• 2018 Off-Season Thread •

[KJ Dangler]

Blah, that is kind of my point. We have a lot of money tied up in rather unproductive players (and I include Pooh's $5 million in that statement). We barely have money to extend Bread and Bob. I don't know where we get the extra $5-6 million to add an impact wing or center. I think we are really painted into a corner if Bjork and Sonny cannot each provide 20+ goals next year.

You dont extend Bob unless he takes a pay cut. Sorry , but a 5-14 record with a 3.49GAA and .891 save percentage doesnt warrant being paid as the second highest goalie in the league. That was my point with Werenski possibly being a piece. We have to drastically increase our talent level on the offensive side of the puck. The Nhl has changed as to what you need to win. Pitt, Chicago, Kings, were not built on elite goalie, amazing defenseman, and an average group of forwards.

Also , yes Jarmo said there would be competition at center ice, thats what makes for a successful team, but he said its his job to look at all phases, and consider all options to improve the team, from the coaching staff, on down. I think you will see some moves this summer by the CBJ, next year is do or die for all of them to take a drastic step forward.

 

[KJ Dangler]

Blah, that is kind of my point. We have a lot of money tied up in rather unproductive players (and I include Pooh's $5 million in that statement). We barely have money to extend Bread and Bob. I don't know where we get the extra $5-6 million to add an impact wing or center. I think we are really painted into a corner if Bjork and Sonny cannot each provide 20+ goals next year.

Also, keep in mind Sonny had 14 goals in 55 games, probably playing 11 minutes a night. Bjork was second in the league in points per minutes played, when he was asked to focus on being a checker. Both players have the potential, our center ice position really hurt forward production .

 

[Monk]

Also, keep in mind Sonny had 14 goals in 55 games, probably playing 11 minutes a night. Bjork was second in the league in points per minutes played, when he was asked to focus on being a checker. Both players have the potential, our center ice position really hurt forward production .

You've pointed to this "asked to be a checker" thing a few times as the start of his downswing - can you line this up for me? Was there a Torts quote or something that sort of kicks off the point where we see his production start to drop? It's not that I don't believe you, I'm just curious how well these two things line up since you keep bringing it up.

 

[blahblah]

Blah, that is kind of my point. We have a lot of money tied up in rather unproductive players (and I include Pooh's $5 million in that statement). We barely have money to extend Bread and Bob. I don't know where we get the extra $5-6 million to add an impact wing or center. I think we are really painted into a corner if Bjork and Sonny cannot each provide 20+ goals next year.

I was furthering the conversation, I thought you hit upon an issue. Personally I think that Torts might be part of the problem. If you have that much of a problem with 3 players, perhaps it's more than the players. You can take that to 5 if you include OB and Milano.

 

[blahblah]

Also, keep in mind Sonny had 14 goals in 55 games, probably playing 11 minutes a night. Bjork was second in the league in points per minutes played, when he was asked to focus on being a checker. Both players have the potential, our center ice position really hurt forward production .

Was it all the players or is the coaching staff part of the problem?

 

[Ruudukkopupuset]

On a side note, one of the reasons I list PLD as the #1 center is that PLD complements Panarin a bit better than Wennberg.

Maybe but didn't they also have the boat anchor Atkinson on the line wasting patterns of attack? So I wouldn't say Wennberg cannot play with Panarin. Before anyone says anything about Panarin's injury (game five?) weren't they playing very uninspired ice hockey already in game four (or three) at least? In terms that the Enemy had the upper hand against them.

Of course skill is only recognized by victories, made in the image of the Christ victorious so the day the Blue Jackets begin winning the core forward group of Panarin, Wennberg, Jenner, Anderson and Dubois will garner status also so I would be very cautious in projecting what is needed. I do not know if anyone was in beginning of the season a great believer in the Las Vegas model.

I gathered hope from the Jorma Kekäläinen press conference in that there would be thought placed into the effort of upgrading the positions of Foligno, Calvert, Letestu and unfortunately Dubinsky who once was the best of them. A decrease in solitary goals celebrated as others take pride in winning games I believe would be a strong indicator for a more succesful team. I wouldn't say there is no skill but of course losing few rock sleds on the way would open opportunies for some new players and even more opportunities.

 

[CBJx614]

Since I did most of the talking about this topic, I'll assume my posts had something to do with your response. My first post indicated the real question is what Wennberg will do next season, which is legitimate. Secondly, of course JK will say that stuff. He's speaking GM. He might actually even believe it, although I'm sure he has his doubts; whether it be about Dubinsky or Wennberg. Listen to the GM, but keep it in perspective.

On a side note, one of the reasons I list PLD as the #1 center is that PLD complements Panarin a bit better than Wennberg.

It wasn't necessarily directed at you, it was more along the lines of they were the #1 line last season but anything can happen and it doesn't mean they'll start the season together next year.

 

[blahblah]

Maybe but didn't they also have the boat anchor Atkinson on the line wasting patterns of attack? So I wouldn't say Wennberg cannot play with Panarin.

Who said anything about can't? I said Wennberg's game doesn't compliment Panarin as well as PLD does. I don't think you'd get a lot of support from Panarin about Atkinson being a "boat anchor". I tend to agree that it would be nice to slot Atkinson down a bit, but there aren't better options at this point.

Panarin and Wennberg both require the puck to be at their best.

 

[EspenK]

Bottom line to all these discussions is if the Jackets head into next year with essentially the same line-up, minus Calvert & add Vanek I think they are once again a bubble playoff team destined for an early playoff exit a 16-22 draft pick and years of continuing mediocrity until and unless the young guys reach their peaks and a few of the offense prospects are hits. And if Panarin and or Bob don't re-sign it will be an early 2020 draft discussion.

 

[blahblah]

It wasn't necessarily directed at you, it was more along the lines of they were the #1 line last season but anything can happen and it doesn't mean they'll start the season together next year.

OK, sure... PLD could have a terrible camp or something worse (assuming I read your post correctly). The chemistry is obvious with Panarin and PLD.

 

[CBJx614]

OK, sure... PLD could have a terrible camp or something worse (assuming I read your post correctly). The chemistry is obvious with Panarin and PLD.

It can happen at any moment. Torts broke them up in the playoffs only to put them back together. If PLD slumps he won't be on that line. Hell Cam could lose his spot to OBJ(not likely, but not impossible). I'm just not penciling anybody into any lines until October. And even then im gonna have my eraser ready.

 

[EDM]

I guess we are all seeing the same point but expressing it a bit differently. Whether it is the coaching, the developement of Bjork & Sonny, the over reliance upon mediocre third line types, or whatever. The CBJ have a serious challenge, WHICH THEY MUST ADDRESS THIS OFF SEASON, to improve their offensive production from their forwards. Indeed, if we had more production from the forwards, maybe Jones, Z, Nutti, etc, would not have to play up so far and reduce the risk of "fast breaks" thereby improving our defense. The limits of our forward core just have to be addressed this off-season.

 

[Ruudukkopupuset]

Panarin and Wennberg both require the puck to be at their best.

The best way to get the puck in good positions is to to separate from puck quite often or at almost any opportunity so the playground doesn't get too congested and new alternatives pop-up while you are at it. I think that W. Karlsson (when on Wennberg's flank) and Dubois have in example shown the capability to be in a support role which helps the play.

I do not know how Atkinson played in the regular season but couple games into the play-offs he could not think at the pace or naturality you need to utilize that top skill of Panarin, leading into unforced errors manifesting in shots from nowhere and attacks ending before they even began.

I assume that big iron will obey both Wennberg and Dubois this summer.

 

[We Want Ten]

You dont extend Bob unless he takes a pay cut. Sorry , but a 5-14 record with a 3.49GAA and .891 save percentage doesnt warrant being paid as the second highest goalie in the league.

I'd say putting up an ES SV%of .926 in the playoffs and leading the league in that same stat for several years warrants what he is paid. He can be better, but when he faces odd man rush after odd man rush, or the team is habitually on the PK, it seems to me there are other areas that need to be improved first.

That being said, he went a long way towards killing the "Playoff Bob" stink this year, but "Regular Season Bob" is still better.

 

[EDM]

For $ 8 million you cannot have a Game 6 like he had.

 

[Maylo]

For $ 8 million you cannot have a Game 6 like he had.

But you have a Game 2 like he had.

 

[EDM]

Ok, but for $8 million you expect the Game 2 performance. with no performance like Game 6.

 

[blahblah]

The best way to get the puck in good positions is to to separate from puck quite often or at almost any opportunity so the playground doesn't get too congested and new alternatives pop-up while you are at it. I think that W. Karlsson (when on Wennberg's flank) and Dubois have in example shown the capability to be in a support role which helps the play.
I do not know how Atkinson played in the regular season but couple games into the play-offs he could not think at the pace or naturality you need to utilize that top skill of Panarin, leading into unforced errors manifesting in shots from nowhere and attacks ending before they even began.

I assume that big iron will obey both Wennberg and Dubois this summer.

I'm not really sure where you are going with any of this. Not even sure how much I even agree with the second paragraph. We have system issues, we also have limits in some of our players abilities. That last sentence is just weird.

Later.

 

[KJ Dangler]

For $ 8 million you cannot have a Game 6 like he had.

Or game 5.... So now we are down to cherry picking Bobs 5 on 5 stats in the playoffs to justify his monstrous contract.

 

[Monk]

Or game 5.... So now we are down to cherry picking Bobs 5 on 5 stats in the playoffs to justify his monstrous contract.

I'm not quite sure how referencing the majority of game play (5v5) is cherry picking... using goalie stats when the team is on the PK is a better example of cherry picking, no?

 

[Maylo]

Or game 5.... So now we are down to cherry picking Bobs 5 on 5 stats in the playoffs to justify his monstrous contract.

Or Game 3 when he held them at 2 goals for 80+ minutes, despite multiple HD chances. Bob ES sv% was same as Holtby, it's not his fault our PK and PP sucks.

Here is your Holtby the Wall last night. GAA 3.09, sv 880%. he only faced 2 PP shots! He's crap, right?

 

[Speedy Sanderson]

This guy is certainly optimistic about the Jackets next season. Can't argue with too much of what he said, but I'm not sure about Stastny - not exactly a burner and he's getting older.

Why 2018-19 could finally bring the Blue Jackets a deep playoff run | The Hockey News

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

This guy is certainly optimistic about the Jackets next season. Can't argue with too much of what he said, but I'm not sure about Stastny - not exactly a burner and he's getting older.

Why 2018-19 could finally bring the Blue Jackets a deep playoff run | The Hockey News

Foot/skate speed is important for sure but the ability to think the game quickly (gah that sounds so effing cliche but it's true) is so important. And to be in the right place/work yourself into the right place.

I'd probably oppose adding Stastny specifically (although I was a huge proponent probably five years ago), but being "slow" is only part of the equation.

 

[MoeBartoli]

On a side note, one of the reasons I list PLD as the #1 center is that PLD complements Panarin a bit better than Wennberg.

No question on that. Panarin is not only our best goal scorer, he’s our best assist man...and it does little good to assist someone who won’t take the shot. That in itself makes PLD the better option.

 

[MoeBartoli]

You've pointed to this "asked to be a checker" thing a few times as the start of his downswing - can you line this up for me? Was there a Torts quote or something that sort of kicks off the point where we see his production start to drop? It's not that I don't believe you, I'm just curious how well these two things line up since you keep bringing it up.

Yeah. I’ll specifically cite the Dallas post game presser. The Jackets won 2-1 with Bjork scoring both goals. When asked to comment on Bjorkstrand’s game performance, Torts basically skipped over the goals (which were sniper beauties) and jumped right into how he needs to check more. I have to assume that Torts kept pounding that drum in practice