Change of scenery

As puck-rakers reported earlier the Jackets and 'hawks swapped a pair of minor leaguers today.

Columbus shipped 2004 2nd round pick 6'1" Right Winger Adam Pineault to Chicago for 22 year old 2005 2nd round pick 6'3" Right Winger Mike Blunden.

Lets take a quick look at both players:

Pineault
Forecaster:
ASSETS: Has some goal-scoring potential and enough size to be a productive NHL winger. Owns a good shot and is never afraid to use it often.
FLAWS: Is only average when it comes to setting up teammates and making tape-to-tape passes. Must score goals, because the rest of his game is only average.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top six winger.
Stats:
2006-07 Syracuse Crunch AHL 57 12 16 28 66 -- -- -- -- --
2007-08 Syracuse Crunch AHL 74 21 27 48 64 8 0 2 2 2
2007-08 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 3 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
2008-09 Syracuse Crunch AHL 29 5 7 12 36

Blunden
Forecaster:
ASSETS: Has a tremendous package featuring great size and scoring prowess. Knows where to go in order to light the lamp.
FLAWS: Must use his 6-3 frame more effectively so as to thrive at the NHL level. Needs more work without the puck.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top six winger.
Stats:
2005-06 Norfolk Admirals AHL 11 1 5 6 2 1 0 0 0 0
2006-07 Norfolk Admirals AHL 17 4 5 9 15 -- -- -- -- --
2006-07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 9 0 0 0 10 -- -- -- -- --
2007-08 Rockford IceHogs AHL 74 16 21 37 83 12 1 3 4 35
2007-08 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 1 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
2008-09 Rockford IceHogs AHL 37 3 7 10 42

I don't know a whole lot about Blunden other than he did play for Team Canada in the World Juniors which is always a good sign. I've also read that this kid loves to hit.

Pineault was always said to have a pro shot although the knock on him is he didn't seem to use it enough. There are also question about his foot speed.

Both guys certainly have NHL size and youth on their side to find their niche.

This trade was a "change of scenery" deal to try to jumpstart their careers. Deal makes sense for both squads although even at the minor league level its rare to see trades between division rivals... that says alot to me about what a no brainer for both teams this deal really was.

Syracuse could use a boost so hopefully this move can give them one.

Side note. With this deal that leaves only 2007 2nd round picks Stephan Legein and Will Weber as well as 2008 2nd round pick Cody Goloubef as the only remaining 2nd round picks from 8 Jacket drafts in the Jackets system. Teddy Ruth was the Caps 2nd round pick in 2007.

Obviously the Jackets have not had much luck in the 2nd round which is why I won't lose much sleep if it gets dealt for immediate help this season!

Here is a Blunden quote from Syracuse Crunch blogger Lindsay Kramer:

"When I found out this morning I was going to Columbus, I was excited, stoked. It's a new start,'' Blunden said Saturday. "It was struggling putting the puck in the net, but I was getting a lot of chances.''

Definitely saying the right things. Hopefully he can get himself pointed in the right direction. I have a feeling we'll see this kid in a Columbus sometime this season for a cup of coffee.

-LTL

Four more cuts

Just a couple of nuggets I've read throughout the hockey media today:

The Jackets assigned four more players today according to their web site. Sestito, Pineault, Clitsome and Wilson will be heading back down. I believe the only one that has to clear waivers is Wilson.

On 'D' I think Tollefsen's pretty much a lock for the 7th d-man so that leaves Rome, Methot and Matvichuk to battle for that final spot. I think out of the 3 my money is on Rome earning the spot.

In terms of the forwards it looks like the Jackets will carry 1 extra forward so with Sestito and Pineault headed back down so that leaves Picard, Dorsett MacDonald and MacKenzie left to compete to for that spot. I believe all but Dorsett are waiver eligible. I think this one is down to Picard or Dorsett.

I figure all boarderline guys still left should see action tomorrow night in Toronto.

CBSSports.com has released their first power rankings of the season (I do plan to continue the Jackets power rankings "meta score" this season). The Jackets check in at #22 on Goldstein's list:

Rick Nash will have a better supporting cast around him, enough for the Jackets to get serious about a playoff spot, perhaps.

Not a horrible way to start.

I thought this artcile about support in Buffalo from THN warranted a mention here:

I was perusing the Team Reports for an upcoming issue of The Hockey News (the old-school paper version, that is) when I was struck by a sense of optimism in many quarters of the NHL.

Our themed category was Market Buzz and while there are notable pockets of pessimism, skies are blue, waters are still and acne has cleared in a surprising number of locales. And, no, Gary Bettman didn’t author the team stories.

In places such as Chicago, Anaheim, Atlanta, Columbus, Boston, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Washington (and all of Canada, of course) there is a belief among our correspondents that excitement is high in the markets they cover, never mind this is prime time for MLB playoffs, the NFL season is in full swing and the global economy is in a free-fall.

Sportsnet.ca has an in depth season preview published on their web site. They have the Jackets finishing 4th in the central division behind Nashville and the 'hawks. Here is some of what they had to day:

What to Expect: Lots of people predicting playoffs for the first time ever, we are not among them. Jackets were the lowest-scoring team in the NHL last season and the loss of Nikolai Zherdev (to the Rangers) won't make it better even if the defensive play improves.

Cap Issues: Still shy of $50 million in payroll and still utterly dependent on revenue sharing, Blue Jackets must watch the bottom line even though there is win-now mentality coming from the hockey department. If they are close, ownership might add to the bottom line, but it remains questionable as to where the money will come from.

On the Hot Seat: No one can blame former GM and President Doug McLean any longer, especially when Howson dismantled his team so everyone needs to answer for this season, but if this team doesn't make the playoffs look for someone to pay the price.

Frankly its amazing how much over-rating goes on with Zherdev. Also no mention of the kids. They also call "Blackman" a "stay at home type". Moving on.

Check out this headline on NBCSports.com....

It's not just the Sid and Alex show anymore
'Hawks' Kane and Toews, Jackets' Nash among crop of great youngsters

The article talks about all the young guys in the league now with Staal, Kopitar, and Phaneuf. Here is the piece about Nash:

Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets certainly fits comfortably in this stable of young talent. At 24, he has 154 goals and 276 points. His next step will be a postseason appearance, and that could be coming soon from the improving Blue Jackets, who are the only NHL team not to have made the playoffs.

Here is NBC's take on the Jackets in their season preview:

Outlook: The only NHL team never to appear in the playoffs, the Blue Jackets keep shuffling the deck chairs, but sink all the same. Another year brings more change and an improved defense, but minus three of their top 2007-08 scorers, they'll struggle to light the lamp.

No mention of Brass or Voracek again instead they go with Filatov....and no, I didn't write that last part!

Just finished watching some of the Rangers/Lightning game. Decent game from Z (at least from what I saw of it) but no points although they did get the win. Fritsche didn't play so not sure what's going on there whether it be an injury or a healthy scratch. I'll tell you what though, this Stamkos kid is going to be a really good if not great player. I thought he looked fantastic!

-LTL

Prospect watch

Just a quick post on some prospects down on the farm.

Gilbert Brule potted 1g and 1a last night versus Philladelphia. That makes 4g, 2a in 6 games played for the 2005 #6 overall pick. Not a bad start.

Joakim Lindstrom in his first game back since being sent down also collected an asisst.

Finally Adam Pineault continues his recent hot streak as he also collected 1g, 1a. He's got 11g, 17a in 43 games. That has already matched last year's totals of 12g, 16a in 57 games so Adam is certainly trending in the right direction.

Of course the best news was that the Crunch won last night by a score of 5-3. That improves their record to 20-21-1-1 which is good for 3rd in the North division.

-LTL

Jackets' prospects fall to Rangers 5-1 in championship game at Traverse City

The Jackets' prospects fell to the Rangers tonight in the championship game at the Traverse City tournament tonight 5-1. The Jackets scored first off a short handed goal from Jared Boll (pictured left in blue) with Derick Brassard collecting the assist. After that it was all Rangers as they tallied the next 5 straight to win the game and the tournament.

Full game coverage can be found here.

Jakub Voracek and Derick Brassard finished as the leading scorers for the Jackets each collecting 6 points. Adam Pineault and Jakub Voracek led the Jackets in goals scored with 4 each.

This is the first time in 3 years the Jackets failed to win the tournament.

-LTL

Jackets knock off Dallas 3-1 in Traverse City Tourney

Adam Pineault, the 2nd round pick in the 2004 entry draft, notched two goals and his fellow former Moncton Wildcats teammate and 4th round pick in 2003 draft, Phillipe Dupuis (pictured right), notched a goal and two assists as the Jackets extend their record to 2-1 in the Traverse City Tournament by knocking off the Dallas Stars 3-1.

By all accounts the Jackets' prospects dominated this one outshooting the Stars 39-17. Kris Russell got on the scoreboard for the first time notching an assists while Derick Brassard and Jakub Voracek extended their scoring streaks to 3 games by recording an assist a piece.

The complete game coverage can be found here.

The first round of the playoffs starts tomorrow. The Jackets will play but the brackets are not set as of yet.

Update 6:54 a.m. 09/11/07: The Jackets will face the New York Rangers in the Championship game tonight at 6:30

-LTL

Traverse City Tournament kicks off today!

The Traverse City Tournament kicks off today with practices in the morning and games in the afternoon. Below is a detailed schedule of Columbus' games:

Friday, Sept 7th
3 p.m. Columbus vs. St. Louis

Saturday, Sept. 8
3 p.m. Minnesota vs. Columbus

Monday, Sept. 10
2:30 p.m. Dallas vs. Columbus

Tuesday, Sept. 11
Playoffs - scheduled determined after round play

Full schedule can be found here -> http://www.redwingscentral.com/camps/2007-08/schedule.html

Rosters for all 7 teams, standings and past results can be found here -> http://www.redwingscentral.com/camps/2007-08/

As I've mentioned before on this blog Columbus has won this tournament the past two years and with the likes of Russell, Brassard, Pineault (pictured above right) and Voracek playing this year they stand a good chance to three-peat. Its also a great opportunity for new players in the system like Sestito, Dorsett, Plekhanov (his first time in NA since being drafted in '04) among many others to make impressions on the CBJ brass. Both GM Scott Howson and coach Ken Hitchcock will be attending this event.

There are no TV or radio feeds that I am aware of but I will post all Columbus results as they become available.

Anyone else excited about some actual games to comment on -- the NHL season is right around the corner!

-LTL