(And Just About As Fun As Spring Cleaning)
Well, the NHL Trade Deadline came and went. From the Columbus Blue Jackets’ standpoint, it mostly just… went. As in, five guys went out the door in five deals. All three potential unrestricted free agents, plus two more guys whom fans have gotten to know over the last couple years. Jurcina, Modin, and Torres, all gone… along with Matthieu Roy and Alexandre Picard.
And all that for… (drum roll)… a second-round draft, two conditional low-round picks, and some prospects.
To quote the great Ben Stein… “Woowww.”
For as much wheeling and dealing that went on, it would seem the Jackets would get a little more. Then again, you can’t always knock low draft picks. Fans hear all the time about how some of Detroit’s best players weren’t even drafted in the early rounds. Prospects can be a good thing. But on the surface, the fact I stated before the NHL Trade Deadline remains:
The Trade Deadline just sucks when your team is a seller. Case in point: Torres, Jurcina and Modin for… potential promise. Nothing tangible.
Now, obviously for the players involved, it’s great. All three are headed to the playoffs, and Torres is in a really good place. Buffalo is a definite contender to go all the way, especially if Ryan Miller continues playing on the level he has played in the NHL and the Olympics this year.
Modin and the Kings? It could happen… the Western Conference is no walk in the park in the Playoffs, though. It’s more like a mugging in the park. If you come out the other side intact, you have a shot.
Jurcina? Well, I almost did a spit take when I saw his comment in the Dispatch, “I’m going back to Washington where I […] have a chance to win the Stanley Cup.”
"The Jackets are pretty much one loss away from being able to officially say they’re playing to 'finish strong and build momentum for next year.'"
I would hate to be the reporter to have to break it to Milan that Jose Theodore is still the starter in Washington. Poor guy… I hope he likes golf in May.
Speaking of golf, the Jackets are pretty much one loss away from being able to officially say they’re playing to “finish strong and build momentum for next year.” They face Los Angeles tonight and Anaheim tomorrow to wrap up the California road trip before returning home Thursday against Atlanta. The Kings have lost their last two and sit in fifth in the West. The Ducks sit in 12th. If the Blue Jackets are thinking of rattling off 17 straight wins to get into the Playoffs, tonight is a good place to start.
If it doesn’t happen tonight, well… you can probably offically cue the “Next Year” talk.