Halfway thru the 2013 season Mancrushes and Whipping Boys

[Prominence Problem]

Mancrush

1. BOBROVSKY- NUMBER 1 COP ON THE FORCE
2. Foligno- much more skilled than I anticipated. I'm surprised he doesn't have more goals but he is a positive almost everytime he touches the puck
3. Atkinson / Calvert- little guys are feisty along the boards
4. Mason- yes... Steve Mason- I get the sense that he is working hard and is a good teammate. I'd much rather keep him than trade him.
5. Testube / Mackenzie / Boll- They have all been very effective this year. Wear teams down and can play on special teams. Letestu is faster than he gets credit for round here
6. Dubinsky- he tells it as it is
7. Vinny effing Prospal- nothing more needs to be said
8. Dorse- shame that we lost him. I bet he comes back before the end of the season

I like you and want to keep you on the Jackets and would be upset if traded

1. Anisimov- easily our most skilled player. Would like more consistency but glad he is contributing.
2. Wiz / JJ- Controlled caos has been decent this year. JJ is workhorse and future captain, Wiz does the right things and seemingly wants to be here
3. Erixon / Prout- awesomely composed and good vision!
4. Gillies- what a goofball. maybe there is still some untapped potential if he works really hard on stick handling.
5. Brassard- Best vision and great shoot when he uses it. Would be a mistake IMO to just give him up for futures
6. Tyutin- up and down play but he was stellar against detroit
7. Aucoin- he actually has been playing better. He is still a formidable D-man

Whipping boys

1. RJ- the slow starts get annoying because we know how good of a player he is.
2. Nikitin- rough year so far. IMO the young guys are better in the defensive zone.
3. Jeff Rimer- everytime he says "player x is a jackets killer".. player x scores. No more Jackets killers. don't even bring it up4. NWA promotions team. The popcornopolous promotions are cheap and embarrassing and the WE LIKE PIT-ZA song needs to die in a fire
5. Blue Jackets fans who advocate tanking

everyone else

I'm still trying to find out how much money we paid for you guys to take him off our hands.
Lots of Panther games in those days on mute..... You try listening to Jeff Rimmer & Bill Lindsay!!

 

[hossua34]

Calvert's hands are making me develop a mancrush...

And there's nothing creepy about that statement whatsoever.

 

[NotWendell]

I don't do mancrushes, so I'll categorize them a different way.

LOVE having them here, would be pissed if they were no longer here:
1. Vinny Prospal
2. Artem Anisimov
3. Jack Johnson
4. Sergei Bobrovsky
5. Ryan Johansen
6. Matt Calvert
7. John Davidson

CAN'T WAIT to see what they'll do next:
1. John Moore
2. Tim Erixson
3. Boone Jenner
4. Cam Atkinson
5. Ryan Murray
6. Jarmo Kekalainen

LIKE them and would like to see them stay on the roster:
1. Nick Foligno
2. Derek Dorsett
3. Brandon Dubinsky
4. Derek MacKenzie

LIKE them but would be okay if they were traded for greater value:
1. RJ Umberger
2. Derrick Brassard
3. Jared Boll
4. Fedor Tyutin
5. Mark Letestu
6. James Wisnewski

TRADE them for greater value:
1. Colton Gilles
2. Steve Mason
3. Adrian Aucoin
4. David Savard
5. Nikita Nikitin

 

[EspenK]

I don't do mancrushes, so I'll categorize them a different way.

LOVE having them here, would be pissed if they were no longer here:
1. Vinny Prospal
2. Artem Anisimov
3. Jack Johnson
4. Sergei Bobrovsky
5. Ryan Johansen
6. Matt Calvert
7. John Davidson

CAN'T WAIT to see what they'll do next:
1. John Moore
2. Tim Erixson
3. Boone Jenner
4. Cam Atkinson
5. Ryan Murray
6. Jarmo Kekalainen

LIKE them and would like to see them stay on the roster:
1. Nick Foligno
2. Derek Dorsett
3. Brandon Dubinsky
4. Derek MacKenzie

LIKE them but would be okay if they were traded for greater value:
1. RJ Umberger
2. Derrick Brassard
3. Jared Boll
4. Fedor Tyutin
5. Mark Letestu
6. James Wisnewski

TRADE them for greater value:
1. Colton Gilles
2. Steve Mason
3. Adrian Aucoin
4. David Savard
5. Nikita Nikitin

Like your groupings but greater value for the bottom except for Nikitin is either guaranteed or impossible-not sure which.

 

[NotWendell]

Like your groupings but greater value for the bottom except for Nikitin is either guaranteed or impossible-not sure which.

Oh I hear ya!

 

[redsfanhere*]

folks i think we got a winner nice evaluation

 

[Columbus Jack]

Crushes

1. Erixon has been great, he's someone I thought could be great once given the opportunity.
2. Calvert has surprised the hell out of me with his game, very impressive.
3. Johansen has been great the past few weeks he's been up. Looks like a budding number 1 center with his play.
4. Foligno has been a great add. Guy never gives up on a puck and is always skating. Doesn't have much of a shot but he plays with all heart and has some dangles. Great north-south player.
5. Gotta add my boy Brass here. He's stepped up his game lately and looks to have some nice chemistry with Prospal. If he gets motivated to the point he doesn't give a **** who hits him, he can be pretty good.

GTFO list

1. Mason- I have zero confidence he can actually win a big game for us. We suck when he's in the net, the team has no confidence in him.
2. Aucoin- for someone who's been in the league for as long as he has, you'd think his positioning would be better. Erixon saves his ass all the time in his own zone along the boards. Aucoin is terrible at reading where his teammates are in order to get the puck out of the zone. The problem is he doesn't have the speed to recover for his mental lapses.
3. RJ- how many more years are we going to allow him to not be in game shape? Seriously, he's supposed to be a leader on this team but he doesn't play anywhere near the passion and heart he once played with.

 

[SuperGenius]

mancrushes:

Cam: even though he hasn't put up points, he is a threat and it's no coincidence that his return coincides with the team playing better (one of many factors)
Vinny: motor is there, the wheels aren't, but a big heart and soft hands are more than enough.
Calvert: beastly

honorable mention mancrushes:
Moore: solid, smooth, good first pass
Erixon: wasn't sold on this guy, but he really looks good out there even when recovering from a mistake.
Johansen: I keep telling people: wait until he realizes he's a big guy...

whipping boy:
Mason: however better he may be, or however better I wish he were, the truth is, he's just not there yet. Too many easy ones and not a lot of fighting for the puck in the crease. This team needs a goalie to have the same battle level as the skaters, and Mason just isn't that kind of guy. He gives up on the puck way to easily and rarely makes the timely save

honorable mention:
Umby: improvement, like a different player. wish he had it going earlier
Nikitin: played so badly on the right side that it looked like he was playing hurt. Has been better since, particularly when playing the left side.

 

[hip check]

Mancrushin' on Calvert, Anisimov, and Wisniewski.

 

[CBJSprague24]

Mancrushes:
1) Bob. 'Nuff said.
2) Vinny. I had concerns about how he'd do in his second year in Columbus. Those concerns were unfounded because he definitely still has it.
3) Anisimov. Dude has skill. Let's hope I'm Tough Russian is not always this injury-prone, though.

HM- Letestu. Where did HE come from this year?

There aren't really any whipping boys that stand out at this point. Even Mason hasn't been terrible.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

The Surprisingly Goods:
1) Bob
2) Prospal
3) Calvert

The OKs:
1) JJ
2) Erixson
3) Tyutin
4) Boll
5) MacKenzie
6) Foligno
7) Asinimov
8) Letestu
9) Atkinson
10) Dorsette

The I'm Not Sures:
1) Dubinski
2) Moore
3) Nikitin
4) Wiz
5) Johansen

The This Team Ain't Going Nowhere if You Bozos are on the Roster Next Season:
1) Mason
2) Umgarbage
3) Brassard (not as bad as the rest, but time to move on)
4) Aucoin
5) Gillies

 

[MoreOrr]

Just a comment, semi-joke... Did it take 20+ games for Nash's ghost to leave the building? Because certainly it seems to be haunting the Rangers now.

 

[NotWendell]

Just a comment, semi-joke... Did it take 20+ games for Nash's ghost to leave the building? Because certainly it seems to be haunting the Rangers now.

I know some here will disagree with this assessment. Rick Nash is an near-elite talent, but not one that makes those around him better. The Rangers lineup now doesn't have enough lunch pailers. Flame away kids!

 

[JACKETfan]

Just a comment, semi-joke... Did it take 20+ games for Nash's ghost to leave the building? Because certainly it seems to be haunting the Rangers now.

Nash who?

 

[Matthew]

Nash's caphit would have looked worse and worse as his motivation, desire, and compete declined each passing year in Columbus.

 

[EspenK]

I know some here will disagree with this assessment. Rick Nash is an near-elite talent, but not one that makes those around him better. The Rangers lineup now doesn't have enough lunch pailers. Flame away kids!

For a "panel of experts" take on Nash check out #1 in this list

http://thehockeywriters.com/thw-panel-the-top-10-most-overrated-nhl-players/

 

[NotWendell]

For a "panel of experts" take on Nash check out #1 in this list

http://thehockeywriters.com/thw-panel-the-top-10-most-overrated-nhl-players/

Thanks for passing that along. I don't think Nash belongs on the top of the list, but I won't argue with anyone who thinks he belongs ON the list but lower. I'd certainly move Schneider into the top/bottom 10.

 

[EspenK]

Thanks for passing that along. I don't think Nash belongs on the top of the list, but I won't argue with anyone who thinks he belongs ON the list but lower. I'd certainly move Schneider into the top/bottom 10.

I agree. Hard to judge Nash on his career with the Jackets. he seems to be doing just fine with the Rangers.

 

[Nordique]

+3

Tyutin (very underrated)
Calvert (most pleasant suprise of the season)
Prospal (the captain de facto)




-3

Aucoin
Brassard (shoot the puck more)
Nikitin

 

[Viqsi]

+3

Tyutin (very underrated)
Calvert (most pleasant suprise of the season)
Prospal (the captain de facto)




-3

Aucoin
Brassard (shoot the puck more)
Nikitin

Um. Brass is shooting the puck more. A lot more. It's part of what makes his current play so effective.

 

[Nordique]

Um. Brass is shooting the puck more. A lot more. It's part of what makes his current play so effective.

"so effective?" He's scored 1 goal in the month of March. I'd hate to see "ineffective" Brassard.

He has a hard shot, wish we'd see it more often.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

"so effective?" He's scored 1 goal in the month of March. I'd hate to see "ineffective" Brassard.

He has a hard shot, wish we'd see it more often.

Ole "so effective" Brass has 2 goals in his last 15 games. That's a pace of 11 goals over an 82 game season. It's even less than his season pace (4goals/25games) of 13 in an 82 game season.

Real heady stuff for an allegedly first line player with ample PP play time in his 6th NHL season.

Some people think that this guy is worthy of someone else's first round pick.

 

[Xoggz22]

Ole "so effective" Brass has 2 goals in his last 15 games. That's a pace of 11 goals over an 82 game season. It's even less than his season pace (4goals/25games) of 13 in an 82 game season.

Real heady stuff for an allegedly first line player with ample PP play time in his 6th NHL season.

Some people think that this guy is worthy of someone else's first round pick.

And to think, others think he is worthless.... He has a 1 g in his last 3 games. That's a pace of 27 goals over an 82 game season....

OK, I had my fun. I like Brass but I'm OK if he's moved. What boggles my mind is that some of you see one thing and one thing only to work to prove your point. If you are watching this kid on the ice he is playing much better and looks like a 2C should (in my opinion). With points in 4 straight (5 pts in 6) he's starting to contribute as the entire team improves. He's a pass first guy and best used on the PP. He gives effort, has heart and vision/IQ. We know he has his flaws too (he'll never be confused as physical and his faceoffs need work). He also happens to be tied for the team lead in points (the total is sad but what does that say about our scoring as a team?)

Brassard's problem is he was a top pick and expected to be better. I don't disagree with that. He's been inconsistent but the talent is there and he loves the game. I'm interested to see if he can continue to play like this for an extended period. That has evaded him (many times due to injury).

edit: this should have been in the Brassard thread....

 

[blahblah]

Um. Brass is shooting the puck more. A lot more. It's part of what makes his current play so effective.

Ouch. He has 10 shots in his last six games. Most of the other forwards are shooting far more than he is.

Brass is going through one of his good streaks. Let's see how long it lasts.

 

[IBleedUnionBlue]

Mancrush - Bobrovsky.

No real whipping boy.