In this edition of Shrapnel: Playoffs, the draft, Pat Burns update, Nash in the World Championships, lineups, Iggy, Modano, and more!
Puck-rakers:
I’m as disappointed in this season as the rest of you, but its time to look at it this way, our draft position is great. Porty breaks down every scenario for the Jackets and other cellar-dwellers in the league. He also asks, if we land the top pick, is it worth it? You tell me, is it?
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BlueJackets XTRA:
Former Canadiens coach Pat Burns has been released from the hospital. While this is great news, the reality is his cancer is terminal. This tough Irishman won’t go down without a fight.
While R.J. Umberger is mulling over playing in the World Championships, one Jacket has said no way. Captain Rick Nash has told Team Canada he will not make the trip to Germany. Nash was quoted as saying “It’s only fair to Columbus that I get healthy and get back to 100 percent this summer.” Other Jackets’ decisions are listed in this article.
Tonight is Columbus’ last game of the 2010 season. It may also be the last game coached by Claude Noel. After the game, the process for finding a full time head coach begins. Lots of names are being thrown around for candidates; most notable Kevin Dineen, Brent Peterson, and Paul MacLean. There’s still a possibility of Ken Hitchcock returning, but his odds are about as good as Gerard Gallant and Doug MacLean’s. My early favorites: Claude Noel, and Kevin Dineen.
Final lineups for the season:
CBJ – GO GET ‘EM BOYS!!! Beat those damn Wings into the ground!
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Bleacher Report:
The B/R asks a simple question. Should the Flames trade Jarome Iginla? Even though thats a long shot, here’s a follow-up, would you make an offer?
Keep an eye out for these 14 stars and see where they end after free agency. Names like Volchenkov, Corvo and Marleau would look great in Union Blue.
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Yahoo! Sports:
This story is easily one of the top 3 feel good stories of the year. You can hate the team but you have to respect the career of Mike Modano. The Stars assistant captain may call it a career after playing his entire career with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise (take the hint Nasher, Jake, and Mase).
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NHL.com:
The race for the Rocket Richard Trophy is a wild one. It could very well come down to the last game of the season. It was only a few years ago a young kid from a virtual nothing team came out of nowhere to share the trophy.
Clinching scenarios for the bottom 3 teams in the East. A Flyers win would not only help themselves, it would also lock up spots for Montreal and Boston. A win tonight for Philly will end the Rangers season.
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Quote of the day:
“You become two people battling for space, and now you’ve got two people screening the goalie.”
– Claude Noel on why the Jackets will not put a D in the crease to block out guys like Tomas Holmstrom who will undoubtedly be screening G Steve Mason.
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Fight of the night:
Devils C David Clarkson v. Panthers C Nick Tarnasky
