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POV of not-to-distant future

I forget who said this, whether or not it came from the Cannon or BSH, but top line centers aren't exactly garden-variety. You can't just go out and 'get' a top line center. Well...scratch that you could but you are going pay for it just like you would with anything of quality. I was quite surprised to hear this kid's name being called out by Scott Howson on Friday at the draft, esp. when me and probably most of the 'Flag Bearers' (made that up for CBJ fans, pretty smart huh?....no? ok....) thought it would be Fowler, Gudbranson (well he was drafted 3rd so maybe not so much), or Gormley. Obviously, it is just facing up to the facts that CBJ needs to solidify it's blue-line. Taking one of those names would of been a giant stride in the way towards solving that little problem of ours but when thinking about it more, I'm sort of relieved that we did take Johansen.

Now I'm not going to speculate anything trade-wise or who might be the 'one' to go but I will say that I do believe Howson has something in the works. It seems like there is plenty of obtainable talent for the blue-line this July 1st that will be available and with some breathing room with the cap, this should come at just basically luring someone with the right $$$$. (again, I'm not saying someone won't be dealt but there are possibilities out there) So we could essentially fill that hole now and get our possible #1 C anyways. Sounds like a win/win situation to me but what do I know?

Back to Mr. Johansen....

If you look at his intangibles and see what this kid brings - good size, soft hands, ability to score, I mean this kid could be the future Mr. #1 C for Mr. Nash....yes? but he does have a draw back and no I'm not talking physicality or size issues. It's a simple combination of words that I just used. Future and could be. Both are words CBJ has heard too much and feel slightly sour towards when they hear that particular combo muttered about anything involving the Jackets. We've been waiting and some more angry about it then others (not Mr. Wagner, he'll give you plenty of reasons why...neither am I tho. so.) We could be waiting another 2-3 seasons til we see this kid on the ice and even then, he might not pan out to be 'that' guy and then what? What if Fowler does? Gudbranson? Gormley? ...what if? What if he does become that kid though? Nash booms, the depth of our lines becomes much deeper, we get further and further into the playoffs til...whew! Got to slow myself down...

...

I guess we will have to continue to wait and look on to see what this upcoming season and beyond will hold for our boys in blue. We're right on the cusp of getting the team we've always wanted, but for now, let's just make the minor tweaks necessary Mr. Howson that will ensure our prospects that they will have the needed amount of time to become NHL-ready so they can do what you drafted them for.....kicking everyone else's ASS!  ha.

Just remember fans: this team has tons of potential, forming a hard-hat work ethic identity and developing a fanbase that is more hungry then ever.

Only thing left for us to do is just simply....Carry The Flag.

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Very well said. This team is |_| close to being a playoff contender again. I was really hoping to see the Johan this year but it seems he’ll be back in the juniors. I like the job Howson does in drafting and free agency/trades etc but I’d really like to see more “NHL ready” players in the mix.

In a few short seasons, we’ll see the payoff but damnit I’m impatient. C’mon free agency!

Columbus til I die, Columbus til I die. I know I am, I swear I am, Columbus til I die!
"Turner, at midcourt...inside it, at the buzzer, GOT IT!!!!"
We're the Big Ten, who the F@*# are YOU??!?!?!

by Andrew Tolliver on Jun 27, 2010 11:32 AM EDT reply actions  

I really don’t think its a stretch to say we can make the playoffs this year.

I hate the steelers the way a mother loves a child.

by notthatnoise on Jun 27, 2010 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

Absolutely not. More of a disappointment if it doesn’t happen.

Columbus til I die, Columbus til I die. I know I am, I swear I am, Columbus til I die!
"Turner, at midcourt...inside it, at the buzzer, GOT IT!!!!"
We're the Big Ten, who the F@*# are YOU??!?!?!

by Andrew Tolliver on Jun 28, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

Great attitude and a good way to look at it. It seems clearer and clearer that Johansen was a player that a lot of teams had their eye on. I think we’re going to look at this draft a few years down the road and be very glad that our GM stuck with his guy.

Editor for The Cannon - A Columbus Blue Jackets Blog
Follow me on Twitter (if you're in the mood to be bored!)

by Matt Wagner on Jun 27, 2010 12:52 PM EDT reply actions  

I agree

time for me to get on the soapbox. What is a reach in the draft, if the guy you have your eye on and can help you draft him and don’t listen to what the talking heads say later because you know what you are trying to accomplish and they don’t. steps off of the soapbox

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene and Jerry Kramer
"You Don't mess with the USA" Landon Donavan
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Jun 27, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'm glad

to hear the positive feedback. I did sit and ponder the matter for a bit because originally I wasn’t exactly keen on it. Then stepping back a bit I realized that we could easily get our D locked down for a way more reasonable price then a top-tier center. With recent trends in playoffs….D has proven to be one of the best assets you can have to earn your club a championship. The talent pool in this year’s Free Agency is deep for the back-end, now granted you could give an arm and a leg for someone like Kaberle or Gonchar but you could just as easily solidify it with someone like Volchenkov (just to drop a name). Getting Johan shows an effort to get depth at the position without sacrificing what is probably Howson’s view on Columbus’ core.

Pretty much the message in the end is: It would be far easier to sign D then get a #1 C. Signing Johan made that task much easier and now we are free to hopefully lock down our blue-line without much cost to CBJ as a whole. (Again, granted on who is being coveted by the organization.) Simple, smart and effective. Good move Scottie!

Philadelphia Flyers/Columbus Blue Jackets...don't ask me how.
If it was up to me, I'd free Charles Manson... -MRH

by PhillyPhan85 on Jun 27, 2010 5:57 PM EDT reply actions  

Actually I believe he goes by “The Johan” lol. I can’t wait to see this kid on the ice.

Columbus til I die, Columbus til I die. I know I am, I swear I am, Columbus til I die!
"Turner, at midcourt...inside it, at the buzzer, GOT IT!!!!"
We're the Big Ten, who the F@*# are YOU??!?!?!

by Andrew Tolliver on Jun 28, 2010 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions  

your post just gave me an idea. a common thing in baseball previews is to show what you think the lineup will look like a few years down the road, which prospects will make the jump and so on.

I might have to try this for the jackets.

I hate the steelers the way a mother loves a child.

by notthatnoise on Jun 27, 2010 8:28 PM EDT reply actions  

You should.

I will def. read it.

Philadelphia Flyers/Columbus Blue Jackets...don't ask me how.
If it was up to me, I'd free Charles Manson... -MRH

by PhillyPhan85 on Jun 28, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions  

Please do!

Editor for The Cannon - A Columbus Blue Jackets Blog
Follow me on Twitter (if you're in the mood to be bored!)

by Matt Wagner on Jun 28, 2010 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

For me, the reason I like this pick is because I’m not panicked about our defense…. there, I said it. Now it’s out and I’ll catch crap for it but I really think our young D-men are going to come around. Could we use a top tier D-man in our lineup, hell yes we could but if our D is healthy I think we’re okay. I said this several times last season, when Hejda and Klesla were both healthy, we played decent defense. I don’t think we have to have a “shutdown” kind of defense. I think Mase is going to step up his game and our young defense will get better with time. I too think that Howson has something up his sleeve and I really feel alright about the way we’re headed. I think that we need someone to take the heat off of Nasher a little. It seems to me that teams have been able to key in on him and take him out of the games some nights. If we were to pick up someone that could put the biscuit in the basket maybe we wouldn’t have to lean so heavily on Nash and he would be able to break out and kick ass.

by doug32674 on Jun 27, 2010 10:04 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

I agree. I think our D is fine. Last year was a fluke because they were injured/out of shape etc…Getting one maybe two guys in free agency will be enough. I wouldn’t expect a lot of earth-shattering moved this week.

Columbus til I die, Columbus til I die. I know I am, I swear I am, Columbus til I die!
"Turner, at midcourt...inside it, at the buzzer, GOT IT!!!!"
We're the Big Ten, who the F@*# are YOU??!?!?!

by Andrew Tolliver on Jun 28, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions  

You are all delusional. The defense is awful and the team isn’t deep enough to be able to afford one injury.

by Nasher61 on Jul 2, 2010 11:09 AM EDT via mobile reply actions  

its the same team that went to the playoffs two years ago, they can’t be that awful.

also, calling everyone delusional is a great way to make friends.

I hate the steelers the way a mother loves a child.

by notthatnoise on Jul 2, 2010 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

Slow and steady. Not much in the ways of the FA signings. Howson just needs to continue to chip away at deals and what is ‘good’ for the Jackets.

I don’t think grabbing whatever is available will help our situation. See whats up with who is available, make offers (but don’t over-extend yourself) and see what comes back our way. I want players to come here with a positive attitude, not a ‘if you pay me this much’ type of attitude. That is why I liked Choo-Choo and Raffi so much, they liked playing here and played hard for us….it is as much as you can ask from any players every night.

Philadelphia Flyers/Columbus Blue Jackets...don't ask me how.
If it was up to me, I'd free Charles Manson... -MRH

by PhillyPhan85 on Jul 2, 2010 11:50 AM EDT reply actions  

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