Last original Blue Jacket no more

You could say Rusty Klesla is "technically" the last original Blue Jacket standing as he got in his 9 game tryout during the Jackets first year but for me, its David Vyborny who is the last full timer from that first squad.

Technicalities aside I just read over on HFBoards that David Vyborny, the last "true" original Blue Jacket, has signed to played with a team in his homeland of the Czech Republic.

I think just about everyone saw this coming after his performance last year and with the management at the helm. Vyborny's season derailed in camp as he was injured in a nasty check by follow Czech Martin Erat. Couple that with the fact that he did not get signed to an early season contract and his season just snowballed into a gigantic mess.

On the ice Vybes clearly wasn't the same player after the hit. He clearly had lost a step and with that his confidence. He was late getting to pucks and no longer had any confidence with the puck. Its said once a player of Vyborny's stature loses his speed then he will no longer be an effective player at the highest level.

Vbyes no gets a chance to head home and raise his kids in native land. He'll continue his pro career where it started as kid and I'm sure even after his playing days are over he'll stay involved with the game in some capacity.

As an NHL pro Vyborny played 543 games registering 113g, 204a for 317 points - all as Jacket. His best year came in the 2005-2006 season when he scored 22g, 43a for 65p.

David Vyborny will be missed. He was a real pro who quietly went about his business and for a long time was one of the few bright spots during some really dark years.

Good Vybes! Come back and see us some time soon!

In other news Dick Tarnstrom has also signed with a team in Europe according to this link.

Discuss - What is your fondest David Vyborny memory? For some reason his OT game winner against the Boston Bruins last year at home really sticks out in my mind as well as the "spin-o-rama" goal he scored in that same game.

-LTL