Columbus Blue Jackets

Too bad about Nikitin, smarter not to sign him but the loss will hurt. He was only bottom pair but the blueline depth was one of their best strengths until a couple more good forwards emerge or are acquired.

 

http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2014/06/30/johansen-talks-are-at-an-impasse.html

Wow, doesn't look well for Johansen.

 

ouch. lotta anger there, fans included from the looks of it.

 

Portzline is one of the better writers I think.
i have a couple thoughts here. first, kudos to the AHL coach that made him a healthy scratch. that mustve been extremely difficult on many levels. secondly, its understandable that Columbus doesn't want to give him a 4 year deal, making him unrestricted when it ends, but why not a division rival step in w/ a 4 year $23ish deal? of course that team would lose the compensatory picks but whats more likely is that Columbus matches and it puts them in a real bad spot financially moving forward. GMs just don't do that to one another.

 

Davidson doesn't play nice. When Vancouver sent an OS to STL on Backes, he fired one back at Bernier the next year as payback.

 

good point. he's already set the table that he won't be fucked with. I still think this is the player and situation that I would break 'the code' among other GMs to acquire, depending on the team of course.

Blue Jackets signed Brian Gibbons to a 1 year 2 way deal. He played very well with Atkinson quite a bit at BC. Not saying that will translate over but its an interesting low risk signing.

 

I love this prospect pool now. Wennberg, Dano and Milano all at C in the coming years. *BRAVO*

 

having a surplus of Cs is fine, works for the Penz. but the thin area in the league is quality wingers. having 3 top-notch centers will only get you so far. btw, how's the Johansen talks going?

 

Hopefully Oliver Bjorkstrand and Kerby Rychel will find their own.

I have no idea about the Johanson talks. They want to do the bridge deal but I don't know anything else. I havn't been looking into it much but it seems Johanson is asking for more than what they feel like they should give up at this point. I don'ty think we should be betting the farm on him yet either.

 

i wonder if Johansen likes black & vegas gold... and Gary Glitter.

 

From BC hockeynews on twitter:

 

Does this speed up his development? I don't know how to feel about this.

 

I wouldn't feel anything either way. It's only a mistake if they don't see him as an NHL player in less than 4 years or if he's going to need years to mature physically. If it's anything else, I wouldn't think much of it.

I do think there might be something to do with Johansen here. Either they want high end help available for him or they want to let him know that despite the limited offense in CLB, they're ready to move on if he wants to keep up with this holdout.

 

On the Johansen stuff, I don't think it played a major role in the decision, just a small factor. They wouldn't play games with development imo, but if all things are equal, getting him under contract makes more sense because of the Johansen situation in my opinion.

 

I assume they consider him an NHL player within 4. Pretty easy from what I see. Kids got great hands

 

I like what they've done the last couple of years. I have no reason to question their development plan for any of the prospects right now. Time will tell, too bad it takes a few seasons.

 

here's my thoughts on Milano. seems like an extremely talented player/puck possessor. he has been that good his whole life and his parents treat him like a demi-god.
i know for a fact that players at BC are held to a very high level as individuals outside of the rink and sport. they're knocked down a few pegs and that program is run in an old school fashion. not saying anything about any other school or team but i can absolutely vouch for BC in this regard. A kid like Milano may need that. Maybe not, time will tell. I wish him well, I like Columbus and I root for all US players unless they give me a reason not to.

As for the NCAA route on the whole for Milano, he doesn't need to stay 4 years. Parise/ Toews/Kesler etc... only stayed as long as they needed and they got consistent coaching/ weight room time to mature. I doubt buy that CHL is better for anyone that will be NHL ready w/in 4 years.

 

yum.





yum.

 

thats a lot to live up to for Sonny. no way he reaches that level.