Blues Fire Payne...

[forty_three]

Upon seeing "Hitchcock" on nhl.com, my first thought was "No way - back in Columbus, huh?"

The Blue Jackets front office, apparently a place devoid of TVs, the Internet and newspapers, actually had to give the Blues PERMISSION to talk to Hitch.

Jeez, if there was only some OTHER team that had, say 4 less wins then the Blues that could have used him. You know, a team that practices like 2 and a half miles from his house? Even better if that team was, you know, ALREADY PAYING HIM.

No. What you want to do is give a division rival a chance to nab him. That is the ticket.

So in another week, when Arniel continues to fail despite having his whole team on the ice (the big excuse now), they will STILL be shopping for a coach. And one of the better ones will not be available anymore.

And we'll get Barry Fucking Melrose.

 

[mattola]

The Blue Jackets front office, apparently a place devoid of TVs, the Internet and newspapers, actually had to give the Blues PERMISSION to talk to Hitch.

Jeez, if there was only some OTHER team that had, say 4 less wins then the Blues that could have used him. You know, a team that practices like 2 and a half miles from his house? Even better if that team was, you know, ALREADY PAYING HIM.

No. What you want to do is give a division rival a chance to nab him. That is the ticket.

So in another week, when Arniel continues to fail despite having his whole team on the ice (the big excuse now), they will STILL be shopping for a coach. And one of the better ones will not be available anymore.

And we'll get Barry Fucking Melrose.

ted nolan is available

 

[puckhead]

The Blue Jackets front office, apparently a place devoid of TVs, the Internet and newspapers, actually had to give the Blues PERMISSION to talk to Hitch.

Jeez, if there was only some OTHER team that had, say 4 less wins then the Blues that could have used him. You know, a team that practices like 2 and a half miles from his house? Even better if that team was, you know, ALREADY PAYING HIM.

No. What you want to do is give a division rival a chance to nab him. That is the ticket.

So in another week, when Arniel continues to fail despite having his whole team on the ice (the big excuse now), they will STILL be shopping for a coach. And one of the better ones will not be available anymore.

And we'll get Barry Fucking Melrose.

you speak as if Ken Hitchcock would be an asset to CBJ.

 

[forty_three]

you speak as if Ken Hitchcock would be an asset to CBJ.

In two ways:
1) He would not accept the country club atmosphere of complacency that is plaguing this team right now.
2) The country club atmosphere. He would not accept it.

It is a double edged sword, as he is notoriously bad with young guys and this team has a bunch of them. And good ones.

But when you look at available coaches, who would be better right now?

 

[KennyBanyeah]

In two ways:
1) He would not accept the country club atmosphere of complacency that is plaguing this team right now.
2) The country club atmosphere. He would not accept it.

It is a double edged sword, as he is notoriously bad with young guys and this team has a bunch of them. And good ones.

But when you look at available coaches, who would be better right now?

They need to go off the board, IMO. Get a good young AHL or CHL coach who you can build with.

None of us know who that is, but paid professionals should. Do your jobs CBJ management.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

In two ways:
1) He would not accept the country club atmosphere of complacency that is plaguing this team right now.
2) The country club atmosphere. He would not accept it.

It is a double edged sword, as he is notoriously bad with young guys and this team has a bunch of them. And good ones.

But when you look at available coaches, who would be better right now?

Somebody needs to hire Milbury. I'm sick of having to listen to him on TV.

In all seriousness I think Craig Ramsay will get another chance to be a head coach & will do a very good job wherever he ends up.

 

[juliansteed]

The Blue Jackets front office, apparently a place devoid of TVs, the Internet and newspapers, actually had to give the Blues PERMISSION to talk to Hitch.

Jeez, if there was only some OTHER team that had, say 4 less wins then the Blues that could have used him. You know, a team that practices like 2 and a half miles from his house? Even better if that team was, you know, ALREADY PAYING HIM.

No. What you want to do is give a division rival a chance to nab him. That is the ticket.

So in another week, when Arniel continues to fail despite having his whole team on the ice (the big excuse now), they will STILL be shopping for a coach. And one of the better ones will not be available anymore.

And we'll get Barry Fucking Melrose.

Any chance they might just decide to tank and secure a top 2 pick? How would you feel about that at this point? Could be exactly what the franchise needs to turn things around. Seems to work pretty well elsewhere.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Any chance they might just decide to tank and secure a top 2 pick? How would you feel about that at this point? Could be exactly what the franchise needs to turn things around. Seems to work pretty well elsewhere.

If they do tank I hope they LOSE the 1st overall pick in the lottery. My team SUCKS, but at least they try.

 

[juliansteed]

If they do tank I hope they LOSE the 1st overall pick in the lottery. My team SUCKS, but at least they try.

Yeah when I say "tank" I don't necessarily mean the players but maybe just management declares this season a write-off and trade away any UFAs-to-be for whatever they can get and worry about a coaching change in the offseason. But from the looks of things they may not need to actively tank to get that top 2 pick.

 

[dash]

The biggest problem with the Jackets, in my opinion, is that they have never been able to get that stud defenseman (and the Wiz isn't a long term answer either). They need to make a play for somebody like Shea Weber (do you dangle Rick Nash?!?)/

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

The biggest problem with the Jackets, in my opinion, is that they have never been able to get that stud defenseman (and the Wiz isn't a long term answer either). They need to make a play for somebody like Shea Weber (do you dangle Rick Nash?!?)/

The Blue Jackets have defenseman? Could have fooled me & the Flyers.

One thing they definately need to do is acquire a veteran goalie to mentor Mason. This guy has been thrown to the wolves.

 

[juliansteed]

The biggest problem with the Jackets, in my opinion, is that they have never been able to get that stud defenseman (and the Wiz isn't a long term answer either). They need to make a play for somebody like Shea Weber (do you dangle Rick Nash?!?)/

I agree they could really use a stud defenseman. (Didn't they have Francois Beauchemin at one point?) I'm not sure dangling Nash would be the way to go though. It would almost be like the Flames trading Iginla to acquire a top centreman. Maybe shop Jeff Carter around though.

 

[dash]

I agree they could really use a stud defenseman. (Didn't they have Francois Beauchemin at one point?) I'm not sure dangling Nash would be the way to go though. It would almost be like the Flames trading Iginla to acquire a top centreman. Maybe shop Jeff Carter around though.

Jeff Carter, don't bother to unpack any boxes (lol)

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I agree they could really use a stud defenseman. (Didn't they have Francois Beauchemin at one point?) I'm not sure dangling Nash would be the way to go though. It would almost be like the Flames trading Iginla to acquire a top centreman. Maybe shop Jeff Carter around though.

I'll tell you what they can have Andrew MacDonald for Johansson. MacDonald is a solid defenseman. He plays over 22 minutes per night. He's young & signed for a few years at 500K per.

 

[juliansteed]

Jeff Carter, don't bother to unpack any boxes (lol)

Haha exactly. Or they could shop around their 1st round draft pick near the trade deadline once it becomes apparent that it will be a pretty high pick even with an upgraded blue-line. Nash and Carter are just about to hit their prime and the draft pick would probably still be a few years away from having a major impact, especially if they were to draft a D-man. On the other hand Nash and Carter are still young enough that they could wait a couple of years but the fans in Columbus have been waiting long enough as it is and with the low attendance ownership may prefer to turn things around sooner rather than later.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Haha exactly. Or they could shop around their 1st round draft pick near the trade deadline once it becomes apparent that it will be a pretty high pick even with an upgraded blue-line. Nash and Carter are just about to hit their prime and the draft pick would probably still be a few years away from having a major impact, especially if they were to draft a D-man. On the other hand Nash and Carter are still young enough that they could wait a couple of years but the fans in Columbus have been waiting long enough as it is and with the low attendance ownership may prefer to turn things around sooner rather than later.

They traded the 7th pick in the draft for Carter & we can see first hand how that's turned out. I don't think trading away a top 2 pick would be a smart move.

 

[juliansteed]

They traded the 7th pick in the draft for Carter & we can see first hand how that's turned out. I don't think trading away a top 2 pick would be a smart move.

Not to mention the fact that they are near the cap and would have to try to find a way to fit the salary of any return under the cap. The draft pick would be a much better bargain. I'm just surprised that they did trade that pick (Couturier) and I'm wondering if their plan is indeed to try to make a move sooner rather than later.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Not to mention the fact that they are near the cap and would have to try to find a way to fit the salary of any return under the cap. The draft pick would be a much better bargain. I'm just surprised that they did trade that pick (Couturier) and I'm wondering if their plan is indeed to try to make a move sooner rather than later.

Voracek was part of that deal as well. He was a top 10 pick in 2007. The Blue Jackets have been run into the ground by horrible decision makers in the front office.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

The problem, IMO, with the Jackets is that they've tried to build around Rick Nash. He is not a centerpiece (very few wingers are), but rather a top 10 second fiddle.

In the modern NHL I can only think of 3 wingers who have been "successfully" built around: Iginla, Ovechkin and Alfredsson (in Ottawa's case they had more of a core but he was the main guy).

Nash isn't a top 20 scorer, he isn't a top 50 defensive forward and he isn't a top 50 physical forward. What am I missing? He's an excellent LW but by no means is he a franchise player when it comes to ability (thus far at least). He's a great guy by all accounts and a team player but if he's the best player on the team, they aren't going anywhere unless they have about 4 or 5 other guys of his ability.

CBJ management and fans have been admirably loyal to Nash but they need someone to step up and surpass Nash as the leader and best player on the team. I could actually see that person being Johansen in a few years.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

The problem, IMO, with the Jackets is that they've tried to build around Rick Nash. He is not a centerpiece (very few wingers are), but rather a top 10 second fiddle.

In the modern NHL I can only think of 3 wingers who have been "successfully" built around: Iginla, Ovechkin and Alfredsson (in Ottawa's case they had more of a core but he was the main guy).

Nash isn't a top 20 scorer, he isn't a top 50 defensive forward and he isn't a top 50 physical forward. What am I missing? He's an excellent LW but by no means is he a franchise player when it comes to ability (thus far at least). He's a great guy by all accounts and a team player but if he's the best player on the team, they aren't going anywhere unless they have about 4 or 5 other guys of his ability.

CBJ management and fans have been admirably loyal to Nash but they need someone to step up and surpass Nash as the leader and best player on the team. I could actually see that person being Johansen in a few years.

They've been searching for a 1st line center for years. Obviously Carter is the player they want it to be. Johansson needs some time to develop into that player. How much time is anybody's guess. Defensively the BJ's are a mess. Steve Mason needs some help. They don't even have a legit backup goalie.

Is it time for Columbus to just start over?