A Sterner Test

Today the Columbus Blue Jackets start the defense of their home turf in the 2014-15 NHL season against the New York Rangers.  This will be a more difficult test for this battered Blue Jackets squad than the plucky, energetic, but not quite ready for prime time Sabres.

This is a Rangers squad that, in general, we feel we can beat if we play our game.  But the main difference between this season and last is that the core of these Rangers came together as a team during the playoffs, and that is something that is not easily dismissed.  We will see today how much of that lingers, but a run to the Stanley Cup final should pay dividends for the Rangers this year.

The CBJ also have a very tight team.  There is little doubt of that, and they looked very cohesive in their season opener.  They will need to play that style of game against a more difficult opponent today.  A trend that started in Traverse City, in the development tournament hosted by the Redwings, and carried through the preseason is that the CBJ may be outshot early, and may fall behind.  But they have consistently shown an ability to start to wear on teams, and have shown some explosiveness in the third period.  They have shown an ability to play a systematically sound game with a variety of lineups.  We will get a real good idea of the early potential of Wennberg and Dano today as well.  I am looking forward to watching that with keen interest.

These are games the CBJ did not win consistently last year.  A weekend tilt against a powerful opponent before a full house.  It will be a sign of growth for this team if they can begin to win these games.  A Cup finalist is a good early measuring stick, but will not measure the full potential of our team, win or lose.  But a strong early start is built by winning this type of game.  It should be fun to watch!

GO JACKETS!!!

2014-15 NHL Season Finally Here

With a whirlwind of roster change, the 2014-15 hockey season has finally arrived.  It has been an interesting time since Sunday, when the word broke that the Columbus Blue Jackets had claimed Jack Skille off of waivers.  Then on Monday came the joyous news that Ryan Johansen and the CBJ had reached a contract agreement.  Then today came the not so joyous news that Brandon Dubinski is on Injured Reserve for an 'indefinite period', and the CBJ had taken Adam Cracknell off the waiver wire from the L.A. Kings.  This is a Jarmo Special, an acquisition of a player he knows well from his days with the Blues. I guess we'll get to that in a second, when we talk 4th line.

Since I am an atrocious predictor, AND, most predictions are based on last year's results, I'm going to pass on a prediction.  I think we can all reach consensus that I am wrong, and we move on.  I am very excited for this season, because we have experienced some stability in our core players that I think was badly needed.  For instance, many people are picking the Islanders to finish in the playoffs this year, and as a team, I think they improved a lot.  But there is a lot of change there, and it takes awhile for that all to jell.  I think the amount of roster change that has taken place has played a role in the slow starts the last two years for the CBJ.  We have not seen that amount of change this year.  I think that lack of change will help the Jackets get off to a reasonable start.  They don't need to tear the league up, but a game or two over .500 by Veterans Day would go a long way.

One of the keys that I will use to try to assess how much the team has improved overall will be the type of success they have against the elite teams; Pittsburgh and Boston in the East, Chicago, L.A., Anaheim and San Jose in the Western Conference.  Last year, the team struggled against the elite teams during the regular season.  This year I will be looking to see if we start winning a couple of our home games against the elite teams.  We are not an elite team at this point, but it would be good progress to win a couple of those big weekend games at home against Boston or Pittsburgh.  Some road wins would be icing on the cake.

Ryan Johansen agrees to terms with the CBJ

3 years, $12 million, 4MM AAV that pays $3MM year one, $3MM year two, and $6MM in final year.  Johansen will still be an RFA at the end of this contract and a qualifying offer must be made to retain his rights.  HERCULES, HERCULES!

It's Time to Extend Training Camp

CBJ fans react to Gallos' suggestion that training camp be extended...

Wait...what?  Did I say training camp?  Oops!  I meant to say the tryout!

Due to the vicissitudes of the preseason, it seems that our young wunderkids, Marko Dano, Kerby Rychal, and Alexander Wennberg are poised to make this team out of training camp.  They have all shown themselves to be at some level ready for this task, so at this stage of the game it is important to remember that we are entering another phase of 'making the team', and that is a 10 game tryout.
If my understanding of the CBA is correct, there is tonight's final preseason game, and up to 9 regular season games that Dano, Rychal and Wennberg can play before you burn the first year of their entry level deal.  So despite the fact that the Jacket's brass has watched these guys intently, they are going to be scrutinized even harder over the next 9 games.  It is quite possible that all of these guys play in the AHL before the year is out.  In an ideal world, they would already be down there preparing to lead Springfield back to the playoffs.  But adversity has payed a visit to the CBJ, and here they are.

The Regular Season: I'm Happy and Sad!

Training Camp has begun for the Columbus Blue Jackets.  For fans it means the NHL regular season is right around the corner.  Most players are excited to return to the rink and begin the 2014-15 campaign.  Everyone that is, except for a few players.  Unless you spent the better part of a couple of weeks away from all forms of CBJ social media, it’s likely you’ve heard that both Ryan Johansen and Nathan Horton will miss the start of training camp.  While there is joy and excitement about the start of the 2014-15 season, this September is not without it's feeling of worry and concern.  Ryan Johansen’s absence is due to contract negotiations and Nathan Horton has a previously undisclosed back injury.  Now we hear about Boone Jenner's broken hand.  The timing of these developments doesn't help the cause as the 2014-2015 season may be the most important season in the brief history of the Columbus Blue Jackets.  While the absence of these players doesn’t necessarily mean doom and gloom for the franchise, they certainly don't do the fan base any favors chasing away apprehension that typically comes along with the first few weeks of the NHL regular season.

 

Umby Money and a Week

Joey wearing the colors of
the loyal southern
secessionists

No one can question RJ Umberger's devotion and effort as a Columbus Blue Jacket.  It can also not be doubted that occasional shortcomings in hand softness, foot speed and hockey sense kept RJ from having the impact he really wanted to have.  There were those who called his $4 plus million contract a 'bad contract', and indeed, the CBJ moved that contract over the summer.  This I think is good for RJ, and wish him all the best.  He no longer has to be the 'heart and soul' of the locker room in Philly, and being overtaken in that role in Columbus was kinda tough on him I think.

But seriously.  After last year, the notion that Joey is worth less than RJ is kinda dumb.  So give Joey the same money as RJ, and get it done.  Even if he's not the real deal, Joey can give you RJ numbers.  So let's get this done.

From a fan's perspective, I expect Joey to be out of camp for at least a week.  If you are going to miss some of camp, you might as well miss at least a week to let 'em know you are serious.  So once the week time frame has passed, I respectfully request the parties to get Joey back in Union Blue.

GO JACKETS!!

You're Our Only Hope, Obi Wan Dubinsky

Princess Morgan Delivers a Critical Message to Obi Wan Dubinsky

Hoo Boy!  What a week.  I am constantly reminded of how poor a predictor I am, as I watched another prediction go down in flames this week.  In the heat of a playoff push last spring I remember tweeting that I was no longer worried about a Blue Jacket being in the All Star game, as Ryan Johansen would be there for sure.  Thanks Overhardt for trashing that prediction!  Hockey fans are the most forgiving folks in the world (see Bettman, Gary re: lockouts), but Joey is burning good will starting tomorrow.  To get in the All Star game as a new All Star you need to perform, and a guy who is not on the ice isn't going to perform.  I always kind of expected to Joey not have quite the great year this year, just 'cause that's how things are.  But any missed time in the regular season pretty much trashes that hope.  I don't think Joey is about to go on a 50-60 goal tear, 'cause he would have to be on that pace to get any consideration for the All Star game at this point.  What is worth more going forward?  Sitting out, or being in the All Star Game?  In my personal opinion, of course, it's the latter.  Oh well, par for the course for a Blue Jackets fan.

Then comes the news from the team that Nathan Horton is hobbled by a bad back.  Long time Blue Jacket Fans remember well how awesome Freddy Modin was (a heavy player), but he had back spasms that 3 months later were diagnosed as fractured (more like cracked) vertebrae.  I've gotta tell you that's what's on my mind, because Modin never really seemed to recover from that injury.  Horton should take the time to make sure he's good and healthy before he returns.  Don't rush it!!  In some ways, this is a normal course of events when someone is returning from something major like the shoulder injury.  Other injuries crop up with regularity in these situations.  Get well Horton.

Johansen: Looking at what we know today

 

At the Blue Jacket’s NHL media day today, President of Hockey Operations John Davidson announced three contracts that were offered to Kurt Overhardt, and by proxy, Ryan Johansen.  I normally don't like to spend too much time debating a player's worth and translating it into salary.  However, now that some numbers have been disclosed, it's fair to examine those numbers.  My opinions don't consider the elasticity of cap - because like quantum mechanic experiments that involve Austrian cats, I cannot tell if the cap will increase or decrease beyond this season.  Let’s look at the numbers as they stand today and play devil’s advocate:

A personal note on Bill Davidge

If I'm going to break radio silence, it's going to be for something important.  And, to me, this is.

Word came down from The Mother Ship that Columbus Blue Jackets analyst on FOX Sports Ohio (and perhaps a Blue Jackets employee...I don't know...it's all so muddled as to who's under contract with whom...) Bill Davidge is undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma.  This apparently is a recent development.

Bill Davidge doing what comes naturally...being a
genuinely nice man. (Photo from the Columbus Blue Jackets)

I'm no medical expert, but cancer is nasty business.  I've known plenty of people afflicted with cancer.  It's no fun.  You just don't wish it on anyone, any time, any place.

And in the case of Bill Davidge, I will draw upon my limited personal experience to say that this happened to one of the more genuinely nice people in the Columbus Blue Jackets media-sphere.

You see, I had the opportunity to do the whole media row thing once as part of my work with FOX Sports Ohio last season...the opening preseason game.  I got to do it all (and thanks to FOX Sports Ohio's Rick Gethin, I didn't get lost along the way) - the media check-in, the pregame media room meal, the sitting up at the counter, the rockin' wifi allowing me to write and live-tweet the game, etc.  I skipped the post-game presser because the path of my story (fan enthusiasm) didn't lead me to the locker room but rather to the concourse, but I did everything else just as any other credentialed writer.

Of all the experiences that I took in during that one night, perhaps the most memorable was the media dining room.  To put it mildly, it is a funny place filled with distinct personalities.  I dare not put any more in print, but load me up with enough Red Bull and I'll tell you some stories.  As a newbie, I took it all in with a mixture of bemusement and amazement.  Oh yeah, and the dinner was nice.  Not Mitchell's Steak House nice, but much better than Bacon on a Stick.

And as the newbie, I pretty much kept my head down and was grateful that Rick was kind enough to sit with me and talk me through the whole media process as we ate.  But when I got up to grab some dinner, who was there getting his meal as well?

You guessed it, Bill Davidge.

Jarmo Drops the Gloves

Aaaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch just posted an interview with Jarmo Kekalainen over on Puck Rakers in which Jarmo speaks out about the contract situation with Ryan Johansen.  In the interview, Jarmo does a couple of things.  He emphatically states that once camp starts, that it's about the team, and not individuals.  He also publicly states their comparables (Duchene, Steppan; good comparables), and he call's out Joey's agent, wondering if this is about being a record setting agent, or about Johansen's long term future?

My own personal opinion is that it is about Overhardt wanting to be a record setting agent, and pushing the envelope when he has no (zero) leverage.  He holds Joey out of camp and there is pretty much zero (0) chance that Joey repeats the 30 goals, and then where is he?  Eventually he reports late, never really gets up to speed, and scores about 20 goals.  The next year he has an injury, and scores 20 again, and the long term contract is now about a 20 goal scorer.  The $3 million now could cost him $10-15 million over the long term.

I've been watching this all summer, and pretty much no one thinks that Joey is worth the money they are asking.  This should be a deal that can get done.  It is incumbent on both sides to get it done.  The one person hurt if it doesn't get done is the player.  As a long term fan, I support the organization on this one.  Like them, I really like the player.  But the organization took a huge risk on him when they drafted him fourth overall.  At this point, the organization deserves this assurance that he is worth it.  Joey was always going to be a late bloomer, but they have paid him NHL money all along the way, and burned a year of his deal early.  He could have been riding the bus in Springfield really easily the first couple of years, but they kept him with the big club.

Joey deserves a raise, a big one.  The Jackets proposal is 2-3 times his previous salary.  When was the last time someone offered you 2-3 times your salary and you turned it down?  Sometimes these things happen, and its Joey's business to get the money he can.  He must now realize that he can't get the money he's asking.  So now is the time to get what he can.

Get this done boys.