Gutting One Out on a Backdrop of Injuries

Curtis McElhinney has been stout of late

Last night, the pregame opened with the news the Ryan Murray would be out 4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain.  It certainly has been an ill-fated sophomore campaign for the young defenseman.

While I have been an advocate of having him spend some time in the AHL, his few games back in the lineup while healthy have shown him to be definitely NHL ready.  The injury has nothing to do with his previous struggles, so that is the sole positive note from the whole thing.

On the game front, the CBJ came out and played a sound defensive game on legs that seemed to have left a lot of energy in the St. Louis game.  It was a slow game, but the CBJ managed a decent forecheck, and keep the shot count tilted their way for a lot of the first period.  Curtis McElhinney picked up where he left off against St. Louis, continuing a very solid run of play.  This is an interesting time for CMac, because this is an audition for a contract next year.  Forsberg hasn't been bad, and he hasn't gotten a lot of support, but he's not looking NHL ready.  Another season in the AHL would be fine on his development track, and if McElhinney can win some games in this stretch with Bob out, another contract is a good idea.  On a personal note, I am glad to see him play so well, as it has been a long road for him.

We acquired McElhinney during the nadir of the Arniel debacle, as a throw in on the trade of Antoine Vermette to Phoneix.  McElhinney was an unrestricted free agent who was on injured reserve, and out for the rest of the season following hip surgery.  The CBJ signed him to a two way deal in the offseason, and in 2011-12 he spent the year in Springfield, playing very well, and proving his durability.  The following year was the lockout, and Mike McKenna and Mike Smith were signed to provide goal tending in Springfield, while McElhinney was given an NHL contract to back up Bobrovsky.

This next stretch is critical for a lot of players on this team.  The trade deadline looms, March 2, and this team wants to show Jarmo and JD that they can win no matter how beat up they are.  This would provide incentive to Jarmo and JD to keep the group together.  McElhinney and Bobrovsky work well together.  If this stretch goes well for CMac it is probably time to sign him again.  He is a very cost effective contract, and you could give him a nice raise and not lose that aspect.  In addition, perhaps its time for him to see more regular game action, spelling Bobrovsky on a more regular basis, as an attempt to prevent future injuries to Bobrovsky.  You can't make noise in the playoffs without an effective backup goal tender.  Your number one guy has to have something in the tank when the playoffs start.  It's not going to happen this year, but I like our chances next year.  There is a whole lot of foundation being laid this year that supports that notion.

As far as the game, if it's tied 0-0 at the end of two, that's a good road game, especially on the second night of a back to back.  All you have to do is win one period.  Cam got it going with the first goal, Foligno followed up with an insurance goal.  Which was good to have because Ottawa finally got on the board with 5 minutes left in the game.  The CBJ withstood the push, and regained some possession towards the end.  Ottawa finally pulled the goal tender, and Scott Hartnell lobbed a back hand wedge shot over Karlsson's head (LOL) into the empty net.  The look on Karlsson's face was priceless.  Then Letestu skated past a motionless Ottawa defense to score with 12 second left, cause Lehner to throw his stick in frustration, and all of a sudden it was a laugher.  Eleven goals in 2 games does something to budge the 1.3 gpg from the previous 3 games.

Monday Scott Hartnell plays in his 1000th NHL game.  I look forward to cheering him loud and long for that accomplishment.  He's a good guy to have on our team.

GO JACKETS!!

Dangerous Ground for Ken Hitchcock

I have long been an admirer of Ken Hitchcock.  I am content that he is coaching a high powered St. Louis Blues team, and frankly would be perfectly satisfied to see the Blues finally win that Cup under Hitch's leadership.  This Blues team just set a franchise record for a consecutive point streak, and this franchise has been around for awhile.

Hitch Working the Bench in Days of Yore

Tonight was our night.  The bounces cut our way, and given the plethora of games where they did not bounce our way, it was great to see one of those games break our way.  In my last post I talked about a Coyotes defenseman falling down, swinging wildly at the puck, and making a perfect clear.  It was that type of night for the Blue Jackets.

The risk for Hitch is that he believes that is a representative result against his group, or that it resulted from a lack of effort on their part.  Perhaps a shade of understandable over confidence, but not an effort deficit.  The CBJ put 7 goals past two pretty good goalies tonight.  Since we averaged 1.3 goals per game (gpg) in the prior 3 games, forgive me if I don't start polishing my faux Stanley Cup.  A smart and experienced hockey coach like Hitch will write it off as one of those things that happen to all teams.

Another risk for Hitch is that he over does 'beating' on a team that probably really doesn't need it.  The Blues are a really good team.  They are cruising for the Cup playoffs in the central division, and you want to save that card (if you are Hitchcock) until the playoffs, when that jolt from the coach may make a real difference.

Tonight was 'best tryer' night for the CBJ.  Everything they did ended up with a CBJ goal somewhere along the way, and everybody gets a trophy.  How cool.

But the Blues are poised for a Cup run, and personally, I wish them well.  I'd love to see Hitch get another Stanley Cup.

GO JACKETS!!

A Day Late and A Dollar Short

The last time I dug out the bottom feeder graphic
they went 10-1-1.  Don't think so this time.

The Blue Jackets got booed in their own arena tonight.  That's because they were being outworked by the Phoenix Arizona Coyotes for the second time this year.  The 'Yotes have embraced their role as a bottom feeder and a spoiler this year.  That awful truth and reality is just hitting home to the Jackets players, and it's fair to say they have not adjusted well to that reality.  And I'm okay with that.  Tonight the Coyotes completed the season sweep of the Jackets, and it wasn't that close.

It is easy to say that the flaws in this team are clear without Bobrovsky.  But 4 goals in 4 games has nothing to do with Bobrovsky.  A 1.0 GPG isn't going to get it done in Bantam hockey, much less the NHL.  The shocking thing was to see that late in the third period the shots were tied at something like 28.  That means the Coyote in the center of Mike Smith's chest had been hit 27 times.  Hell, I could play NHL goalie if the opposing team promised to always hit the logo on my chest.  Perhaps that is an exaggeration, but that is how it felr as a fan watching the game.

But speaking purely as a fan, not a hockey analyst by any stretch, you couldn't find a more snake bit team than the CBJ right now.  A 'Yote defenseman falls down, swings wildly at the puck.  Perfect clear.  Maybe it is their superior skill, but I doubt it.  However, it is true that the 'Yotes have owned the CBJ this year, though I am not sure why.  Something about us brings out the best in them.  Power to them.

I have an uneasy feeling about this next month.  The trade deadline is less than a month away, and I think that is suddenly being keenly felt in the CBJ locker room.  There will be changes, perhaps more drastic than you and I can foresee.  The hard part in this is estimating the pace of development of the talent in the pipeline.  Howson over estimated what he had, and it cost him his job.  Jarmo and JD have been more patient, with only Wennberg being sacrificed to the exigencies of this season.  Bjorkstrand remains in Juniors, playing for the Portland Winterhawks.  Dano, Rychal and Anderson are resolutely held in the AHL, in spite of an NHL team screaming for talent.  Jarmo may get raked over the coals for this patience, but he will be rewarded in the long run.

Keep in mind that Jarmo and JD have their sights firmly set on a serious Cup run three years from now (IMHO).  To make a serious Cup run 3 years from now, you need to make some noise 2 years from now.  That means Wennberg, Rychal, Dano and Bjorkstrand need to be impact players in 2 more years.  How best do you get there?  As you look at this 'Bobless' team, it makes it easier to see what parts are going to be necessary to make some real noise 2 years from now, and what parts aren't going to get that done.

If you think you want to do what I have described above, giving Rychal, Dano, and Anderson serious ice time down the stretch after the trade deadline seems imperative.  What veterans do you keep?  Letestu seems certain, with his cost effective contract.  Dubi, Nick, Joey and Hartsy (sorry Morgan) Dubinsky, Foligno, Johansen, and Hartnell for sure.  After that?  Jenner is out, but he'll be in, so let's add him in.  After that the only thing dictating your behavior is opportunity.  If that opportunity included a first round pick in this draft, it might be pretty tempting.  Especially since you have defensemen to sweeten the pot.  Young prospect?  Sure!  Veteran D-man for the run?  We can help you out!  How about a few forwards for the draft pick?

Interesting times for the CBJ.  A dog of a game raises the stakes for some players on this team.  Hopefully there is better hockey than tonight's game to be seen as the season winds down.

GO JACKETS!!

Happy GroundHockey Day

Unfortunately, this morning Stinger got up and saw his shadow, which means there's only 10 more weeks of CBJ hockey.  We are caught in a numbers game that is looking more and more unfavorable.  The Tampa Bay game was a killer, and going oh-for-Florida really hurt.  The math said we had maybe 9 games to lose after the All-Star Game, and there was two of them right there.  The team didn't necessarily play poorly, but was prone to mistakes that the other teams made them pay for.  Which describes how things are going.  Not to mention that 3 goals in two games on the road is not going to get it done.

The next few weeks could be really interesting, as we are carrying 9 defensemen, and falling rapidly into 'seller' status at the trade deadline.  And the question of what to do with the young guys down in Springfield at the end of the season starts to loom.  Do you give them extended tryouts to acclimate them to the NHL as a season goes down the tubes, or do you leave them in Springfield to try to win something?  These are tough questions for Jarmo.  In many ways, getting Rychal, Dano, and Anderson ready for next year should be a paramount priority, it is just the question of what serves them best.

Wennberg is poised to lead that group of young players.  He really played well Saturday night, in spite of a tough outcome on a backhanded clear out from in front of the net on bad rebound.  I thought that line of Wennberg, Anderson, and Anisimov looked really fast and really dangerous when they had a chance to play together.  We only got to see it for two or three games before Anderson went back down, but there is real potential there.

Bjorkstrand should be ready for the AHL next year for sure.  Holy smokes, 34G-34A-68P in 40 games?  Oliver looked like a stud in the World Juniors too.  A year of seasoning in the AHL, then the jump to the big club.  Those are definitely Junior Hockey type numbers, but it will be interesting to see what he carries forward into the pro ranks. And the way things are looking now, the CBJ look to be in prime position to stock the lower ranks with more talent from the top end of a loaded draft this year.  And while Sonny Milano still looks a couple years out, he has real potential.

This has been a tough year.  I think the team is going to continue to play good, entertaining hockey down the stretch, but the weight of the unbelievable injuries is finally becoming too much. But there is a lot to like in the foundations of this hockey club.

I decided not to publish my rant Saturday night.  I was just too angry with the outcome.  Which is good.  By 2010-11 I could sit and watch a game like that without budging from my chair.  The vehemence of my vitriol is evidence that I care again, and those kind of losses are tough to take.  And best kept to oneself.

Here's a little anecdote for you to ponder on Groundhockey Day.  You remember Adam Foote, the Captain who ran out of town?  Scott Hartnell is the first round draft pick we got for him from Colorado.  We traded that pick for Umby.  So Foote is out of the game, but we are still living large on that transaction.  Hartsy is going to play his 1000th game next Monday if all goes well.  How cool is that?

GO JACKETS!!

So This is How Its Going To Be...

A Vinny Prospal, David Savard Pic is Pretty Random

A difficult game to write about.  No 'soft goals'.  This loss is not about the goal tending.  Cmac played well enough to win.  Two goals probably won't do it going forward, no matter how you cut it, but that's where we ended up.  It seems a poor reflection of how we played tonight.  In many ways I guess this is a character game, you play well but don't get the result.  So it goes, on the road in the NHL.

The thing that struck me most was a comment by Rimmer that FLA had '3 first round picks on the same line'.  It is important to keep in mind that the CBJ are not at this place yet.  Wennberg seems to continue to progress.  Josh Anderson played with a lot of verve in his fourth game.  These next few games for him, especially on the road, will tell a lot about a young player.  You have to get past the 'hot damn, I'm in the NHL!' buzz to get a view on these young players.  This is usually games 5-10.  I thought Josh played a really good game, and the line of Anisimov, Wennberg, and Anderson looked fast, dangerous, and responsible.  Not bad for the first time out.  Give it a few games to jell. (Problematically,the opposition will watch video and plan ahead, which must be overcome).  This babble should be taken in the context that even with the unbelievable run of injuries, the CBJ have shown good organizational discipline, and kept Dano and Rychal down in the AHL as a logical progression of their development dictates.  Their growth is about next year.  My point is that by next year we may see the same 'three first round picks on the same line' thing happening in Columbus.

Our players are not happy about this.  That's all I care about.  They played well enough to win, but didn't.  That's life on the road.  Gotta play better against Tampa, or it will be bad.  We might have had 10 games we could lose between now and the end of the season and still be in the discussion.  Now its 9.  The margin grows thinner.  It's been a brutal year for the CBJ.  When the puck dropped against the Capitals in the last game we surpassed the previous years injury total of man games lost, with half the season left to go.  In that regard, I like that our guys don't seem to want to quit.  But it is a tough way to go for them.   But at the end of the day, you can't leave the game for Toronto to call.  It's not like we had a goal waived off or anything.  We need to score more than 2 goals if we want to win consistently without Bob, and we didn't.  So there it is.

We miss Nathan Horton keenly.  Think about another Hartnell plus player on the ice.  It really puts pressure on the other team, but now we need to come up with that internally.  And that hurts.  Not the money, but the fact that we acquired him as a foundation player, who would set the tone for the young guys coming up.  But honestly, I would rather he be able to play with his kids, even if it means he can't play hockey again.  Nathan is a guy the game will take care of some way.  This is why I am proud of the CBJ medical staff for diagnosing the fractures in Boone Jenners back.  I suspect Horton had the same thing, but it was not diagnosed.  That is Freddy Modin's contribution to the CBJ, our medical staff knows what to look for when a player has 'back spasms'.

Our guys played a good competitive game, but came out on the short end.  I fear this will happen more than we want it to down the stretch, but the bottom line is that it was a really fun hockey game to watch.  A lot of back and forth action, with an unfortunate result.  A midst all of this, I still think the future looks bright, even this year.  With Murray poised to return, a move with the defensemen must be made.  My personal preference would be to at least send Murray to the AHL for a conditioning assignment, or realistically something more permanent.  I think  he needs the minutes, and Connauton has supplanted him as Wiz's pair over the short term.  You want to put off having to make a move on Cody Goloubef as long as possible, and sending Murray to the AHl does just that.  Much as we expect Joey to prove it to us, we should expect Connauton to do the same.  Murray may yet play with Wiz again.

Sigh.  A loss we can ill afford.  But that's hockey.  It's not like we played terrible, we just didn't win.  It seems like that kind of year.

GO JACKETS!!

No Car Tonight Ovi

Curtis McElhinney got the job done tonight

On the first night back from the All-Star break, Columbus did not show the same level of love for Alexander Ovechkin, a member of Team Foligno, as it did during the All-Star Game.  Ovi had his chances on the power play, often damaging Blue Jackets laying in the path of his shot, and one time sounding like he permanently marred the boards with a wicked heavy shot.  But most importantly, Curtis McElhinney kept Ovechkin off the board, and the Blue Jackets prevailed 4-3.

HUGELY important for the stretch run was the fourth line getting on the board early, with Mark Letestu getting a goal off a good hustle feed from Corey Tropp.  The Jackets scored again off a wicked one-timer from Ryan Johansen on a sweet feed from Kevin Connauton.  In that case, Connauton had jumped up on the play, and Joey was playing the point, a little role reversal that fooled Holtby, the Washington goal tender.  Joey put some sauce on that shot though, to be sure.  After that point, the Jackets and the Capitals counter punched, with the Capitals scoring promptly after each Jackets goal, but never really closing the gap to a tie.  Atkinson got the game winner on a blast from the high slot.

I liked the Blue Jackets game tonight.  They did a lot of things to really flummox a well coached (damn you Trotz) and talented team.  The last two, well actually three, goals the Jackets scored came off of sequences where the Jackets puck possession got the Capitals chasing the puck, and never catching up.  There were several really good sequences by the Jackets that the Caps couldn't solve.  On the other hand, when the Caps pushed back after a goal, they pushed back hard, and the Jackets seemed unable to organize themselves against it.

All in all, a huge two points against a Metro opponent.  It would have been really bad not to win in regulation to night, and the Jackets did a good job of closing out the game.  I thought Alex Wennberg had a really strong game tonight.  True, it was mostly defensively, but in the NHL, you have to play defense if you want ice time (unless you are Ovi), and he is starting to be an impact player defensively.  The offense will come with more chances, you get more chances by being an impact player defensively.  No worries about this kid.  We may not see the offense this year, and maybe not next year, but for sure the year after, barring unforeseen circumstances.  He grows with each game, and is poised to really make a difference in the stretch run.  If he got a goal or two and got hot, I could see him on a little push that might make a difference in this stretch run.  We'll see.  No worries if he doesn't, but he is going to be getting ice time by earning it.

A really good game by the Jackets, coming off the glory of the All-Star game.  One thing that may well arise from that event is a huge surge in confidence by Nick Foligno and Ryan Johansen.  And that could be trouble for the other guy down the stretch.

GO JACKETS!!!

Why We Boo Rick Nash

An All-Star Arena Saturday Night

I've seen a lot of reaction on the twitterwebs about the booing that Rick Nash received at the All-Star game.  Let me reassure you folks, we boo him because we love him.  Yeah some people are bitter about the way the whole break went down.  They boo him out of an emotion that I don't identify with, but that's okay.  I boo him/cheer him to make some noise, to let him understand that I'm paying attention that he's out there.  He's a Ranger for gosh sake!  I'm supposed to cheer him?  Nah!

I am happy for Nash.  I really am.  He's in a better place for him, and it is really showing this year.  I'd much rather Nash win the Rocket Richard trophy than someone else.  It is not uncommon for a hockey player to have to go somewhere other than where he was drafted to achieve his ultimate potential.  Ilya Kovalchuk couldn't drag the Thrashers to the playoffs on his own.  Nash managed to climb that mountain once, in 2008-09 with the Blue Jackets.  That speaks to his character.  But in the end, there was no sense in him trying to pull along another rebuild.  And the assets from his trade changed the dynamic for the CBJ, which was badly needed at that time.  What we had wasn't going to be able to work.

The reason it is not uncommon for a player to go elsewhere and find his ultimate success level is because of the expectations that come with draft picks, especially for an expansion organization where the dearth of talent is keenly felt.  Derick Brassard and Jake Voracek are a great example of that.  Fan expectations (mine included) were that they would automatically turn in to Toews and Kane, and when they weren't, these unrealistic expectations were not met.  Brass and Jake are not Toews and Kane, and never will be.  They are always going to be Brass and Jake.  Voracek has reached a high level of play this year.  Jackets fans would never have been content to wait this long for Jake to get there.  That is not to suggest that Jake is unduly late in finding success, it is to suggest that the expectations for that timing were unrealistic.  Derick Brassard is starting to round into the center we always thought he would be for the Rangers.  I'm not sure he makes that here.  He is in the right place for his development in New York.

Rick Nash spent his formative years pulling this franchise along.  He lead the team to its first playoff appearance, but the wheels came off after that.  Ken Hitchcock has commented that the 2008-09 Blue Jackets team was one of his favorite teams, because it maxed out.  They gave him every ounce of what they had.  To be successful in the playoffs, you need much more than that, and you can't have left it all laying on the ice just to get there.

Nash's trade gave Columbus the building blocks that they needed to stabilize the center of the ice.  So even in leaving, he did Columbus right.  So we boo him.  To let him know we care.

GO JACKETS!!

A Great Event

The 2015 NHL All-Star game, held in Columbus was nothing but a really good time.  I felt our City showed itself off really well, and a lot of people got a chance to experience what the Arena District has to offer.  In terms of a celebration of hockey, this sure felt like a good one.

I was treated to an interesting anecdote tonight at the game.  Some friends of ours, a younger couple, season ticket holders, have a six week old new born.  The announcement of the rules, early in the week, stating that such newborn had to have a seat, and a ticket, according to NHL policy put some of our ticket holders in a bind.  According to our friends, the CBJ basically said, 'yup, that's the policy', then proceeded to pay for the infant's ticket themselves, absorbing any extra ticket costs owed to the NHL.  I love seeing our organization take care of its fans.  I understand where the NHL is coming from on this.  They love our organization for making it a non-issue for them.

I went downtown this weekend to enjoy the All-Star game.  It fulfilled my expectations in spades, in terms of it being a REALLY good time.  One of the things I liked seeing the most was the level of professionalism showed by the people who were working this event.  Anything this big is going to have its situations, and SNAFUs.  From what I was able to observe, those were few and far between.  I mean, you have to assume that there were some screw-ups.  But I didn't see any.  The event seemed to come off without a hitch.  Thanks to all of you for working so hard to represent the City I love.  It was a really great effort on your part.

Come Tuesday, the regular season starts again.  Ovi, it was great having you on Team Foligno.  But you get demoted back to the Caps tomorrow, and we promise to treat you accordingly when you return.  Thanks everyone for such a great weekend!

GO JACKETS!!!

So It Begins

Fan Fest At The Columbus Convention Center

The Fan Fest sneak preview last night, the blogger happy hour at Bernard's Tavern tonight (stick tap to @redditcbj for showing), the swirl of fun that is the All Star Game has arrived in Columbus.  It is SO cool.

I am really looking forward to enjoying myself this weekend.  The notion of 'Team Foligno" gets me fired up just thinking about it.  I've been wearing Nick's number to games for 2 years now, and it is just beautiful watching him have fun in this role.  It's awesome!

Stick tap to Mark from Memphis on fun conversation at Bernard's Tavern tonight.  Meeting people from all over is the big part of this weekend.  It's so fun.  I'm looking forward to the whole experience.

Our friends have graciously allowed us to move into their downtown condo this weekend.  We move in tomorrow, for the duration.  How cool is that?

Enjoy our All Star Game Columbus!  Get out there and be a good ambassador to our City.  It is such an easy sell!

GO JACKETS!!

Back to the Future

Wiz Scores His 50th Career Goal for the GWG

Big road win for the CBJ tonight, beating the Minnesota Wild, 3-1 in their barn, as Columbus warms up for All-Star weekend.  The Jackets outskated the Wild in the first and third periods of the game, and endured through the second period to earn the road win.  The bad news is that Johansen's 13 game point streak comes to an end because Calvert missed an empty net late in the game.  So it goes.

On the plus side, our top 5 power play continued to score, which is a really good thing going forward.  We got some good vibes from the officials who waved off a Wild goal because, well, it's complicated.  It was our night tonight, and a well earned win.

We saw flashes of it against the Bruins, bigger looks of it tonight against a lesser opponent, where the CBJ had that look of rolling 3 second lines, and a fourth line, like we did last year.  Alexander Wennberg continues to take huge strides each game.  I think Ryan Johansen has taken a step here lately too.  He is looking more energetic and stronger then he did in December.  Both of these players are key for the franchise going forward, and watching Wennberg take strides every game he plays is very pleasing.  Keep in mind we are duplicating scenarios from last year's successful season without key players, such as Artem Anismov and Boone Jenner, not to mention Ryan Murray.  I don't know how things are going to turn out this year, but this looks an awful lot like a damn good team next year.

It will be interesting watching Josh Anderson over the next few games.  He has helped to be able to create that line of Dubninsky, Hartnell and Anderson, which has caused real problems for the opposition over the last two games.  It is fairly normal for someone coming up for the first time to have a couple-three good games, and then plateau hard as the adrenaline of getting called up for the first time burns off.  It is very normal for young players to fade after the first few games, and it is no shame to Anderson if he gets sent back down.   We will see how he continues in the next few games.  If he can maintain the level he has shown in the last 3 games, he is going to be in the NHL for a long time.  Good stuff.

Winnipeg up next, and then the All-Star Game.  Good times in CBJ land!!

GO JACKETS!!