How do I feel about Filatov?

So we’re off to a great start and all, but Filatov still is not playing enough yet…

I know he has to earn his time on the ice, but I don’t feel like he is getting a chance. If they’re using the physical aspect of these games as the reason, then he may never play… The western teams are all physical games. Just means it could be a precursor to his thoughts about the KHL growing more. It looks as if they only way he gets time is if someone up front gets hurt.

And what about Modin?? This guy has not played a single game yet. When does he come back given conditioning and all the other healing. December? January? By that time the team will have developed some chemistry hopefully and I know the coaches will want to put him back in ASAP. I’m not sure about how this will work exactly…

Not sure how I feel about the Legein trade either. I liked the potential this guy had to possibly be a good addition to our checking lines. Now he is part of the Philadelphia organization… Not sure if we got anything better than him or comparable to him. Granted Ratchuk is a defenseman so we won’t really know for a while now… I can only hope it works out for the best for both teams and players…

5 games in…

Blue Jackets…

The season is underway and the injuries have rolled in quite quickly… We have seen our two best defensemen go down already. The only thing we can hope for is that the depth steps up and our goal-tending holds strong as well as offensive support. Let’s hope they can hang on…

Commodore might start practicing soon and when they get him up to speed he will definitely help back there. Up to this point I’ve been very impressed with Mathieu Roy. This guy has really filled in well with some points and a good plus/minus.

We need the special teams to start to gel as well as some of the offensive combination in order to relieve some pressure off the guys back there.

The blue jackets have enjoyed a nice start to the season so far. But tough times are ahead…

I know I’ve been away from this for a while but I’ve been extremely busy. My goal is to find some more friends that might be willing to join in the fun discussions with me. It’s tough to do this stuff by yourself when you have alot going on.

I have some videos stored that I need to post as well… Anyway, I hope you all are enjoying the season so far. It’s amazing that it’s among us again. The off-season went so fast. Let’s go Jackets.

“Patience Iago, Patience.”

A line courtesy of Disney’s Aladdin; A philosophy to abide by.

Patience has been a virtue possessed by Scott Howson since he became the general manger of the Blue Jackets. It seems to be a virtue that many CBJ fans have as well. 8 years to make the playoffs, 8 years to build a stable, competitive team. A work in process still…

What has become of the Blue Jackets through patience this summer.

1) Extending Rick Nash into 2018. Great move for Columbus, as he will continue to attract players here.

2) Adding Samuel Pahlsson. If we get him back to the 2006 form, this will be a huge pickup. It will totally mask the loss of Malhotra.

3) Mathieu Garon – He will help steady the horse that is Steve Mason.

4) Adding goaltending coach Dave Rook – See above.

5) Puck moving Dman – This is where the patience will matter most. It has not happened yet, but it will eventually. It would be great to have this hole filled before training camp.

Now onto some other thoughts as the off-season continues… We get a healthy Brassard back soon, and that will be very nice for us. I’m hoping Nik Filatov will be stronger, because I’d love to see this guy make the team. I’m actually happy to see the re-signing of Jon Sigalet (He could be the said Puck moving Dman… An interesting thought, but look at his AHL stats last season). We’ve got a heck of a guy out of the draft this year, Mr. John Moore. He will be a big part of the future D along with Teddy Ruth. I’m getting excited for September as training camp draws closer. I’m ready to get back to 113 Row F.

CBJ Draft Day

It’s been an entire year since our last draft posts. This year will be much different than last. Don’t look for the CBJ to have a banner day like in ’08. They’re picking at 16 so about the only thing that will be changing is the table position on the floor. Howson might try to drop back a little in the first to pick up a second rounder. It all depends on how the cards fall between picks 1 and 15.

I would imagine that Howson will pick up either a defenseman or a center. I would like to grab a defenseman, but I won’t be surprised if Howson goes after the best guy they can get at one of those two positions.

I will be interested to see what kind of trades go on this weekend especially during the first 11 picks. I don’t think Columbus will be very active on the trade front during the draft, but we might see some minor activity over the summer.

It should be a good time to check out the locker room and see some of the players again. I’m pretty amazed at how fast the off-season is going so far.

Couple free agency bits… It seems as though Mister Malhotra may not be back with us next year. And there is nothing new on the Nash front. If Malhotra falls through I look for us to make a push to retain Williams. I would be fine with either guy, but Williams can finish better. Novotny is gone so that frees up a little bit of cap space, but not much. If anything it opens up a spot for someone to come up and fill. Personally I would like to see Picard make the team if he is resigned. I’d love to see a line of Dorsett, Murray, Picard. I think this line could create alot of energy for us with some toughness as well. I won’t take a way too much from this upcoming draft, but I’ll have some more as things come up this weekend.

Hopefully we can get a new Blue Jackets BuzzCast Podcast up soon enough. The first one went really well, and we’ll some more cool stuff to talk about for the next one.

Let’s see what happens in Montreal…

Columbus Blue Jackets | 2009 NHL Draft | Montreal

Wow! What a ride…

Last night the CBJ were swept in their first round series by the Detroit Red Wings. The final score was not 4-1 or 4-0. It was 6-5, and the final goal was scored by Detroit based on a terrible call. Now the call wasn’t an issue as to whether it was a penalty or not. Technically it was a penalty, but the idea was that the game was being officiated as “Let’s have the players decide.” Vermette for example was boarded in the third, no call. Lots of grabbing and holding on both teams and no calls. Fair enough, but in the dying minutes, Columbus gets called for too many men. Then all hell broke loose. Trash, beer, anything imaginable was getting chucked from the stands, and the fans were infuriated. There had to be some Browns fans in the crowd, because, well, does anyone remember the littering on the field after a bad call? Either way that’s the end of the playoffs for the CBJ, and the beginning of the off-season. All that means for us is that we can get back to analyzing the CBJ and what they can do to be better next year. After a surprising off-season last year with moves and signings the CBJ made the playoffs. Now that they’ve made it and learned from it, what will happen this year?? Blue Jackets Buzz will be a place to read up on the draft, and analyze free agency as we push on through the summer.

We’ll also be keep tabs on the playoffs to see how the rest unfolds and which team winds up skating with Stanley.

X marks the spot

A historical night for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The clinched their first playoff berth ever with a shootout win versus the Chicago Blackhawks.

My only gripe about this game is that the play was sloppy from the CBJ perspective. I felt that they were playing to timid and trying to force plays. The better playoff teams keep the play smart, and simple. Know your system and make quick, smart decisions. I feel they need to further simplify their play in order to be successful. It’s nice to know that with 92 points they have a better chance of hanging on to the 6th spot. I feel like I’d rather play against Calgary at this point then anyone else up there. That being said we’ll now need to make sure Vancouver doesn’t win out the division. If that happens, then it’s going to be a tough battle against players like the Sedins, Sundin, and Luongo. Let’s hope for the best now into the post-season. But I must say it’s pretty nice to know that they’re guaranteed a spot. Now we need to start a new cheer in Nationwide Arena.

WE WANT THE CUP! WE WANT THE CUP.

Blue Jackets Buzz – Homestretch

Well as you have noticed we haven’t posted on here in quite some time. Now we have UV working and I don’t mean ultra-violet. You guessed it I mean Umberger and Vermette. These guys have really stepped up in the last few games for us. The Vermette trade is looking like a nice move so far. Thank you Mr. Scott Howson! We got rid of our glass goaltender and we have a solid top 6 center now! Nothing against Pazzy at all, but I think the change will help him. We just couldn’t rely on him in the long-run. Plus you have Mason in place and LaCosta and LaLande down in AHL rounding out the goalie depth.

Speaking of trades does anyone else think that Klesla should go? Personally I think we should get him off the books and use some of our money to sign a better D-man option for us. We will see about that in the off-season most likely. He just isn’t himself anymore. Last season he started to look stronger and more confident, playing a more simple, smarter game. Now he looks hesitant making nice plays every once in a while, and more often looking like a deer in headlights…

So as we get down the stretch here. 11 games left… We could potentially move up further in the standings. But 3 more vs. Chicago, 3 more against St. Louis… These inter-divisional games are looking even more important.

We will hopefully have some good updates after the Florida trip…

Quick must watches for CBJ fans.

Jake Voracek: CBJ’s highest scoring Rookie – 35 pts.
Steve Mason: Calder watch.