All Entries Tagged With: "Scott Howson"
Fast Five: Predictions For the NHL’s Second Half
As we hit the all-star break this weekend with the Fantasy Draft kicking things off this evening at 8 P.M., the 2011-’12 NHL season has officially reached it’s mid-point. There have been many surprises — and equally as many disappointments — across the league this season on both an individual and team basis. In anticipation [...]
B’s Struggle, But Scratch Out Shootout Win Over League-Worst Columbus
There is a reason the National Hockey League is the greatest and most competitive hockey league in the world. It is nearly impossible for any one team thoroughly dominate it’s opponents on a consistent basis. Very rarely can a team go through a an extended stretch of time without facing adversity. After reeling off six [...]
The Quest For Seven: Hapless Jackets Visit Red-Hot Bruins
On Thursday evening, the Boston Bruins (9-7-0 (18 Points)) will conclude their five-game home-stand as they play host to Rick Nash and the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets (3-13-1 (7 Points)). Thursday’s match-up features two teams on opposite ends of the spectrum. Boston, who has recovered from a 3-7-0 start to the season by reeling off [...]
Season Predictions Part 2: Canucks Poised For A Repeat?
Hello again, and welcome to Part II of my 4-Part NHL season preview. In part I, I gave you all my Eastern Conference Predictions. In part 2, I will give you my predictions for the Western Conference. I will approach these predictions a bit differently than I did those for the Eastern Conference. Today, [...]
Finally: Blue Jackets Offseason Brings #1 Center
The Blue Jackets have a number one center. Just let that sink in for a second. It takes some getting used to. Scott Howson traded fan-favorite winger Jakub Voracek, first and third round draft picks, for perennial goal scoring center Jeff Carter. Then, after trading for his rights, Howson landed free agent defenseman James Wisniewski [...]
Predators Part Ways, Stand Pat in Free Agency
The first day of the NHL free agency period has been described as a “frenzy”. In looking at some of the deals that were consummated today, a more apt description might be “foolishness”. In the foolishness, uh, frenzy, of the first day of free agency, the Nashville Predators did……wait for it….. nothing. And that is [...]
Jackets Need Major Overhaul. Plus – How to get Parise?
Another disappointing season in the books for the Jackets. A nice run early and a stellar run of play in February brought some false hopes, and as usual I fell for the false goods they were selling me and believed they had a chance. But in they end, “they were who we thought they were.” [...]
Ten Sleepers To Keep Your Eye On
Difference Makers, Hiding in the Shadows Here is a quick look at ten players who may wind up making the difference for their respective teams this season. RW. Nikita Filatov, Columbus Blue Jackets Although his rookie season was eventually marred by a disagreement with then-head coach Ken Hitchcock, ultimately resulting in Filatov returning to Russia [...]
On Boucher and Kaberle
As reported in the Columbus Dispatch, and then all of the internet, the Blue Jackets officially offered their head coaching job to Guy Boucher, who quickly accepted…er…still hasn’t decided whether to take it or not. To me, this is shocking. If he interviewed for the job, I would assume it would be because he wanted [...]
Blue Jackets targeting Guy Boucher as their next head coach **updated**
According to Aaron Portzline of the Pucker-Rakers Blog, Columbus Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson has met Guy Boucher, the head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal’s AHL affiliate), to offer him the head coach position. Boucher was among several candidates for the vacancy as I reported on May 28th: The quest for NHL head coaches [...]
The quest for NHL head coaches about to begin for four teams
TAMPA BAY Now that the Tampa Bay Lightning have hired their new GM in Steve Yzerman earlier this week, they are ready to start their quest in order to find their new head coach for the upcoming season. Yzerman is in no hurry to name his new head coach as he first wants to talk [...]
Columbus’ GM Scott Howson has to let go Ken Hitchcock
After a great 2008-09 season during which Blue Jackets’ head coach Ken Hitchcock led his young and budding team to its first ever playoffs appearance as a franchise, things have changed dramatically this season. After 44 games this season, the Blue Jackets are ranked 14th in the Western Conference with a dismal 15-20-9 record and [...]
Capitals Trade Captain Clark & Jurcina for Jason Chimera
The Washington Capitals have now given themselves a pro-rated cushion of over $4 Million dollars in cap space by trading their captain, Chris Clark, as well as defenseman Milan Jurcina to the Columbus Blue Jackets in return for defensive forward Jason Chimera.