2014 CBJ Offseason Thread

[Tulipunaruusu*]

I do not support the possible lack of action on Daniel Zaar. I do support the action on Marian Gaborik, and the front office was speaking truthfully when it was said publicly that trading Gaborik was about preserving the future. Atkinson began to emulate Gaborik, who is clearly nowhere close to the same player that he once was. Gaborik has an injury history that's only grown longer, which has caused him to become more of a perimeter player. He also started pacing himself during games, which is fine if it's a free-flowing system that allows players a lot of open ice. In something more tightly structured that's about finding open ice and continuing to move, Gaborik was a mismatch. And by emulating Gaborik, Atkinson became a mismatch.

If we speak only from an asset standpoint, the Marian Gaborik trade was a dud on both ends. But the assertion that he had to be moved for vague reasons that were never clarified is true.

I think you got the tactical part of why Gaborik was traded about right but I wouldn't say that Kekäläinen traded him to protect Atkinson's or any other player's development but the organization's future when they weren't in position to really gamble with Gaborik any more (in what might not have been even a game of post-season) after he had just returned from injury and hadn't really found his place on the ice.

In European context at least (football especially) "protecting the future" basicly means trading away free agent in his last contract year before you lose him for nothing.

Surely you can argue that Gaborik (even as a missed gamble) would have slightly boosted Blue Jackets play-off stock this year but what this team still needs is long-term talent injection that Horton, Murray, Jenner and Tropp represented in this year's team (with their current contract situation). In that view every acquired second round pick does help if they give you chance to draft the next team captain. Signing Zaar is surely one of those steps...

 

[Vagrant]

I know it was mentioned earlier in the thread about Carolina and Columbus talking about Jeff Skinner in theory. What would you guys think of a deal for Skinner involving Anisimov and Atkinson? There would probably be more moving parts, but as a basis that seems like a move that might be beneficial to both squads.

 

[EDM]

The issue with Zaar is very intriguing to me. If he has the kind of upside potential discussed here, JK would be very foolish to let him go. I agree with the discussion about Cam's potential if he really gets serious about making himself the best he can be, he could be a major part of the long term core.

 

[EDM]

Anisimov is one of the guys who I see being eased out over the next 2-3 years. He does play a valuable role. But with Wennberg coming up, Arty seems to be the most likely replaceable of the centers. Dubie will be kept around. He is a major part of the glue.

 

[blahblah]

The additional maturing part is why Cam Atkinson is still here despite being a healthy scratch multiple times.

Well, duh. We're not going to give up on him that quickly.

Having said that, another 2 months of Gaborik wasn't going to make that much of a difference in the career of Cam Atkinson. As far as Atkinson "emulating" Gaborik, I'm sure there was a lot of that with the whole 22 games that he was in the lineup this season unless we're saying that Gaborik was mentoring him from the press box.

Look, never had an issue trading Gaborik. I had an issue with the front office not bringing in top six depth to replace him for the playoff push.

This sounds like Gaborik being the fall guy for something else, if there was even any truth at all to this.

I have no idea what the Zaar situation is, haven't bothered to find out (meaning I don't really care; Zaar wasn't on my radar over the next three or so years). What I am trying to figure out is what does this guy have to do with the Jackets being a Cup contender next season? Don't we have a development thread for this?

 

[The Press Express]

Not sure if this has been tossed around yet, any thoughts on signing Vanek or Cammeleri this offseason? I think we could really use either! We need a (Proven) go to Sniper.

 

[amberdawn]

any thoughts on david perron what a nice fit that would be and jk and jd knows his capabilities. wonder what it would take to get this young man out of edmonton.

 

[Fro]

a lot more than anyone wants to pay

 

[blahblah]

Not sure if this has been tossed around yet, any thoughts on signing Vanek or Cammeleri this offseason? I think we could really use either! We need a (Proven) go to Sniper.

Cammeleri would have been a nice deadline pickup, but he hasn't played a full season in like half a decade when he scored 39 goals. Good player, best days behind him.

Vaken? I don't know. He's now on the wrong side of 30 and has a hard time playing an entire season. He seems to be destined for a more established playoff team. As far as "sniper", he hasn't seen 30 goals since 10/11. Part of that is injury.

We'll see.

 

[The Press Express]

Cammeleri would have been a nice deadline pickup, but he hasn't played a full season in like half a decade when he scored 39 goals. Good player, best days behind him.

Vaken? I don't know. He's now on the wrong side of 30 and has a hard time playing an entire season. He seems to be destined for a more established playoff team. As far as "sniper", he hasn't seen 30 goals since 10/11. Part of that is injury.

We'll see.

If we can get them for the right price... its on!

 

[pete goegan]

JD was asked, today, about where his team stands and he said that he liked the development of the current roster, but feels that, to get to the next level, more skill and scoring needs to be added. I agree.

 

[EspenK]

JD was asked, today, about where his team stands and he said that he liked the development of the current roster, but feels that, to get to the next level, more skill and scoring needs to be added. I agree.

I am stoked. Finally acknowledgement from one of the J's as to what needs to be done. Now the only problem is how to obtain it.

 

[ca5150]

There's a couple in our top 9 I would gladly see replaced with scoring talent

And we have HORTON, Rychel, Wennberg, Dano, and some others in the pipeline. Defense wins championships. You can't just think, oh we need to replace our grind line with scorers. It doesn't work that way in the playoffs, you should see that now with Crosby and Malkin completely ineffective and Boone, Dubi, Calvert, Dmac excelling. We have a foundation in Johnson, Savard and Murray. Now we need to add a power play QB, and 2 mean, shutdown D that pound people in front. That's the way to win a championship, not just stacking more and more offense and try to outshoot everyone, because that may work in the regular season, but doesn't in the playoffs.

 

[Stretch Factor]

I am stoked. Finally acknowledgement from one of the J's as to what needs to be done. Now the only problem is how to obtain it.

For the first time ever, I'd be totally content with us re-signing the guys we need to keep and then going into training camp with pretty much what we have, plus or minus something minor. Let the young guys compete for ice time and then see how they look.

It's not sexy, but I really like the brick by brick approach and I'd hate to mess with chemistry right now. Plus, I just don't see any available difference makers.

 

[BluejacketNut]

And we have HORTON, Rychel, Wennberg, Dano, and some others in the pipeline. Defense wins championships. You can't just think, oh we need to replace our grind line with scorers. It doesn't work that way in the playoffs, you should see that now with Crosby and Malkin completely ineffective and Boone, Dubi, Calvert, Dmac excelling. We have a foundation in Johnson, Savard and Murray. Now we need to add a power play QB, and 2 mean, shutdown D that pound people in front. That's the way to win a championship, not just stacking more and more offense and try to outshoot everyone, because that may work in the regular season, but doesn't in the playoffs.

Im not arguing that we dont need defense, just saying we need some true scoring threat. The pipeline is for years down the road, we need proven scorers.....along with some upgrades on defense

 

[BluejacketNut]

The only problem when you build a contender purely from within, by the time they get to the point of being successful, it will be time to resign them all and we wont be able to afford them. I dont think we're far off, but we definitely need some updates on defense and in the scoring department. I cant honestly say with the current team that theyre a lock for the playoffs next year.

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

JD was asked, today, about where his team stands and he said that he liked the development of the current roster, but feels that, to get to the next level, more skill and scoring needs to be added. I agree.

Skill and scoring? Isn't that what he just removed the roster at the trade deadline?

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

And we have HORTON, Rychel, Wennberg, Dano, and some others in the pipeline. Defense wins championships. You can't just think, oh we need to replace our grind line with scorers. It doesn't work that way in the playoffs, you should see that now with Crosby and Malkin completely ineffective and Boone, Dubi, Calvert, Dmac excelling. We have a foundation in Johnson, Savard and Murray. Now we need to add a power play QB, and 2 mean, shutdown D that pound people in front. That's the way to win a championship, not just stacking more and more offense and try to outshoot everyone, because that may work in the regular season, but doesn't in the playoffs.

I don't think Horton deserves the all caps treatment. He's a shell of his former self. We basically roll three 3rd/4th lines. Jack Skille is playing top line RW right now.

Murray and Jack are more than capabale PP QBs, and Wiz and even Tytutin can run it.

 

[ca5150]

Im not arguing that we dont need defense, just saying we need some true scoring threat. The pipeline is for years down the road, we need proven scorers.....along with some upgrades on defense

I like our forwards, Frattin and Tropp will be gone. Horton will be added and hopefully one of the rookies makes the club, Rychel preferably. I just think our whole D is in need of overhaul. That's where we need to spend big bucks on free agents, not on a forward. I haven't seen the list of UFA Dmen but i would put all my money into that, shore it up from the back end out and let the young guys keep developing before going out and buying more Gaborik's, Carter's, etc.

 

[ca5150]

I don't think Horton deserves the all caps treatment. He's a shell of his former self. We basically roll three 3rd/4th lines. Jack Skille is playing top line RW right now.

Murray and Jack are more than capabale PP QBs, and Wiz and even Tytutin can run it.

I put him in all caps because people forget we have a 25 goal scorer on the team that really didn't play this year. so we don't need anymore forwards. Wiz and Tyutin need to be bought out, and Nikitin is gone. Murray is not a PP QB, Jack is a second unit guy, not a top line PP QB, ala Nick Lidstrom. Horton will surprise next year, he's not a shell of his former self(like Gaborik) just last season horton was a beast in the playoffs. he was hobbled all year, can't judge this season.

 

[blahblah]

If we can get them for the right price... its on!

Umm I would say no to Cammeleri.

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

I like our forwards, Frattin and Tropp will be gone. Horton will be added and hopefully one of the rookies makes the club, Rychel preferably. I just think our whole D is in need of overhaul. That's where we need to spend big bucks on free agents, not on a forward. I haven't seen the list of UFA Dmen but i would put all my money into that, shore it up from the back end out and let the young guys keep developing before going out and buying more Gaborik's, Carter's, etc.

I think Rychel is going need at least a year in the AHL. From what I've heard, Dano has a more NHL-ready body but he's probably more of a 3rd/4th liner.

 

[ca5150]

I think Rychel is going need at least a year in the AHL. From what I've heard, Dano has a more NHL-ready body but he's probably more of a 3rd/4th liner.

Most likely, but that's why I said "hope". I'm not opposed to signing a forward, but only after getting a couple big time stud Dmen, Seabrook/Keith types. You'll see our offense score more with better D moving the puck up and getting better shots from the points. We don't need to sign any forwards.

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

I put him in all caps because people forget we have a 25 goal scorer on the team that really didn't play this year. so we don't need anymore forwards. Wiz and Tyutin need to be bought out, and Nikitin is gone. Murray is not a PP QB, Jack is a second unit guy, not a top line PP QB, ala Nick Lidstrom. Horton will surprise next year, he's not a shell of his former self(like Gaborik) just last season horton was a beast in the playoffs. he was hobbled all year, can't judge this season.

Horton has always been inconsistent and streaky. He's got a massive injury and concussion history and is nearing 30. I'm sure he'll be serviceable in the next few years but I wouldn't bet on him as a top line scoring winger.

We do need a more pure skill forward for our top line and PP. Dubie, Horton, Foligo, Arty, etc are solid two-way guys who can put the puck in the net but a true sniper is needed.

Murray will be absolutely be a PP QB. Might take a couple years for him to fully develop but he's going to be a rock on the #1 pairing for this team for years. Any reading of the scouting reports on him tells you he has major offensive upside.

I do agree about buying out Tytutun, although I think he has enough value that we could find a taker for him in a trade, freeing up cap space for more scoring and finally freeing young Erixon from his AHL exile.

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

Most likely, but that's why I said "hope". I'm not opposed to signing a forward, but only after getting a couple big time stud Dmen, Seabrook/Keith types. You'll see our offense score more with better D moving the puck up and getting better shots from the points. We don't need to sign any forwards.

getting "a couple "Keith/Seabs" types?

Every team would benefit from adding the best D-pairing in the NHL to it...but these type of players don't exactly come around too often and aren't usually available on the trade market or available in UFA. I guess Ryan Suter is the only recent one, he had his destination already picked out.

Can't imagine who a guy on that level who is going to be a on the market in the next few years. I do believe Murray, if he can stop being Mr. Glass and break at the first hint of contact, can develop into that caliber.