OFFICIAL Columbus Blue Jackets Thread

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Jackets' Brule starts to find his way
Winger raises level of play after trip to minors
Saturday, February 23, 2008 3:19 AM
By Aaron Portzline


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Doral Chenoweth IIIDispatch
Playing with more confidence, winger Gilbert Brule is seeing his scoring opportunities rise and his turnovers drop.



MONTREAL -- The sports radio talk shows across Canada yesterday spent a lot of time talking about Blue Jackets right winger Gilbert Brule.
This wasn't the typical chatter. Nobody used the word "bust."
Quietly, and without much proof on the stat sheet, Brule has been a much different player for the Blue Jackets since he was recalled from Syracuse earlier this month after a monthlong stint in the minor leagues.

Continued......

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Michael Arace commentary: Richards would be perfect fit for Blue Jackets

Saturday, February 23, 2008 3:09 AM
By Michael Arace


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



Rumor is, Tampa Bay Lightning center Brad Richards is available and the Blue Jackets are making a pitch. This is juicy.
The rumor first floated on TSN, the Canadian sports-television network, on Wednesday. TSN suggested that the Jackets were "front-runners" in the bidding. Dispatch reporter Aaron Portzline confirmed as much, and reported that the Jackets had two scouts, including Don Boyd, director of player personnel, scouting the Lightning-Islanders game Thursday night in Uniondale, N.Y.

Continued....

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Blue Jackets notebook: No movement on Foote deal
General manager, agent to meet again Sunday
Saturday, February 23, 2008 3:09 AM
By Aaron Portzline


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

MONTREAL -- Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson and Rick Curran, the agent for defenseman Adam Foote, had further discussions yesterday on a contract extension for the Jackets' captain.
The two sides are not close on a deal, but Howson and Curran are set to speak again Sunday.
If Foote is not signed by Tuesday, he likely will be traded before the 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline.

Continued.......

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

NHL
Hitchcock: Next four games will reveal a lot for Blue Jackets
Playoff chances could receive boost
Monday, February 25, 2008 3:12 AM
By Tom Reed


The Columbus Dispatch

Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock entered a 72-hour period of helplessness yesterday.
No games to play. No ground to gain. No fate to control.
Instead, it is three days of continuing trade talk and speculation. The Nashville Predators' goal song might sound more soothing by comparison.
"I don't concern myself with that stuff," Hitchcock said gruffly. "That's the silly season before the real season starts again."

Continued......

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

I can understand being gun-shy. MaClean should have been fired at least two years before he was but that's just my opinion. The contract is a killer but Fedorov is making over $6 million right now for 28 total points. Richards has more assists than that total.

Just saying, it can be done. That and I don't see Fedorov coming back after this year anyway, so the cap room will be mostly freed up.

Oh, I don't doubt they can fit him in under the cap, I just don't know if I'm comfortable committing that much of it to one guy.

Great win Saturday night shutting out the Habs.

[BuckeyeMike80]

Originally Posted by Bucky Katt

Oh, I don't doubt they can fit him in under the cap, I just don't know if I'm comfortable committing that much of it to one guy.

Great win Saturday night shutting out the Habs.

Well if Columbus was in the East like they should be instead of the infinitely tougher West, I think they would be one of the top 4 seeds.

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

Well if Columbus was in the East like they should be instead of the infinitely tougher West, I think they would be one of the top 4 seeds.

i doubt that. i do feel they would be on the inside of the 8 spot, than rather outside looking in.

all ill say on richards is a couple of things. 7.8m for 3 more years, 3 roster players have been offered for that.

[jimotis4heisman]

ill post stuff on and off as it becomes "public knowledge"

richards for brule, fritsche and okt

[Buck Nasty]

Do you happen to know if we made Richards acceptable list of teams he would go to?

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by Buck Nasty

Do you happen to know if we made Richards acceptable list of teams he would go to?

yes, it has also been said that the "meeting and list" never happened.

at this point the three frontrunners are van, dallas and columbus, with van in third....

[ScriptOhio]

Originally Posted by jimotis4heisman

ill post stuff on and off as it becomes "public knowledge"
Quote:
richards for brule, fritsche and okt

What or who is okt?

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by ScriptOhio

What or who is okt?

Ole-Kristian Tollefsen.

[BuckeyeMike80]

Originally Posted by jimotis4heisman

i doubt that. i do feel they would be on the inside of the 8 spot, than rather outside looking in.

Well given this team's capability for playing up or down to their competition, you may be right. But I think this team is actually better than just about everyone in the East with the exceptions of Ottawa, Montreal (oddly enough they just beat those two) and New Jersey.

all ill say on richards is a couple of things. 7.8m for 3 more years, 3 roster players have been offered for that.

I'd still do it. They have to get someone to feed Nash.

[ScriptOhio]

Originally Posted by Bucky Katt

Ole-Kristian Tollefsen.

Thanks, I found his stats: 42 games, 1 goal, 2 assists - WOW

ESPN - Columbus Blue Jackets News, Schedule, Players, Scores, Stats, Photos, Rumors - NHL Hockey

I would say he is expendable.

Looking at the other two players

Brule: 43 games , 1 goal, 4 assists

ESPN - Columbus Blue Jackets News, Schedule, Players, Scores, Stats, Photos, Rumors - NHL Hockey

Fristsche: 59 games, 8 goals, 9 assists

ESPN - Columbus Blue Jackets News, Schedule, Players, Scores, Stats, Photos, Rumors - NHL Hockey

Compared to Richards: 62 games, 18 goals, 31 assists

ESPN - Tampa Bay Lightning News, Schedule, Players, Scores, Stats, Photos, Rumors - NHL Hockey

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by ScriptOhio

Thanks, I found his stats: 42 games, 1 goal, 2 assists - WOW

ESPN - Columbus Blue Jackets News, Schedule, Players, Scores, Stats, Photos, Rumors - NHL Hockey

I would say he is expendable.

Looking at the other two players

Brule: 43 games , 1 goal, 4 assists

ESPN - Columbus Blue Jackets News, Schedule, Players, Scores, Stats, Photos, Rumors - NHL Hockey

Fristsche: 59 games, 8 goals, 9 assists

ESPN - Columbus Blue Jackets News, Schedule, Players, Scores, Stats, Photos, Rumors - NHL Hockey

Compared to Richards: 62 games, 18 goals, 31 assists

ESPN - Tampa Bay Lightning News, Schedule, Players, Scores, Stats, Photos, Rumors - NHL Hockey

Tollefsen's a tough SOB, stay-at-home defenseman. Frankly, I'm surprised he has 3 points this season. After trading Shelly, I don't know if the team can afford to lose his toughness. They can't afford to have Foote as the only enforcer getting regular minutes. Boll's a scrapper, but he's not out there clearing guys out of the crease for Leclaire.

Fritsche is a Parma kid. Still pretty young, but nothing spectacular out of him at this point. I don't want to say he's expendable, but......

Brule is the main piece of the puzzle here. Still very young and yet to reach his potential. He's playing better since being recalled from Syracuse. Playing more aggressively and physically. Not much to show for it on the scoresheet, though.