Interesting Info: Part XV (All Jackets-related "tidbits" in here)

[EspenK]

I have doubts.
1 - We have a good goalie who gets hurt fairly often and this team needs to be willing to invest in a solid #2 goalie (multiple years, more than $1M/year).
2 - Lot of bad contracts and I still argue we are not a Cap team but usually a Budget team. Also I think the team over years is scared to lose to much so they tinker to much spending resources on fillers to keep us near the playoffs.
3 - D-corps are missing top level talent and depth. Missing likely 2 top 4 players. Also lot of future is wagered on Murray staying healthy and progressing.
4 - Not sold on Richards being the right coach (I could be wrong here, I just like guys who have a very visible system like Hitch)
5 - We have plenty of young depth at forward but still need guys to progress.
6 - Culture. Maybe we're past this now but too many times in past guys come here to retire early. Not as bad as it use to be, hopefully this has changed but need to see what ownership, management, coaches and players do to hold each other responsible.

So yeah I question ownership/management (how much will they spend, will they spend wisely, and the commitment to winning championships), coaching (just not sure if we have right guy), quality of d-men, depth at goaltending and hoping the potential works out for the forwards. Then the culture (country club) thing. Any thing else I'm missing?

Man you're not even a half full guy: more like an OT period full.

1) I don't think the backup is critical if C-Mac plays like he did the latter part of this year. Sooner or later Forsberg or one of the other young guys will be ready. My bigger concern is Bob's consistency, or lack thereof for the last 2 seasons.

2)Clarkson deal definitely an albatross. Bourque will be gone in a year or less. Other ones not bad right now but could become such for a year or two down the road.

3) I don't think D is as bad as many here think. if the team is playing committed D all over the ice we're okay. Somehow we need to quit allowing 30+ more goals than we score be it better goal tending, better D or better possession.

4) I hope as skill players arrive on the roster they are utilized to get the most out of them. Given all the injuries and the past 2 seasons I don't see how you can really fault HCTR.

5) agree.

6) not an issue. If it were we wouldn't be in the midst of a draft pick busting winning streak like we are.

#relativeoptimist

 

[JacketsDavid]

Man you're not even a half full guy: more like an OT period full.

Very true, but to my defense this franchise hasn't done much to prove me wrong over the years either

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Man you're not even a half full guy: more like an OT period full.

1) I don't think the backup is critical if C-Mac plays like he did the latter part of this year. Sooner or later Forsberg or one of the other young guys will be ready. My bigger concern is Bob's consistency, or lack thereof for the last 2 seasons.

2)Clarkson deal definitely an albatross. Bourque will be gone in a year or less. Other ones not bad right now but could become such for a year or two down the road.

3) I don't think D is as bad as many here think. if the team is playing committed D all over the ice we're okay. Somehow we need to quit allowing 30+ more goals than we score be it better goal tending, better D or better possession.

4) I hope as skill players arrive on the roster they are utilized to get the most out of them. Given all the injuries and the past 2 seasons I don't see how you can really fault HCTR.

5) agree.

6) not an issue. If it were we wouldn't be in the midst of a draft pick busting winning streak like we are.

#relativeoptimist

Just to point out, Clarkson is less of an albatross than Nathan Horton was. Clarkson has only played 3 games and he has already done more than Horton would have ever done.

Bad contract, yes, but it's the lesser of 2 evils for the next several years.

 

[JacketsDavid]

Just to point out, Clarkson is less of an albatross than Nathan Horton was. Clarkson has only played 3 games and he has already done more than Horton would have ever done.

Bad contract, yes, but it's the lesser of 2 evils for the next several years.

To the CBJ yes probably correct since we rarely/never have spent up to the cap so there was no relief for the CBJ's mistake of not insuring the contract.

To Toronto (and any other CAP team) they would much rather have Horton's contract (and get CAP relief, rather than an unproductive, overpaid, long term contract).

 

[CBJWerenski8]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/35184/blue-jackets-playing-for-the-future

In our recent chats with other coaches, scouts and executives around the NHL, it’s interesting to note that Columbus comes up the most as a response when asked which non-playoff teams this season has the best shot at going back to the dance next season.

A playoff team a year ago -- one that gave the Pittsburgh Penguins all they could handle -- this season was about taking the next step, or at least proving to people that the playoff berth wasn’t a fluke.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

He will once he's the third line center and doesn't get any PP time

 

[Sore Loser]

My own take, which shouldn't surprise any of you. As a footnote, I penned this article before I read the article I shared yesterday. Still, I share the same overall outlook:

http://alongtheboards.com/2015/03/columbus-blue-jackets-hottest-team-league-cost/

 

[EspenK]

Jackets have fewest OT L's than any team in the league. Could mean a lot of things.

We are good 4 on 4
We are good in shootouts (this has been a big surprise this year)
We are so far behind many games don't even have a chance for OT
We are so far ahead many games don't even have a chance for OT
Other teams aren't very good in OT or shootouts

Interesting.

 

[Columbus Mike]

Anaheim has 107 points with a record of 50-22-7, but has only scored 15 more goals than they have conceded. As it stands now Ottawa is +16 but will miss the playoffs.

Buffalo is -106

 

[CBJx614]

Bjorkstrand's 50th goal and 60th goal jerseys are up for auction if anyone is interested.

http://www.futurestarjerseys.com/Auction/APViewItem.asp?ID=443

http://www.futurestarjerseys.com/Auction/APViewItem.asp?ID=442

 

[Fro]

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline 24m24 minutes ago
#CBJ, with W tonight, would hit 40 for 3rd time in franchise history. Also would give Todd Richards 125 wins w club, matching Ken Hitchcock.

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline 18m18 minutes ago
RT @MasonAnimation: @Aportzline who did it faster? // Barring 35-game losing streak, Richards. Hitch took 284 games. Richards at 249.

 

[Kev22]

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline 24m24 minutes ago
#CBJ, with W tonight, would hit 40 for 3rd time in franchise history. Also would give Todd Richards 125 wins w club, matching Ken Hitchcock.

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline 18m18 minutes ago
RT @MasonAnimation: @Aportzline who did it faster? // Barring 35-game losing streak, Richards. Hitch took 284 games. Richards at 249.

A win tonight would also mean 3 consecutive winning seasons. Richards the coach of all three. Don't get the Richards hate by some. If he doesn't take them to the next step next season, then I agree he'll get heat. None deserved after this season. 500 man games lost to injury and they are still 4 games over .500. Pretty miraculous if you ask me.

 

[1857 Howitzer]

 

[Samkow]

Are they reselling the hats that were thrown on the ice?

 

[Johansen2Foligno]

Are they reselling the hats that were thrown on the ice?

Lice? Ice? What's the difference?

 

[blahblah]

A win tonight would also mean 3 consecutive winning seasons. Richards the coach of all three. Don't get the Richards hate by some. If he doesn't take them to the next step next season, then I agree he'll get heat. None deserved after this season. 500 man games lost to injury and they are still 4 games over .500. Pretty miraculous if you ask me.

And the same number of playoff appearances with a better team. He's great.

 

[Kev22]

And the same number of playoff appearances with a better team. He's great.

Didn't imply he's great. Just not worthy of kicking to the curb. If things fall right and half the lineup isn't out with long term injuries and he can't get them into the playoffs, then I might be on your bandwagon. Right now, seems misplaced to me right now.

 

[EspenK]

Lice? Ice? What's the difference?

How the 'L do I know?

 

[Sore Loser]

A little late to the party, but I provide some insight on the team making Marko Dano a healthy scratch and what it may mean long-term.

http://alongtheboards.com/2015/04/marko-dano-scratched-blue-jackets-mean/

 

[Mayor Bee]

And the same number of playoff appearances with a better team. He's great.

One inherited a prime Nash, Huselius, Umberger, Malhotra, Tyutin, Commodore, Vermette, Klesla, and Mason.

The other took over a team in disarray going through a full-scale rebuild and has had to develop every single worthwhile player on the roster except for Hartnell.

 

[blahblah]

One inherited a prime Nash, Huselius, Umberger, Malhotra, Tyutin, Commodore, Vermette, Klesla, and Mason.

The other took over a team in disarray going through a full-scale rebuild and has had to develop every single worthwhile player on the roster except for Hartnell.

Rofl. Do you really want me to poke holes in this?

Yes, we developed such players as Dubinsky, AA, Wiz, and JJ. Mason in "his prime"? You really think that Malhotra was in his prime when Hitch go there? How cute. Hitch didn't inherit a team in disarray? Nash was in his prime? You mean Hitch didn't develop him into a two-way player? I could just go on and on.

OMG, I can't believe you wrote that.

 

[We Want Ten]

One inherited a prime Nash, Huselius, Umberger, Malhotra, Tyutin, Commodore, Vermette, Klesla, and Mason.

The other took over a team in disarray going through a full-scale rebuild and has had to develop every single worthwhile player on the roster except for Hartnell.

I normally agree (OMG!) with most of your posts, but this one seems like a reach.

 

[Mayor Bee]

Rofl. Do you really want me to poke holes in this?

Yes, we developed such players as Dubinsky, AA, Wiz, and JJ. Mason in "his prime"? You really think that Malhotra was in his prime when Hitch go there? How cute. Hitch didn't inherit a team in disarray? Nash was in his prime? You mean Hitch didn't develop him into a two-way player? I could just go on and on.

OMG, I can't believe you wrote that.

Well, let's see here...

Rookies (by Calder standards) that Hitchcock developed include Gilbert Brule, Alexandre Picard, Marc Methot, Geoff Platt, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Curtis Glencross, Tom Sestito, Kris Russell, Jared Boll, Derick Brassard, Nikita Filatov, Steve Mason, Derek Dorsett, and Jakub Voracek. Only Mason, Brassard, and Voracek made anything resembling a meaningful contribution to Columbus, and none were truly high-level players by the time they left.

Rookies (by Calder standards) that Richards has had include Ryan Johansen, Dalton Prout, David Savard, Cam Atkinson, John Moore, Ryan Murray, Boone Jenner, Michael Chaput, Alex Wennberg, Marko Dano, and Kerby Rychel. Obviously the jury is still out on several, but that's already a clear advantage to Richards...or should it be to the guy who acquired all except the last three on that list?

Yeah, Nash was in his prime when Hitchcock got in. He wasn't as developed into a complete player, but he'd already scored 30 and 40 goals in the previous two season (one of them while missing 28 games). Malhotra was in his prime; his defensive game was already brilliant, and he'd already set a career high in points that would only be broken (by four) when he had 2/3 of a season on a line with Nash.

I mentioned in the other thread that a huge part of coaching is being a salesman. Hitchcock was able to walk into a locker room and say, "I'm Ken Hitchcock. Here is my Stanley Cup ring, there's our captain with his two Stanley Cup rings, there's our Russian veteran with three of them, there's our Swedish veteran with his ring. I have the complete backing of ownership."

Richards was able to step in and say, "I won a Turner Cup in the IHL as a player 10 years ago. Pahlsson has a ring, but we all know he's on his way out the door anyway. I have an interim tag next to my name, so let's not screw things up too badly and maybe some of us will be back next year."

(DISCLAIMER: Obviously these are simulated conversations.)

Should we compare the reactions to when each coach was hired? One was lauded as "a winner", "demanding", "disciplined", and a whole host of other things that clearly pointed toward the idea of Columbus trending toward bigger and better things. The other was dismissed fairly quickly, having just been fired by Minnesota after a mere two seasons at the helm there.

 

[Viqsi]

Well, let's see here...

Rookies (by Calder standards) that Hitchcock developed include Gilbert Brule, Alexandre Picard, Marc Methot, Geoff Platt, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Curtis Glencross, Tom Sestito, Kris Russell, Jared Boll, Derick Brassard, Nikita Filatov, Steve Mason, Derek Dorsett, and Jakub Voracek. Only Mason, Brassard, and Voracek made anything resembling a meaningful contribution to Columbus, and none were truly high-level players by the time they left.

Rookies (by Calder standards) that Richards has had include Ryan Johansen, Dalton Prout, David Savard, Cam Atkinson, John Moore, Ryan Murray, Boone Jenner, Michael Chaput, Alex Wennberg, Marko Dano, and Kerby Rychel. Obviously the jury is still out on several, but that's already a clear advantage to Richards...or should it be to the guy who acquired all except the last three on that list?

Methot had a significant positive impact here, and not just because he was traded for Foligno. Also, Richards has had a decent-quality backbone of vets to help shield the kids, which makes that job considerably easier. Also, the bulk of Hitch's available guys were MacLean draftees and pickups, while the bulk of Richards' available guys were Howson draftees and pickups.

Not jumping to any conclusions based on that myself, but, well, it's stuff to think about.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

it's stuff to think about.

If you say so. I, for one, am glad you all are doing so so I don't have to.