Blue biscuits

Yahoo has released their first power rankings (yes, just one week after the finals ended) and here is where our Jackets placed:

24. Columbus Blue Jackets – Because the Jackets have two first-round picks (Nos. 6 & 19) and a need at center ice, and the San Jose Sharks have no first-round picks and possible motivation to move captain Patrick Marleau, the two could be dance partners in a trade at the draft. It’s a hot and juicy rumor, but while Doug Wilson was ready to fire Ron Wilson, it doesn’t mean he’s ready to break up a 1-2 combo of Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, especially when it means trading a prime-age forward to a conference rival.

It will be interesting to see if the Jackets climb assuming Howson grabs hold of some NHL talent this offseason. Will they get caught up in the names we acquire and pick us to be a playoff team? Or will they site past performance and remain hesitant to move us the boards?

Of course it doesn't matter much although I'll never complain about the Jackets getting some positive pub. They'll need to get it done on the ice though.

Yahoo also has some interesting tid bits on their Jackets team page - here are a few that caught my attention:

*RW Joakim Lindstrom is likely to return to Europe next season after struggling to crack the NHL lineup with the Blue Jackets. The Jackets will extend a qualifying offer to Lindstrom, an RFA, so they’ll maintain his rights.

* C Michael Peca, an unrestricted free agent, has agreed to postpone talks with the Blue Jackets until after the draft. If the Blue Jackets are able to trade for a center on draft day, it’s unlikely they’ll re-sign Peca.

* Free Agent Focus: If the Blue Jackets determine that center Derick Brassard and right winger Jakub Voracek are ready to play in the NHL next season, it could alter their approach to free agency. They have lots of money to spend and want to upgrade both their forwards and defensemen, but Brassard’s and Voracek’s development could allow them to spend more money on defense.

* Quote To Note: “This is when it starts to get interesting. You’re constantly talking to other teams, right? But this is the time when you start to get more specific, where names come up and deals start to get put together.”—Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson, who hopes to retool the club this season, on what’s changed now that the Stanley Cup is finished.

This is the first I'm hearing about the Jackets and Peca postponing any kinds of talks until after the draft. I don't envision any scenario where the Jackets sign him to play in their top 6 -- if they do then they might as well start polishing their irons. However, prior to my previous stance that they shouldn't bring him back at all, I can see some value in having him as a 3rd or 4th line center if the price is right (i.e. no more than 1.5 mil on a 1 year deal).

I've speculated on Lindstrom before and I've read that Lindstrom would prefer to stay in North America - just not with the Jackets. The fact that the Jackets qualified him means he will be there property so it wouldn't surprise me if he goes back to Europe. Another option is that Jackets could just move him in a trade.

The page also goes on to talk about the Jackets MVP, most disappointing player and various other topics.

Also CBSSports team page for the San Jose Sharks had this to say about the rumored Marleau for Zherdev + 6th pick deal:

The team denied it is close to completing a rumored deal that would include captain Patrick Marleau and another unnamed Shark heading to Columbus in exchange for talented right wing Nikolai Zherdev and the Blue Jackets' sixth pick in the entry draft later this month

Quite frankly it better not be close but Zherdev and the 6th is a vast overpayment for Marleau whose best two years came after Joe Thornton arrived. His other years in the league he's been a 50 to 60 point scorer. Trading both Z and the 6th to see if he could put up 80+ points next to Nash is to big of a risk.

There could certainly be a deal to be worked out here but at this point it seems that the Sharks are asking for the stars and the moon. If demands aren't lowered than Howson should turn his attention (actually he should already have other lines in the water) towards acquiring guys like Carter/Umberger/Vermette/Lombardi and kicking the tires on potential blockbusters like Lecavalier or Jokinen.

Just over a 11 days til the draft!! I'll have more on expectations leading up to the draft today or tomorrow!

-LTL

Jokinen, Richards, Marleau -- CBJ interested?

Its no secret the Jackets have lacked a #1 center since.....well since existance.

With the trade deadline only 8 short days away the rumors are really starting to heat up. The three players that have really caught my attention as a Blue Jackets fan are Olli Jokinen of the Florida Panthers, Brad Richards of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks.

Why do they interest me you may ask?

For one they are all bonified #1 centers. For two they are all under contract for at least two years or longer. For three they all have long been rumored to be on the trading block for various reasons. None of the three play in the Jackets division and in fact, two play in the East. Vary rarely do you see teams trade inter-division. Four, the Jackets can afford them. Five, the Jackets have the young assets to make a bid. Six, they are all in their prime under the age of 29.

Lets take an in depth look at each guy:

Olli Jokinen
Signed: 2 more years @ 5.25 & 5.5 million a piece
Age: 29
TSN Profile:
Assets Is a big presence up the middle and a good face-off man. Has above-average hands and the instincts of a natural goal-scorer. Can play the wing in a pinch.
Flaws Is a better scorer than playmaker, which makes him a little predictable over the long haul. Must continue to grow as a team leader.
Career potential First line center.
Skinny: Similar to the CBJ the Florida Panthers have missed the playoffs for 6 straight years. Oli Jokinen is the go-to guy on this team and thus he hasn't gotten them anywhere. The Panthers are said to be looking to move in a new direction and dealing Jokinen would be a huge part of that.
What they need: Without Jokinen they will have clear need for a #1 center so it wouldn't surprise me to see Jokinen swaped for antoher star NHLer. They'll either go that route or take a multiplayer swap that could fill a lot of needs however they got burned pretty bad on that route when they dealt Luongo.

Brad Richards
Signed: 3 more years @ 7.8 million a piece
Age: 27
TSN Profile:
Assets Has incredible imagination with the puck and excellent playmaking ability. Likes to shoot the puck often and displays two-way savvy.
Flaws Isn't big or physical, so he may wear down against bigger opposing centers. Will occasionally pass up a great scoring chance.
Career potential First line center.
Skinny: Said to be on the block as Tampa has way to much tied up in 3 players (Lecavalier, St. Louis, Richards). Tampa is non-playoff bound and its time for a shakeup. Richards appears to be the guy they want move but he does have a NTC (no trade clause).
What they need: Preferably a #1 starting goaltender but those are hard to come by. Other than that they'll want youth and lots of it as their prospect cupboard is bare. The team that can offer the most NHL ready youth will have the inside track here.

Partrick Marleau
Signed: 2 more years @ 6.3 million a piece
Age: 28
TSN Profile:
Assets Is blessed with great speed and can catch defenders off guard by blazing right by them. Has natural goal-scoring ability, good size for the center position and emerging leadership issues.
Flaws Still suffers through bouts of inconsistency from time to time. Needs to use his size even more to his advantage.
Career potential First line center.
Skinny: Marleau is having his worst year since his rookie year. Its been rumored that he and his coach, Ron Wilson, do not see eye to eye. His contract also has a no movement clause that kicks in this July. If the Sharks want to move him the time is quickly approaching.
What they need: The Sharks will make the playoffs so if they were to move Marleau they'd want rosters players in return to help in their quest for the cup. They especially need a puck moving defensemen.

From a Jackets perspective all of these guys are attractive. Could you imagine a Nash-Richards-Modin line? Or what about a Nash-Jokinen-Modin? Yeah, I'm salivating to.

Of course for the Jackets to be a player for any of these guys they must:

1. Be willing to take on salary
2. Be willing to part with blue chip youngsters

Here's what it may take:

Jokinen: Zherdev + Brule + 2nd or Zherdev + Brassard

Richards: Zherdev + Brule + Methot or Zherdev + Brule + Lindstrom + 2nd

Marleau: Foote + Fedorov or Hainsey + Fedorov and maybe a propsect or pick thrown in there

Again both Tampa and Florida will be on the outside looking in so they won't want rentals. The Sharks however want to win the whole thing so a Foote + Fedorov package could look pretty attractive but it would be a high price to pay if they are knocked out of it early.

I have Zherdev included here but I think he's a very attactive player now but one in which I'm not sold that the CBJ or sold on long term. Now may be the time to sell high and if he could return a #1 center or defensemen then that's where I start. No I'm not Z hating, but you have to give to get. Also remember he's got one year left on his deal and with the way salaries are rising, things could get hairy come contact negotiation time. Z's value may not be greater than it is right now.

I really don't see the Jackets giving up a 1st round pick for any of these guys -- not when it could be a lottery pick. Now once the Jackets draft position is decided and they evaluate their picks, maybe they move it in the offseason for a proven player - but for now, I can't see it.

Regardless if these three are truly on the block I have to think GM Howson is having some pretty juicy conversations about what it would take.

My priority wishlist: Jokinen, Richards then Marleau
Who the Jackets have the best chance at: Ricahrds, Marleau then Jokinen

Of course the Jackets could just stay out of the bidding, trade their vets at the deadline -- collect more assets and then buy pieces for just money this offseason. The chance you take there is will the players you target want to come to Columbus and for how much?

Stay tuned Jackets fans -- it could get real interesting around these parts.

-LTL