All-Blogs.net directory Light the Lamp - a Columbus Blue Jackets blog: Stat of the day

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Sunday, February 15, 2009

Stat of the day

I was just checking out the Jacket player stats and something hit me like a Mike Commodore body check -- just about every single one of Howson's off season acquisitions are contributing.

* Umberger, Huselius, Commodore and Tyutin are all top 10 in scoring on this team. That's remarkable considering two of those guys are d-men.

* Commodore is on pace for a career season in points (29 being his best -- he currently has 22) and +/- (best being +13.. he's +12 now).

* Fedor Tyutin has already tied his career high in points with 25 in 20 less games than he did in the 2005-2006 season.

* Kristian Huselius is second on the team in points with 40. Not the powerhouse season he's had in the past but certainly has been a solid contributor (now about those posts!).

* After a slow start, RJ Umberger has crushed his goal total from last season with 17 so far this year (he had 13 last season). He is on pace to match his career high of 50 points and beat his career best goal total of 20 in his rookie year for Philly in '05-'06.

Raffi Torres has certainly had his ups and downs this year. Christian Backman has been his worst move but we all know it was a salary dump he absorbed to acquire Tyutin and his beauty of a contract and to offset the risk the Rangers were taking on Zherdev and his contract situation. Both players are looking better.

This doesn't even include the Jason Williams trade that has paid early dividends.

I will also add that I wasn't a big fan of the Dubie move and still am not. Its up there with Backman but hey, the guy isn't going to hit a home run everytime. With Legace/Sanford out there it was a pretty big gamble to choose to go with a very small goaltender who hasn't played in the NHL in two years.

The best part of all these moves -- Howson did so without giving up any of his young blue chip talent or high picks (although he did move Colorado's first for Umberger). Guys like Brassard/Voracek/Russell/Mason/Filatov are all most definitely in the fold and all have contributed in various ways this season. He also still has all of his picks for this year's draft.

He has been smart in giving players time to develop. He's let his coaching staff "coach". He has really stuck by his "under promise and over deliver" mantra. He hasn't panicked when bloggers like myself thought he should. Unlike previous administrations he has let his team do the talking. He has this team well set up for good extended run over the next few years.

In short, the window is opening.

Someone on HF posted that Howson should be considered as "Executive of the Year". With the way this team is coming together I think his name has to start entering those conversations.

The same has to be said about Hitch as "Coach of the Year".

Still a big chunk of season to go and Howson's next test will be the trade deadline.

Okay that turned into a little more than "stat of the day" but like the Jackets, I got on a roll!

-LTL

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Have you taken a look at some of our draftees? Brent Regner, a d-man we took in the 5th round last year from Vancouver, is a +57 so far. Matt Calvert, our other 5th rounder, a left wing from Brandon, has 50 points in 44 games. Trent Vogelhuber has had a good season at Miami U. The future looks like it may be pretty bright, even if only one or two of these players work out, between juniors, college and Syracuse.

LTL said...

Hey Jason.. great comment.

I have been following that Brent Regner guy since I saw his crazy stats a few months ago...and they just keep getting better!

Honestly I have no clue about this guy though. I believe he went undrafted his first year eligible but then the Jackets grabbed him this past draft and he's absolutely going nuts for Vancouver as a d-man no less. Not the biggest of guys at 6ft 170 lbs but you can't complain about that production in that league that's for sure.

Maybe a slightly bigger Russell type player?

I read a couple of places after the draft that they got a steal on Calvert and he's certainly showing sings of that. I expect him to make Team Canada's World Junior team next year.

Need to keep that pipeline flowing and keep grabbing some late round gems.

With guys like Mason/Methot/Russell/Dorsett/Boll/Murray/LaCosta making impacts now as later round picks the Jackets scouts have certainly upped their games the past few seasons... that and we are giving guys time to develop.

The next late round pick I have my eyes on is Grant Clitsome.. I really like his game and he seems to be coming on lately for the Crunch.

-LTL

RadioJohnson said...

Great site and great analysis. (I just linked you from my blog www.radiojohnson.blogspot.com)
Umberger and Commodore looked great Saturday night, and I thought Williams played well on Friday.
After last year, everyone knew we needed better centers and better defensemen. Look at us now.

LTL said...

Hey thanks Mitch! Very entertaining blog you have there as well!!

-LTL

Anonymous said...

I honestly want to know what the hell happened to Freddy Modin?