Garon gets cup crazy and more..

An absolutely fantastic read sent in by Kory here about our new backup goalie Mathieu Garon with the Stanley Cup.

Love the Super Chexx bubble hockey game in the back ground. Nice touch!!

Ready for a good laugh? Well check out who made the Hockey News first and second All-Overlooked Free Agent team:

D - Christian Backman (Columbus) — Quietly efficient and ever improving, Backman is the kind of support player that every blueline needs.

Oh my.

Thanks to Jeff D. for the heads up on that one.

Anthony (a.k.a. whalerjacket) pointed me in the direciton of this piece over on the Bleachereport. It lists Columbus as the #1 destination for Mats Sundin should he choose to play this season:

Well, they need a top-line center. I may sound crazy to still be giving such a title to Sundin, after his stint with the Canucks, but I truly believe a fresh start could bring him to his old form (or close to it) for one more year.

Other centers on the team include Antoine Vermette, R.J. Umberger, Manny Malhotra, and Derrick Brassard (only played 31 games due to a dislocated shoulder). The highest scorer of these players was Umberger, who scored 26 goals, and finished with 46 points in 82 games.

If Sundin were to become a Blue Jacket, and left winger Rick Nash (who scored 40 goals this past season) were placed on a line, the results could be spectacular.

Sundin's playmaking skills combined with Nash's natural goal scoring ability could make for enough offense to not only make it into the playoffs, but to actually win the franchise's first playoff series (or playoff game, for that matter).

I can certainly understand his reasoning but those who closely follow this squad know that:

1. Sundin made what, 7 to 8 mil last year for 1 season with the Canucks? --- the Jackets just simply can't afford that.

2. Sure they could use that additional depth down the middle -- most teams could -- but the Jackets fill comfortable with their center ice and they have a bigger need for a puck moving d-man.

Where things could get real interesting is if the Jackets suffer a long term injury to either Vermette or Brassard. Howson would be forced to make a move and the Sundin chatter would certainly pickup at that point.

Finally wanted to pass along a new article up over at The Hockey Writers by Rick called For Love of the Game.

-LTL

Norrena clears

I just read this bit of news:

With goalie Fredrik Norrena having cleared waivers, Steve Mason will start Wednesday against San Jose, and Pascal LeClaire will start Thursday against Dallas

Looks like its one of two options for Norrena 1. accept an assignment in Syracuse or 2. head back over to Europe. I'm going with option #2.

Also Puck-rakers has reported that Derek Dorsett has been cleared to re-join the club:

Right winger Derek Dorsett, out the last 2 1/2 weeks with a broken finger, has been cleared to return to the Blue Jackets. He's practicing today with the rest of the club and could play on Wednesday vs. San Jose.

It's not clear if Dorsett will be able to fight upon his return.

That is great news because the Jackets can certainly use Dorsett's energy. What doesn't make sense to me was Howson's comment in the paper this morning regarding Norrena being put on waivers:

Howson said the move was not to free up a roster spot in advance of Friday's mandatory holiday roster freeze that runs to Dec. 27.

Lets see... Roster is at a maximum of 23 players. Dorsett is cleared to return while Norrena is put on waivers. Seems pretty cut and dry to me that this was indeed a move to clear out a spot for Dorsett.

You've hung onto Norrena for this long so why else make the move unless someone on the IR is ready to return?

I guess Wilson could be sent back down but he's a nice option to have right now... Mason has proved his worth so Norrena becomes your most expendable part.

Moving on.

Lots of chatter out there that Mats Sundin has chosen his new team... Yeah its definitely not Cbus Jacket fans so don't get your hopes up. Its actually being speculated that its the Rangers. Of course the Rangers are damn near maxed out on their cap so something big would have to give for them to squeeze Sundin in. A big ticket player like Gomez or Drury would have to be on their way out.

There has been some speculation that the Rangers have a deal lined up with Vancouver and its Gomez's name that is getting mentioned. That makes some sense considering its Vancouver that has a standing 2 year offer to Mats at 10 mil per. If they miss out on him they may be willing to absorb a guy like Gomez as he is a center they could use. I wouldn't expect Vancouver to give up much, if anything, for absorbing that contract however.

The kicker for me is I believe Gomez has a NTC and he is just into the 2nd year of his 5 year contract with them.

There are some pieces on the Rangers that Columbus could certainly use with Gomez being one of them but including this year Gomez has 4 years left on his deal at 8, 8, 7.5 & 5.5 -- don't count on Howson taking on that one in a small market with a slumping economy/attendance and a cap expected to fall.

Now if a guy like Dubinsky or Giradi's name popped up in the conversation... things would get real interesting. The Rags won't part with those two quality and affordable pieces to get Sundin in their fold though.

Wonder if they'd take Backman back for Gomez (I kid... I kid..).

-LTL

Blue biscuits

Tragic news in the hockey world yesterday as 2005 #10 overall pick Luc Bourdon of the Vancouver Canucks died in a motorcycle accident. Bourdon was only 21 years old and made his NHL debut in the 2006-07 season playing 9 games before getting sent back to his junior team and then 27 last season splitting time with their AHL affiliate the Manitoba Moose.

My sincere condolences go out to his family and friends. RIP Luc.

You can read more on the story here.

Aaron Portzline reported in Puck-rakers that Columbus had the 4th highest ratings amongst US cities for game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals between Pittsburgh and Detroit:

1. Pittsburgh 33.1/47
2. Detroit 18.2/28
3. Buffalo 6.2/9
4. Columbus 4.1/7
5. Minneapolis 3.7/7

Now of course Columbus is sandwiched right in between those two cities and there are certainly plenty of Pens and Wings fans in this area.

That said those are still impressive numbers regardless as they are still hockey fans and you better believe we will have that many and many more watching when the Jackets finally make the playoffs.

Who says Columbus can't support hockey? This is a pretty damn good sign to me that they will, especially when its a winner.

The Winter Classic will be played in Chicago at Wrigley Field. Yep, its been announced. The Chicago Blackhawks will take on the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field for the second Winter Classic.

Of course remember last year's Classic up in Buffalo was a rousing success for the NHL, especially in the ratings department.

The NHL has to be careful though, part of the charm of last year's event was it was something the US hadn't seen before. They must be cognisant to the fact that making this a yearly event could drain the appeal.

Still though, I'm excited for it. I like college football but give me a hockey alternative for a while on New Year's Day. I was glued to the tube for the Buffalo/Pit game last year.

Long time Toronto Captain Mats Sundin hinted yesterday to TSN that he may not return to the Maple Leafs next season:

"I do think that I have a lot of different options I can explore," Sundin said. "And I think I still remain (maintain) that I want to end my career as a Toronto Maple Leaf. Saying that, though, the way the situation is right now, I don't have everything in my control, either. There's got to be a mutual agreement there.

Sundin is a big center at 6'5" 231lbs who is 37 years old and he is an unrestricted free agent. I can hear what your saying already "we don't need another Fedorov"....but here me out for sec.

Sundin, playing for a team just slightly better than we were last year in the Leafs, scored 32g, 46a for 78p. He's averaged over 75 points his last 5 seasons and has played no less than 70 games per season in that span.

Instead of giving up assets and cash to get a center, all we would have to do is throw a wad of cash at him, say 6-7 mil over 2 to 3 years. Even at age 37 he would be a tremendous addition to our lineup...and he feels good:

"I felt very strong on the ice this year, and I felt I had as good of a year as I've had in my past 10 years maybe," said Sundin. "Maybe that would be an argument for me to play next year.

"But I don't know. I don't have a decision on that made yet."

Now say by the off chance he and Toronto part ways would Columbus really be on his radar? Unfortunately probably not but that shouldn't stop Howson and Hitch making a pitch. He's played with fellow Swedish countrymen Fredrick Modin so you better believe I have him making some calls.

Then of course there is Rick Nash. Would Sundin be interested in playing with him? I'm sure a phone call from Nash would be answered.

How does this line sound?

Nash - Sundin - Modin

..and I've already nicknamed it the "Smash" line (t-shirts are on order and copyright protection has already been submitted).

Okay I admit its a big dream as I just don't see him leaving Toronto and see this more of a negotiation tactic but hey its the off season, its time to dream!

-LTL