Central news and notes..

A brief little nugget from NHL.com this morning regarding the central and defensive tandems:

Another young defenseman getting raves is Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Kris Russell, a smallish (5-10, 167 pounds) third-round pick in 2005 out of Medicine Hat. Coach Ken Hitchcock raves about Russell’s maturity and hockey sense the way he did with Daryl Sydor, another Western Hockey League defender he coached in Kamloops and eventually brought to Dallas. Power-play goals will be key in Columbus -- and Hitchcock seems prepared to start the season against Anaheim at home Oct. 5 with Russell and Sergei Fedorov on the points when the Blue Jackets have the man advantage. ... If Derick Brassard, the Jackets’ No. 1 pick in 2006, continues to shine, Hitchcock may have to consider using him at center on the team’s No. 1 line with Rick Nash and David Vyborny. For now, the coach doesn’t want to put undo pressure on such a kid who just turned 20 on Sept. 22. ...

Word is definitely starting to spread regarding Russell (pictured right). After further reflection on the game last night and reading some other reviews he did seem lose a step last night and of course there is the thought that the competition level has been raised thus its harder to shine out there.....but lets not also forget that he played 3 games in 4 nights.

The kid is a rookie so we have to remember that he'll have some up and downs as he works his way through the regular season.

Read more here.

-LTL