Great promotion!!

I've been bangin on the Jackets marketing staff to do a better job in terms of creativity with ticket promotions.

So its only fair that I give them their due when they do come up with a great offer.

They are running a fantastic promotion in conjunction with Pepsi and Giant Eagle. If you purchase four 12-packs of Pepsi products you get a ticket voucher for 4 free tickets to any game before March 3rd.

When I first read this I thought...what's the catch? Well I'm living proof there is no catch. Just remember that if you want more than just one game be sure to check out each set of 12-packs in their own separate transaction -- otherwise say you buy 8 12-packs you'll only get 1 voucher.

From my understanding there are 60,000 tickets available

With ticket sales soft and the economy in the toilet Nationwide needs to continue to get creative to get folks in that building and this is definitely a right step in that direction. Now being a partial season ticekt holder myself, I would also love to see more deals for the season ticket holders as they, in conjunction with the sponsors, are the folks who really pay the bills.

For now though I would encourage all you fans out there to get out to your local Giant Eagle and pick up some Pepsi products and lets start packing Nationwide and support this squad!!

Hockey's Future ranks the Jackets organization 3rd:

Strengths: The Blue Jackets have a wealth of high-end talent in the system, spearheaded by current super rookies Derick Brassard and Jakub Voracek. Outside of their impressive upper echelon of prospects, the Jackets have adequate depth at every position in the system but center.

Weaknesses: Despite lots of options at most positions in the system, outside the high-end players there isn't much talent that represents more than third- or fourth-line potential long-term. Also, with only two other options at center after Brassard – Kirill Starkov and Sean Collins – Columbus could seriously benefit from picking up young pivots. Top five prospects: 1. Jakub Voracek, RW, 2. Nikita Filatov, LW, 3. Derick Brassard, C, 4. Steve Mason, G, 5. Cody Goloubef, D. Key losses to graduation: Kris Russell.

In some other tidbits:

* Congrats to Nikita Filatov for being named to the Russia World Junior team. To be honest I'm astonished that Maskim Mayorov was not named.

* Also Clay Wilson has been re-assigned to Syracuse. I think that leaves an open roster spot so my guess is that Rusty Klesla is real close towards returning to the lineup.

* As a reader pointed out in the comments (thanks Rick!) Nash has the flu and is questionable for tonight. Depth is already being tested but without Nasher up there we go from testing to mission impossible (not really but I was just jonesing for a MI reference).

* Great read over on NHL.com titled "Jackets improving, but Hitchcock wants more". Be sure to check it out.

* Fredrik Norrena has signed with Kazan of the KHL. That sure didn't take long. Good luck Freddy!

-LTL