Quick but Big Hit Thursday **Updated

A few things have come out related to hockey that is getting me more excited for the season each passing day.

1) A few details about the Jackets schedule have been released.  Penguins and Capitals will visit this year!  Home Opener vs. the Preds.  More details on Dispatch.com about the schedule.

2) The Winter Classic will be in Chicago this year!  A 50 minute flight from Columbus.  I think it would be amazing to go.  Wings vs. Hawks.

3) Still not a whole lot coming out about Leclaire.  Wonder what the status is?  We need to get this guy locked up soon…

Updates
**Training Camp start is approaching as we move into the end of July and the beginning of August.

1) Still no Leclaire signing.

2) The Filatov situation continues to simmer.

Hopefully Howson and Co. can get these situations ironed out, and then we will be ready to go.  Otherwise without these put to bed, it could be a distraction on training camp.  Leclaire would be the biggest distraction for the team, and Filatov would be the biggest for the fans probably.

Changing of the Guard

As the dust of free agency settles, I’m left in a state of pontification regarding the state of the NHL.  This FA season was by far a very slim one in term of talent.  Lots of old names though.  Names that, five to ten years ago, would have had GMs salivating and clawing to get their hands on.  It seems that only a few years removed from sport domination, names like Owen Nolan, Brendan Shanahan, and Todd Bertuzzi are viewed as high-risk players past their primes.

I remember when Bertuzzi was an absolute terror - in ‘02-03 he managed 97 pts and 144 pim - now he’s the victim of a buyout.  How about Owen Nolan back in the late 90s?  Does anybody remember “The Point”?  The Finnish Flash (Selanne) has certainly lost some sparkle, and homegrown Mike Modano is now a checking-line center.  Jagr wasn’t able to arouse much long-term interest domestically, and Joe Sakic will soon be a memory for Denver.

This sort of Changing of the Guard has made way for some of the best incoming talent the NHL has seen since the Soviet Exodus. 

The Staal brothers have pushed the Suter family aside, and the Crosby-Malkin 1-2 has the shades of the Gretzky-Messier Oiler dynasty. 

Most teams are (wisely?) moving away from the grizzled veterans and are placing the fate of their team in the hands of the future - most can’t even buy a beer in the states.  Rick Nash has been the face of the Blue Jackets since the day he was drafted and OV hopes to bring a title to Washington.  Teams like Phoenix and Chicago are now in the hands of youngsters like Pete Mueller, Kyle Turris, and Kane and Toews.  For a point of reference, these kids weren’t even born when Shanahan stepped on the ice as a Devil. 

The fate of the NHL however does not rest in the gloved-hands of kids.  There are still those who saw the NHL through the turn of the century and continue to dominate.  I call these guys the “tweeners”.  They are not old men, they are not kids.  Lecavalier is still the man in Tampa, though a new prince is coming to town.  Iginla, Thornton, Hossa, and Datsyuk are still big dogs in a big park. These guys are in their prime - playing the best hockey they’ll ever play.  Too, these may be players that, in a few years, may have the same dust-covered name come 2013 Free Agency…

Filatov signs Lindstrom is traded away

Filatov has signed the amended contract which was approved by the NHL today.  He just needs his visa and then he will be on his way to the CBJ.  I really hope this kid works out.  It would also be kind of cool to maybe see him and Mayorov work together in Syracuse if neither makes it with the big boys this year.

Also if you didn’t see Lindstrom was traded to Anaheim today.  Let’s hope this doesn’t turn into another Beauchemin.  I doubt it will though.  He was going to go over to Europe to play anyway.  If he does sign we’ll get a higher pick, but I never saw him going anywhere really.  I guess we’ll find out…  Along with a lot of different things regarding this year’s CBJ team.

The Force is Not with Vader

Darth Vader may be losing a significant piece of their offense if reports coming out of Russia are accurate.  The Russian Press (and the KHL) has announced that Alexander Radulov has signed with the reigning champ Ufa Salavat of the RSL (to be KHL).

Radulov “says” that he gave notice to Nashville that he was being pursued and that they didn’t act on it.

So he says he’s bouncin and is happy to return home.

Radulov had 1 more year on his entry level contract that would have paid him about a million next season.  No word on what he will get from Salavat (note: that’s where we can find A Yashin).

Now, this announcement comes a day after the “agreement” between the NHL and KHL to honor players under contract.  Radulov’s people though state that his agreement with Salavat was reached before the agreement in Switzerland.

Whatever happens, Nashville will either be without their third-best scorer (5 or will have a disgruntled employee who is pissed that he’s there.

Not great news for the NHL as they are losing a budding star, but great news for us!

Filatov Signs Anyway

Gas Man ain’t keepin me down!

Filatov is officially signed to the Jackets - a 3-year $875K/yr (max) plus is eligible to earn up to $750K in bonuses.

I’ve learned that there is NOTHING that the KHL can do to stop him leaving once he obtains a work visa.  And getting the work visa only hinged upon having a contract.  He gave his 30 days notice on June 9th and exactly 30 days later the Jackets signed him.

The only thing Russia can do is snub him (like they did to Zherdev) in Russian international competitions.  That means the next World Junior Championships and possibly future World Championships.

Enjoy your perogies Gas Man.

Love Nate