Nash is game...

Today is the debut of Rick Nash on the cover of NHL2K9. NHL.com has a great read up regarding the roll out today at the NHL store in New York. Be sure to check it out here.

This is just fantastic exposure for Nash, the Jackets and city of Columbus. Well done 61!

Hockey's Future has released their fall rankings of the Jackets top 20 propsects. There are some movers and shakers from their last kick at this can.

The highest mover was Russian defensemen Andrei Plekhanov who jumped from 20 all the way to 6.

Their top 10 is as follows:

1. Jakub Voracek, RW
2. Nikita Filatov, LW
3. Derick Brassard, C
4. Steve Mason, G
5. Cody Goloubef, D
6. Andrei Plekhanov, D
7. Jake Hansen, RW
8. Marc Methot, D
9. Tom Sestito, LW
10. Teddy Ruth, D

You can view the entire list here with explanations.

I personally think Plekhanov is a bit to high and Sestito a bit low. Derek Dorsett also comes in at 19 which to me is waaay to low for him. I'd also have Clitsome in my top 20 - probably in my top 15.

Still a fun read so be sure to check it out.

Manny Malhotra was recognized as being one of the top faceoff men in the Western Conference by NHL.com:

Manny Malhotra, Columbus Blue Jackets – Malhotra, drafted seventh by the New York Rangers in the 1998 Entry Draft, hasn’t developed into a top-line talent, but as the Blue Jackets’ third-line center, he has excelled in the faceoff circle.

Malhotra’s 59.0-percent faceoff success rate was the second in the League, but he took just 1,158 faceoffs – No. 35 in the League – last season. Malhotra isn’t Columbus’ most potent offensive weapon, but he still took 110 power-play faceoffs last season. Malhotra, who has led the Blue Jackets in faceoff winning percentage the last four seasons, has long been relied upon by Columbus coaches to win important draws.

Manny has certainly found his niche in the NHL as a bottom 6 player with big time skills in the circle. You can carve out a decent career for yourself being a top flight face off center in this league.

THN.com takes a look at the top 10 fighters in the league. Yep, Jared Boll makes this list:

Jared Boll, Columbus (27 fights in ’07-08)Led the league in tilts last season. As soon as he adds a few pounds to his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame he’ll be one of the game’s elite, if he isn’t already.

Of course reports out of Columbus are that Boll is already up in that 210 pound range after a strong offseason in the weight room. Now to get that hand healed up.

Aaron Portzline has a entertaining read up on the Puck-rakers blog titled "It wouldn't suprise me if..."... some highlights:

-- Rick Nash has a "go" with former captain Adam Foote on Jan. 13 when Colorado plays in Nationwide Arena

-- Boll vs. Tootoo happens six times

-- Jon "Nasty" Mirasty dresses for both of the Nashville preseason games

-- Jon "Nasty" Mirasty plays in two regular-season games against Nashville

-- the Blue Jackets finish 7th in the West and win their first playoff series (over San Jose)

-- the Blue Jackets finish 10th in the West

You can tell the hockey season is starting to kick into gear with the new articles and blog posts starting to get pumped out there.

Yahoo reviews the Jackets and this is their prediction:

Analysis and prediction: The center-ice problem figures to be significant because there are so many difficult match-ups at that position, not only throughout the Western Conference but also particularly in the Central Division – think Detroit and Chicago. You can never put it past Hitchcock to tweak and devise a winning formula, but it’s just hard to imagine

Until they actually do it on the ice don't expect many of the experts out there to pick the Jackets in the top 8.

Remember this team was just 5 points out of the playoffs with the group they had last season -- nobody can tell me they haven't drastically improved from that roster this offseason....and you better believe that if the Jackets are 5 points out this year Howson is buying!

-LTL