Quote of the day and more draft!!

I thought this quote was a classic line from the Leafs' Brian Burke:

"I don't give a rat's ass what they do in Pittsburgh or Detroit," said Burke. "There's been four different Cup winners the last four years, and I got one of them (Anaheim) and it was a fighting team. We're playing it that way regardless."

I'm glad he's not the Jackets GM as I'm just fine with the low key Howson but he is an entertaining quote.

Also if you're interseted in Kubina or Kaberle make note of this from the same article:

But Friday is important on another matter. The no-trade clauses for both defencemen Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina temporarily expire. From draft day until mid-August, either can be traded. Burke said he's had nibbles for both, but said it was "too early to say" whether one, or both, would be moved.

Kubina earns $5 million (all figures U.S.) a year, Kaberle $4.25 million. Both have offensive ability, Kubina has a bit more grit.

I like both guys and think both could help our d corps tremendously.

With only 1 year left on Kubina's deal there is only so much I'd be willing to give up (i.e. not the first rounder or top prospect) to swing that deal. Kaberle would be a different situation as he's younger and has two years left on his contract but my guess is Howson would not give up any of his young studs it would take to obtain him. I'm okay with that as well as I firmly believe cup contenders are built through the draft.

I wouldn't completely rule out a trade with Toronto but I also wouldn't wait by your keyboards hitting the refresh button either.

THN comments on last year's draft day trades:

Columbus gets: R.J. Umberger, C
Philadelphia gets: Luca Sbisa, D
Looking back: You can imagine how much worse Philly’s cap trouble would have been this year if they didn’t move out Umberger, who now has a hit close to $4 million.

Columbus got exactly the type of physical, productive forward they needed to help fill out a weak group and they didn’t even need to give out their own first-rounder, instead handing the Flyers a pick they got months earlier from Colorado for a dastardly Adam Foote.

In Sbisa, the Flyers added a youngster they could immediately insert into the lineup, even though that’s not what they anticipated when they picked him. This was a fine deal for both teams.

It was a good deal for both squads. It's really hard to imagine where Columbus would have been without RJ's 26 goals last season. He also proved that his playoff performance the year before was no fluke as he notched 3 goals in the Jackets 4 playoff games.

Here are a couple of more mocks from TSN:

16. Blue Jackets

McGuire: Dmitry Kulikov
McGuire: "They need some offence from the back end in Columbus."

Button: John Moore
Button: "He's a quick skater that loves to get into the attack."

Hey wudya know.. two more d-men! In all honestly I'd be thrilled to land either of these guys.

CNNSI's Muir has his mock posted:

16. Columbus Blue Jackets: David Rundblad, D, Skelleftea (SEL)

The Jackets may not have the league's worst power play by the time Rundblad shows up in Columbus, but he has the tools to ensure they become a more formidable opponent with the extra man long-term Rundblad worked the PP in the SEL as an underager, thanks to his slick playmaking, cannon shot and strong reads. And he's a right-handed shooter, a quality almost every team covets. Add in the fact that he should play at about 6-2, 210 and has more than a passing familiarity with his own zone, and he should become a bulwark of the Jackets' back end.

A little trade rumor news from Portzline's chat from the Dispatch this afternoon:

[Kev22] Porty are you hearing any rumors at the draft involving the Jackets yet?

[Portzline] Yes. I hear they've talked to Buffalo about moving up to the No. 13 spot. I get to Montreal on Thursday. Lots of hotel lobby time should generate some gossip, rumors, innuendo and half-truths. Look for those in your Friday edition of Ohio's Greatest Home Newspaper.

Portzline metions that the Jackets would like to grab one of the 7-pack of d-men in Hedmen, Kulikov, Cowen, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Moore, Runbland or Ellis. Hedman, Cowen and Kulikov are all likely to be off the board early but one of Moore, Runbland, Ellis or possibly Larsson could still be there at 16 -- if he doesn't think so then perhaps he deals with Buffalo to snag one.

I personally don't think he is limiting himself to just d-men though. If a guy like Glennie, Kassian or a Schroeder are there you have to pull the trigger. Kassian is a guy that I like more and more. That's not to say I still don't like "Moore".. as in John.

If you subscribe to the NHL Network you HAVE to tune in and watch the 2002 All Access draft special. Tons of video of a young Rick Nash. It's great TV for CBJ fans.

I believe it's on a couple of more times before the 09 draft takes off on Friday evening.

-LTL