...
The Jackets travel south to Tennessee to take on the Predators in the Bridgestone Arena. Here are the projected rosters: Nashville Predators Colton Sissons Mike Fisher Craig Smith James Neal Calle Jarnkrok Mikka Salomaki Fredrick Gaudreau Viktor Arvidsson Vlaidslav Kamenev Austin Watson Kevin Fiala Ryan Johansen Anthony Bitetto Yannick Weber...
In the span of 24 hours, there have been plenty of cuts. On Wednesday September 28, the Jackets cut the seven players, and announced the injuries to two of the team's top prospects- 1. Vitaily Abramov --> QMJHL 2. Sam Ruopp --> WHL 3. Kole Sherwood --> OHL 4. Calvin Thurkauf --> WHL 5. Francis Beauvillier --> UFA 6. Jeremy Brouder --> UFA 7. Stephen Gibson -...
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Nashville Predators by a final score of 3-2 in overtime. The Predators had goals both goals in the second half of the game. Their first goal came from newcomer P.K. Subban; the shorthanded tally was assisted by winger Kevin Fiala. The third period goal came from winger Victor Arvidsson; this goal was assisted by defens...
Last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Nashville Predators by a final score of 3-2 in overtime. The Predators had goals both goals in the second half of the game. Their first goal came from newcomer P.K. Subban; the shorthanded tally was assisted by winger Kevin Fiala. The third period goal came from winger Victor Arvidsson; this goal was assisted by defens...
In the span of 24 hours, there have been plenty of cuts. On Wednesday September 28, the Jackets cut the seven players, and announced the injuries to two of the team's top prospects- 1. Vitaily Abramov --> QMJHL 2. Sam Ruopp --> WHL 3. Kole Sherwood --> OHL 4. Calvin Thurkauf --> WHL 5. Francis Beauvillier --> UFA 6. Jeremy Brouder --> UFA 7. Stephen Gibson -->...
It's another preseason matchup between what I feel are potential rivals. But the matchup is in Nationwide Arena tonight as there teams are figuring out their final rosters. Here are the lineups/rosters for tonight. Boston Bruins Jake DeBrusk—Riley Nash—Seth Griffith Matt Belesky —Auston Czarnik—Danton Heinen Sean Kuraly—Dominic Moore—Jimmy Hayes Tim...
It's another preseason matchup between what I feel are potential rivals. But the matchup is in Nationwide Arena tonight as there teams are figuring out their final rosters. Here are the lineups/rosters for tonight. Boston Bruins Jake DeBrusk—Riley Nash—Seth Griffith Matt Belesky —Auston Czarnik—Danton Heinen Sean Kuraly—Dominic Moore—Jimmy Hayes Tim...
It's another preseason matchup between what I feel are potential rivals. But the matchup is in Nationwide Arena tonight as there teams are figuring out their final rosters. Here are the lineups/rosters for tonight. Boston Bruins Jake DeBrusk—Riley Nash—Seth Griffith Matt Belesky —Auston Czarnik—Danton Heinen Sean Kuraly—Dominic Moore—Jimmy Hayes Tim S...
It's another preseason matchup between what I feel are potential rivals. But the matchup is in Nationwide Arena tonight as there teams are figuring out their final rosters. Here are the lineups/rosters for tonight. Boston Bruins Jake DeBrusk—Riley Nash—Seth Griffith Matt Belesky —Auston Czarnik—Danton Heinen Sean Kuraly—Dominic Moore—Jimmy Hayes Tim S...
On Thursday, The Columbus Blue Jackets were defeated by the Boston Bruins by the final score of 2-1 in regulation. The Bruins got a first period goal from winger Matt Belesky. The goal was assisted by defensemen Colin Miller and Christian Ehrhoff. The third period goal came winger Seth Griffith; defenseman Ryan O'Gara and winger Jake DeBrusk had the assists. The on...
The preseason finale for the Columbus Blue Jackets is an afternoon matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the PPG Paints Arena. Fresh off their appearance at the White House, the Penguins will see Sidney Crosby and Carl Haglein have their preseason debuts. Both teams are using what they project to be their regular season lineups in this finale to get their best...
Over the weekend, the Edmonton Oilers have traded former a number one overall pick in exchange for a minor league prospect and a conditional draft pick, continue the question of what is going on in Edmonton. Sticking with what recently happened, Russian winger Nail Yaukpov has been dealt to the St. Louis in exchange for center Zach Poricho and a conditional 2017 3rd ro...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ: Savard Speculation

Posted Wednesday | Comments 5
According to the Hockey Press, the Boston Bruins could be interested in acquiring defenseman David Savard. Savard was a former late round draft pick of the Blue Jackets in 2009. Going back to junior, he won the WHL Defenseman of the year. Savard came up in the Blue Jackets organization by going through the old AHL farm club with the Springfield Falcons, so he has a bit of ...
Last night at 5pm, the 30 teams around the league announced their opening night rosters after weeks of training camps, preseason matchups, and competitive World Cup of Hockey. The Blue Jackets have some guys that I did not expect to make the opening night rosters, including Lukas Sedlak; Markus Nutivaara; and Scott Harrington; however, they sent Gregory Campbell to t...
Last night at 5pm, the 30 teams around the league announced their opening night rosters after weeks of training camps, preseason matchups, and competitive World Cup of Hockey. The Blue Jackets have some guys that I did not expect to make the opening night rosters, including Lukas Sedlak; Markus Nutivaara; and Scott Harrington; however, they sent Gregory Campbell to t...
The regular season is here. For the Blue Jackets, their first game is tonight and they battle the Boston Bruins, a familiar foe as they have been playing each other in the preseason. With both rosters finalized, the Bruins have some injuries to some key players in contrast to Columbus. The Bruins will be without center Patrice Bergeron; and defensemen Adam McQuaid and ...
The Columbus Blue Jackets suffered a loss in their home opener to the Boston Bruins, being doubled up by the final score of 6-3. The Bruins' top line was superior as they had all six goals for their squad. David Pasternak opened the scoring for his team in the second period, with Brad Marchand getting the lone assist; and scoring on the empty netter in the final mi...
The Columbus Blue Jackets suffered a loss in their home opener to the Boston Bruins, being doubled up by the final score of 6-3. The Bruins' top line was superior as they had all six goals for their squad. David Pasternak opened the scoring for his team in the second period, with Brad Marchand getting the lone assist; and scoring on the empty netter in the final mi...
The second game of the season is at home for the Blue Jackets tonight where they take on the defending Western Conference Champions- the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks were really impressive last season make it so far to the Stanley Cup Finals, being two games short of their first ever Stanley Cup. Over the course of the offseason, the Sharks made a few changes, adding to...
The San Jose Sharks downed the Columbus Blue Jackets by the final score of 3-2 in regulation. The Sharks got two goals in the first period to make Columbus come back and battle later on in the game. Mikkel Boedker got his first goal as a Shark; Logan Couture and Brenden Dillon had the assists. Later on in the period, Joel Ward netted his first of the season. Brent Bu...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Soupy Situation

Posted Tuesday | Comments 0
The situation between veteran center Gregory Campbell and the Columbus Blue Jackets has gone very sour, and the league had remained very quiet about it. Gregory Campbell, an NHL veteran, has had a bottom six role with the Florida Panthers and the Boston Bruins, including winning a Stanley Cup, prior to joining Columbus. This year, Campbell did not make the Blue Jac...
One week into the regular season, and the league has enjoyed excitement from all 30 teams. Since I mainly cover the Blue Jackets, this team will discuss one of those 30 teams. Cleveland Monsters The Lake Erie Monsters won their first two games of the season against the Rockford Ice Hogs, the affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Monsters saw production from for...
In a recently written article by "Down Goes Brown" on The Hockey News, Sean McInode writes who are five general managers besides Chuck Fletcher of the Minnesota Wild to be on the hot seat. The very first one he mentions is Jarmo Kekalainen, stating: (via THN) "On the one hand, you could argue that Kekalainen hasn't been given enough time in Columbus....
After five days away from game competition, the Blue Jackets return to the United Center to take on the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks last year were an experienced team that picked up players at the deadline, and because of the cap, had to change up their roster. The Hawks let Andrew Ladd (NYI); Dale Weise (PHI); Matt Fraser (EU); and Drew MacIntyre (EU). They als...
I'll do a quick wrapping of the weekend that I should've done but events came up. On Friday night, the Blue Jackets defeated the Blackhawks; and on Saturday, the Jackets beat the Stars. The final score of the Blackhawks game was 3-2 for Columbus. The Jackets got goals from Zach Werenski; captain Nick Foligno; and Wild Bill. The Hawks got goals Tyler Motte and Richard...
I'll do a quick wrapping of the weekend that I should've done but events came up. On Friday night, the Blue Jackets defeated the Blackhawks; and on Saturday, the Jackets beat the Stars. The final score of the Blackhawks game was 3-2 for Columbus. The Jackets got goals from Zach Werenski; captain Nick Foligno; and Wild Bill. The Hawks got goals Tyler Motte and Richard...
The Columbus Blue Jackets were defeated by the Los Angeles Kings by the final score of 3-2 in overtime. The comeback Kings got their goal from in the second period new captain Anze Kopitar; his second goal of the season was assisted by veteran defenseman Tom Gilbert and young winger Tyler Toffoli. The game tying goal was scored by reigning Norris Trophy winner Drew Dou...
The final game of the season (Already) is happening tonight between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the San Jose Sharks, in the midst of their California trip. The Jackets are looking to rebound after a rough loss to the weaker Los Angeles Kings against the defending Western Conference Champions. The Sharks will look to get on top of the Pacific Division with a win, ...
The San Jose Sharks defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets by a final score of 3-1. The scoring started with early with Finnish winger Joonas Donskoi. The breakout from the playoffs netted his first goal of the season on the power play; the lone assist came from ex Devil and Coyote defenseman David Schlemko. In the final period, the Sharks got two goals from center Tomas H...
The final game of the California trip takes place in Orange County for the first meeting of the season to take on the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The Ducks have had quite the offseason after being pushed out of the playoffs in the final game of the first round against the Nashville Predators. They've fired head coach Bruce Broudreau and hired Randy Carlyle. They traded F...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have blanked the Anaheim Ducks by the final score of 4-0. All the Jackets goals came in the first period, to the surprise of many, including me. All four were scored by two players. The first two goals were scored 21 seconds apart. Sam Gagner scored his first goal was a Blue Jacket; Scott Hartnell and Lukas Sedlak had the assists. The seco...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have blanked the Anaheim Ducks by the final score of 4-0. All the Jackets goals came in the first period, to the surprise of many, including me. All four were scored by two players. The first two goals were scored 21 seconds apart. Sam Gagner scored his first goal was a Blue Jacket; Scott Hartnell and Lukas Sedlak had the assists. The seco...
Happy November everyone. A 0.500 October brings to a fresh start a new month of hockey as the Jackets take on the injury riddled Dallas Stars. The two teams played a couple weeks ago, and the final score of was a 3-0 shutout for the Jackets. Josh Anderson; Scott Hartnell; and Matt Calvert had the goals. The Stars have the most injury crippled roster in the entire leagu...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have defeated the Dallas Stars by the final score of 3-2 in overtime. With the Jackets back in the eastern time zone, life is easier for me to watch the games to being everyone a better coverage of the game. The first period was quiet on the scoreboard, but the shot count was eye popping. The Stars put 18 shots on the net, giving Bobrovsky the...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent four players to the minors in the last week- winger Sonny Milano; defenseman Cody Goloubef; defenseman John Ramage; and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. The Cleveland Monsters are a young successful team getting back better pieces, which is good news for rookie coach John Madden. The Monsters offense is better now with Milano and Oli...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent four players to the minors in the last week- winger Sonny Milano; defenseman Cody Goloubef; defenseman John Ramage; and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. The Cleveland Monsters are a young successful team getting back better pieces, which is good news for rookie coach John Madden. The Monsters offense is better now with Milano and Oli...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent four players to the minors in the last week- winger Sonny Milano; defenseman Cody Goloubef; defenseman John Ramage; and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. The Cleveland Monsters are a young successful team getting back better pieces, which is good news for rookie coach John Madden. The Monsters offense is better now with Milano and Oli...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent four players to the minors in the last week- winger Sonny Milano; defenseman Cody Goloubef; defenseman John Ramage; and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. The Cleveland Monsters are a young successful team getting back better pieces, which is good news for rookie coach John Madden. The Monsters offense is better now with Milano and Oli...
Bienvenue au Columbus. Ce soir, le au Columbus fait un match de hockey avec des Canadiens aux Montréal. Tonight is the first meeting of the season, and as I usually do, I look over the offseason changes of the opposing team before any further breakdown. After the collapse of Carey Price, the Habs had an extremely subpar season, and drafted low as a result, making vas...
Je suis désolé Montréal, mais zut! 10 à 0. Finale. The Montreal Canadiens, the league's best team was utterly dominated and destroyed and blanked by the Columbus Blue Jackets by the final score of 10-0. Let's get through the goals in order since there is only one team to talk about on the score sheet. The first goal of the game was one of four scored on t...
The Columbus Blue Jackets are at the Scottrade Center to battle the St. Louis Blues. Both teams are in different spectrums of direction. The Jackets have won their last three; the Blues lost their last two. The Jackets are also on the end of a back to back series, where the Blues are starting. The Blues and Blue Jackets played in the preseason under split squad circums...
"Holy jumping" as what Darren Pang would say. In St. Louis last night, the Blue Jackets suffered a 2-1 overtime defeat. The Blues honored defenseman Jay Bowmeester for playing 1,000 NHL regular season games, and scored the team's first goal of the game, which was his first of the season. The only player with an assist on the goal was former Blue Jacket Scottie Upshall...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that defenseman Seth Jones will be out for three weeks a hairline fracture in his foot. The injury came in the game Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues. Per Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: "#CBJ D Seth Jones out three weeks w a hairline fracture in a foot." "#CBJ Seth Jones said a tie-up in front of the ne...
The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that defenseman Seth Jones will be out for three weeks a hairline fracture in his foot. The injury came in the game Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues. Per Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: "#CBJ D Seth Jones out three weeks w a hairline fracture in a foot." "#CBJ Seth Jones said a tie-up in front of the ne...
CBJ- Can the Offense Keep Up? Looking at the current goal differential and stats of some of the Blue Jackets players, can the offensive production that they have keep up throughout the entire 82 game schedule? Starting with the overall goal differential, the Jackets are currently a plus +11 and are a currently a non-playoff team. Does that stat fade true to the ...
The series finale between the Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks concludes tonight at Nationwide Arena. The Ducks have won their past two games, and getting an even bigger lift tonight when defenseman Hampus Lindholm makes his season debut after holding out and signing a long term extension. The Blue Jackets lost their last game played in overtime, and are without Brandon ...
The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Anaheim Ducks by the final score of 3-2 in overtime. Just over a minute into the game, Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano attempts to clear the puck up the boards, but Boone Jenner keeps it in play, and passes the puck to a wide open Scott Hartnell, whose in front of John Gibson, who somehow saves the puck, and Boone Jenner slips it in...
The Blue Jackets travel to the TD Garden tonight to combat with the Boston Bruins, in what is one of the most underrated rivalries in the NHL. This is the second half of the back of back games for Columbus after playing Anaheim last night, and winning in overtime. The Bruins last played on Tuesday, suffering a 3-2 regulation loss to the NHL best Montreal Canadiens. ...
The Boston Bruins wowed the Columbus Blue Jackets in a dominant first period effort, winning by a final score of 5-2. Capitalizing off a Zdeno Chara turnover, Alex Wennberg got the puck to captain Nick Foligno, who potted his fifth goal of the season by beating Tukka Rask on the blocker side for a 1-0 lead. Wennberg's assist was 13th of the year and 9th in his past six...
The Columbus Blue Jackets offensive success continues on a 8-4 onslaught against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night. The Jackets opened the scoring in the first period on a behind the net play from Lukas Sedlak. The AHL breakout was able to get to the puck first on a dump and chase play, got it to Scott Hartnell, who got it to the eventual scorer Sam Gagner, who cam...
The Blue Jackets are finally playing a divisional team, being the last year's President Trophy winners. The Washington Capitals play here tonight and in Pittsburgh tomorrow, so the pressure is on. The Capitals had a quiet offseason, but made their roster younger and more skilled in contrast to a veteran and grittier team. They lost Jason Chimera; Mike Moore; Sean Colli...
The Columbus Blue Jackets woke up late in the third period to defeat the Washington Capitals by the final score of 2-1 in overtime. The Capitals opened the scoring in the midst of the second period off a sniping shot from the usual passer in Nicolas Backstrom. The Swedish forward wristed a shot underneath Bobrovsky's glove for a 1-0 lead for the Caps for his second goa...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Werenski for Calder

Posted Thursday | Comments 0
Let's get this story rolling. The title says it all. Even though there are many quality rookies in the NHL making debuts, Zach Werenski should get it after his performances so far this season. He is currently sixth in the league in points with 13 points in 14 games. In the entire league. He has the most points with the least amount of games played in the top ten. That'...
The battle in the Metropolitan Division continues for the Jackets where they take on the high scoring New York Rangers tonight. The Rangers have been an absolutely dominate team all season long, dominating puck possession, which means more plays and more goals (+34). The Rangers made the playoffs last year as an older club, but cap issues made them change to be younger...
The defense of the home streak reigns supreme over one of the hottest teams in the NHL. Last night, the Blue Jackets defeated the New York Rangers by the final score of 4-2. A JT Miller turnover in center ice results in a William Karlsson slap shot beating Henrik Lundqvist in between the legs for a 1-0 Columbus lead. Wild Bill's goal was his third of the season. A ...
The start of a back to back for Columbus begins with an afternoon tilt in the nation's capital against the injury rattled Capitals. The contest begins at 12:30 pm. The Jackets will look to continue their hot streak at home on the road, while the Capitals will look to find a way to win without some top players. In their most recent games against the Red Wings, they had ...
The Jackets maintain their composure to defeat the Capitals in the final minute of regulation, by the final score of 3-2. In the first period, a Jack Johnson turnover to Nick Backstrom slips in between Sergei Bobrovsky's legs for a 1-0 Washington lead. The ice breaker was his fifth goal of the season. In the second period, the Jackets even the score with a Nick Fol...
The second game of back to back nights for Columbus brings them back home to take on the different looking Colorado Avalanche. Going with the different look, the Avs made a lot of changes to the roster in the summer. Their former head coach, Patrick Roy, resigned from the team. They lost five players to European teams, including enforcer Patrick Bordeleau; former first...
The second game of back to back nights for Columbus brings them back home to take on the different looking Colorado Avalanche. Going with the different look, the Avs made a lot of changes to the roster in the summer. Their former head coach, Patrick Roy, resigned from the team. They lost five players to European teams, including enforcer Patrick Bordeleau; former first...
The winning streak at home has come to an end by way of an overtime defeat to the Colorado Avalanche. The final score was Colorado 3, Columbus 2. Nine minutes into the first period, the Jackets get a mini series of lucky bounces for a 1-0 lead. Cam Atkinson shot the puck from the side of the net; hitting off Nikita Zadarov's stick; and off Mikko Rantanen's skate to get...
The Blue Jackets busy week if games continue where they take on the struggling Calgary Flames. The Flames are continuing to find a winning way after making the postseason two years ago. This summer, they fired veteran coach Bob Hartley for former Stars coach Glen Gulutzan. They traded Patrick Sieloff to Ottawa. They let a lot of experienced players walk, including goal...
Opening Note: My apologies for being away for a lengthy period of time. The long weekend of extra hours kept me unavailable to bring updates to you guys. It may end up being the same way coming up at Christmas time. No onto the time that was for the Jackets. Game 18: Shut Out Surprise On Wednesday night, the Jackets suffered a surprising defeat to the strug...
The Blue Jackets welcome the Bolts to the Nationwide Arena tonight. These two teams last played on Black Friday, and revenge might be on the mind of Tampa Bay. The Lightning are a very explosive team, even with the loss of Steven Stamkos. The dynamic forward sustained a long term injury in a matchup against the Detroit Red Wings. They are also without former Blue Jacke...
The Blue Jackets welcome the Bolts to the Nationwide Arena tonight. These two teams last played on Black Friday, and revenge might be on the mind of Tampa Bay. The Lightning are a very explosive team, even with the loss of Steven Stamkos. The dynamic forward sustained a long term injury in a matchup against the Detroit Red Wings. They are also without former Blue Jacke...
The Columbus Blue Jackets scored five straight goals to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning by the final score of 5-1. In the first period, the Blue Jackets opened the scoring off a snap shot from William Karlsson. Wild Bill sniped the puck on the blocker side of Andrei Vaslievisky for the goal. For Karlsson, it was his second goal of the season. Josh Anderson and Ryan Murr...
Happy December everyone!!! The countdown to Christmas begins. The Blue Jackets are back on the ice tonight in the Mile High City of Denver, Colorado to take on the Avalanche. These two teams are playing each other for the first time since the trade they made late last week- swapping depth defensemen Cody Goloubef and Ryan Stanton. These two squads also recently...
CBJ Post-Game No. 22- Mile High Fun The Columbus Blue Jackets managed to hold on and defeat the Colorado Avalanche, by the final score of 3-2. The opening goal came just about five minutes into the game. Jack Johnson got the puck at the blue line, made a shot pass to Scott Hartnell, who lost control of it, and Brandon Saad found the puck, and got it last Varlamov fo...
I know the game is in progress but I am a bit behind yet again. The Jackets are wrapping up their series finale against the Arizona Coyotes tonight. The Coyotes lost to the Jackets badly over the weekend. The score doesn't show it, but the other stats do. If your starting goalie is facing 60 shots in a game, the goalie is getting tired and the defense is weak. In Arizo...
I know the game is in progress but I am a bit behind yet again. The Jackets are wrapping up their series finale against the Arizona Coyotes tonight. The Coyotes lost to the Jackets badly over the weekend. The score doesn't show it, but the other stats do. If your starting goalie is facing 60 shots in a game, the goalie is getting tired and the defense is weak. In Arizo...
I know the game is in progress but I am a bit behind yet again. The Jackets are wrapping up their series finale against the Arizona Coyotes tonight. The Coyotes lost to the Jackets badly over the weekend. The score doesn't show it, but the other stats do. If your starting goalie is facing 60 shots in a game, the goalie is getting tired and the defense is weak. In Arizo...
I know the game is in progress but I am a bit behind yet again. The Jackets are wrapping up their series finale against the Arizona Coyotes tonight. The Coyotes lost to the Jackets badly over the weekend. The score doesn't show it, but the other stats do. If your starting goalie is facing 60 shots in a game, the goalie is getting tired and the defense is weak. In Arizo...
Will.Pesek writes...

Isles edge Rangers 4-2

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
It was the type of atmosphere, that the Isles had in the first and second rounds of the playoffs last year, and they did not let down their fans. The Isles advanced to 4-0-1 in in their last 5 games and starting to play like a playoff team. In the 5 game point streak the Isles went from 6-10-4 to 10-10-5 making their presence felt in the league again. The day started o...
Did I mean the player or the term "to win"?? Last night, the former Coyote center led his current team in front of Nationwide Arena to a 4-1 victory over Arizona. Tobias Reider opened the scoring midway through the first period for a 1-0 Arizona lead. On the breakin from the power play, Alex Goligoski passed the puck to Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who found Reider open on a ...
Did I mean the player or the term "to win"?? Last night, the former Coyote center led his current team in front of Nationwide Arena to a 4-1 victory over Arizona. Tobias Reider opened the scoring midway through the first period for a 1-0 Arizona lead. On the breakin from the power play, Alex Goligoski passed the puck to Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who found Reider open on a ...
CBJ Post-Game No. 25: Winging It The Blue Jackets defeated the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena by the final score of 4-1. Cam Atkinson opened the scoring in the early portion of the first period off a short handed goal. Atkinson's goal was his ninth of the season. In the second period, sophomore Dylan Larkin got the best of former teammate Zach Werenski on ...
The Columbus Blue Jackets commence their three game road trip of Western Canada. Tonight, they battle the star studded Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers continued their search for change in the offseason, and personally, in a very bad way. They traded Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils in a horrendous one for one deal for Adam Larsson. They also dealt the consistently scra...
The Jackets continue their winning streak efforts at seven consecutive games, defeating the Edmonton Oilers by the final score of 3-1. The Oilers opened the scoring with a first period goal, and driven by the fourth line. Former Blue Jackets center Mark Letestu cycled the puck with former first rounder Zach Kassian, who got the puck to the driving Tyler Pitlick for the...
Zak MacMillan writes...

CBJ- Metro Boomin

Posted Thursday | Comments 19
Want some more? Winning!! Sticking with the times. Onto the serious stuff. Hockey. The Metropolitan Division is the best division in hockey. Personally, it's shocking, but is it expected? Last season, the President Trophy winning Washington Capitals came from this division. The reigning Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins came from this division. ...
The Western Canada road trip continues for the Jackets, as they continue their time in Alberta. Tonight, they battle the Flames. The Flames have been a confusing team to watch this season. They were riding a six winning streak with Chad Johnson taking the reigns as the number one starter. Against Tampa Bay, they lost badly, and yanked Johnson. The Flames goaltendin...
Happy 2017 folks!!! Ik it's not the greatest attention grabber, but it's been so long since I've been able to blog. I'm glad to be back. And I'm back in the thick of things in Ohio's state capital. The Blue Jackets wrapped up the end of the month and the end of 2016 with a hot streak, and start the new year on the same streak. They have won 16 straight games: 1. T...
That seems like common sense doesn't it? After riding high on the 16 game winning streak, the Blue Jackets have lost their past two games. CBJ Post-Game No. 37- Shutout The Blue Jackets winning streak ended on Thursday night to the Washington Capitals by the final score of 5-0. Daniel Winnik opened the scoring in the first period of a rebound attempt that beat S...
The Columbus Blue Jackets held on in a back to back situation to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers by the final score of 2-1 in overtime. In the first period, Flyers defenseman Andrew MacDonald had a goal waived off by an interesting goalie interference chalk by John Tortorella. The call came with less than two minutes into the first period. The booming slap shot coming f...
The Southern road trip for the Blue Jackets commences with a trip to Raleigh, North Carolina to take on the youthful Hurricanes. This is their first meeting of the season, and all three season meetings will be happening in the next 11 days. Crazy, isn't it? But that's how the schedule works. Flashing back to the offseason, here's a quick look at what the Canes have don...
Nothing like a good pun right? Onto the serious stuff, the Columbus Blue Jackets lost to the Carolina Hurricanes by the final score of 5-3. Cam Atkinson opened the scoring with less than two minutes, beating Cam Ward on a nice little deke from behind the net. His goal was his 20th of the season, becoming the third player in franchise history to score 20 goals in four s...
With a day off en route to Tampa, Florida, today will be a day to discuss about the NHL All Star Game, the new goalie tandem in Columbus, mid season picks, healthy scratches, playoff format, and trade rumors. Over the past 48 hours, the National Hockey League has announced the All Star Rosters and coaches and jerseys. Representing the Jackets in the Metropolitan Divisi...
The Columbus Blue Jackets continue their Southern road trip with back to back matchups in Florida. First, the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning. Tonight is a special night for the Bolts as they retire a legendary player for the franchise in Martin St. Louis. Number 26 will be raised to the rafters. The un drafted winger played most of his career with the Lightning, and wa...
The Blue Jackets road trip wraps up tonight with a flight to Sunrise to take on the miserable Florida Panthers. This is the first time these two teams have meet since the firing of former head coach Gerald Gallant. The Panthers general manger Tom Rowe has been the head coach since late November/early December. They have seen Jaromir Jagr play like his age; Roberto Luon...
CBJ Post-Game No. 41- Korpisalo The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning by the final score of 3-1. The Bolts opened the scoring on their home ice in the first period. Jonathan Drouin scored his 13th goal of the season. Valtteri Flippula and Ondrej Palat had the assists. Josh Anderson evened the game for his 10th of the season. David Savard ha...
CBJ Update: February Fever The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a busy remainder of January since I last blogged. The last time I blogged was after a victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. This blog will cover the games they won throughout the remainder of February; the All Star Game; and injury updates on the back front—as well as trade rumors. CBJ Post Game No. 4...
CBJ Update: February Fever The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a busy remainder of January since I last blogged. The last time I blogged was after a victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. This blog will cover the games they won throughout the remainder of February; the All Star Game; and injury updates on the back front—as well as trade rumors. CBJ Post Game No. 4...
The Columbus Blue Jackets return to home ice tonight to combat the New Jersey Devils in their first meeting of the season. Isn’t it crazy that it comes with 60% of the season already in the books? The last time these teams met, Patrick Elias was still on the Devils. That’s how far back it has been for these two divisional squads. Both teams are coming off back to ba...
The Columbus Blue Jackets return to home ice tonight to combat the New Jersey Devils in their first meeting of the season. Isn’t it crazy that it comes with 60% of the season already in the books? The last time these teams met, Patrick Elias was still on the Devils. That’s how far back it has been for these two divisional squads. Both teams are coming off back to ba...
The New Jersey Devils withstood the Columbus Blue Jackets in their first matchup of the season by the score of 5-1. Taylor Hall, my player to watch, opened the scoring in the first period with his 12th goal of the season. Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri had the assists on the goal. Jacob Josefson extended his team’s lead with his first of the season in the early portio...
The New Jersey Devils withstood the Columbus Blue Jackets in their first matchup of the season by the score of 5-1. Taylor Hall, my player to watch, opened the scoring in the first period with his 12th goal of the season. Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri had the assists on the goal. Jacob Josefson extended his team’s lead with his first of the season in the early portio...
As I alluded to in yesterday's blog, today is more or less about the Jackets, but more so about other talking points in a quick off day. Yes, I know the by week is coming up and there's where I should do that, but since there was an eventful sports weekend in the world, that will be discussed. Furthermore, I will talk about injury updates in Columbus, plus the winter park;...
The Columbus Blue Jackets are back on the ice tonight to take on the Detroit Red Wings, in their final game in the Joe Louis Arena. The Blue Jackets history with the Red Wings has been short as they were an expansion franchise, but the Jackets do have some history at the Joe. They are 12-24-5 all time in the Joe, and they played each other so much over the years as a resul...
The Columbus Blue Jackets held on to defeat the Detroit Red Wings by the final score of 3-2 in overtime. The Red Wings opened the scoring in the early portion of the first period by defenseman Nick Jensen. The bottom pairing defenseman scored his second goal of the season. Dylan Larkin and Riley Sheahan had the assists. Brandon Dubinsky evened the game with his seven...
The Columbus Blue Jackets held on to defeat the Detroit Red Wings by the final score of 3-2 in overtime. The Red Wings opened the scoring in the early portion of the first period by defenseman Nick Jensen. The bottom pairing defenseman scored his second goal of the season. Dylan Larkin and Riley Sheahan had the assists. Brandon Dubinsky evened the game with his seven...
The Columbus Blue Jackets return to home ice tonight to take on the previous team that John Tortorella coached in the Vancouver Canucks. Tort’s time with the Canucks was short and brief as they were a non-playoff team that season. The Canucks were able to select Jake Virtanen with the bad year they had under him, plus they hired current bench boss Willie Desjardins. ...
The Vancouver Canucks managed to shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets by the final score of 3-0. Daniel Sedin opened the scoring in the second period with his 12th goal of the season. Brother Henrik Sedin and former Calgary Flames prospect Markus Granlund had the assists. My player to watch for the Canucks added to his team’s lead. Former Boston Bruin Loui Eriksson s...
The Columbus Blue Jackets are back on home ice tonight to take on the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings have suffered a tragic loss over the past 24 hours with the death of their owner, Mike Ilitch, at the age of 87. The long-time owner brought the Red Wings to the promise land, being at helm of four Stanley Cup victories, and helping management develop players the righ...
The Columbus Blue Jackets are back on home ice tonight to take on the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings have suffered a tragic loss over the past 24 hours with the death of their owner, Mike Ilitch, at the age of 87. The long-time owner brought the Red Wings to the promise land, being at helm of four Stanley Cup victories, and helping management develop players the righ...
The Columbus Blue Jackets held on to defeat the Detroit Red Wings by the final score of 2-1 in regulation. Boone Jenner opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season. Brandon Dubinsky got the lone assist. Thomas Vanek evened the score at 1-1 with his team’s only goal in the matchup. The power play goal was his 14th goal of the season. Henrik Zetterberg and Da...
The Columbus Blue Jackets held on to defeat the Detroit Red Wings by the final score of 2-1 in regulation. Boone Jenner opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season. Brandon Dubinsky got the lone assist. Thomas Vanek evened the score at 1-1 with his team’s only goal in the matchup. The power play goal was his 14th goal of the season. Henrik Zetterberg and Da...
The Blue Jackets home stand continues tonight with a battle with the Blue Shirts. For the fourth time this season, the Blue Jackets take on the New York Rangers live from the Nationwide Arena. The Jackets have won two of three meetings so far. The first contest was the one where Matt Calvert left the game and came back with stitches to score the game winning shorthande...
The New York Rangers hold on to defeat the Blue Jackets by the narrow margin of 3-2 in regulation. In the first period, the Blue Jackets' power play went to work. Brandon Saad found Brandon Dubinsky, and he beat Antti Raanta down below the shoulder to fire the cannon. Dubinsky's goal was his eighth this season. Seth Jones and Brandon Saad were credited with the assists...
The Columbus Blue Jackets return on the ice tonight to take on the league’s most covered team… the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both teams are very similar. They are both young teams that have playoff aspirations. Both teams are extremely impressive offensively. Both have young up and coming groups that are going to push them elite squads. Both teams have elite goaltending fro...
The home stand for the Blue Jackets continues in a final matchup tonight with a battle with Brooklyn. The Blue Jackets are fresh off their mandatory five day bye week, and the team prepares itself to take on one of the hottest teams in the NHL. The Islanders switched head coaches from Jack Capuono to Doug Weight, and the team has benefited greatly from the change. The Isla...
CBJ Post-Game No. 62—Wild Shutout The Columbus Blue Jackets got the one important goal to shutout the Minnesota Wild by the final score of 1-0 in regulation. The lone goal came from Brandon Saad, who scored his 19th goal of the season. Nick Foligno had the lone assist. This game was the debuts for Lauri Korpikoski and Kyle Quiency in Blue Jackets uniforms. Korpi...
After having the most successful regular season in franchise, the Columbus Blue Jackets look to add to that legacy this season. This article will go over the offseason moves that the Jackets have done. Starting with the Expansion Draft, the Blue Jackets made a major salary dump by dealing David Clarkson, a 2017 first round pick, and a 2019 2nd round pick in exchange fo...
Quite a title isn't it? Now that I have your attention, what does this title really mean in terms of this time of the season? The answer is comparing last season's successes to this year's expectations. Specifically, the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets, and why this battle of "underdogs" is in existence and what could come from it from either side; and wh...
The Instigator |Episode 16 1,260,162 Thank You’s to the NHL Well the wildly overpaid goon for the Washington Capitals is back at it again, but this time the National Hockey League makes him pay for it. In the Capitals final preseason game, forward Tom Wilson landed a vicious head shot on St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist. The was needless and extremely danger...
As I listened to the broadcast last night, then watched the game when I arrived home. I feel that aside from the obvious exhaustion due to the game frequency, as well as players playing above there slotting, the ref's have too much influence on the game. While I delve deeper into these thoughts. I am going to go into the game killing, momentum changing Patrick Maroon...
THE DEBATE – Hockey Podcast | Episode 46 Stars Blasted by Ownership Dallas Stars ownership blasted superstars Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin in the media. The vulgar statements sent shock waves throughout the hockey world. Brad Burud and Blake Friars discuss the crazy situation, and give insight on what set off this tyraid and what will the ramifications be. Then the...
The Instigator |Episode 23 Columbus “Pull the Trigger” Trade or not. Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky has put the Columbus Blue Jackets and General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen in a difficult position. Do you keep them for a playoff run or gather assets for the future and still take a playoff run?? Time for a decision. Brad Burud from Inside Edge Hockey News gives...
I love hockey and if I didn't, I wouldn't be writing this. Every week on my podcast I always have something about the Laine/Dubois trade to talk about, and it never gets old. I'm sure by now we've seen the infamous video on the TSN_Official Instagram account where Laine gave a depressing thumbs up and a smile that almost looks forced. Another fun little part about that pos...
Lucas Neilson writes...

The Fantasy Portal

Posted Friday | Comments 0
If there is one thing that adds some excitement to the NHL season, it would be fantasy hockey. Going head to head against friends, colleagues, family and random hockey minds across the globe is certainly something that brings me joy. It always helps to add to the excitement by being successful and taking care of business week in, week out and eventually claiming the top ...
RC Atchisson writes...

Blue Line Blues

Posted Wednesday | Comments 0
One of the most exciting moves of this pre-draft weekend is the one that never happened. Outlets far and wide reported that the St. Louis Blues would be receiving, from the Philadelphia Flyers, 31 year old center Kevin Hayes and 27 year old defenseman Travis Sanheim as well as salary retention in exchange for a late first round pick and a blue liner. By late Saturday afte...
RC Atchisson writes...

Blue Line Blues

Posted Monday | Comments 0
ST. LOUIS –One of the most exciting moves of the 2023 pre-draft weekend was the one that never happened. Outlets far and wide reported that the St. Louis Blues would be receiving, from the Philadelphia Flyers, 31-year-old center Kevin Hayes and 27-year-old defenseman Travis Sanheim as well as salary retention in exchange for a late first round pick and a blue liner. By ...

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