Hitchcock Hockey

by Clint Clark on Nov 23, 2008 8:26 AM EST

The march to the sea was not a fast or glorious process. William Tecumseh Sherman needed some weighty soliders to get his job done. Enter the Blue Jackets last night. The Thrashers were completely shut down. Now don't get excited. These were the Thrashers. There are actually 4 players on this team I would even consider for the Blue Jackets. This is probably the thinnest roster in the league. It will only get thinner when they trade Ilya. I have to feel bad for Hainsey and his 22.5 million dollars, but through the term of that contract I doubt he'll sniff the playoffs. What else is new?

Rick Nash continues to beast it, but last night used his teammates. He muscled off of the boards and then drove the net and let Ollie put the shot on net. This is the type of beautiful Rick Nash play he should worry about.

Boll versus XLB was the best fight of the year. I think Boll got the better of him though, but maybe I'm a homer, I'll have to rewatch that one six or seven times today.

Brassard continues his point streak. My main concern with him was his durability. He took a couple big shots last night and kept on going. I don't even think the Nash-Brass-Huselius line has meshed and they continue to create scoring chances. I don't remember much from Juice last night besides the tornado he skated around the offensive zone on one shift.

I thought Chimmer - Umberger - Modin looked very good. These are three big bodies and Atlanta did not have the personnel to move them. XLB was out against Nash, that leaves Hainsey as the most physical defensemen. Later in the game Voracek took Chimmer's spot and I thought looked really good. He was flying last night. His play wasn't super-effective, but he was flying. It was the Jakub we had earlier this year.

Fedor Tyutin swallowed another 25 minutes last night. He continues to impress me. He hasn't made a blunder in a while.

ManCrush of the Game : Steve Mason for his first career shutout. We have the makings of a two-headed goalie monster and I love it. Hopefully when it is in full stride we get to see the best out of both of them.

HM: To Raffi Torres, what a nasty cut he got after being hit with the puck. The refusal of stitches until post-game is an honorary ManCrush.

Whipping Boy of the Game : I'm putting Manny here today. Manny's role seems clear to me. Bottom line energy player and faceoff specialist. He had 2 or 3 beautiful opportunites to check, but he didn't take them. If we want to be a weighty team we need to have more players that Boll and Dorsett regularly check. Manny is one of them.

Again don't get too excited because Waddel's Thrashers are a pathetic looking roster IMO. He really f'ed them up when he pushed for the playoffs 2 years ago. They'd still have no offense, but at least they'd have a nice looking d.

What are your thoughts on these new road Jackets?

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What does the Cannon Crew think is gonna happen with Manny?

Does he finish the year with the CBJ? And if he does, does Howson try to re-sign him?

by Mattlund on Nov 23, 2008 9:30 AM EST reply actions

I'm really not sure what will happen with Manny, or if he'll be with the team all season.

That said, I don't think he'll be re-signed. He just doesn't offer enough, with the exception of being a great faceoff man.

by Mike MacLean on Nov 23, 2008 5:17 PM EST reply actions

All account say that Manny is the nicest guy in the locker room. I'm sure that makes him a bigger part of the team, but he needs to deliver more on the ice. That starts with more physical play IMO.

by Clint Clark on Nov 23, 2008 8:56 PM EST reply actions

As far as resigning, it will certainly have to be at a pay cut. He is pulling in 1.5 million this year. He'll have to go down to a million next year IMO. I think some of it henges on what we want to do with Peca, who is a superior player IMO.

by Clint Clark on Nov 23, 2008 8:58 PM EST reply actions

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New York Islanders Lighthouse Hockey	Sat 04/07	W 7 - 3
@ Colorado Mile High Hockey	Thu 04/05	W 5 - 2
@ Phoenix Five For Howling	Tue 04/03	L 0 - 2
@ St. Louis St. Louis Game Time	Sat 03/31	W 5 - 2
Florida Litter Box Cats	Fri 03/30	W 4 - 1

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