Well, the new look Jackets have stumbled out the gate with weekend losses against Nashville and Minnesota. 

 

The Jackets looked pretty good in the Friday night home opening 3-2 loss.  Nashville scored the initial goal.  Jackets tied it up before Nashville opened a 3-1 lead.  Jackets tightened it to 3-2 halfway through the third period - and proceeded to ramp up the pressure and shots on Nashville.  But Nashville's stellar goalie Pekka Rinne arguably won the game for them with save after save down the stretch. 

 

Mason played reasonably well in goal.  The first Nashville goal came at the end of three straight power plays.  The GW goal was off a Tyutin turnover in the Jackets zone.  Can't complain about the new Nash-Carter line.  Both of the Jackets goals came from a combination of Nash, Carter and linemate Vinny Prospal - who looked especially good.

 

The 4-2 loss the next night at Minnesota was less encouraging.  Minnesota got two goals in the first period and built up a 3-0 lead before the Jackets scored with just over two minutes remaining in the second period.  Unfortunately, Minnesota got their fourth goal less than a minute later to go up 4-1.  Mason got pulled for Sanford to start the third period and the Jackets tacked on a late goal. 

 

The Jackets went 0 for 6 in the power play against Minnesota.  Combined with an 0 for 5 power play performance against Nashville - the Jackets are 0 for 11 in power plays through these two games.  This was a weakness for the Jackets last year.  Thus far it has carried over to this season.

 

Columbus continues a busy early schedule with a Columbus Day matchup tonight against Vancouver at Nationwide and another home game against Colorado on Wednesday.  They finish the week travelling to Dallas on Saturday.

The early season stumble continues.  Monday’s game at Nationwide against Vancouver was a frustrating 3-2 loss.  Frustrating because the Jackets could’ve won.  They were up 1-0 on Cam Atkinson’s first goal of his career (set up by a great centering pass from Derek MacKenzie).  Later they were up 2-1 on a gritty wrap-around goal from Vinny Propsal set up by Rick Nash. 

 

And at the beginning of the third period, they could’ve gone up 3-1 on a wild scramble in front of the Vancouver net.  The scramble resulted in the puck crossing the goal line while the net was being dislodged.  After a referee conference, it was determined the play was ruled dead when a Vancouver defenseman placed his hand on the puck in the goal crease - which resulted in a Columbus penalty shot - which was not converted.  Instead, Stanley Cup runner-up Vancouver scored the final two goals in the Jackets 3-2 loss. 

 

Wednesday's game at Nationwide against Colorado was even more frustrating.  The Avs scored first.  Nash tied it on a great unassisted goal.  At the beginning of the third period, a Radek Martinek slap shot gave the Jackets a 2-1 lead.  Then the Jackets tried to hold on for the rest of the game.  Mason looked shaky and erratic - wildly bouncing around but making 15 saves in the third period.  In fact, the Jackets got outshot 16-1 in the period.  Colorado pulled their goalie in the final minute and scored the tying 2-2 goal with 40 seconds left.  After a scoreless OT, the Avs win the shootout.

 

So after four games, the Jackets drop to 0-3-1.  And they've yet to score a power play goal.  0-4 in both games this wekk.  0-19 YTD. :-(

 

Is there any good news?  Well, Columbus did get 1 point for the OT tie.  Wisniewski's 8 game suspension is half over.  And it is just 4 games out of 82.  So it's too early for panic time.  But these losses - though close - are frustrating.

This early season losing streak is getting ridiculous!

 

Despite the Jackets leading 1-0 (on their first power play goal of the season) and then leading 2-1 (on a goal from minor-league call up Alex Giroux) the Stars score three unanswered goals to win 4-2 in Dallas.

 

Next week, the Jackets will try it again with Dallas on Tuesday at Nationwide Arena.  Then the Jackets travel to Detroit on Friday and Ottawa on Saturday.

Any idea when the deal will be finished? I was under the assumption that the deal was done but after reading that it is only a proposal I am slightly concerned that it is going to be hijacked by short sighted people screaming"corporate welfare".

 

Now its a done deal.  Just in time for the Jackets opening game on Friday!

 

 

Council OKs deal to buy Nationwide Arena

 

That's good news for Columbus. So, the city will own the arena, but not the hockey team? At least you guys won't end up like the twice-burned Atlanta hockey fans.

 

It's perplexing as to why the Blue Jackets play so badly more often than not. They have a lot of talent and great players on their team. I think the attendance numbers are showing the frustration and impatience of the hockey fans, not just in Columbus, but Ohio.

 

Hopefully they can turn it around!

JACKETS WIN!!  JACKETS WIN!!

 

I just needed to post that after the Blue Jackets finally got their first win of the season with a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings in Nationwide Arena tonight.  It was a night of firsts in many ways:  First game of the year for new defenseman James Wisniewski after serving an eight-game suspension; first goal of the year for R.J. Umberger; first NHL goal for rookie defenseman John Moore; and first NHL goal for highly touted rookie center Ryan Johansen.

 

After going winless last week, let's hope this is the start of a winning streak for the Blue Jackets.  This would be a good time for a stretch of good play.  The Blue Jackets have three more games this week: at Buffalo on Thursday; at Chicago on Saturday; and back at home against Anaheim on Sunday.

After the Blue Jackets winless eight-game start, things just had to get better.  Right?  Well, they did.  The Jackets got their first win of the 2011-2012 season Tuesday against Detroit.  They got their second win Sunday night against Anaheim with a 3-1 win at Nationwide.  Sandwiched in between those two wins were two road losses at Buffalo and Chicago.  So, it is some progress.  But will it be enough?

 

Rumors of a coaching and GM change surfaced before Sunday night's game in a Dispatch Puck-Rakers blog post: Woeful Start Could Spark Changes.  The post said "Multiple NHL sources have informed The Dispatch early Sunday that Jackets president Mike Priest has contacted Ken Hitchcock about returning as the club’s coach, and that former Calgary Flames general manager Craig Button has been contacted about taking on the same job with the Jackets."

 

This was before the Jackets 3-1 win on Sunday - in which they looked pretty good.  And one of the principles involved in the rumor (Craig Button) has uncategorially denied any contact with the Jackets.  So maybe its real - or maybe its a way for Jackets ownership to light a fire under the players.  Coach Arniel is known as a player-friendly coach - and former Coach Hitchcock is not. 

 

If any changes are coming, this week would be a likely time for it.  Columbus has a light schedule this week.  They host Toronto at Nationwide on Thursday and travel to Philadelphia on Saturday.

How bad is bad?  How low can you go?  Now the Blue Jackets know.

 

After losing their first 8 games, the Jackets looked like they righted the ship with a 2 win-2 loss record last week.  Including a gutsy win that featured goalie Mason's best game of the year.  Well, he followed that with his worst game of the year on Thursday against Toronto.  Toronto came into Nationwide and scored 4 goals on their first 11 shots.  Mason gets pulled five minutes into the second period and the Jackets lose 4-1.

 

Then tonight the Jackets travel to Philadelphia.  The Jackets defense implodes from the very beginning.  The Jackets give up 5 goals in the first period.  Mason gives up the first 3.  His backup York fares little better giving the next 2 on five shots.  The Jackets end up trailing 8-0 before losing the game 9-2!

 

The Jackets are now 2-11-1 after 14 games.  Dead last in the entire NHL by a wide margain.  After such a promising off-season, the hot seats under GM Howson and Coach Arniel just caught fire.

^What the hell is going on with this team?  That game last night was ridiculous. 

^That's the question of the year.  If I had the answer, I'd know more than the CBJ's management and coaches!

 

I just got back home after a day of a gutter cleaning and football watching at my dad's house - and I expected to read on the Dispatch's Puck-Rakers Blog about Coach Arniel and/or GM Howson being handed their walking papers.  But to my surprise, the only news was a "normal Sunday practice at Nationwide Arena"!

 

What is so shockingly disappointing about this year's horrible start is not that the Blue Jackets haven't been bad.  They have.  For 9 of their 10 seasons - except for that wonderous 2008-09 playoff season.  What is so shocking about this worst-in-the-NHL-by-a-mile start is the off-season optimism.  They made moves to improve the team.  They spent serious money on high-profile players.  They locked up veteran players to long-term contracts.  They looked to be making positive moves.  That's what's so shocking.

 

Now - to be fair - the Jackets have not had all their players available.  Wiz got suspended for the first 8 games.  Carter reinjured his foot and hasn't played since the fifth game.  Methot lost games to a thumb injury.  Talented but often injured defenseman Martinek (guess what) got injured.  Huselius tore a pec muscle before the training camp.  Fourth-line grinder Boll broke a thumb during a fight in their last exhibition game.  New backup goalie Dekanich got a high ankle sprain in their first exhibition game.  The backup to the backup goalie Sanford pulled a groin in one regular season appearance.  Which left 4th string goalie York to backup Mason.  Meaning it's been Mason or bust for the Jackets in the season thus far.

 

But despite all that - it does not explain 2-11-1 (5 points) in 14 games.  Every NHL team has injuries big and small.  Some teams even lose their best player - like Pittsburgh lost Crosby for most of last year and all of this year.  And Pittsburgh made the playoffs last year and is leading the Eastern Conference this year. 

 

No, this is something else.  Something that the Jackets are trying to figure out.  And it looks like the current management and players don't have the answers.  They'll be off until Thursday, when they host Chicago at Nationwide.  Maybe there will be some big moves this week.  Maybe there won't.  But nobody expected to be almost out of the playoff race only one month into the season!

The Jackets poor start did result in a coach leaving the team.  Former coach Ken Hitchcock (who is still in the last year of his contract with the Jackets) was hired by the St. Louis Blues.  Wait - what?  Yes, that's right.  Hitchcock, who was rumored to be a replacement for current Coach Arniel, instead is hired by St. Louis (who fired their coach).  St. Louis is 6-7-0 and second-to-last in the Western Conference with 12 points.  Columbus is dead last at 2-11-1 with five points.  More about this from The Dispatch: Hitchcock departs, everyone else stays

 

So it looks like Coach Arniel might be staying in Columbus a little longer.  Instead, it looks like the Jackets are going to try a season reboot over the next few days.  More on this from the Dispatch:  Blue Jackets notebook: Jackets try to start over - Four-day break will be used to reset lineup

 

How will the team respond (or possibly not respond)? 

 

Also in today's Dispatch was this commentary from their main hockey reporter: Michael Arace commentary: Blue Jackets can go one of two ways from here .  According to Arace, the first way would be to conclude the Jacket's current long-term plan is fatally flawed.  Which would call for blowing up the team and starting over.  The second way would be to stick with the current long-term plan and not blow up the team.  The argument for the second way is that lack of coaching continuity is the Jacket's primary institutional failure.  Plus, multiple injuries and Wiz's suspension has not allowed Arniel to coach the fully assembled team they thought they would have.  And that firing Arniel would be premature and unfair.

 

It appears the Jackets are taking the second way for now and are sticking with the current long-term plan, as set forth by the current roster (both injured and uninjured).  Can't say I disagree with that.  But it's really hard to take as a fan.  Your head says yes - but your heart says "oh no"!

 

A variation of the second way was also put forth at the excellent fan blog, The Dark Blue Jacket, in Why the CBJ Cannot Afford to Waste the 2011-12 Start .  This not only sticks with the current long-term plan to wait for the fully assembled team to emerge - but does not worry about finishing dead-last this year. 

 

Contrary to popular opinion, the Blue Jackets have never finished dead-last in their 10 NHL seasons.  The closest they came was their second season (2001-2002) where they finish second-to-last, traded up from the second pick to the first and picked Rick Nash.  Most other seasons they were bumping around the bottom at 27th, 28th, 24th and so on.  It is argued that finishing dead-last and getting the first overall pick - though painful this year - might be beneficial long-term.  There's even an NHL corollary to the NFL's "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes.  In the NHL, it's "Fail for Nail".  Nail Yakupov is the current top-ranked draft prospect from Russia.

 

So there's the team news and opinion, such as it is.  For now it's "steady as she goes", "hope for better" and possibly "Fail for Nail"!  The Jackets host Chicago on Thursday and Winnipeg on Saturday.

So - after a "season reboot" and a "mini-training camp" before last week's games - How did the Blue Jackets respond to the team's GM and Coach not being fired?  With a terrible 6-3 loss to Chicago on Thursday and a not-terrible 2-1 win against Winnipeg on Saturday.  Grade: Incomplete

 

The Jackets are starting to get some players off the IR.  Boll returned for Thursday's game.  Carter returned for Saturday's game.  But for a picture of how injuries just seem to be biting the Jackets this year - consider this:  New backup goalie Mark Dekanich spent the last month recovering from a high ankle sprain he got in the first exhibition game.  He is sent down to Springfield for a rehab start on Friday.  During the pre-game warm-up, he pulls his groin!  Out indefinitely!

 

However, the NHL schedule has no sympathy for any team's troubles.  Columbus has a tough stretch ahead with 10 games in 18 nights.  This week the Jackets host Minnesota tonight at Nationwide, then travel to Boston on Thursday and Nashville on Saturday.

The Blue Jackets started their 10 games in 18 nights stretch of games last Tuesday against Minnesota at Nationwide.  Didn't start too well with lackluster 4-2 loss.  The rest of the week looked ominous with the Jackets travelling to the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins and to hated division rivals Nashville.  Nashville, a place the Jackets have not at in the last 17 games!  They're 0-12-5 in those 17 games - with the last Jackets win at Nashville occurring in 2006!

 

But then the Jackets started playing better.  The Boston game ended with a 1-1 regulation tie and shootout loss.  Bummer, but a road point in Boston is okay.  But the biggest surprise was in Nashville.  The Jackets fought their way to a 3-3 regulation tie and a 4-3 overtime win!  First win in Nashville since 2006.  The Nashville game saw the first goals of the season from the two big players acquired by the Jackets before the season - Carter and Wisniewski (who got the game winner in OT). 

 

And now there's some goalie intrigue.  Mason played in the Minnesota loss.  But his backup, Curtis Sanford, was in goal for the Boston tie and the Nashville win.  And looked pretty good too.  So good that Sanford will get his third consecutive start tonight against Calgary.

 

Very busy week for the Jackets.  Tonight a home game against Calgary.  Wednesday a road game at New Jersey.  Thanksgiving.  Then Friday a home game against Buffalo and a Sunday home game against St. Louis.

Quick update on the goalie intrigue I just mentioned after a report on the morning practice at the Puck-Rakers Blog.  It looks like the Jackets goalie intrigue got less intriguing short-term but possibly more intriguing longer-term.

 

From Puck-Rakers - Morning Skate, No. 20: "The Blue Jackets morning skate took an ugly turn less only 20 minutes into the proceedings.  A Rick Nash shot rattled the mask of goaltender Steve Mason, sending Mason to his elbows and knees and requiring help from trainers.  Mason, who left under his own power, will not play tonight because of a head injury, coach Scott Arniel said.  Allen York has been recalled from minor-league Springfield and will serve as Curtis Sanford's back-up tonight."

 

If its a concussion, there's no telling how long Mason might be out.  He may be riding the pine now, but with four games this week, he was sure to get 1 or 2 starts.  Better hope Sanford keeps up his hot streak because York didn't look NHL-ready earlier in the season.

Maybe it's grasping at straws or maybe it's a team coming together.  Only time will tell.  But the Jackets have looked alot better over their past three games with Sanford in the net.  With some key players returning from injuries and some talented veterans starting to contribute - maybe this is the team we got excited about in the off-season.  Carter got two goals in last night's win.  Vermette got one.  Prospal got three assists, including Nash's empty-netter to close out the game.  Game recap via the Dispatch below:

 

Blue Jackets 4, Flames 1: Finally, a streak - Jackets put together back-to-back victories for first time this season with a stellar game that could signal better times are on the way

 

Can Sanford's play hold up over the next three games this week without a solid backup goalie to relieve?  We'll see.

^Easily their best game of the year last night.  That was actually fun to watch for a change.  They looked fast and cohesive.  I still think Sanford looks a little shaky in goal at times, but the results have spoken for themselves.

The Blue Jackets started last week's stretch of four games with that impressive 4-1 home win over Calgary on Monday (previously discussed).  Last Wednesday saw the team travel to New Jersey and play an offensively challenged 1-1 regulation tie/shootout loss against goalie legend Martin Brodeur.  Then Thanksgiving Thursday.  Followed by a Friday return to Nationwide against Buffalo.

 

Don't know if Friday's game was the result of the Jackets saving their offense for Buffalo - or not having to face Brodeur - or if it was fueled by Thanksgiving Turkey.  But it led to the best offensive output for the Jackets this season.  The Jackets won 5-1 and chased the starting Sabre goaltender from the net.  Nash got two goals to break a mini-slump (the second off a sweet pass from Carter - who had two assists).  Even R.J. Umberger and stay-at-home defenseman Marc Methot scored.  RJ's found it difficult to score this year.  But Methot has found it difficult to score all-year-long last year (he had 0 goals in 82 games played).  It was Methot's first goal in 102 games!

 

The Friday win gave the Jackets a five game point streak (3-0-2).  All games with Curtis Sanford in the net.  That streak ended Sunday night with a 2-1 loss against St. Louis.  Sanford played well again.  As did the defense.  And the offense wasn't bad against St. Louis - but you might say they got "Hitchcocked" by their old coach. :wink:

 

Sanford held up very well last week giving up only 1-1-1-2 regulation goals in the week's four games.  Mason returned to the bench for Sunday's game after his brush with a concussion.  But unless Sanford cools off, Mason might be staying on the pine in a backup role.  Right now, the team looks much better with Sanford in the net. 

 

The Jackets will finish their current 10 games in 18 nights stretch this week on the road - with their season's first tour of Western Canada.  Columbus travels to Vancouver for a Tuesday night game.  Then it's on to Calgary and Edmonton for back-to-back games on Thursday, Dec. 1 and Friday, Dec. 2.  The Jackets then get some time off until their next game at Montreal on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Columbus finished up their first tour of Western Canada (a place where most Blue Jackets seasons die).  It could have been better - but it could have been worse.  Vancouver dominated 4-1 on Tuesday and Edmonton dominated 6-3 on Friday.  In between, the Jackets salvaged a win on Thursday at Calgary.  The Jackets were in danger of losing that game too - trailing 3-1 late in the third period.  Then in the last 4 minutes of regulation, Nikitin hits two slapshots that tied up the game.  The first was a goal from the outside with 4:05 remaining.  The second was a shot he directed at Nash in front of the goal, which Nash deflected for the tying goal with 0:58 remaining.  Nash later got the game-winning shootout goal for a 4-3 win.

 

This ends a 10 games in 18 nights stretch for the Jackets.  They went a respectable 4-4-2 over that stretch.  Not great, but much better than the 3-12-1 record prior to that stretch.

 

The Jackets have one more Canadian road game on Tuesday at Montreal.  They finish this week with home games against Nashville on Thursday and Boston on Saturday.

The NHL has decided on a league realignment that will start next season.  Because the eastern conference Atlanta franchise moved west to Winnipeg, a realignment of some sorts was going to be necessary.  Many speculated that Winnipeg would move into the west conference - which would necessitate a western conference team to move into the east conference.  It was assumed that one of the two western conference teams located in the east time zone (Columbus or Detroit) would be the team to move east. 

 

It turns out that neither Columbus or Detroit will be moving east.  That's because the NHL is changing from their current two conference/six division  alignment into a new four conference alignment.  Below is a map of the new four conference alignment posted at the SB Nation blog Jackets Cannon:

 

 

(West) Conference 1: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Colorado, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim and Phoenix

 

(Central) Conference 2: Winnipeg, Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, St. Louis, Nashville and Dallas

 

(East) Conference 3: Toronto, Buffalo, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, Tampa Bay and Florida

 

(East) Conference 4: NY Islanders, NY Rangers, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington and Carolina

 

Although this isn't the move east that Columbus and Detroit were hoping for - the new alignment does greatly benefit both the Jackets and Red Wings franchises.  Within the new four conference arrangement, Columbus and Detroit will play a home-and-home series with the 22 teams outside of their conference (44 games) and split the remaining 38 among the seven clubs in their new central conference.  This means that every eastern team will play in Columbus during every season.  It also means one less West Coast and Western Canada road trip during every season.  Columbus will see less road games in the west time zone, more road games in the central time zone and more road games in the east time zone.  Plus, Columbus will host more eastern teams that draw greater attendence at Nationwide Arena.

 

Below are two articles from the Columbus Dispatch about the NHL realignment and one article from SB Nation that looks at how the realignment impacts all 30 NHL teams:

 

NHL realignment: Jackets happy with final decision

 

NHL realignment: Jackets will travel a road less weary

 

How NHL Realignment Impacts All 30 Teams

 

The Jackets theme for last week was losing leads. 

 

- Last week started on Tuesday with the Jackets losing a late one-goal lead at Montreal to send the game into overtime - Columbus ended up with a 3-2 shootout win. 

 

- Thursday, the Jackets hosted Nashville and played very well - building up a two-goal lead late into the third period.  Only to lose that two-goal lead in the last two minutes of the game - the final tying goal with only 13 seconds remaining.  Nashville wins 4-3 with a goal in overtime. 

 

- Saturday, the Jackets hosted Boston and played great from the start - building a two-goal lead in the first nine minutes.  But the Jackets didn't lose that lead late in the game this time.  Instead, they lost it with two Bruin goals in the last two minutes of the first period.  Boston eventually ended up with a 5-3 win.

 

So its been more of what Blue Jacket fans have become accustomed to: Long stretches of decent competitive play punctuated by short collapses that turn wins into ties or losses.  OY!

 

This week is a four-gamer for Columbus.  Starting tonight with Vancouver coming into Nationwide.  Then two more home games - Thrusday against LA and Saturday against Tampa Bay.  Finishing on Sunday at St. Louis.  Word is that goalie Sanford will be getting a well-deserved break against Vancouver after starting 12 straight games.  Which means that former starter/now backup Mason will be in the net tonight.  May the hockey gods have mercy on our team!

- Saturday, the Jackets hosted Boston and played great from the start - building a two-goal lead in the first nine minutes.  But the Jackets didn't lose that lead late in the game this time.  Instead, they lost it with two Bruin goals in the last two minutes of the first period.  Boston eventually ended up with a 5-3 win.

 

My first NHL game... And while it was a good time and a good atmosphere, 70 bucks (after TicketMaster fees) for a seat 6 rows from the top (section 204) is ridiculous.

 

^I learned a long time ago to just pay the man and get good seats for Jackets games.  I went about a month ago and paid about $100 per ticket (final price) to sit about six rows behind the glass in the Jackets attack twice zone.  The $30 or $40 you save by getting crappy seats isn't worth it IMO.  Of course I only go a couple times a year...

The Blue Jackets finally worked their way out of last place in the NHL with a win in their first game last week . . . only to fall back into the cellar with three straight losses. :x

 

- Tuesday saw the Jackets play an excellent game at Nationwide against Vancouver, last year's Stanley Cup runner-up.  Steve Mason returned after a 12 game absence and played amazingly well, saving 30 of 31 shots.  Even returning - after having to leave the game in third period with a leg cramp - to finish the game, the overtime and the shootout.  The two big off-season additions helped win the game.  Carter got the Jackets only regulation goal and Wisniewski got the game-winning shootout goal.  Jackets get a 2-1 shootout win.

 

- On Thursday, the Jackets had a chance to build on the Tuesday win.  Instead, they played possibly their most lethargic game of the year in a 2-1 loss to LA.  The Jackets got out-shot 41-25.  The only thing keeping the Jackets in the game was the stellar play of Sanford in net.  He saved 39 of 41 shots.  The only LA shots to get through was a goal allowed by a goalie-interference non-call and a deflected shot goal, both in the third period.

 

- Saturday, the Jackets faced Tampa Bay in the last game of a five consecutive game home stand.  Mason was back in the net.  Tampa Bay got out to 2-0 lead by the end of the first period.  The Jackets showed alot more grit then Thursday's game by scoring goals two times with two-goal deficits tonight.  But ultimately it was a 3-2 loss.  Vinny Prospal, who was honored for his 1000th NHL game by the Jackets and by Tampa Bay - a team he played for six seasons, got two assists.

 

- On Sunday, the Jackets travelled to St. Louis.  Sanford got scratched because of back spasms so Mason was the goalie again.  Jackets played a surprisingly high-scoring and energetic game against their former coach.  But they were undone by four St. Louis goals (one was empty-net) in the third period en route to a 6-4 loss.

 

Only one game between now and Christmas Day for the Jackets - a trip to Nashville on Thursday.  Next week, after Christmas, it's another four-game week until New Year's Day.

Last night's game in Nashville can be summed up with only one phrase.  Given the holiday season, I will let Ralphie from "A Christmas Story" say it:

 

The Blue Jackets gave up the first goal of the game midway through the first period - usually a bad sign.  But then the Jackets tied it up only 27 seconds later on a Carter goal.  Then Jared Boll gets blasted from behind on a boarding penalty.  The hit is so bad that the Nashville player gets a five minute major penalty.  A major penalty allows the team on the power play to score an unlimited amount of goals during those five minutes.  And the Jackets capitalized.  Carter scores first, only 9 seconds into the power play.  Johansen scores the next goal.  Then Carter scores again.

 

The Jackets ended up getting three goals in the five minute major!  The last from Carter was his third goal of the period!  Giving him a rare hat trick in one period!  Jackets lead 4-1 at the end of the first period.

 

But then the Predators start their comeback.  At the end of the second period, the Jackets lead 5-4.  Nashville tied it 5-5 with about four minutes remaining.  And then Nashville wins it 6-5 with only 8.4 seconds left!  OH FUDGE!!!

 

That's it for this week.  No more hockey until after Christmas when the Jackets travel to Chicago on Monday the 26st.  Back home the next day against Calgary.  On the road Thursday the 29th at Dallas.  Back home for a New Year's Eve game against Washington.

The season from hell continued last week with a loss, shootout loss, win and loss.  And even the win was a loss. 

 

The middle of a fairly impressive 4-1 win at Dallas saw high-priced free-agent defenseman James Wisniewski go down with a slap shot to his left ankle.  Result: Broken ankle; out six weeks.

 

The 10-23-5 Blue Jackets have their first California road trip this week.  San Jose on Thursday, LA on Saturday and Anaheim on Sunday.

The NHL has decided on a league realignment that will start next season.  Because the eastern conference Atlanta franchise moved west to Winnipeg, a realignment of some sorts was going to be necessary.  Many speculated that Winnipeg would move into the west conference - which would necessitate a western conference team to move into the east conference.  It was assumed that one of the two western conference teams located in the east time zone (Columbus or Detroit) would be the team to move east. 

 

It turns out that neither Columbus or Detroit will be moving east.  That's because the NHL is changing from their current two conference/six division  alignment into a new four conference alignment.  Below is a map of the new four conference alignment posted at the SB Nation blog Jackets Cannon:

 

 

(West) Conference 1: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Colorado, San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim and Phoenix

 

(Central) Conference 2: Winnipeg, Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, St. Louis, Nashville and Dallas

 

(East) Conference 3: Toronto, Buffalo, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, Tampa Bay and Florida

 

(East) Conference 4: NY Islanders, NY Rangers, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington and Carolina

 

Although this isn't the move east that Columbus and Detroit were hoping for - the new alignment does greatly benefit both the Jackets and Red Wings franchises.  Within the new four conference arrangement, Columbus and Detroit will play a home-and-home series with the 22 teams outside of their conference (44 games) and split the remaining 38 among the seven clubs in their new central conference.  This means that every eastern team will play in Columbus during every season.  It also means one less West Coast and Western Canada road trip during every season.  Columbus will see less road games in the west time zone, more road games in the central time zone and more road games in the east time zone.  Plus, Columbus will host more eastern teams that draw greater attendence at Nationwide Arena.

 

Below are two articles from the Columbus Dispatch about the NHL realignment and one article from SB Nation that looks at how the realignment impacts all 30 NHL teams:

 

NHL realignment: Jackets happy with final decision

 

NHL realignment: Jackets will travel a road less weary

 

How NHL Realignment Impacts All 30 Teams

 

See all that stuff about next season's NHL realignment?  Well forget about it.  At least for next season.  Maybe.

 

Apparently the NHL Players Association needed to sign off on this realignment plan the NHL owners agreed to. (Something that was not reported on earlier!)  And the NHLPA has refused to provide consent for the realignment.  So the NHL issued a press release saying that the realignment plan was delayed indefinitely and ruled out for next season.

 

This news dims the only bright spot for the Blue Jackets in the team's horrific 2011-2012 season.  Team management was very enthusiastic about the realignment benefits to the Blue Jackets as a team competitively and financially.  And that reaction is reflected in the Dispatch's coverage below. 

 

However - as the Jackets Cannon Blog also points out below - the NHLPA's rejection of the realignment is very likely an opening salvo to the NHL in their upcoming labor negotiations which begin during All-Star weekend this year.  And depending on how those negotiations go, the realignment plan might get approved by the NHLPA.  Possibly even being implemented next season as scheduled.  But if negotiations don't go well . . . then NHL fans might be in for a bumpy ride.

 

Dispatch Puck-Rakers Blog: NHL Realignment On Hold

 

The Jackets Cannon Blog: Realignus Interruptus

Just as I was prepared to write the recap of last week's California road trip, the Blue Jackets made some big news.  Head Coach Scott Arniel got fired!  Now, it's not a surprise for the coach of a last place team to be canned.  But when the team has been stinking for this long, there was some indication he might last until the season's end.  Instead, Arniel lasted until the season's midpoint.

 

So, on to the California recap - and then more about the Arniel firing in a separate post.

 

The first two games were against San Jose and Los Angeles were the story of some brilliant goaltending by Curtis Sanford.  His goaltending in the Thursday game at San Jose kept the Jackets in it - but they ultimately lost 2-1.  His goaltending in the Saturday game at LA won it for the Jackets.  Sanford tended a 1-0 shutout - the Jackets first shutout of the year. 

 

The next game was the day after on Sunday at Anaheim.  Sanford was given a rest in favor of Steve Mason.  Anaheim is 29th in the NHL - Columbus is 30th.  And this battle for last place had everything but the kitchen sink. 

 

- It had Mason giving up four goals in the 1st and getting pulled for Sanford to start the 2nd (so much for that rest). 

- It had Anaheim's starting goalie getting injured near the end of the 1st and being replaced by a rookie backup making his NHL debut.

- It had Jeff Carter getting a separated shoulder at the beginning of the 3rd.  OUCH!

- It had two fights, two 10-minute misconduct penalties, 29 penalty minutes for Anaheim and 40 penalty minutes for Columbus.

- It had five power plays for Anaheim and three power plays for Columbus - including a 5-minute major at the end of the game.

- It even had four Anaheim fans ejected for trying to mix it up with the three Jackets sitting in the penalty box!

- But ultimately, it had Anaheim winning 7-4.  With the last Anaheim goal coming on an empty netter that got Corey Perry a hat trick.  So, the game also had hats flying onto the ice!

 

So the Jackets won the battle for last place.  Or lost it?  Or did Anaheim lose the battle for last?  It really doesn't matter, because the Jackets lost the game and lost their coach after the game.  The Jackets will soldier on tomorrow at Chicago and return home for a Friday game against Phoenix and a Saturday game against San Jose.

As was mentioned earlier, the Jackets fired Head Coach Scott Arniel.  They also named assistant Todd Richards as the Interim Coach for the remainder of the year.  Todd Richards was previously head coach of the Minnesota Wild (until he was fired as the end last season).

 

Arniel was fired at the exact mid-point of the NHL season (41 games).  The Jackets are a dismal 11-25-5, 30th and dead last in the league.  Below are some articles about Arniel's firing:

 

COLUMBUS DISPATCH:  Arniel Fired

 

THE JACKETS CANNON BLOG:  Jackets Fire Head Coach Scott Arniel, Todd Richards Named Interim Coach

 

YAHOO SPORTS PUCK DADDY:  Blue Jackets fire coach Scott Arniel in the NHL’s least timely decision of season

 

Last week saw Scott Arniel removed as head coach as assistant Todd Richards named interim head coach.  So, how different was the Richards era from the Arniel era?  Not much actually.

 

Last week saw the Jackets play bad (5-2 loss at Chicago), good (4-3 win over Phoenix at home) and OK (2-1 loss against San Jose at home).  Although the 2-1 loss against San Jose was a good team effort on the second of back-to-back games - but with too few scoring chances outside of a brillant 3rd period goal from Rick Nash.  Nash's goal prevented a shutout - which continues a weird stat for this year's team.  Although the Jackets rank at the NHL bottom in goals-per-game - they are only one of two remaining teams to have never been shutout this season.

 

This week has the Jackets hosting Edmonton on Tuesday and Nashville on Thursday - then travelling to Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Saturday.

Last week was Week #2 of the Coach Richards era for the Jackets.  And the Jackets put together three quality efforts with mixed results.  It started with a 4-2 win over Edmonton, followed by a 3-0 loss against Nashville and ended with a 3-2 shootout loss/regulation tie at Detroit.

 

Tuesday's Edmonton game was preceeded by gruesome freak injury in the pre-game warm-up.  One of Edmonton's rising young stars, Taylor Hall, slipped on a lose puck.  He fell into another teammate and they both slid into the boards.  Another teammate was skating into this area and tried to avoid both players by stepping over them.  Instead, his skate blade come down on Hall's forehead just above his left eye!  Below is a video of the incident and a photo of Taylor Hall after his surgery from ProHockeyTalk.

 

 

 

As bad as Hall's injury looks, it could have been much worse.  He was out for the rest of the week.  But he might return to the Oiler lineup as early as this week.  NHL players are required to wear helmets during games.  But there's no requirement to wear helmets during warm-ups.  This injury ignited a debate in the NHL over whether or not it should be required.

 

As for the Jackets, they have two road games this week - Monday at Nashville - Tuesday at Tampa Bay.  Then no more games for the week because of the NHL All-Star break.  After the break they have their final California road trip of the year before returning to Nationwide.

The Blue Jackets limped into the NHL All-Star break both figuratively and literally.  The back-to-back road games on Monday and Tuesday produced a 4-1 loss at Nashville and 4-2 loss at Tampa Bay.  Not good.

 

And the literal limping to due to the prominent injured players for the team.  The two big off-season pickups, Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski, are out with a separated shoulder and broken ankle respectively.  Early season pickup, Mark Letestu, is out with a broken hand.  Early season pickup, and one of the team's bright spots, Nikita Nikitin, went hard into the boards and suffered a leg injury. 

 

Carter, Wisniewski, Letestu and Nikitin might return to the lineup before the season ends.  The same cannot be said for Kristian Huselius and Radek Martinek.  Huselius pulled a pec during the summer and worked to get back in the lineup in December - only to suffer a torn groin muscle in his second game.  36-year-old Martinek lasted eight games until he suffered a concussion.  Post-concussion symptoms are ending his season and quite possibly his career.  Even backup goalie Mark Dekanich, who injured his ankle in pre-season and pulled a groin during his rehab stint in the minors, re-injured his ankle last weekend!

 

After the All-Star break, the Jackets (13-30-6) travel to California for games at San Jose, Los Angeles and Anaheim.

The All-Star weekend is usually a quiet news period for the individual NHL teams.  But when your team is 13-30-6 and dead last by 9 points, it's not a usual season.  The Blue Jackets are taking cannon fire from both the local media and local fans.

 

The Dispatch hockey beat writers fired two blasts this week at team management in a blog post - It's Never Been Worse - and also in the paper with the following commentary: Michael Arace commentary: Jackets’ failures push longtime fans to brink.

 

There is a fan protest planned for 2PM today at Nationwide Arena.  The facebook page - CBJ Fan Protest! - is asking team ownership to remove team President Mike Priest and team GM Scott Howson.  More about the fan protest from ProHockeyTalk - Blue Jackets fans are going to protest and demand firings.

 

All of which prompted the Blue Jackets majority owner John P. McConnell to send a letter to the team's season ticket holders - BREAKING: J.P. Mac Sends Letter To Season Ticket Holders - and to grant an interview with the Dispatch - McConnell vexed by Blue Jackets' losing season - Owner confident in president, GM, but roster likely to change.

But despite the terrible season and all of the above fan and media angst, the All-Star weekend might offer a bright ray of sunshine for the team and city.  Columbus has been in the running to be an All-Star Game host since it hosted the 2007 NHL Draft.  But two issues held it back. 

 

One was the team's arena lease, which was bleeding cash from the team and jeopardizing it's stability to remain in Columbus.  The second was a deficit in full-service downtown hotel rooms.  The first was resolved earlier this year when a new ownership structure and arena lease arrangement was agreed to between the City, County, Nationwide and the team.  The second will be resolved later this year when a 532-room Hilton Hotel opens only one block away from Nationwide Arena.

 

Because of this, Columbus looks like the favorite to host the 2013 NHL All-Star Game when the decision is made later today.  The Jackets Cannon blog reports on that in "Columbus to Host 2013 ASG?".  And Business First reports on the potential financial benefits in "NHL All-Star Game may provide glimpse of what’s ahead for city" (subscription required for full article).

It's official!

 

Columbus to host 2013 NHL All-Star festivities

 

OTTAWA -- Calling it "something positive to work from," Blue Jackets President Mike Priest on Saturday expressed his excitement that the 12-year-old franchise in Columbus has been selected by the National Hockey League to host the 2013 All-Star festivities.

 

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced Saturday after the Board of Governors meeting that the next All-Star Game will be played Jan. 27, 2013 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.  The 2013 Molson Canadian NHL Skills competition is scheduled for Jan. 26.

 

MORE: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=614120

The Blue Jackets returned from the All-Star break to finish up a six-game road swing with three games in California.  The week started horribly - ended encouragingly - with a game in-between that made NHL headlines.

 

First, the horrible.  Jackets get pummelled by San Jose 6-0.  Nuff said.

 

Then, the encouraging last game at Anaheim on Friday.  Jackets win in OT 3-2.  Brassard gets two goals - including the game-winning goal in OT.  Carter returns after missing 10 games with a shoulder injury for the other Jackets goal.

 

Then the game on Wednesday at L.A. that made NHL headlines.  The Jackets and Kings were tied 2-2 late into the third period.  Jackets get a 2-minute minor penalty with 1:06 left in the period.  So the Jackets must kill off the Kings power play to force overtime.  It looks like the Jackets will do it - but as time is running down there's a wild scramble in front of the net.  A Kings player gets a last second shot off that scores just before the clock reaches zero.  OR SO IT SEEMS.

 

If you look at the overhead shot of the goal with the game clock, you can clearly see the game clock stop at 1.8 seconds for at least one full second.  And then, when the clock resumes, the puck crosses the goal line with 0.4 seconds left on the clock.

 

 

The goal was allowed to stand, giving the 3-2 win to the Kings.  Even though the clock would have reached zero before the goal if it had functioned properly.  The NHL chalked it up to the clock "resetting itself" during the pause at 1.8 seconds!  An explanation which satisfied nobody.  The Jackets Cannon blog had a great recap of the game (clock malfunction and all): Game 51 Recap: Screwed By The Bell

 

The Jackets return home for a busy four-game week.  Home games Tuesday against Minnesota and Thursday against Dallas.  Road game Saturday at Minnesota and return home on Sunday against Anaheim.

The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 27.  That and the lousiness of this season for the Jackets had led to alot of speculation about who might stay and who might go from the team.  One player that has been removed from that speculation is Vinny Prospal.  The Jackets surprised the NHL by signing veteran Prospal to a one-year extension instead of moving him before this month's trade deadline.  Prospal is a talented veteran with an expiring contract that would be a ideal rental player for a playoff team - netting the Jackets a third or fourth round pick in return. 

 

Instead the Jackets look like they will be making Prospal a part of the team's future.  Not only did the Jackets sign him to a contract for next year, but they have agreed to let him finish his playing career in Columbus with a series of one-year contracts.  Then after his retirement, he would remain with the Jackets organization in an off-ice capacity.  More about the Prospal extension: Prospal signs one-year extension with Blue Jackets

 

This is a pretty encouraging turn.  Prospal has been a bright spot in a terrible year.  He's a well respected enthusiastic veteran with over 1000 games in the NHL.  And a lack of veteran NHL leaders has been cited as a major problem with the Blue Jackets, both on and off the ice.  Vinny Prospal is married with three children and says he and his family love the Columbus-area.  So good for them and hopefully good for us.

 

Although the Prospal signing was a pleasant surprise, it may not change the roster moves the Jackets make this month and during the off-season.  Some are advocating the Jackets "blow up" their current roster and rebuild.  Some are advocating the Jackets keep the current team together and acquire better goaltending to go along with their #1 draft pick - reasoning that the team assembled during the off-season really never had a chance to play together because of injuries and suspensions.

 

More about the current roster situation: Decision time

With this season, you take the good news where you can find it.  So here's a report from Fox Sports Ohio about NHL Commissioner Bettman attending Thursday game at Nationwide Arena.

 

Bettman: NHL dedicated to Columbus market

BY STEPH GREEGOR

FOXSportsOhio.com

 

On the heels of a Columbus Blue Jackets’ fan protest and a same-day announcement that the club would host the 2013 NHL All-Star Game, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made his way to Central Ohio tonight to watch the team take on the Dallas Stars.

 

“We are thrilled to be bringing the All-Star Game to Columbus. We believe very much in this franchise and the city,” Bettman told the media.  A league event of that magnitude hasn’t hit city streets since Columbus hosted the NHL draft in 2007.  “When I look out the window and see the Arena District, I think back to everything this club and this building has meant to this city and we’re very excited about it. We’re very proud of it. And we’re grateful for the support we’ve gotten from the city.”

(. . .)

As for whether or not Columbus will get a winter classic at Ohio Stadium, Bettman joked, “We just did the All-Star Game, you want more right now?”

 

MORE: http://www.foxsportsohio.com/02/09/12/Bettman-NHL-is-dedicated-to-Columbus-mar/landing_bluejackets.html?blockID=663338&feedID=3576

 

---

And speaking of the Winter Classic.  For January 1, 2013, the Detroit Red Wings will be hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs in Michigan Stadium.  The NHL is estimating up to 115,000 attendance!

 

MORE: Winter Classic 2013: Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings To Play At Big House, Other Events At Comerica Park

File last week's games under "The Jackets can't handle success" or "Why can't we play Minnesota every game?".  The Blue Jackets played two outstanding games against Minnesota - interspersed by two losses. 

 

The first Minnesota win was at home with Sanford in goal.  Followed by a tough loss against Dallas.  A loss that even more injuries to a team already depleted.  Defenseman Marc Methot took a puck to the face - broken jaw and out for the season.  Forward Jared Boll suffered a broken foot and might also be out for the season.  After the game, Goaltender Curtis Sanford had a recurrence of back spasms and would be out for the next two games.

 

The second Minnesota win was on the road with Mason in goal.  It was kind of a blast from the past for two players having tough seasons.  Mason was outstanding in the net stopping 34 of 35 shots and Umberger scored two goals.  Wisniewski returned after missing 17 games with a broken ankle to add a third goal.  But the Jackets couldn't win the second back-to-back game against a very hot Anaheim team at Nationwide the next night.

 

Former Coach Ken Hitchcock will be "bringing the love" on Valentine's Day when St. Louis comes to Nationwide.  Then the Jackets have an Original Six Weekend - hosting Chicago on Saturday and travelling to Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

The Blue Jackets had a thrilling 2-1 win over the playoff-bound St. Louis Blues last night.  Mason played like a blast-from-the-past stopping 31 of 32 shots.  And the Jackets were the beneficiaries of two goal replay decisions that determined the game. 

 

The first was at the end of the first period.  The Jackets had a power play but only two seconds left in the period.  They won a face-off to the right of the goal - passed the puck to an open Wisniewski - who cracked a slapshot past the goalie with only 0.1 seconds remaining!  Which was confirmed on replay!

 

The second was at the end of the game.  The Blues made their final push for a tying goal.  With time running out, the Blues got the puck in front of Mason.  Then a wild pile up ensued in front of the goal.  The referees ruled the puck crossed the goal line with only 1.8 seconds left.  After viewing the overhead replay, it was found that the goal did indeed cross the line.  But only after a Blues player pushed it over the line with his hand.  No goal for the Blues!  Win for the Jackets!

 

*******************************************************************************

But as thrilling as that win was - it wasn't the biggest news from yesterday.  The biggest news was confirmation from the Jackets GM that team captain Rick Nash is on the trade market.  There have been rumors and speculation that Nash might be available.  But no solid confirmation until yesterday.  More about Rick Nash and the Blue Jackets from the Jackets Cannon Blog: Trading Rick Nash and from the Dispatch: Now up for bidding: Nash - Move to trade captain signals a major rebuild for Blue Jackets.

 

This also seems to answer the question of how the Jackets would approach next year.  Would it be a reboot or rebuild?  It is undoubtedly now a rebuild if Nash and presumably other high-priced veterans like Carter, Umberger and Vermette are traded.

FWIW, I would have liked to see the Blue Jackets attempt a reboot next season rather than the rebuild that is now likely.  But I can understand why the rebuild route is more likely. 

 

The Jackets probably could have been a playoff contender this year - as was expected after acquiring Carter and Wisniewski.  On one of the Jackets blogs, someone wrote that when both Carter and Wisniewski played with Sanford in goal, the Jackets were 6-5-2.  That record extrapolated over this season would have placed the Jackets at 9th place in the West - just below the playoff line.  The assumption being that having both Carter and Wisniewski healthy combined with good goaltending makes the Jackets a playoff contender.

 

Of course, this season didn't turn out this way.  Wisniewski got suspended for the first 8 games.  Then Carter got injured.  Then Wisniewski got injured.  Sanford was injured to start the season.  Mason was terrible at the beginning of the season when he had no good backup.  And by the time Sanford return and played well, it was too late.  Given the injuries to Carter and Wisniewski (and many others), a reboot next season with Sanford in goal looked appealing.

 

However, since Sanford returned to the team, he's been out with back spasms twice (the 32-year-old goalie is currently on the IR).  Mason has played better lately - but in the past three seasons he has never shown the consistency necessary to be a #1 goalie.  Either Mason or Sanford could serve as backup, but the Jackets clearly need a #1 goalie.  The Jackets could try to acquire a #1 goalie in the free-agent market.  But that market looks very thin - meaning the Jackets would need to greatly overpay.  Unwise and difficult for a team already spending near the cap limit.  And the Jackets probably need better defensemen to go along with better goaltending.

 

So this need for better goaltending and defense is pushing the Jackets toward rebuilding rather then rebooting.  Because the only way for the Jackets to acquire a #1 goalie and a quality defenseman is likely through the trade market.  And the only way to get this through the trade market is to give up some prime offensive players like Rick Nash and Jeff Carter.  The Jackets Cannon blog has more about the Rick Nash trade market in the two blog posts below:

 

2012 NHL Trade Deadline: Rick Nash's Trade Value

 

2012 NHL Trade Deadline: What Do We Really Need?

Well, no trade news yet.  Not Nash, nor Carter, nor even Pahlsson.  But the trade deadline lasts until Monday, February 27.  So there's still time.

 

In the meantime, games are still being played.  After last Tuesday's thrilling 2-1 win over the playoff bound St. Louis Blues, fans might have expected a great effort Saturday afternoon against the Chicago Blackhawks.  And they would've been wrong.  Instead, the Jackets stunk it up with a 6-1 loss.

 

After that performance, fans might have expected a poor effort Sunday night at MSG against the New York Rangers.  The best-in-the-east Rangers versus the worst-in-the-west Blue Jackets.  Lundqvist and his 1.77 GAA versus Mason and his 3.44 GAA.  So this game should've gone badly for the Jackets.  But it didn't.  Thanks to favorable clock ruling that negated a Rangers goal at the end of the second period and a Rick Nash goal scored with about 90 seconds left in third earned the Jackets a regulation tie. (Only to have the Rangers win it 3-2 in OT)  But still, a great game.  Mason played well.  Brassard got a fine slap shot goal.  And the tying goal featured a Carter to Nash combo.  Makes you wonder what might have been if things had gone differently this season.

 

While we wait out the last week before the Feb. 27 trade deadline, the Jackets host San Jose on Tuesday, host Colorado on Friday and travel to Pittsburgh on Sunday.  Then the Monday trade deadline.

Tonight turned out to be doubleheader blowout night in the capital city!  Both the Blue Jackets and the basketball Buckeyes had games that started at 7PM.  Both teams got off to great starts.  The Jackets led 4-0 over San Jose at the end of the first period.  The Buckeyes led 42-26 over Illinois at halftime.

 

The Buckeyes ended up winning by the same 16 point margin.  And the Jackets ended up winning 6-3.  Carter got a hat trick.  Nash and Umberger each got goals.  Mason had 38 saves.  Another tantalizing glimpse of a season that could have been for the Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets made their first trade of Trade Deadline Week.  It's not one of the blockbusters though.  Center/Winger Antoine Vermette was sent to the Phoenix Coyotes for a second round pick, a fifth round pick and goaltender Curtis McElhinney. 

 

The goalie has only played in 2 NHL games this year and is currently on Phoenix's minor-league team - and is also described by SBNation's Scouting Report as a "mediocre backup goaltender".  So this does not look to be the #1 goalie that the Jackets are seeking.  Given Vermette's sub-par play and hefty contract, this looks like a salary dump for some draft picks and a goalie to help the Jackets farm system.

 

(EDIT: It was just updated at Jackets Cannon that McElhinney is injured and out for the season and that he was included in the deal because Phoenix was at a 50 player contract limit.  He is also an unrestricted free agent at the season's end.  So unless the Jackets resign him, McElhinney is just a paper move.)

Jeff Carter gets traded to the L.A. Kings.  In return the Blue Jackets get defenseman Jack Johnson and a conditional 1st round pick.  (The condition is if the Kings make the playoffs this year, the 1st round pick is for 2012.  If not, the 1st round pick is for 2013.)

 

Jack Johnson is 25 year old very physical top four defenseman with a decent offensive game.  He's also signed through the 2017-18 season.  Johnson should be a quality addition to the Jackets defense.  The only odd thing about this trade is that the Jackets didn't also acquire the Kings backup goaltender Jonathan Bernier.  So the search for a #1 goalie candidate continues.

 

Ironically, in Carter's final game with the Jackets on Tuesday, he got a hat trick!  That might have clinched the deal with the Kings because although L.A. is 8th place in the West, they are dead last in the NHL in goals per game.  More about the Carter trade from the Dispatch and Jackets Cannon:

 

Dispatch: Blue Jackets trade Carter to Los Angeles

 

Jackets Cannon: 2012 NHL Trade Deadline: Jeff Carter Traded to LA for Jack Johnson and a First Round Pick

^Good trade for the Jackets.  Johnson is a solid defender signed long term which should add some stability to the defensive end of the rink. 

^Agreed.  The Jackets probably got the best deal they could for Carter. 

 

It's too bad the Carter-Columbus relationship didn't work.  But there were some warning signs that are now clear in retrospect.  First was type of player Jeff Carter was.  He was acquired by the Jackets to be our #1 center.  Normally, that means he would be setting up shots for Nash - because that's the type of player Rick Nash is.  But the problem is - that's also the type of player Jeff Carter is.  Both Nash and Carter are players that are most effective scoring goals when their linemates pass and set up shots for them.  Having Nash and Carter play on the same top line ended up diluting each player's scoring punch.  Later, when Nash and Carter were split into separate lines, Carter was much more effective.  But that wasn't why the Jackets got him.

 

Second, and probably more telling, was the way the Jackets acquired Carter from Philadelphia.  In the previous year, Carter signed a 10-year contract extension at a below market price because he wanted to stay with the Flyers.  The contract extension included a no trade clause that would begin this season.  But then the Flyers GM decided to remake his team in the previous off season.  He traded Carter and his linemate Richards to shed salary in order to afford a high-priced goaltender.  The reason Carter could be traded was that his no trade clause hadn't yet gone into effect.  And all the while Carter and his agent were being told by the Flyers GM that he wouldn't be traded.  So, basically Carter got stabbed in the back by the Flyers.

 

Carter's bitterness could have eventually gone away if the Jackets had a winning season.  But that didn't happen.  And then he got injured - twice.  And by that time he just wanted out.  More about this from the Dispatch: Michael Arace commentary: Carter acquisition was doomed from the start.

 

At least Jack Johnson seems enthused about joining the Jackets.  He's got Midwestern roots.  He was born in Indy and grew up in Michigan - where he attended UM and still makes his home.  Which is also where his future linemate James Wisniewski lives.  And apparently they also have a prior working relationship.  Both Johnson and Wisniewski have been among a group of NHL players that have trained together at a suburban Detroit ice rink in the past three summers.  So maybe this will work out better?  More about this from the Jackets Cannon: Jack Johnson Excited to Play in Columbus and the Dispatch: Johnson happy to be here.

Is Nash going to be traded?  To the Rangers?

It's looking less and less likely that Nash will be dealt before today's 3PM trade deadline.  Nash's cap hit and needing his approval, because of the no-trade cluase, makes any last minute deal difficult.  But there's still 1 hour and 45 minutes left!

 

It's been a pretty slow trading day all over the NHL.  The only Jackets transaction today was defenseman Grant Clitsome being picked up by Winnipeg off waivers.

Pahlsson finally got traded.  He goes to Vancouver for two fourth-round picks in this year's draft.

 

 

According to Dispatch reporter's Aaron Portzline‏ twitter feed @Aportzline

 

"Confirmed by #CBJ GM Scott Howson that Nash has not been traded by 3 p.m. deadline."

 

Well, the NHL trade deadline madness is over.  The Jackets ended up trading Carter, Vermette and Pahlsson for Johnson and a bunch of draft picks (1st, 2nd, two 4th's and a 5th).  Let the analysis/post mortem begin.

 

Of course, the biggest move was the trade that wasn't made - Rick Nash.  GM Scott Howson held a press conference after the trade deadline and dropped a bombshell.  Howson disclosed that Nash came to management in January and asked to be traded.  Maybe Howson felt pressured by Nash's agent to make a deal now rather than later.  Maybe Howson wanted to push back and didn't want to be perceived as the bad guy by fans.  But disclosing this information really isn't helpful to the team.  And if Howson thought that disclosure would sway fans to his side and against Nash - just look at the poll on the Jackets Cannon blog article linked below. 

 

I'm as disappointed as anyone that Nash is likely gone by next year.  But I can understand why he would want out.  Up to now, Nash has been totally classy and supportive of Columbus.  He signed a long-term extension back in 2009 when many in the NHL thought he would leave.  He's given management eight years to try and build around him.  I don't blame him for looking for a place to win a Stanley Cup before it's too late.  But Howson's "airing the dirty laundry" at today's press conference really seemed unnecessary and unproductive.

 

More about this from the Dispatch, the Jackets Cannon blog and the Yahoo Sports Puck Daddy blog:

 

Columbus Dispatch: Nash Requested Trade

 

Jackets Cannon: 2012 NHL Trade Deadline: The Dust Is Long From Settled

 

Yahoo Sports: Scott Howson tosses Rick Nash under the C-bus, reveals captain’s trade demand