The Defense Rests

Fedor Tyutin at practice

According to Puck Rakers the Blue Jackets today signed Radek Martinek formerly of the Islanders to a one year contract.  The 34 year old Martinek should add the 'stiffness' that Howson wants to add to the defense, and that was sorely lacking down the stretch last year.

There's a couple of different ways to look at this.  My buddy Bill reacted as follows: (ed. note, this is a classic!)" $2.2 million pissed away!  I knew Howson couldn't go the whole season without wasting money on some old fart.  Was he a former captain?"

That is certainly one take on the signing.  On the other hand, if you are a defenseman in Springfield, the fact that Martinek typically plays about 70 games a season says one thing: Opportunity!

It also means competition.  So with this signing, the pairings look like this:
Tyutin-Wisniewski
Methot-Martinek
Russell - Clitsome
Johnson??  Holden ??

This is not the same porous defense that we had down the stretch last year.  True, it might just be a different porous defense, but I think the M & M pair will be the designated shut down pair at the end of games, Toots and Wiz will be out there if we need a goal.  It should be entertaining.

But Savard, Moore, and Holden ought to be paying attention.  If you don't make the big club out of training camp, its not the end of the world.  Kick some butt down in Springfield, and then make your impression when you get called up.  Lots of competition for the spot that is going to be there.  And that's a good thing for the CBJ.

GO JACKETS!!