Thursday, September 16, 2010

Time to step up: Concluding thoughts

Not including this post, "Time to step up" has encompassed:
  • 32 blog posts 
  • 26 player profiles
  • 6 coach profiles
  • 2 front office profiles
  • 22,489 words (per Microsoft Word)
In the process, I was able to finally do some long-overdue basic research and better understand the Columbus Blue Jackets roster and organization.  Money and talent began to intersect in my mind.  Players who barely would get a mention during the regular season received appropriate appreciation.  And, while it was a bit hairy to put together with a vacation and the beginning of fall quarter at school, it ended up being a great way to bridge the gap between CannonFest and Saturday's opening of training camp.  Your comments and feedback - both inside and outside the pages of this blog - have been fantastic fuel for the entire series.  It's so gratifying to know that people enjoy your work.

In the end, I acknowledge that this preview series - as drawn-out as it has been - is incomplete.  I've had requests to discuss more of the business side of the house - game operations, marketing, ticketing - and to delve even deeper into the depth chart.  Folks, I have to draw the line somewhere and believe that this series tells a pretty reasonable story about the team...and the challenges that they individually and collectively face.  

This is not going to be an easy season for the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The supposed experts (who sometimes actually pay attention to what's going on in Columbus) are generally suggesting that the CBJ will end the season well out of playoff contention.  Not surprisingly, I disagree.  (Why start agreeing now?)

Much like 2008-2009, I sense that the Blue Jackets will be a team that will be in the hunt for a playoff spot right up to the last weekend of the season.  They might get in, they might not, but it'll be close.  And it will be one incredible run, one that will make the smart people who buy tickets to CBJ home games very, very satisfied with their investments.  

Let's close out this series in the same way that we started - with a quote from Danny Gare on the closing night of the CBJ's only playoff run.

This team will be back, this team in blue, folks.
They have plenty of good years ahead of them, 

and it's just starting.
Danny Gare
April 23, 2009

Words to live by.  Enjoy the season, and Carry The Flag!

4 comments:

  1. I said it before, and I will say it again:

    Dude, well done!

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  2. Excellent series.

    My thoughts after looking around the Western Conference going into the season is that the Columbus Blue Jackets (as they are built right now) have a better than even chance of being the 6-7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. This team, from what I've seen, has a chip on their shoulder and want to prove the doubters wrong. So yes, DBJ, I'm going on the record as saying the CBJ will be the 6-7 seed come April. After that, all bets are off as to how deep they go in the playoffs.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Excellent series.

    My thoughts after looking around the Western Conference going into the season is that the Columbus Blue Jackets (as they are built right now) have a better than even chance of being the 6-7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. This team, from what I've seen, has a chip on their shoulder and want to prove the doubters wrong. So yes, DBJ, I'm going on the record as saying the CBJ will be the 6-7 seed come April. After that, all bets are off as to how deep they go in the playoffs.

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  4. THANK YOU for as in-depth a look at My HOME TEAM as has EVER BEEN PROVIDED!!! The time and effort is VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, at least by this fan. I also believe this team has something to prove, not just to the fans, but to themselves as well. I'm not exactly certain what's coming, but I believe it's going to be fun!!!

    ReplyDelete

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