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.

Daily Buzz: The Big One

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in uncharted waters. Never, in the history of the franchise have our boys been in 6th place this late in the season. Not that it is a comfortable position; the Jackets are only 2 points ahead of 8th place Minnesota who has two games in hand on our boys – but still, it’s a heck of a lot nicer view than staring at the backside of the 9th place team…

That being said, the Blue Jackets are about to play their most important road trip in franchise history. Don’t take this phrase lightly – I’ve never made such a claim before (this isn’t Puck Rakers after all!).

Tonight it’s 3rd place Calgary (76pts), then Thursday it’s 9th place Edmonton (63 pts, 23 games remaining) and finally on Sunday they finish with 5th place Vancouver (68 pts, 23 GR). After all this they’ll face the Kings at home on March 3rd… the day before the trade deadline. How they fare during this trip will GREATLY affect how the rest of the season plays out. In a perfect situation, the Jackets will nab 4 regulation wins that will vault them to 74 points (and probably 5th place). Call me crazy, but sitting at fifth place at the trade deadline screams HUGE SUCCESS! – Especially for our franchise.

The Jackets need to (as stupid as this sounds) play their game over the course of the next week. They are going to be facing 3 very weighty teams and a talented Kings club. If they play simple, check hard, and play a north and south game for 240 minutes then they’re all set! Ugh uh huh … anybody else queasy?

Other Tidbits

• Not that I feel sorry for them, but who’d have picked the Ave’s to be in last place in the Conference? True, they’ve been riddled with injuries: Sakic, Stastny, J-M Liles – and they didn’t exactly back the right horse with Andrew Raycroft did they…?
• It seems that the off-season trade with the Rangers may be leveling out. After a shotgun start, Nik Zherdev is back to his old self. Flashes in the pan, but still lacking consistency. He’s on pace now to finish the season with 59 points (2 pts under last season). Zherdev’s “replacement” on the other hand is set to finish with 60 points and is also the leading factor contributing to Nash’s potential 80 point season (previous high was 69 pts).
• Ovie seems to have shifted his feud from one Penguin (Geno) to another (Sid). In previous seasons, Sid and Ovie have spoken with respect about one another. Not so much any more – and it couldn’t be better for the fans! The two best* players in the league: enemies. That’s the stuff of dreams for a league desperate for new fans and headlines. Me? I’m taking Ovie’s side – I think Cindy is a punk that runs his mouth. Still, I wish nothing but good fortune for the guy, the NHL has decided to back him as the face of the league so…
• “And with the first pick of the 2009 NHL draft, the New York Islanders select: John Tavares!” At least he’ll be going to a good hockey market – would kind of suck for him to get swept into Atlanta or Nashville or something. Not that there aren’t die-hard, well educated fans in those market – I mean, I wouldn’t exactly call Columbus a hockey Mecca.