Jackets Sing the Blues in 5-2 Loss...

Per Puck-Rakers:

"The New York Islanders have a scout in Scottrade Center tonight, watching the Blue Jackets and Blues."

I'm sure they were impressed.

The FAILboat stops in Columbus

I hate half of our defense. I like the other half. Kind of a lot.

Meow.

alex (8:21:32 PM): So...who will our enforcer be Fri night?
alex (8:21:32 PM): Boll...OUT
alex (8:21:41 PM): Torres...OUT
alex (8:21:44 PM): Chimera?
dannielle (8:21:45 PM): Dorsett
alex (8:21:50 PM): Oh yeha
alex (8:21:52 PM): forgot about him
dannielle (8:21:53 PM): Scrappy lil guyyy
alex (8:21:56 PM): Call up Mirasty
alex (8:21:57 PM): lol
dannielle (8:22:10 PM): Dorsett is an angry kitten
dannielle (8:22:21 PM): I go "awww" and "YEOWCH" at the same time

Also, my $0.02 for the day: SHOOTIN' TYUTIN SUCKS.

Legein Steps Away...For Good?

Anyone who follows the Blue Jackets enough to know which players are "in the system" now knows that Stefan Legein, a 19 year old hard nosed kid from Oakville, Ontario, has quit hockey. Quit, retired, gave up, whatever terminology you want to use, the bottom line is that Legein supposedly has no desire to play hockey anymore and has left the Blue Jackets organization. One question that is, I'm almost certain, on the minds of many, including myself, is why? Why did a 19 year old with a bright future in front of him simply walk away? It's not a 40 year old "has been" we're talking about here, or a twenty-something "never will be." We're talking about a highly regarded player who seemed to fit perfectly within the Blue Jackets system, of hard nosed hockey and could really light the lamp. Some would argue that he's simply not mature enough. Some would argue that injury problems continue to haunt him. Some would argue that he is simply taking his ball and going home, knowing that he'd spend another year or so in the AHL before he got his first look in the National League. I read on another column, a very good point, which I seem to think most certainly comes into play here. The author of the column wrote something to the effect of, "Legein wasn't the standout player and seemed to struggle a bit at the Jackets developmental camp." I like this assessment of the situation, but I don't necessarily buy into it. First off, Legein, like so many other skaters, has accomplished quite a bit at such a young age. As I said, this is nothing new; no special case. Perhaps Legein, who is known to have an ego the size of (insert large state/province name here) was somewhat humbled at the developmental camp that he wasn't the "star player." As I'm about to type my next thought, about the lack of maturity for a 19 year old, Puck Rakers, the Dispatch Blue Jackets blog, has just posted the following from Doug Woods, the agent for Legein:

"In my opinion, Stefan just wants to take a break. He's tired from all the things he's gone through the last two seasons, all the tournaments, the games, the shoulder injury ... all that stuff. He feels like he needs some time and space."

Woods was adamant that Legein is not suffering from anything other than loss of passion and energy. There are no health issues, he said. There is no family or personal crises. No addictions to anything, either.

A loss of passion and energy? Being burnt out? For someone so young and into the game, I still think the situation sounds fishy, but that's just my opinion. This supports my thought that Legein is too immature and has a lot of growing to do, in order to be able to handle life as a professional athlete this season, or anytime soon. His absence at camp and in Syracuse will be sorely missed. For his sake, I just hope he gets through this sooner, rather than later, before age catches up with him. He has loads of potential. I'd hate to see it wasted on...being burnt out.

Watch Legein's 2007 Draft Day Interview here.

Why You Should Shut Up and Let Kris Russell Play

To quote a commenter on my favourite Blue Jackets blog:

the blue line upgrade was welcome! with the exception of 5"10 160lbs... Shakes is not exactly going to move anyone out of Pazzy's way @ a buck sixty. why isn't he working with Brennan this summer? if I am the weakest defenseman & the CBJ go out and get NHL quality players, I report early and stay late!

Enough, already. Yes, Kris Russell is the only defenceman under 6' and 200lbs on the roster. And yet, at age 21, Russell probably has more hardware than most of his [above average-sized] teammates could dream of.

He played four years of junior hockey in the Western Hockey League. In 2007, he captained the Medicine Hat Tigers to the WHL championship and to the final game of the Memorial Cup where they lost to Vancouver. He was also the MVP and Top Defenceman of the WHL, as well as the CHL Top Defenceman (former Blue Jackets Bryan Berard and Derrick Walser also won the award, in the mid-90s). Russell was referred to during the Memorial Cup Championship game as "one of the fine young defenceman to ever play in the WHL." In 2006-07, the defenceman led his team in scoring - outscoring fellow Jacket youngster Derek Dorsett (a forward) by five points, finishing with 69 points in 59 regular season games, not to mention a +14. Twice, Russell skated with Canada's premier U20 team in the World Junior Championships and won gold medals in both Vancouver (2006) and Leksand (2007). He holds the record for most goals by a Canadian defenceman in a single WJC tournament with four.

Now let me ask you this...

Was he taller then?

Highs, Lows, and Other Ramblings

Brian Costello over at The Hockey News has published his list of 10 teams that are in the running to draft John Tavares (the much speculated number one overall draft pick in 2009.) Yes, our beloved Blue Jackets have made the list, at number 9. Here's Costello's take on the upcoming season:

9. Columbus Blue Jackets: It'll be 8 years and no NHL playoffs in Ohio.

Here's my take. We've all read the national columnists that don't give this team a fighting chance and in all reality, why should they? Look at the mess of an organization Scott Howson is trying to clean up...Doug McLean's "experiment", if you will. A simple "then and now" glance at the roster will tell you that the right management is in place to piece together a winning franchise. Gone are names like Vyborny, Federov, and Foote; names synonymous with a losing franchise. Here now, names like Commodore, Huselius, and Umberger. Winning is close in Columbus, folks. Maybe not this season, maybe not next, but to use a long-standing cliché, "Rome wasn't built in a day." The young talent in the system is on the way as well. Names like Voracek, Filatov, and Brassard. Any winning organization (read: Detroit Red Wings) will tell you that you build through the draft and supplement through free agency. Looking at our draft this season, we've adressed some serious positioanal depth issues (read: defense) and signed some quality names through free agency, to supplement those positional depth issues. I can hear Lord Stanley in the distance...whispering names like Nash...Howson...and Hitchcock.

At the other end of the spectrum, Rory Boylen, also of THN has his list of three teams that will OVERachieve this season. The Jackets have made that list as well. Here's Boylen's take:

Columbus Blue Jackets: It must be hard being the only team to have not made the playoffs in their short history, but I think they’re going to be better than what many give them credit for.

Everyone knows Rick Nash can score, but has he ever had anyone else to support him in his area of expertise? The Jackets are hoping Kristian Huselius can do just that, while R.J. Umberger will be counted on to reach 20 goals for the second time in his career.

If Pascal Leclaire can improve on his breakout 2007-08 season – or at least show it wasn’t a fluke – Columbus will always be in a position to win games. The defense that will be supporting Leclaire is not all-star caliber, though it is underrated. Fedor Tyutin was let go by the Rangers too easily and Kris Russell should be ready to step into the NHL spotlight, which will be easier to do on a smaller market team.

While my own expectations for the Jackets aren’t through the roof, they should be closer than the 11 points they missed the playoffs by last season. Look for them to be in the thick of things right into April, 2009.

I've long been of the contention, that Columbus will make their first playoff appearance this season. I see us as a number 8 seed in the West; a team much like Nashville was last season. We've addressed some goaltending issues and we have a good mix of "pseudo-veterans" and young talent. I think we're in it all season and "squeak" into the playoffs...only to get "fed" to the Wings in round one.

Fire the Cannon.

Under Construction!

Be patient, grasshopper.