This and that

Just a couple of things to pass along on a fine 4th of July.

Here are a couple of nuggets passed along to me from a very reliable source:

* Derick Brassard has gained 12 pounds this offseason.

* Hitch on Samuel Pahlsson - he is a big pain the in ass to play against.

* Hitch expects Klesla to take a big step and have a big year. Thinks he's capable and it never hurts that its a contract year.

Just going back to the Umberger snub for a sec. A adult hockey teammate of mine (shout out to Tyler) made a couple of good points about the Umbeger snub that I thought were interesting.

1. Brian Burke is in charge of the US Olympic team. Brian Burke was also the GM of the Vancouver Canucks who drafted Umberger #16 overall back in 2001. If you recall Umberger never did end up signing with the Canucks due to terms and sat out a season to become an unrestricted free agent which led to him eventually signing with the Flyers.

Think Burke forgot about that?

2. Former Ohio State Buckeye and Umberger teammate Ryan Kesler was chosen for the camp. Umberger and Kesler are rumored to have not gotten along.

Something to chew on.

Be sure to check out these vids from Blue Jackets TV:





Happy 4th everyone!

-LTL

Nash Headlines

I always have fun with these!

-LTL

Captain Cash!

In case you haven't heard yet the Dispatch is reporting the following:

The Blue Jackets have signed captain Rick Nash to an eight-year, $62.4 million contract extension, The Dispatch has learned. That's an annual cap hit of $7.8 million.

The deal will keep Nash under contract with the Blue Jackets through the 2017-18 season.

I would assume that deal is front loaded but we'll have to wait until we see the year by year breakdown. I would also assume there is a no movement clause.

Update: Puck-rakers has provided new details on the contract:

Nash will make $7 million in 2009-10, the final year of his current contract. He'll make $7.5 million in 2010-11, and the contract goes up slightly each season before Nash makes $8.2 million in 2017-18.

In other words:

2010-2011 - $7.5M
2011-2012 - $7.6M
2012-2013 - $7.7M
2013-2014 - $7.8M
2014-2015 - $7.9M
2015-2016 - $8.0M
2016-2017 - $8.1M
2017-2018 - $8.2M

The deal includes a no-movement clause in the first five seasons, and a modified no-trade clause in the final three.

Initial reaction:

* Thank gawd we can put that behind us!!

* Congrats to Rick Nash and Scott Howson for hunkering down and getting this done. There was no need for anymore public dirty laundy.

* Thrilled to have Nash in the fold for the next 8 seasons where he belongs.

* Average cap hit of 7.8 is about right. Looks like both sides compromised and Nash left a little cash on the table to help Howson and the franchise keep their other young studs in the fold for the foreseeable future.

* I thought they would wait until Monday to announce the deal to maximize the media expsure. Announcing now though stops dead in its tracks the speculation from loud mouth fans like me and the Toronto media megaforce. On second thought, it makes perfect sense to announce it immediately!

* I only want to see Nash's "dark side" again if it has to do with the Detroit Red Wings combined with the 'f-bomb'.

* I think I'm gonna celebrate by drinking about 8 beers tonight... one for each year of the deal.

* Vermette your next... then Klesla!

* That's 3 of 4 offseason priorities with a big fat CHECK in the to-do box for Howson & Co.

* Next up.. trade for d-man.

* Now what MacLean?

* Eat it Toronto!

It's time to set sail Captain Columbus.

Go Jackets!!

-LTL

Poor Poor Pitiful Me

First Schenn now Nash. Poor Burke.




-LTL

Grading the first day of free agency

The Jackets have 4 primary needs this offseason.

1. Sign Rick Nash to an extension
2. Find a puck-moving d-man that ideally can help a struggling PP
3. Sign a quality backup goaltender - CHECK!
4. Sign a 3rd line center - CHECK!

They accomplished 2 of these goals in free agency when it opened on July 1st.

The first move of the day.

Checking center Sammy Pahlsson signed to a 3 year 7.65 million dollar deal.

Pahlsson's file:
Age: 31
Date of birth: December 17, 1977
Place of birth: Ange, Sweden
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 203
Shoots: L
Salary: $1,400,000
NHL Seasons: 8
Drafted by Colorado in 1996 (7/176).

ASSETS: Has good instincts and defensive prowess. Is strong on his skates and works hard. Excels in defensive situations.
FLAWS: Needs to produce more points at the NHL level. Doesn't shoot enough when in good scoring position.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Checking line center.

Reward:
* When healthy Pahlsson is an elite checking shut down center. He is the kind of guy Hitch will feel extremely comfortable putting out late in games.
* Adds much needed depth down the center of the ice.
* Guy knows how to win in the playoffs. He won a cup with Anaheim in '06 and was part of the Western Conference Finals run for the Blackhawks last season.
* Its always a positive when a player chooses to come to your team.
* This guy is a Hitch-type player. He competes all over the ice.

Risk:
* Can he stay healthy? He missed a good chunk of last season with a viral infection.
* What's up with the negative +/-? I know he goes against the other teams top players but a -17 last season for a top shutdown centerman?
* Overpayment. I don't think there is any question Columbus overpaid Pahlsson by at least 500k.
* How does a contract like this impact re-signing a guy like Vermette who I think has to be the next priority after Nash?
* Not going to contribute much offensively (the guy has never scored over 26 points in his career) which primarily concerns me if we lose Brass or Vermette to an extended injury.

Final Thoughts:
Its a solid move. Clearly the Jackets targeted Pahlsson after they failed to get Malhotra under contract. They may have overpaid but that is how it works in free agency. They got their man and in the process filled a big hole in the center of their lineup. He is definitely an upgrade over Manny defensively which is the role Hitch will maximize his ability for. He also knows how to raise his level of play in the playoffs which Manny failed to do.

My biggest concern is what happens if Brass or Vermette go down with an extended injury? Can Pahlsson be effective with a stretch in the top 6? He can't be worse than Manny can he?

Grade: B+

The second move of the day:

Backup goaltender Mathieu Garon signed to a 2 year 2.4 million dollar deal.

Garon's file:
Age: 31
Date of birth: January 09, 1978
Place of birth: Chandler, Que., Canada
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 207
Catches: R
Salary: $1,000,000
NHL Seasons: 8
Drafted by Montreal in 1996 (2/44).

ASSETS: Has tremendous poise. Shows an excellent glove hand. Is a hard worker and displays the ability to bounce back from adversity.
FLAWS: Must prove capable of handling the pressure of playing major minutes. Does he have the demeanor of an above-average NHL starting netminder?
CAREER POTENTIAL: No. 1A goalie.

Reward:
* Garon has over 204 starts in the NHL with a career Save% of .905 and a GAA of 2.84. He has 94 wins to 83 losses. Solid numbers.
* Garon should be capable of finding the trust of the coaching staff and playing in 15 to 20 games giving Steve Mason the critical rest he'll need.
* Should Mase go down to an extended injury or battle the sophmore slump Garon has proven he can handle a starter's load making 47 starts for Edmonton in 07/08 and 63 starts for LA in 05/06.
* Had an injury free season last year.
* Howson is very familiar with Garon from both of their days in Edmonton so he's had an up close view of what kind of person he is and how his personality will mesh with Mase and the team.
* He's a guy capable of pushing Steve Mason. Competition is never a bad thing.
* He's a right handed glove just like Mase -- to have two goalies who catch right is a rarity in this league.
* He didn't contribute a whole lot to it but he did win a cup with the Penguins this past season. Never hurts to bring in a winning attitude.
* Like Pahlsson, he's choosing to come to Columbus. Always a plus with me.

Risk:
* For the dough I personally like some of the other options better. Especially Clemmensen, Anderson and Conklin.
* His stats the past few seasons have been less than impressive. Last year he finished with .894 Save% and a 3.12 GAA. That said he was a 19-8-9 in his starts so he was winning.
* With the exception of last year he has had a few injuries. Missed 9 games due to a finger in 07. 5 games due to an ankle in 08. 12 games due to groin in 06. Need him to stay healthy.
* Another guy I think we overpaid by a few hundred thousand. Also would have preferred him on a 1 year deal in case Lalande/LaCosta are ready (could always trade him I guess).

Final thoughts:
At first I wasn't that excited with this move. I put a lot of stock in goaltending, even backups, because the position is so important to achieve success. I liked some other backups more who got similar deals. The more I thought about it though the more I've come around.

The Jackets clearly needed a seasoned NHL backup with lots of starts under his belt. They certainly got one in Mathieu Garon. Howson is very familiar with this player which gives me confidence as he puts a lot of value in character in addition to ability. He should fit nicely with this group. Like Pahlsson he was overpaid by a couple hunder thousand but so it goes in free agency (I mean what first day signee isn't overpaid right?).

My biggest concern are his recent numbers but I am very impressed with his W/L record for last season. The W/L record tells me he's making the big saves when they matter to preserve wins.

Grade: B

Players signed - 20
Total committed salary - $47.166
Projected player payroll - $50.000
Estimated remainder - $02.834

Overall in terms of the moves made I give Howson a solid B. Nothing spectacular but just some solid depth moves that address direct holes in the Blue Jackets lineup. Yes he overpaid but not horribly and as I stated, everyone overpays on the first day of free agency as they to try get their guys.

Probably the biggest surprise for me was the fact he was so active. In fact I didn't think he'd sign anyone on day 1 as we had heard that he was going to be very patient. Uhh.. wrong!

Speaking of lineup. Here is my latest projection:

Nash Brassard Huselius
Umberger Vermette Voracek
*Modin/Chimera Pahlsson Torres
Boll/Dorsett Murray ***Filatov

Commodore Hejda
Tyutin **XX
Russell Klesla
Methot

Mason
Garon

*A winger will need to move.
** I expect a trade to be made for a top 4 puck moving d-man.
***Filatov takes the Voracek path. Starts the season on the 4th with PP duty and earns his way up the lineup as he gains the coaches trust.

Fire away - be sure to place your votes in the poll or comment below!

-LTL

Lets get defensive

Jack Johnson
Age: 22
Date of birth: January 13, 1987
Place of birth: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 212
Shoots: L
Salary: $850,000
NHL Seasons: 3
Drafted by Carolina in 2005 (1/3).
Acquired in a trade with Carolina in 2006.

ASSETS: Possesses good size, excellent all-around instincts, physical prowess and offensive potential. Is never shy about laying on the body.
FLAWS: Needs to avoid putting himself out of position in order to land the big hit. May never reach the lofty offensive expectations placed upon him.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Skilled, physical top-pairing defenseman.

Last year's stats: 41 6 5 11 -18 46

Denis Grebshkov
Age: 25
Date of birth: October 11, 1983
Place of birth: Yaroslavl, USSR (now Russia)
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 209
Shoots: L
Salary: $1,500,000
NHL Seasons: 4

ASSETS: Is well rounded and intelligent. Isn't shy about laying on the body and displays untapped offensive potential. Can log plenty of ice time.
FLAWS: Must prove capable of hanging with power forwards in the pros. Must avoid trying to do too much.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top six defenseman.

Stats: 72 7 32 39 12 38

Cam Barker
Age: 23
Date of birth: April 04, 1986
Place of birth: Winnipeg, Man., Canada
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 222
Shoots: L
Salary: $984,200
NHL Seasons: 4

ASSETS: Possesses a hard, accurate shot from the point, which is especially effective on the power play. Can play physical, which scouts also love.
FLAWS: Must improve his skating and defensive-zone coverage in order to become a complete blueliner. Needs more game-to-game consistency.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top four defenseman.

Stas: 68 6 34 40 -6 65

Now I certainly don't see Howson hitting any of these players with an offer sheet but I could see some scenarios where perhaps they become available. Barker and Grebshkov play for teams pushing the cap... while Johnson may have just worn out his welcome in LA.

Speaking of Johnson...I also just read this from HFBoards:

Buccigross on my facebook page:

John Michael Buccigross For my puckhead friends..my nhl sources say the los angeles kings are shopping jack johnson hard as a result of signing Rob Scuderi today. Boston? Ottawa? Anaheim? stay tuned

I would be interested in any of these three if they were put on the table. A winger would at a minimum have to go in the other direction plus either a high pick or top 10 prospect and maybe more.

Its too bad they all shoot left though.

Anyhow..just some names to consider as Howson scours the market looking for a d-man.

UPDATE: How about this article about the 'hawks:

This is Hawks GM Dale Tallon talking Thursday afternoon: “We’re looking for the right guy, maybe on the back end. We have a lot of assets we can trade.”

This is how I believe the Hawks are going to find that big, physical defenseman they are lacking, via a trade, and Tallon came about as close as he could to confirming it.

Two things working heavily against a move with the 'hawks.

One they are a division rival and in very rare cases do you see big deals between two teams in the same division.

This author suggests they would like to move a forward to clear room for one of their younger lower priced kids. The Jackets of course would like to move a fowards as well. Still I would expect Howson to at least kick the tires on Barker as something has to give on that team. They also have Calder nominee Kris Versteeg to sign.

-LTL

This and that

ESPN has released their ultimate standings for the four major professional sports leagues in North America.

The Jackest check in at a very respectable 31:

Last Year's Rank: 52
Title Track: 73
Ownership: 31
Coaching: 9
Players: 51
Fan Relations: 9
Affordability: 29
Stadium Experience: 9
Bang for the Buck: 64

Gone but not forgotten is late (1923-2008) owner John H. McConnell. Inside the popular Nationwide Arena's Front Street entrance and before you reach the 12-foot, 1,600-pound working cannon -- it goes off every time the home team scores -- is a memorial honoring the man who brought pro hockey to Ohio's capital in 2000. Among the tributes? The first Jackets jersey (McConnell 01) and a photo of the founding father from his football days at Michigan State. Sure, Columbus is Buckeyes country, but the Spartans pic gets love because McConnell is wearing No. 61, just like four-time All-Star Rick Nash, the face of the franchise. That face is morphing though, thanks to magicianlike young goalie Steve Mason (the ROY winner with a league-leading 10 shutouts), center R.J. Umberger (the team's first Ohio Stater skater) and D-man Mike Commodore. Not included, unfortunately, is a group shot of fans wearing Sideshow Bob-style red Afro wigs in tribute to Commodore's unruly mop. Add it up, mixing in bulletproof bench boss Ken Hitchcock, who's a Civil War geek to boot, and it's easy to see why the Blue Jackets not only made their first playoff appearance but also have their highest rank since the Standings started. That ought to help JHM RIP.

Love to see the cannon getting some recognition... but just imagine if our game ops was good!

Michael Arace has a nice blog post about the Nash situation. Check out the list he grabbed from nhlnumbers.com (which I can't get to work) in terms of the highest paid players in the league:

1. Ovechkin, $9.538M per through 2020-21.
2. Crosby, $8.7M per through 2012-13.
3. Malkin, $8.7M per through 2013-14.
4. E. Staal, $8.25M per through 2015-16.
5. Richards, $7.8M per through 2010-11.
6. Lecavalier, $7.727M per through 2019-20.
7. Heatley, $7.5M per through 2013-14.
8. Chara, $7.5M per through 2010-11.
9. Gaborik, $7.5M per through 2013-14.
10. Lidstrom, $7.45M per through 2009-10.
11. Gomez, $7.357 per through 2013-14.
12. J. Thornton, $7.2M per through 2010-11.
13. Vanek, $7.147 per through 2013-14.
14. T. Campbell, $7.14M per through 2015-16.
15. Drury, $7.05M per through 2011-12.
16. Spezza, $7.0M per through 2014-15.
17. Iginla, $7.0M per through 2012-13.
18. Lundqvist, $6.875M per through 2013-14.
19. Kopitar, $6.8M per through 2015-16.
20. Luongo, $6.75M per through 2009-10.
21. Datsyuk, $6.7M per through 2013-14.
22. Bouwmeester, $6.68M per through 2013-14.
23. Boyle, $6.667M per through 2013-14.
24. Stastny, $6.6M per through 2013-14.
25. Briere, $6.5M per through 2014-15.
26. Redden, $6.5M per through 2013-14.
27. Phaneuf, $6.5M per through 2013-14.
28. Jovanovski, $6.5M per through 2010-11.
29. Kovalchuk, $6.4M per through 2009-10.

We know Nash is worth more than stats to this team but by the numbers he finished 18th overall in league scoring with 79 points in 78 games. His 40 goals were good for 5th in the league.

You be the judge on where you think Nash should slot in on that list.

Puck-daddy's thoughts on the Jackets moves:

The Columbus Blue Jackets had a very good day, getting Samuel Pahlsson(notes) as their checking center for $7.95 million over three years and Mathieu Garon(notes) for $2.4 million over two years. The BeeJays used to have zippy up the middle; now, their centers might go four-deep next year for the first time in franchise history.

I'll have much more on these two acquisitions over the next few days. Unfortunately the Nash news has smashed my time to post some thoughts on em.

Camping.

Just a few comments on the 1/2 session of camp I was able to catch yesterday.

Moore - what a skill set. His skating reminded me of Russell's but with a bigger frame. His puck skills were good as well. A nice package that just needs some time to bake.

Vougelhuber - was the best forward during my viewing potting a couple of nice goals on Lalande. Much better than last year but still a ways to go. Unfortunately he took a nasty shot in the leg as he was crossing the ice with the puck. He had to be helped off the ice and did not return. Remember he has a history of bad leg injuries.

Calvert - absolutely love this kid. He's fast, smart and "darty". His game reminds me of someone's but I just can't put a finger on it yet.

Legein - blended in and as a 2nd round pick you should not blend in with this group.

Goloubef - just so smooth and confident. He did get caught up the ice one time looking for a hit but other than that mistake he look good in all areas.

Lynch - nothing spectacular but very consistant. Didn't see him make a bad play or flub a pass during the entire practice.

Delisle - skating has improved. Reminds me of Hall Gill and not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Lots of room to fill out that frame.

Neuber - not nearly as bad of a player as I was expecting. Worked pretty hard out there. Didn't look out of place. Be interesting to see what he can do when he can drop em.

I only really got to see half of the group up close. I only keyed in on a few guys as you can see so please take with grains of salt!

-LTL

Deal or No Deal

Even after sleeping on it I am still in shock over Nash's quotes from last night's Dispatch. Let's take a look at them again:

“Things didn’t line up the way I anticipated them lining up,” Nash said. “I thought we had a solid chance of getting (a contract) done, especially with all the interest they said they had going into this.

“If this doesn’t happen in the next week, and we can’t hit a number where we’re both satisfied and we both feel it’s fair … if they want me that bad, they’ll get it done.”

“There were tons of teams throwing some pretty big money around (yesterday),” Nash said. “If this doesn’t get done, I’m sure I won’t have a problem getting signed by somebody next summer.”

“This is part of the process,” Resnick said. “We’ve begun, and we’ll continue to work through and reach an agreement.”

“The Blue Jackets have a blue print for the organization, and what they want to do with it,” Nash said. “If the numbers don’t work out, if they don’t match, that’s just the way the business side works.

“We’ll come back with something and see what they have to say. I would be nicer to be closer, but I have another year either way. I’m in no rush. I can play out the season.”

I read those again and I still cannot believe those comments actually came from the Rick Nash we have gotten to know through the media over the years but they did.

Portzline checks in this morning with a reality check post.

This is a high-profile negotiation, and Nash holds all of the leverage.

At some point, Nash had to play his leverage. At some point, he has to put the fear of God into the Blue Jackets and put a little heat on GM Scott Howson.

The first contract offer was well below what he expected/wants, so he played his cards. It’s a side that few have seen of Nash, and I don’t know that it came naturally to him. But these situations are not, by their nature, always clean and friendly.

Nash has lots of people looking at him to sign the “right” contract. The NHLPA would not look kindly on the matter if he signed a deal at less than $7 million per season. That’s what he’s making in 2009-10, so why should he take a paycut.

Some decent points.

First off I'd really love to know what Howson's first offer was. As I stated in the live blog last night, that would tell us an awful lot without having to say an awful lot.

Without that knowledge let's get to some theories as to why Nash would come out swinging so hard so early in this negotiation.

Theory 1
Howson really did lowball Nash with an offer. Nash then looked at what guys like Gaborik got (7.5 mil) and got angry when he compared it to what Howson offered.

Theory 2
He wants out and to stall stall stall...and I don't mean Eric, Jordan or Mark. This is the first step towards an stage left exit out of Columbus.

Theory 3
More leverage/posturing/hardball. Nash coached by agent to come out heavy regardless of initial offer after he previously publicly announced his desire to stay in Columbus. They thought Nash hurt his value and negotiating position by going public with intention to stay. All about maximizing the contract.

Theory 4
Backdoor tampering. A GM like Brian Burke has used backdoor channels to get to Nash to let him know what kind of offer they would make should he hit the free agent market.

Theory 5
Good cop bad cop. Nash's plays the bad guy while Nash's agent plays the good guy.

Admittedly some of those are pretty far fetched.

Until I know what the offer Howson made was I won't speculate any further other than to say that whatever the deal was I don't agree with getting so ugly so quick. There are better more productive ways to posture.

I mean c'mon, it's a negotation. You don't go in with your best offer first and you don't accept anyone's first offer. Of course you also don't want to be insulting which is why again, its real hard to speculate on the intentions here without getting some cold hard numbers in front of us.

Business or no business... this entire rant from #61 is completely out of character for him and just doesn't fit or add up... I mean hello square meet circle.

I really believe Nash is a good guy but money has a way of bringin the worst out of some folks. Well that or a player's agent has a way of getting the worst of someone.

As much as we fans love chewing on this fodder I think both sides would be well served to keep this entire thing behind closed doors until common ground is found.... which I hope is found quickly because you better believe this has created a whole lot of negative attention around this team yet again this offseason.

Stay tuned as I'm sure this is only chapter 1 in this saga.

Update: These figures are courtesy of eplagge. They are the most expensive signings this offseason:

Gaborik, Marian $37.5M 5 $7.5M
Bouwmeester, Jay $33.4M 5 $6.68M
Sedin, Henrik $30.5M 5 $6.1M
Sedin, Daniel $30.5M 5 $6.1M
Cammalleri, Mike $30M 5 $6M
Niedermayer, Scott $6M 1 $6M
Hossa, Marian $62.8M 12 $5.23M
Havlat, Martin $30M 6 $5M
Gionta, Brian $25M 5 $5M
Thomas, Tim $20M 4 $5M
Komisarek, Mike $22.50 5 $4.5M
Booth, David $25.5M 6 $4.25M
Antropov, Nik $16M 4 $4M

Fire away - thoughts on this negotiation thus far?

-LTL

Mason and Nash make Team Canada camp roster

Just read that Nash and Mason have been named to Team Canada's Olypmic camp roster.

The forwards:
Jeff Carter, Philadelphia; Dan Cleary, Detroit; Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh; Shane Doan, Phoenix; Simon Gagne, Philadelphia; Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim; Dany Heatley, Ottawa; Jarome Iginla, Calgary; Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay; Milan Lucic, Boston; Patrick Marleau, San Jose; Andy McDonald, St. Louis; Brenden Morrow, Dallas; Rick Nash, Columbus; Corey Perry, Anaheim; Mike Richards, Philadelphia; Derek Roy, Buffalo; Joe Sakic, Colorado; Patrick Sharp, Chicago; Ryan Smyth, Colorado; Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay; Eric Staal, Carolina; Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh; Joe Thornton, San Jose; Jonathan Toews, Chicago

The goalies:
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey; Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh; Roberto Luongo, Vancouver; Steve Mason, Columbus; Cam Ward, Carolina

I honsetly didn't think Mase would be named but that is a great news!!

Congrats to both of these guys!

-LTL

Live Blog - 2009 UFA

Early fallout

As we wait for free agency to open at noon I wanted to make a few comments about a couple of the deals that have gone down and get your thoughts as well.

First this Jay Bouwmeester to Calgary deal.... and what a deal it was. To give up a 3rd round pick and sign this guy to a very respectable 5 year deal with a 6.6 million dollar cap hit is absolute highway robbery.

That said something has got to give to on that roster... and perhaps the Jackets could benefit.

Iginla: 7 mil
Kiprusoff: 7 mil
Bouwmeester: 6.6 mil
Phaneuf: 6.5 mil
Jokinen: 5.5 mil
Langkow: 4.25 mil
Sarich: 3.7
Regehr: 3.5

Total: 44.05

So 44 million tied up 8 players. That leaves roughly 12 million to fill out the remaining 12 players on a roster......and remember teams can carry up to 23 players.

This is a prime example of what Scott Howson was referring to when he said they will be "patient". I.E. teams will spend themselves right to the cap and then will need relief -- that is where Howson and the Jackets pounce looking to fill their holes, mainly a d-man. By trading for that asset the Jackets will in return essentially be trading them back that cap space relief.

Phaneuf would solve a huge problem here but he'll be too rich for Howson's blood. Other than that I don't see any names that would really interest the Jackets. Regehr and Sarich would be redundant on the Jackets roster unless other pieces are moved.

For the life of me I cannot figure out why Bob Gainey gave up so much to get Scott Gomez?

I know he was desperate for a center but the Rangers were in cap hell and just taking that albatross Gomez contract off their hands should been plenty enough..... but on top of that Gainey not only threw in a proven winger in Chris Higgins but his first round pick and #1 rated prospect from the 2007 draft Ryan McDonagh.

...and he did all of this before free agency even kicked off today at noon when he could have gotten a slew of players for just money. Why not wait to make such a big deal until after you see what you can reel in? I can't imagine free agents hinging their decision on whether or not Gomez is a part of the team.

This is the kind of deal that could get a GM fired.

Now look for the Rangers to make yet another splashy headline grabber that probably won't work out. I'm tellin ya, if I'm a UFA I steer clear of that town... Why? Look at Gomez... He signed a splashy deal two years ago and has already been dealt.

Thank god for the cap right? Without it the Wings would have signed Hossa by now. Who knows how many free agents the Rangers and Philly would be signing. The Flames would be stacked....on and on and on.

It may not be perfect but it has definitely leveled the playing field for markets like Columbus.

BIG BIG BIG day for Scott Howson and Rick Nash. My bet is the first offer has already been faxed over to Nash and the two sides are workin hard to hammer something out as we speak.

Again I don't expect a whole lot of activity from the Jackets today on the open market. Perhaps a backup goalie gets signed but my guess is that is about it. I still think they wait, let the big fish fall and then go bargain shoppin.

I'll be live bloggin starting around noon (or whenever I get back from prospect camp). Stop on by!

-LTL

Howson will show Nash the cash

Lots of good early signs coming from both the Jackets camp and the Nash camp today.

The Dispatch has some good info in an blog post and their chat session. Some highlights:

Puck-rakers:

Howson called the meeting to share with Nash and Resnick his vision for the Blue Jackets future: how the club will be built, where Nash fits in, how other clubs have been built with elite players, etc.

"I wanted Rick to see what we have planned and how big a part of it he is," Howson said. "We've had conversations before, but none of this length."

Both Howson and Resnick agreed that it's highly unlikely a contract extension will be signed on Wednesday.

"This is just the start of the process," Resnick said.

"I've come up right through the ranks, now the captain," Nash said. "I love the organization. I love everything about it. But it's a matter of business. Nobody wants to rob the other person, we just both want to be satisfied."

I like part from the chat from Portzline:

Just talking to Rick, he said he's torn between a 4 or 5 year deal and the idea of having a monster long-term deal, say in the 10-year range. I get the sense that he'd sign the latter if the money was right. My guess is he'll make in the $6.5M to $8M range per year. Cap hit around $7M to $7.5M.

The AP has a story up as well with some juicy quotes:

His agent, Joe Resnick, said Tuesday that Nash loves Columbus and the Blue Jackets. But that only goes so far.

"Confident of a deal? It's really up to the Blue Jackets," he said. "We're definitely going to listen and take in everything they have to say. Hopefully we can get a deal done."

"Obviously, he's what makes this car run," said 20-year-old goalie Steve Mason, the NHL's rookie of the year. "He's our leader. It'll be an important piece to get him signed, hopefully for a long term."

"Term is definitely a huge factor," Resnick said. "Rick could do a long-term deal, based on his age, and then come out of it at 33 or 34 and still have several years ahead of him."

"For us to make splashes in the free-agent market and for guys to want to come here, having his name signed long-term is a big important piece," forward R.J. Umberger said. "Nowadays anything is possible. People are moving around so much. You just never know. You just hope with these long contracts that they're doing these days that can help keep a player with a team for a long time."

If you're a fan of getting Rick Nash signed to a long term extension there are a ton of positives to be gleaned from quotes like these.

I have been following the NHL for a long time. Anyone who reads this blog knows I like to read into what is said and in a lot of cases, what isn't.

There have been a lot of negotiations that I have followed and to have both parties expressing such interest publicly liks these is an extremely good sign.

This is gonna get done folks.... and I think it's gonna get done very quickly.

Both sides are motivated.

Howson has the salary structure available to make Nash a very fair offer. He knows how important it is to keep his franchise player and captain happy and as the focal point of this franchise. He knows he is only going to get better. Remember he's only 25! Players like this absolutely do not come along oftern.

Nash is the captain and the franchise. He freely admits he loves the city. He sees the talent sprouting up all around him. He sees the direction. He sees the leadership. He sees the steps taken. The grass will not be greener elsewhere.

After reading the latest quotes from both sides, I'm now guessing Nash gets extended in that 8 to 10 year range. It will be front loaded and I agree with Portzline that it will be an average cap hit in the neighborhood of 7 to 8 mil.

It will be a helluva committment from both sides, but one that makes a helluva lot of sense.

Exciting times. Get it done boys.

-LTL

Umberger snubbed

I was just sent this link from Ryan. It's the USA Olympics camp invites:

Goaltenders: Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas

Defencemen: Tom Gilbert, Tim Gleason, Ron Hainsey, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Mike Komisarek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, Brian Rafalski, Rob Scuderi, Ryan Suter, Ryan Whitney

Forwards: David Backes, David Booth, Dustin Brown, Dustin Byfuglien, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Mike Modano, Kyle Okposo, T.J. Oshie, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Bobby Ryan, Paul Stastny.

So let me get this straight. Umberger and his 26 goals (46 points) aren't invited over guys like Okposo (39 points), Oshie (39 points) and Callahan (40 points)? Those guys are some good young players with loads of potential but you can't tell me they would add more right now than an Umberger could for the 2010 US Olympic team.

He has done plenty to at least garner an invite to camp. His work alone in the playoffs shows he knows how to get it done when the games matter the most.

I'm sorry but what a crock of sh** for RJ.

-LTL

2009 Free Agency Preview - Centers

This is the third and final entry in a series of posts I will be presenting this offseason as we build up to the July 1st free agency period.

You can view the first entry on defensemen here.

You can view the second entry on goaltenders here.

This entry will focus on unrestricted free agent centers.

The Jackets appear to be set in their top 6 with both Derick Brassard and Antoinne Vermette expected to anchor those top two lines center slots.

What they need is to address their 3rd and 4th line center positions.

The organization would like to bring back Manny Malhotra to anchor that 3rd line but with July 1st being less than a day away the chances of that happening are slim.

Scott Howson has publicly stated that the organization will look to fill the 4th line center hole from within. The names of Mike Blunden, Derek MacKenzie, Andrew Murray and Derek Dorsett have been bandied about.

This post will focus on players that can fill that 3rd line center role. What the Jackets will be focusing on is a cost effective player that can shut down other team's top players, PK, win faceoffs and contribute some offensively.

If Malhotra ends up re-signing then this list becomes moot.

John Madden
ASSETS: Is an outstanding penalty-killer and versatile enough to play any role on a hockey club. Has great speed, sound fundamentals and an excellent work ethic.
FLAWS: At this point he will never put up huge numbers in the NHL, which makes him a less-than-ideal top six pivot. Can go long stretches without a point.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Checking line center.

Age: 36
2008 stats: 76 7 16 23 -7 26
2008 salary: 2.93

Outlook: It looks like Madden's time in New Jersey has come to a close. I can see the Jackets being very interested in obtaining Madden's services. He is Hitch type competitor in every sense. He does alot of things extremely well. The questions are how much and how long? I can't see Howson going much higher than a 2 year 4 million dollar offer as he is 36 and his point production did take a sharp drop last season.

Brendan Morrison
ASSETS: Is an excellent skater and playmaker. Has racked up points at every level. Is an important player on special teams and a decent face-off man.
FLAWS: Usually avoids heavy traffic areas, since he's smallish in stature and not physical. Lacks the offensive consistency to play a first-line role.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Versatile forward.

Age: 33
2008 stats: 81 16 15 31 3 32
2008 salary: 2.75

Outlook: Morrison spurned the Jackets offer last offseason as he wished to remain on the west coast. However if he wants a job this offseason he'll need to keep his options open. What may interest Howson this time around is even though Morrison's numbers dropped, he is a guy who can play just about anywhere in your lineup. He could look good next to a Filatov on the 3rd line or if there is an injury would certainly not look out of place next to a Rick Nash. If he hangs out there I wouldn't rule him out. A big drawback is he isn't a defensive shutdown guy.

Todd Marchant
ASSETS: Has a strong reputation for his penalty-killing, checking and leadership ability. Is still an above-average skater.
FLAWS: Doesn't have great hands and lacks the confidence to consistently finish off plays. Isn't big and tends to wear down against big centers.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Two-way center.

Age: 35
2008 stats: 72 5 13 18 -2 34
2008 salary: 2.66

Outlook: We've seen this episode before eh Jacket fans? This time around if Marchant is brought on board it won't be billed as a 1st line center savior like a certain other general manager sold it as a few years back. With new management in charge there may be a fit here although I see Marchant pretty far Howson's wish list mostly because he doesn't add much, if any, offense.

Mike Sillinger
ASSETS: Possesses good two-way instincts and playmaking ability. Does anything asked of him. Excels on face-offs and can line up at all three forward positions.
FLAWS: Struggles in the goal-scoring department, and is much more suited to playing on a checking line than as a top-six forward.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Two-way center.

Age: 37
2008 stats: 7 2 0 2 -5 0
2008 salary: 2.30

Outlook: Another former Jackets who has played for just about every NHL team out there -- heck wasn't he a Colorado Rockie at some point? Although extremely experienced Sillinger has suffered some big time injuries over the past year and it does appear father time has caught up to him. I don't see a fit.

P.J. Axelsson
ASSETS: Possesses work ethic that is second to none. Has sound two-way and penalty-killing ability. Can play in any situation.
FLAWS: Will never contend for any scoring records. Is a dedicated checker, but his lack of bulk can be a disadvantage when he's trying to shut down big power forwards.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Two-way winger.

Age: 34
2008 stats: 75 6 24 30 -1 16
2008 salary: 1.85

Outlook: His strengths and salary certainly fall in the ballpark but I believe Axelsson is more of a winger than a center. You certainly know what you'll get with P.J every night. I put him squarely on the "maybe" list if other preferred options fall through and the Jackets brass believe he can play full time at center.

Radek Bonk
ASSETS: Possesses a great package: Size for the center position, hockey sense, excellent defensive skills and sound fundamentals.
FLAWS: Doesn't play a physical game at all, despite his size. Appears to have lost his scoring touch. Lacks grit and passion.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Checking line center.

Age: 33
2008 stats: 66 9 16 25 -12 34
2008 salary: 1.60

Outlook: Personally I'm just not a fan of Bonk. Some of his strengths fit what the Jackets are looking for but his game is too invisible too many nights for my liking. I hope the Jackets pass.

Samuel Pahlsson
ASSETS: Has good instincts and defensive prowess. Is strong on his skates and works hard. Excels in defensive situations.
FLAWS: Needs to produce more points at the NHL level. Doesn't shoot enough when in good scoring position.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Checking line center.

Age: 31
2008 stats: 65 7 11 18 -17
2008 salary: 1.40

Outlook: If the Jackets don't really care about picking up a center who adds some offense then Phalsson may be their man. He's definitely a guy whose proven he can shut down other team's top lines and I can see Hitch absolutely loving this guy. He did have some injury issues last season and his lack of offense is a concern.

Dominic Moore
ASSETS: Has excellent hockey sense and two-way instincts. Always gives maximum effort on the ice. Leads by example with every shift.
FLAWS: Is smallish in stature. Lacks offensive acumen. Will have to battle extra hard just to keep a job at the NHL level.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Checking center.

Age: 28
2008 stats: 81 13 32 45 -2 92
2008 salary: 900k

Outlook: Moore is a guy I'd love for the Jackets to add to their mix. He had a bit of a breakout year last season notching a career high 45 points so the risk you take in signing him is if he can duplicate that performance. He got plenty of PP time and top 6 minutes in Toronto which he wouldn't get here so that will effect is point production. Like Morrison though by signing a guy like Moore you hedge a bit against injury to Vermette/Brassard which is never a bad thing. Moore will probably be too rich for the Jackets blood however.

Chad LaRose
ASSETS: Displays a ton of energy with every shift, and isn't afraid of mixing it up--despite a lack of size. Possesses decent offensive instincts.
FLAWS: Must prove he can play aggressively at the NHL level over the long haul. Needs to add more upper-body strength. Is not a natural goal-scorer by any means.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Checking line winger.

Age: 27
2008 stats: 81 19 12 31 6 35
2008 salary: 875k

Outlook: Appears to be more effective at wing than at center which is unfortunate for our needs. If Howson and co. believe LaRose can be an effective center he is certainly a guy who would have to interest them. He put some up some decent numbers and plays a strong 2 way game. He really impressed in the playoffs but as forecaster suggest - can he keep up that strong level of play?

Vernon Fiddler
ASSETS: Plays with hockey smarts, displays two-way capability and sound face-off skills. Can play either wing or center.
FLAWS: Lacks offensive upside, isn't big or overly physical. Doesn't display enough offensive consistency to secure more ice time.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Bottom six forward.

Age: 29
2008 stats: 78 11 6 17 -13 24
2008 salary: 900k

Outlook: Fiddler is a guy we Jacket fans are very familiar with. He has a motor that doesn't seem to ever stop (at least against the CBJ). He doesn't put up a whole lot of offense but he just the type of guy you always notice out there on the ice. He still in his prime at 29 and is certainly on Howson's radar. The -13 stands out though.

Blair Betts
ASSETS: Has good size for the pivot position and solid two-way skills. Displays leadership qualities and a sound work ethic.
FLAWS: Has limited scoring and/or playmaking ability. Also doesn't have the greatest skating ability, which limits his effectiveness in the NHL.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Checking line center.

Age: 29
2008 stats: 81 6 4 10 -5 16
2008 salary: 615k

Outlook: Certainly has the size Hitch would love but not a whole lot offensively. If the Jackets were lookin for a 4th line center Betts would look really good there. Maybe a guy the Jackets feel could be coached up a bit. Wouldn't completely rule him out but it would take a lot of strikes before they seriously consider him -- at least for that 3rd line hole.

Tomas Kopecky
ASSETS: Has a very projectable frame, sound two-way instincts and plenty of scoring potential. Is also a versatile forward in the Red Wings mold.
FLAWS: Must add significant bulk in order to make his mark on the NHL. Has a tendency to take games off, which won't cut it in the big league.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Third line winger.

Age: 27
2008 stats: 79 6 13 19 -7 46
2008 salary: 525k

Outlook: Another guy who has played more wing than center. The price could be right here but the Jackets would have to be convinced Kopecky could hold down a center spot. I think they look for more experience playing in that shutdown hole.

I would be fine with Manny coming back for the right terms but if he doesn't here is my personal wishlist:

1. John Madden
2. Dominic Moore
3. Brendan Morrison
4. Samuel Phalsson
5. Chad LaRose (only if the org was confident he could play center)

We'll see how it shakes out over the next couple of days.

-LTL

Cap space.. the new frontier

A nice quick reference in terms of players signed vs. cap space that I grabbed from the Canadiens web site.

The Jackest have 18 players with over 17 mil left on the cap. We know as a budget team that they won't be spending near it.

Jackets a draft "winner" according to Puck-daddy:

Columbus Blue Jackets: Winners, because they seem to really love the John Moore pick. Big kid, good skater, and dropped more than they thought he would, which required them to trade up after already trading down. There's still no indication whether Moore will go to Colorado College or Kitchener, though. It'd probably be better for his development to get some Major Junior games under his belt though.

-LTL