I'm getting dizzy, trying to keep up with all the trade rumors floating around. And, frankly, some of them are absolutely insane. I've been expecting to hear that someone has developed a time machine and that the Jackets are going to trade Carter, Mason and a handful of prospects/draft picks for Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky in their prime. Okay, speculating about possible player movements in the form of trades and free agency is as much a part of any sport as uniforms. I get that and I do enjoy whiling away a little time contemplating which Jackets may be on their way out the door, why and what the Jackets may get in return. But when these rumors enter the realm of fantasy league trades, why does anybody report them?

I have to assume that Howson, Patrick, Priest and McConnell are at least as smart as I am. And when it comes to hockey knowledge, I am sure Howson and Patrick know far more than I do. So, when I read/hear some of these trade rumors concerning the Jackets giving up little and getting a lot in return, I have to wonder about the IQ of the person who originated the rumor. And most of the rumors, lately, center on Jeff Carter.

Now, look, I wouldn't be surprised that some teams are (have been) inquiring about Carter's availability. Actually, I'd be shocked if that wasn't the case. Nor would I be surprised to learn that ownership and management have, at least, considered trading Carter. Yet, as I said before, I have to assume that they are as smart as I am. And I note that Carter has not had a chance to show what he can do on the Jackets, having played only 19 games. Talk about his lack of chemistry with Nash, et al? Consider this, how much chemistry did you have with your co-workers after only 19 days on the job. Talk about Carter being frustrated and angry? I don't know about you, but if I was a professional hockey player on a team which had expectations of making the play-offs and I was spending the majority of my time in the season injured, I'd be frustrated and angry, too.

Seriously, I think the only way Carter is going to be traded is if someone makes Howson a deal he simply can't refuse. That is, a real blockbuster. I think that Carter will be kept simply to see how he meshes with the team when healthy. Besides, Portzline guaranteed that Carter would be traded before the deadline and his record for accurate predictions is horrible. Also, am I the only one who has noticed that the Jackets have never in their history so much as hinted that a player is being shopped? Why change now?

There have also been a few (Thankfully, very few.) rumors concerning Rick Nash being traded. The one's I've seen are of the "And then you wake up" variety, mostly from Toronto concerning Nash being traded there. They can be ignored. Mainly because no team trades it's best player without getting a very substantial return. Yes, it can happen. Many times in all sports a team has traded a start player (The first that immediately come to mind is the 1960 trade of Frank Robinson by the Reds.), but there are invariably special circumstances attached, or - as in the case of the Robinson trade - management miscalculates the return they get. In these days of massive information on players, mutli-million dollar salaries and near continuous scouting of players nearly from the time they first take up a sport as a child, such miscalculations are extremely rare. Might the Jackets trade away one, or both, of their two best players? Yes, if the return is exceedingly substantial. Is such a trade probable? I don't think so.

More likely, we're looking at trades to fill actual needs. So let's start there. What are the Jackets' biggest needs? A goalie, a bit of improvement on defense and, maybe, a bit more scoring (Another reason I don't think Nash and Carter are going anywhere. When you need more scoring, you don't trade away your two best scorers!). There are goalies out there who could help the team and may be available. We've all heard the names, so I won't bother to repeat them. On defense, the Jackets have quite a bit of talent in Springfield nearly ready to contribute at the next level, so I don't see bringing in a star player, saddled with a multi-year contract, blocking the path of those players. Look for another "Russell for Nikitin" type move. That is, enough of an upgrade to make a difference, but a near unknown player. As for scoring, look for a third-liner type, not a big name. Someone who adds a bit of secondary scoring, nothing more. Not with players like Atkinson, Kubilak, Mayorov, Johansen, etc. just waiting to really make a difference.

Who is likely to be traded? Look, if Carter &/or Nash &/or both are traded, that means that the "nuclear option" is being taken and, frankly, the Jackets don't need to tear everything down, then take 3 - 5 years to rebuild. The talent is already there to make the play-offs with only a few tweaks. I think Howson, Patrick, et al are smart enough to see that. Most likely what we'll see is players like Vinny Prospal (Though I'd hate to see him go.), Sammy Pahlsson and others about to become UFA's traded as well as role players (Boll, MacKenzie, that type of guy.) sent away. Maybe Brassard will be traded if the offer is too strong to refuse, but I honestly don't expect any of the Jackets' big names to be gone by season's end.

I actually expect the biggest change in players to come during the off-season. Once the dust settles, we find out just how high up the Jackets' get to pick in the draft and management has a chance to evaluate whom was acquired during the season, we'll all have a better idea of just what the Jackets' needs are for next year.

So, let's hold off on the trade rumors, please. At least, the wildly improbable ones. Though still losing, the team is playing better, lately. And we'll know who is on the trading block when the team actually announces a trade.

So, Nationwide is hosting next year's all-star game. Excuse me while I contain my excitement. (Zzzzzzzzzzzzz) Oh, sorry.

Continue reading this post »

In lieu of the proposed Jan. 28 protest, I thought I'd share my vision for how to best grab the ownership's attention.

I think the best place to protest is right from our couches. While I'm considering joining the "protest" this Saturday because I'm fully behind the general principle, I think there's a far more effective way of going about things. What I propose is Blue Jacket bloggers and Jacket fans together to put the word out for a month or so to anyone who will listen to simply not attend a designated Jackets game sometime in late Feb/early March.

Imagine a PR build up gaining steam over the course of an entire month instead of just a few days. Think of 30 days of putting the word out via CBJ blogs, Jacket Backers, Facebook, Twitter, E-mail and hopefully getting the attention of the Dispatch and the Other Paper. I'd even go so far as to say we might even generate a little national buzz via Puck Daddy and maybe even a footnote mention from the likes of ESPN if we played our cards right.

If we hit enough of the right notes, I suspect we could get attendance to be as low as 5-6k, if not lower. A massive, empty cave with empty, blue chairs silently watching the game would grab the brass' attention. Imagine the place sounding more like a routine practice than an actual NHL regular season game. That, coupled with equally quiet beer stands and cash registers, would be a statement. Emphatically showing them what will inevitably lay ahead attendance wise in the coming years if things keep going at this rate would be a statement.

As much as it pains me to suggest this, I'd encourage people to not even go near the Arena District that night. While it would hurt profits in that area for one day, if these losing ways continue under the current and failed leadership, business will be a lot worse over long periods of time in the coming years. I would suspect business owners themselves might become a little more vocal in support of change if their wallets get a little lighter on what would have been a relatively busy night.

Every purchase or transaction we make is essentially a vote that people and businesses watch more closely than we think or realize. In the spirit of an election year, we should vote "No" to the current team president, general manager and general state of affairs.

Obviously not everyone is going to agree with this. Some might be of the mind that, "Just because their jobs are safe for now doesn't mean the dramatic change we feel we need is in order isn't on the horizon. We just need to wait." The sad truth is, we've been told to wait and have obliged many a time. Ten years from the team president and five years from the GM and the results they've accrued is more than enough of a sample size to insist upon their removal.

It's drastic, yes. Maybe it's even a little too far reaching, but decisions that have been made over the course of time and this season by the organization have forced our hand. If the head shed isn't going to hold this team and its leaders to a high standard, its incumbent upon the fans to do so in whatever ways they can. We've patiently played the wait and hope card for over a decade, but we've lost out the vast majority of the time.

Ideally, if something like this were to gain enough steam, there might be dramatic, but clearly necessary, change with the current leadership before whatever game we try to essentially boycott.

If the current leadership were yielding the same kind of results for Worthington Industries and the like, they would have been gone a long time ago. While our team isn't anything resembling a Fortune 500 company, we need to hold the powers that be to some kind of a standard if we want and ever expect to see a consistent winner and a worthy product on the ice. I love this team and this city too much to let it be content with mediocrity at best.

If enough of you out there are behind this, I'll lend whatever efforts I can to putting the word out about "You Don't Gotta See it Live!" night.

A recent fanpost by "westside paul" combined with our atrocious season has got me looking to next year for sunlight. It's a terrible feeling to be looking to next season at the All-Star break, but such is the life of a Jackets fan.

I sat down and started poking around, looking at upcoming free agents, NHL trade rumors, and what not. Got a pen and paper out and started coming up with a potential lineup card and what it could look like next year...

Continue reading this post »

Already, several bloggers have posted their ideas for what the Jackets should do to improve their roster for next year. Now, I'm not going to suggest players to go after, but whom on the current roster, plus Springfield prospects, I would keep and let go. I'm basing my thoughts on three things. 1) Current and recent (The last couple of years) play; 2) Reasonable expectations for future play; 3) How said players would fit into an overall playing scheme. This is, of course, just opinion, so agree, disagree or offer your own thoughts.

Continue reading this post »

Just received text message that says Blue Jackets relieve Scott Arniel of his head coaching duties, name Todd Richards interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Just filling in the word requirement:

Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired!Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired!

Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired!Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired!

Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired!Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired! Arniel Fired!

Hey, Arniel, I just loved the treatment you gave Lori Schmidt, last night. The lady, doing her job, pointed out he obvious. That the Jackets get scored on heavily during 4-on-4's. And your reaction? Well, I've seen spoiled 5 year-olds throw less of a temper tantrum. Here's a fact, you've been handed the most talented team in Blue Jackets history and at what is, effectively, the mid-point of the season, that team has a record of 10-23-5. It is the worst team, by record, in the league. More astoundingly, the Jackets' record in 2000-2001, with a much, much less talented roster, finished with a record of 28-39-9-6. Take just a moment to think about that. Right now, only 38 games into the season, your team has only 16 fewer losses and only one less overtime loss than that collection of has-beens, never-was', role players and rookies accumulated for an entire season!!! Damn, I'm glad I can't afford season tickets, because I wold certainly feel ripped off by now.

Here's the thing, Lori Schmidt and the other reporters assigned to cover the team are only asking the questions we fans are asking ourselves. So what, if you don't like the questions! They are legitimate questions and part of your job is actually answering those questions like a mature, reasonable adult.

I've got to hand it to you, you've actually got your immediate boss, Scott Howson, blaming the players for the team's failings. Yet, no matter how frustrated those players are, none have ever been so rude, nor so childish as to pull what you did, last night.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. No one wants to admit their shortcomings. That's human nature. But, Mr. Arniel, anyone with brains enough to count to ten without looking at their fingers knows what the Blue Jackets' primary problem is, this year. I'll clue you in, since it seems obvious that you have about as much intelligence as a jar of peanut butter.

Yes, goaltending has been a problem. Yes, players have been injured and suspended. Yes, the blueline corps could be playing better. All that is true. But the #1 problem with the Blue Jackets this year is you.

Mr. Arniel, I am not a masochist. Yes, I am hockey fan and a Blue Jackets fan. Yes, I would love to stand on High Street with thousands of others, cheering my team to thank them for bringing the Stanley Cup to Ohio. But that is not going to happen with you as head coach.

As I said, I am not a masochist. Therefore, rather than punish myself, I am disassociating myself from the Blue Jackets until someone in the front office cans you and brings in a coach who isn't a moron. No attending games, no watching games on tv, no listening to them on the radio. Other than following a couple of blogs about the team (So that I don't have to be punished by reading game recaps.), I will not have a damned thing to do with the team you have totally f***ed up.

Thank you, Mr. Arniel, for showing me that one idiot can actually bring me to the point of not watching the game I've loved for more than 40 years.

Dear Mr. Howson,

I'm just your average Blue Jackets fan. I manage to find the money to attend five - ten games a year. The rest I watch on tv or listen to on the stream on the team website. I subscribe to a few blogs about the team in my RSS reader. And I have to say that I am starting to lose interest in the team. Let me tell you why.

You see, I've been through NHL expansion twice, now. First as a young boy, growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area with the San Francisco/California (Golden) Seals and, now, with the Jackets. When you came in to take over for a certain former GM who shall remain nameless, I took the attitude of thinking about the Jackets as another expansion team because you had to clean up the mess left by said former GM. Therefore, I was willing to be patient as you rebuilt the team. My patience is running out and the reason is Scott Arniel.

You've done your job. There is more talent on the Jackets' roster and in Springfield than has ever been accumulated by the Jackets. You went out and acquired Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski. When Huselius injured himself in rehab, you signed Vinny Prospal (One of your best moves!). All of which had me looking forward to an interesting season.

I wasn't one of those hyped up types who, after those acquisitions, started thinking play-offs. Oh, I hoped for them, but all I really wanted was for the Jackets to be playing meaningful games at the end of the season. You know, simple improvement, nothing more.

Mr. Howson, the Jackets aren't playing meaningful games now and it isn't even Christmas, yet. Cite injuries, suspensions, slumps and off-seasons, if you wish. It means nothing. Stanley Cup winning teams have those same problems and cope. Every team deals with injuries, suspensions, etc. So, I will not accept those as an excuse.

Cite building chemistry, if you wish. It rings hollow. We're more than three months into the season. Surely more than enough time to build chemistry. Besides, everyone expected some struggles early in the season.

You have been saying that it's up to the players to raise their level of play. Okay, that is valid. Yet, Mr. Howson, who is responsible for inspiring players to raise their level of play? Captain Rick Nash? Jeff Carter? Antoine Vermette? No, it is the responsibility of the head coach and Scott Arniel has failed in that responsibility.

Let's be honest about Scott Arniel, other than last September, October and early November, his record is abysmal. I haven't checked, but I would not be surprised to learn that Dave King had a better record through the same point of his second year with the team and he was leading an expansion team which didn't have one-tenth the talent Arniel has had.

Then, there is Arniel's very suspect roster decisions. What is Max Mayorov doing in Springfield after the pre-season he had? Why were Cody Bass and Alexander Giroux ever on the team? What are Dane Byers and Aaron Johnson doing the team, now? Mr. Howson, there is a reason certain players are lifetime AHLers/borderline NHLers.

Next is Arniel's lines. Which I don't understand in the least. Sometimes, I wonder if he has a sheet of paper tacked to his office wall with all the forwards' names on it and selects his lines by throwing darts at said sheet of paper. I swear, I could get roaring drunk and pick better lines than he does.

And what about ice time. Why is a grinder like Derek Dorsett leading the team in ice team? Even above team superstar, captain and "face of them team" Rick Nash. Why are talented youngsters like Ryan Johanson and John Moore playing 10 minutes of less a night? Remember how you once said that one of the reasons Hitchcock had to go was that he didn't play younger players enough? What's changed?

This season is a total write off, Mr. Howson. Everyone knows that. Just as everyone - Except, it seems, you. - knows that the primary cause is Scott Arniel. But what should worry you (And is certainly on the minds of your bosses, Mike Priest and J. P. McConnell.) is that you are in danger of losing your fan base. Just how long do you think we fans will put up with continual losing before we simply don't care, anymore?

Next season starts now! For the sake of the team, the fans and your own job, fire Scott Arniel and bring in a coach who can nurture the talent you've acquired and take this team to the next level.

Thank you,

A fan

Aloha, Blue Jackets fans. I'm taking a Super-Fun-Hockey-Road-Trip over the holidays, with a stop in the Columbus area. I plan to attend the Columbus-Calgary game on December 27th, and since you guys and gals are presumably the experts, I'm here in search of any advice you might have on visiting the arena and/or buying tickets.

Continue reading this post »

A serious concern has been brought up by a variety of commenters on the Cannon and other Columbus hockey sites, and it bites at the back of my head too. Are the Jackets going to improve at any point? And more significantly, is there any hope for the future?

It's a legitimate fear - if this team isn't actually talented enough to get anywhere, if the Jackets are really stuck with no hope, will we have to suffer through a full rebuild and watch the team be completely awful for another 5+ years before the franchise can reemerge? And if they're that bad, shouldn't the team just start over right now?

Thankfully, I don't think the team is that bad. Or rather, the team offense shouldn't be nearly this bad. However, it's obvious that something isn't working. I submit that right now the whole team is less than the sum of its parts, suggesting that some sort of chemistry or coaching problem may be to blame. But a baseless opinion doesn't really help here - let's take a look at career goals per game values for each player and the projected scoring output for the team versus current performance. Let's find out just how far off each player is from a career average year and then where the whole team would be if every player was at their average goals per game.

Continue reading this post »