Platt moved in minor league deal

I just read over on the Puck-rakers blog that Geoff Platt (pictured left) has been traded to Portland for two minor league defensemen Clay Wilson and Aaron Rome.

The Puck-rakers do a good job getting into the "Disney-like" Platt story so I won't get to much into that here.

The bottom line is that Platt didn't fit into the future plans of the organization and the Jackets needed to bolster both their defensive depth and more importantly get their minor league affiliate the Syracuse Crunch some badly needed help on the back end.

First lets take a deeper look at who the Jackets are getting back in this deal:

Clay Wilson (pictured right)

LW/D

Age 24

6 ft, 195lbs

Undrafted
11-Jul-06: Signed as a free agent by the Anaheim Ducks.

Has played 3 years as a pro with his best year coming last season for the Portland Pirates where he put up 9g, 34a for 43 points. He appears to be one of those players who can play both defense or offense. I'm still not clear exactly where he's been playing recently but you'd think with Syracuse's defensive woes Wilson will certainly start out on the blueline.

Aaron Rome (pictured right)

D

Age 24

6.01 ft 225 lbs

Drafted in the 4th round by the LA Kings in 2002

07-Jun-04: Signed as a free agent by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Rome has been a pro now for 5 years. He's known as a stay at home defensemen and judging by his PIMS (he had 139 in 76 games last year) he's not afraid of the physical stuff. All signs point to Rome sliding right into a top 4 spot in the Crunch lineup and he may even be an call up option for the Jackets if they get thin in the back.

The Jackets give up Geoff Platt who under the MacLean administration was a diamond in the rough who really showed some much needed offensive talent. Unfortunately for Platt his game didn't quite fit into the plans of what Howson/Hitch are trying to build in Columbus and he wasn't getting the playing time in Syracuse so obviously something was up there as well - he had only scored 4g, 3a in 15 gp after piling up 28g, 21a for 49 points in 53 gp last season.

It also appears that Bruno St. Jacques is headed to Anaheim/Portland as part of this package. Jacques was brought in as a late free agent signing to try to fill wholes in the Syracuse roster specially on defense. It appears that move didn't accomplish much and he was thrown in as part of this package.

This trade makes sense on a lot of levels. For Columbus they get some much needed young but experienced defensive depth that should instantly pay dividends for the Crunch. For Platt he gets a new start for a Portland team that I'm sure was looking for some more offensive fire power - he'll be penciled right into their top 6. They also get Jacques who can fill a hole vacated by the loss of Wilson and Rome.

Platter (as his teammates regularly referred to him) seemed like a great guy and his story from undrafted player to NHL regular is a compelling one. I wish him nothing but the best of luck in the future and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him back at the NHL level sooner rather than later.

I also want to note that this is Scott Howson's first trade as General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets - albeit a minor one.

-LTL