Jackets acquire Tarnstrom for some PP help

The Jackets traded 24 year old Curtis Glencross this afternoon for 33 year old Dick Tarnstrom. Here is the what TSN.ca has to say about Tarnstrom:

Assets
Can move the puck very well up the ice. Has the ability to find the open man with a quick, accurate pass.

Flaws
Owns a below average shot. Has been prone to injury throughout his career. Has occasional defensive meltdowns.

Career potential
Power-play specialist.

You think just maybe the Jackets could use this guy's skill set? Uhhh...just slightly. This move addresses an immediate need while not sacraficing the future. We severly lack skill on the backend. Its fits the criteria in terms of the type of move I was expecting Howson to make.

A huge problem with this Jackets team is their inability to move the puck up the ice and to work the point on the power play. Tarnstrom should help in both of these much needed areas.

Tarnstrom only has 1g, 4a in 29 games but by all acounts he was only used on the 2nd powerplay unit as both Sheldon Souray and Joni Pitkanen were the primary points on the PP in Edmoton. Transrom has also recently been scratched to make room for some younger Edmontom defensemen.

The piece the Jackets traded, Curtis Glencross, was a nice player for the Jackets who came over as part of a trade for Joe Motzko and Mark Hartigan (we also got Zenon Konopka) but unfortunately for him he played wing which is the deepest position within the organization. He has also been scratched regularly the past month. As Howson states in the Dispatch, he was an asset in a deep position they were willing to part with to fill in a need. In other words, Columbus has lots of Curtis Glencross players in their system. Pineault, Murray, Picard, Dorsette and Konokpa -- all these guys can fill that role.

Really Glencross was a throw in as I think this was pretty much a salary dump by Edmonton. Tarnstrom is making 2 mil this year and then will be a UFA. The Oil certainly didn't want 2 mil sitting up in a press box.

So good on Howson for going out and getting a piece that should help now. From what I'm told Tarnstrom should be better than anyone we have on he PP and is smart and will find the weak side of the ice every time. He's not a Niedermeyer or Lidstrom or any of that so lets not set some outlandish expectations for this guy but with more ice time and a larger role he should certainly be able help us on the powerplay and transition. I'm looking forward to seeing him contribute and I'm sure Hitch will get everything he can out of this guy.

Lets not also forget that Howson should know what he's getting here. Afterall he was the assistant GM at Edmonton before landing the job here in Columbus. Remember that guy noone heard of in Jan Hejda?

The only downside here - he's not going to be here until sometime next week due to immigration paperwork issue. Tarnstrom is Swedish (Freddy Modin can show him around Cbus!) and since he wasn't playing for an American team he's got to pass through US immigration. According to Howson we should see him sometime next week.

I don't think Howson is finished either. If there are more deals out there that make sense he'll move on them.

This deal also shows that indeed the check book as been opened. The Jackets certainly took on salary in this deal and I don't think they'll hesitate to take some more on in the future.

Now the question is who sits on the d-line? I see like this:

Foote Hejda

Hainsey Klelsa

Russell Tarnstrom

Tollefsen scratched. Methot sent back down.

Good luck in Edmonton GlennX. Welcome to Columbus Tarnstrom!

-LTL

Walking wounded back at practice today, now what?

Puck-rakers just said that everyone, besides Andrew Murry who is still out with a concussion, is back at practice for the Jackets.

So that's:

Fredrick Modin

OK Tollefsen

Curtis Glencross

That's great news but the question now is where in the heck do all these bodies go?

We know Modin is an abosolute lock for the lineup. Glencross and Tollefsen not so much. Here is my guess as to what Hitch will roll out tomorrow against the Vancouver Canucks assuming everyone is healthy:

Nash - Fedorov - Modin

Zherdev - Novotny - Vyborny

Chimera - Malhotra - Fritsche

Brassard - Peca - Boll

scratched: Glencross, Shelley, Lindstrom

Foote - Hejda

Klesla - Hainsey

Russell - Methot

scratched: Tollefsen, Westcott

Leclaire

Norrena

Offense

Its widely known that Hitch wants the two big men, Nash and Modin, on the same line. Feds has been playing well of late with Nash on his flank so that's a good solid line that can play in all 3 zones and can control the puck down low. Feds has two scorers of whom to work with.

Zherdev has had some great chemistry with Novonty and at times Novotny has been the best center on this team. I see him keeping those two together and with Vybes improved play of late he'll get top 6 minutes.

Speed line is kept in tact. The Chimera - Malhotra - Fritsche line has had a solid past two games. I can't see Hitch breaking up that line with the way they are playing.

Finally on the offense we get kind of the leftovers. Shelley is scratched in order to roll more of a 4th line. Boll is a lock. Peca gets shuffled down to the 4th but will see plenty of times on special teams. Brassard is in b/c he's one of the Jackets best pure offensive talents and he needs to continue to gain experience. He's pushed to the wing initially but could be shuffled up and down the lineup depending on how the game unfolds. He'll see powerplay duty on the point as well.

Just no room for GLencross or Lindstrom. Lindstrom has struggled a bit and could be sent back down as he is still waiver un-eligible.

Defense

Foote - Hejda. A given.

Klesla - Foote. Again, a given.

Russell - Methot. The real challenge is were does OKT and Duvie fit in. Quite frankly with the way Methot is playing you can't take him out of the lineup. The team needs Russell's puck moving and offensive ability - they also want to keep him developing. OKT gets another day of rest but could be rotated in the lineup sometime this week. Wescott just looks to be the odd man out all together. Wouldn't be surprised to see him dealt or waived.

***********************

So that's my take on how this roster will shake out. One thing's for sure, its nice to see some of the walking wounded get back. Now everyone needs to come out ready to take 3 of 3 at home against Vancouver.

-LTL

Boll out, Modin still questionable

According to the Dispatch blog Jared Boll is out for tomorrow and did not accompany the team on the trip.

Fredrik Modin did, however, make the trip and is questionable.

The line used today at practice were:

Nash - Fedorov - Vyborny

Novotny - Brule - Zherdev

Chimera - Malhotra - Shelley

Glencross - Peca - Fritsche

If Modin is ruled back in the lineup then I'm sure he'll take his place between Nash and Vyborny. If not then it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see Shelley scratched and Hitch dress seven defensemen again.

I think regardless Glencross (pictured left) will get the nod tomorrow and he should fit in well with any line he's used on as he plays a simple straight line North American game.

It sounds like Boll will be fine and the organization is just being precocious with this kid. I'll tell ya what, he's certainly made an impact his first 3 games and I think his energy and enthusiasm is really gonna be missed come tomorrow night - the kid is infectious.

-LTL

Blue Jackets activate C Peca from IR

Its official!

Michael Peca has been activated from IR and will make his Blue Jacket debut tonight at Nationwide Arena.

Its likely Curtis Glencross will now be sent down on waivers and the unfortunate part of this is that he could be claimed in the process.