Can the Blue Jackets Finally Sting?

Nice summary Angus, CBJ is one of those teams (there seem to be alot of them gearing up this season) with a plethora of young talent waiting to explode. I think where they have been smart though is finding the right balance between veterans and youth, esp while rebuilding, they've brought in guys like Federov and Foote to mentor.

So who thinks the jackets will leap frog a few teams this year and snag a playoff spot?

not me. i wouldn't be super surprised if it happened... their D is much improved as angus states, and hitchcock is a great coach.

but you can also make a case that st.louis and chicago also improved this summer. detroit is... yeah. and nashville is as scrappy a team as you can find. the bottom 4 teams in that division will really be battling. should be interesting to watch.

Leclaire owners rejoice...... also what is the deal with him not being signed already. I think I read he is going to arbitration? Is that true?

I just don't see it. I think they are at the same place as last year. They replace Zherdev with Huselius. They replace Brule with Umberger. Then they sign Commodore and Backman to replace Hainsey. Sure Huselius is a step up but Umberger is not a star, we will see how he fares without Briere, Richards, Carter, Knuble, and all the other Flyers who played more important minutes then Umdaberger's..

Losing Hainsey is huge. I think he will do really well next year. Commodore is over-paid and not that good. Backman?? Well he couldn't stand out in NewYork where they nobody how can anybody believe he will stand out in Columbus??

Leclaire and Nash still give this team hope and a chance to win every night but injuries for their goalie has to be an issue. Finally Nash has somebody to play with that is creative with the puck (Huselius) but Huselius is not going to turn this team into a playoff team. If Keenan couldn't get along with Huselius then why should we believe Hitchcock will?? Don't they pretty much have the same philosophies??

I think I am right when I say Columbus finishes last in the Central division. The surely aren't better then Detroit and "scrappy" Nashville. And what St.Louis and Chicago have done with their youngsters in unreal. They both have really drafted well and brought there prospects along nicely. And another tidbit, Columbus never wins on the road. Even the KINGS win more on the road then this team.

Sorry Angus, love the article but hate the chances for Columbus in making the playoffs..
Z..

i totally disagree with you about Hainsey, Z. i never thought he was any good, EVER. i never even noticed him in any of the Columbus games i watched... which is pretty sad.

their D is FARRR better than it was last year. Commodore-Klesla-Tollefson-Tyutin-Backman may not contribute a whole lot of offense, and thus seem terrible to fantasy owners, but that is a lot of grit and steady defense to base a team around.

granted, they are going to have some trouble breaking out of their own zone, so hitch will be busy.

i know that the prevailing wisdom these days is that Russell won't see much NHL time this year, but to me, he is the perfect solution to that problem. there could be other considerations involved that i'm not privvy to, but if it was me, i'd be giving him the chance to run my offense back there.

CBJ is behind Chicago, but right now I like them over the Blues. I love the Blues young talent, but I think Leclaire is far, far superior to either Legace or Mason.

UW, don't ever put Backman and steady defense in the same sentence. The is about as steady as a vertigo patient.

how many points do you guys think Brassard is going to get this season? Voracek?

angus wrote:
UW, don't ever put Backman and steady defense in the same sentence. The is about as steady as a vertigo patient.
i won't argue with you too much on that point, angus. it's been quite a while since i paid much attention to backman in a game, and the memories i do have of him may be confused with barret jackman. i don't think i even witnessed him play in new york.

in my defense, i had, like, 23 words inbetween the words "backman" and "steady" in that sentence... haha.

I see Brassard getting 35 and getting hurt in the process.

I also see Voracek getting 25 and will be up and down from Columbus to Syracuse.

I like Hainsey, I know he didn't look too good in Columbus, but not many guys did. I think he will be much improved this year in Atlanta. Hainsey and Enstrom should work well together..

Hainsey was pretty solid in CBJ. Hitchcock has that team playing very tight defensively.