Two weeks from today, we’ll be breaking down the first postseason game between Toronto and Columbus. It’s so close I can taste it. Let’s jump right into the happenings of the week:
Josh Anderson Returns
A bit of surprising news dropped yesterday:
ROSTER UPDATE – #CBJ have added LW Josh Anderson to the club’s 34-man roster. He has joined the club in Columbus and continues to rehab after undergoing shoulder surgery in March.
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) July 19, 2020
It had been reported that Anderson could be added to the final 31 man “bubble” roster in Toronto. He would not be ready for the Toronto series, but the timeline of his recovery from shoulder surgery could have him available should the Blue Jackets advance deeper. One would think there would be too much rust for him to be a factor, but if he could come anywhere close to matching his form from the Tampa series last year, that would be a huge boost to the team.
He looks pretty good here:
— x-Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) July 19, 2020
Two finalists for Columbus in the NHL Awards
The NHL began announcing nominees for their awards. For the Jack Adams Award, given to the best coach, John Tortorella was named a finalist along with Philadelphia’s Alain Vigneault and Boston’s Bruce Cassidy. I was surprised that Pittsburgh’s Mike Sullivan and Colorado’s Jared Bednar didn’t make the cut given the number of injuries to star players that each had to work through. I am fine with Vigneault being on there for getting the Flyers back on track. Cassidy is a good coach, but you’re playing on easy mode when you have THAT top line.
The other local nominee so far is John Haferman of the Columbus Ice Hockey Club, who is a finalist for the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award. Haferman has done much to grow youth hockey in Central Ohio, and to promote diversity in the sport. You can vote for him once a day through Friday here. We were fortunate enough to have him as a guest on the Cannon Cast recently and it’s well worth a listen:
Congratulations to John Haferman of @CIHockeyClub for being one of the finalists for the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award.
Take a listen to episode 73 of The Cannon Cast to learn more about John and CIHC
You can also find us on @Spotify and @iTuneshttps://t.co/164Q0pwTkF https://t.co/TgcFZSnv6l
— The Cannon (@cbjcannon) July 17, 2020
Dirtbag Zach Werenski
Z showed up to camp with this quarantine look:
After being chirped by Torts for his stache and mullet, Zach Werenski says “I have nothing to defend, I like it.” #CBJ pic.twitter.com/FHzFJ1QypT
— Alison (@AlisonL) July 16, 2020
So we had to put him on a t-shirt.
Oil and water don’t mix
Rogers Place in Edmonton is scheduled to host the Western Conference postseason as well as the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final. On Thursday, a storm hit:
We are assessing the damage & at this time are confident that it will not hamper our planning & preparation & we will be ready to host the return of @NHL hockey as hub city. We will share more information as it becomes available.
— Rogers Place (@RogersPlace) July 17, 2020
Video circulated online that was allegedly from the site:
The supposed Rogers Place flooding video has been deleted from /r/EdmontonOilers but I saved a backup (sound not stitched, unfortunately – Reddit’s system is kinda weird) pic.twitter.com/E3r8AFyIz2
— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) July 16, 2020
“Some water damage” indeed. Thankfully there’s been no indication that the damage will interfere with games and practices when teams arrive next week.
More from The Cannon
MrSwift had observations from the first week of camp.
I recapped the best Swedish players in Blue Jackets history.
In the latest edition of SB Nation Reacts, Blue Jackets fans voted on their confidence in the direction of the team. It’s high, but not as high as in March. Why?
The Cannon Cast discussed the start of training camp, the rise of Liam Foudy, and more thoughts on the NHL bubble.
Play me out
There’s so much new content on the various streaming services, but sometimes it’s time to revisit an old favorite. For the last couple weeks, it’s been Justified for me. It’s my favorite TV drama of all time, and I think it stacks up, quality-wise, to popular favorites like The Wire and Breaking Bad. A Wild West-influenced show set in present day Eastern Kentucky, four of the six seasons end with a different version of this track, which perfectly captures the tension between Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) and career criminal Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins).