Are The Trade, Win Over Detroit the Boost the CBJ Need?
Oh, what a difference 20 games can make.
As I mentioned in my last post, through 40 games in the 2008-09 season, the Columbus Blue Jackets were 18-18-4. It marked the last time the Blue Jackets were at the .500 mark before the recent slide they have experienced throughout December.
"The second quarter of this season has been godawful. ‘Nuff said."
If there is one thing this December-to-Never-Ever-Ever-Remember has done, it has saved me the time of attempting to put together a “Second Quarter Report.” The second quarter of this season has been godawful. ‘Nuff said.
Now that that’s out of the way, here’s the 40-game mark for the Columbus Blue Jackets going into tonight’s game on Long Island: 15-18-7. That is three points fewer (37) than last year's record through 40 games. Needless to say, the battle for a Playoff spot is a little more uphill than it was last year. It’s not impossible, though. The Blue Jackets just need a turning point.
Maybe… just maybe… was Monday it?
Monday afternoon, just a few hours before the Jackets win over Detroit, Columbus parted with Jason Chimera, sending him to Washington for Chris Clark and Milan Jurcina. I certainly can't complain about a two-for-one deal. The Jackets get two guys who can help on both sides of the ice.
Clark currently sits at four goals and 11 assists for 15 points, and a -4 rating in 38 games. This includes a goal and three assists for four points and a +2 in the last five games for the Capitals’ former captain. The key for Clark to work out in Columbus is to stay healthy. While he has appeared in 38 games this season, he only appeared in 50 games the previous two seasons combined. Again, if he stays healthy, his experience as part of the Caps’ leadership should be a good addition to the Jackets, on the ice and in the locker room.
Jurcina is not what one would call a prolific goal scorer, looking at his stats. He has 4 assists in 27 games this season, and his plus/minus is even. I did try to dig up some video on him, though, and the goals I saw tend to be on some nice shots from the point. I'm no Gary Thorne, and I don't pretend to be. However, if you can find a young defenseman with a decent slap shot, and generate some decent traffic in front of the net -- if that slapper doesn't go in, you could get something going off the rebound.
In exchange, Chimera and his energy and quickness go to the current first-place team in the Eastern Conference. It is certainly not a bad place to be right now. The Capitals certainly have some weapons, not the least of which is Alexander Ovechkin. If the Capitals’ goaltending in the regular season translates into Playoff success, then Washington is a bona fide contender for the Stanley Cup. Spoiler Alert: It usually doesn't, but if enough offensive support develops around Ovechkin to make up for the Caps’ shortcomings in net, it could be interesting.
"Maybe Monday's win over Detroit is a sign that there is no more hitting the snooze bar, and the Jackets are ready to go back to work."
Personally, I am bummed to see Chimmer go, but this is a business... and maybe, just maybe, Monday's win over Detroit is a sign that there is no more hitting the snooze bar, and the Columbus Blue Jackets are ready to go back to work. From reading some of the posted reactions on the Columbus Dispatch’s articles and blogs -- and ignoring the “Anonymous” putz who keeps calling for Coach Hitchcock's head -- some people aren't sure that this is a good deal. However, Scott Howson has not been known to make many bad decisions since coming to Columbus, so I'm willing to take this on faith, as a fan. Hey... I question the Leclaire trade for Vermette, and that turned out okay. Given, Steve Mason was a beast last year, and certainly hasn't been this year. But even with the Blue Jackets giving up way too many scoring chances to the Wings last night, Mase found his old form, and hopefully that continues.
Now, with Hitch’s recent “win and you're in” philosophy of choosing the starting goaltender, Steve Mason should get the chance to prove he is back tonight against the Islanders. The Blue Jackets and Isles have identical records. New York's December has been slightly less forgettable; they have just been bad on a more consistent basis. Still, you can't look past them -- I have certainly made that mistake against Toronto, and we all know how those last two games against the Leafs turned out. The Islanders’ scoring leader is their 19-year-old rookie phenom John Tavares, with 16 goals and 12 assists in his first 40 games. He has been held to one goal in the last eight games, but the Blue Jackets have to stay on him and shut him down, because he's probably due. This kid was the first overall pick in the 2009 Entry Draft, and even then you don't see many guys play for the entire NHL season in the same year they are drafted (although if I recall correctly, Colorado had two 18-year-olds on their Opening Night roster). So far, I'd say he's living up to the hype. Tavares could even raise the Cup one day, if the Isles could unload that ridiculous 15-year deal they gave to Rick DiPietro, and find themselves a decent goaltender.
"The rest of the 2009-10 season starts tonight."
Barring any unexpected developments, Blue Jackets fans should see the two new guys tonight, so we'll get to see how they pan out. After tonight's game, Columbus is halfway through the hockey season. It's an uphill climb to a Playoff spot now, but putting two wins together on back-to-back nights can't hurt. If nothing else, it can provide some good momentum going into the New Year's Eve game against Nashville.
The rest of the 2009-10 season starts tonight.
Go Jackets!
Random NHL Notes
Ovechkin for Captain? Ummm… no. After all the trade speculation, and then the trade news on Twitter yesterday regarding the Caps trading away their captain, the speculation began to turn toward whether Alexander Ovechkin will be Washington's next captain. The Washington Post actually has a column today mentioning Ovechkin alongside Nicolas Backstrom and Brooks Laich as the potential candidates. Ovechkin is one of the best players in the league, there is no doubt about that, but he is “captain” material at this point? I'm thinking not. I honestly cannot give you arguments for the other two guys, because I don't follow the Caps closely enough. However, fans have seen a very physical game from Ovechkin. He gets out there and he uses his body, and on top of that, the guy can score. Those are good least, don't get me wrong. However, his play style can sometimes border on recklessness, which reminds me of another once-great hockey player. Similar to Ovechkin, Peter Forsberg was arguably the best player in the world in his heyday, but was a victim of his own playing style. A player’s body can only take so much abuse, before a player starts to lose it a little. It’s kind of hard to lead a team if you’re putting yourself in harm’s way that much and winding up on injured reserve... or suspended. The Caps need to give him more time. Ovie’s too young and doesn’t yet seem to have the actual leadership qualities required. But that’s just me on the outside looking in.
Hitch’s Job Security and a 1-0 Win It amazes me to see people calling for Ken Hitchcock’s head when times are tough. I suppose it shouldn’t… we live in a city where fans wanted John Cooper’s head on a silver platter every week (or at least every third Sunday in November after the loss to Michigan). But to the point where it necessitates a poll question on the Dispatch’s CBJ page? (By the way, the results indicate cooler heads prevail there.)
Hitch’s “take care of your own end first” philosophy works… when the players execute it. The guys in front of Mason Monday against Detroit weren’t perfect, but the Wings scored zero goals. Scoreless games like Monday’s are the reason why many people don’t watch hockey to begin with, and they’re not most hockey fans’ first choice to watch, but it was a good hockey game.
(Would I say the same thing had Detroit scored in OT? Eh, I’ll admit… probably not.)
NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day Yes, I know... it doesn't even involve the Blue Jackets. Yes, I know... there's football on at the same time on Friday. I’ll sum it up for you: Northwestern will be out of the Outback Bowl by halftime, and Bobby Bowden will miraculously find one more win to close out his career in the Gator Bowl. Check out the outdoor hockey in the NHL Winter Classic on Friday… or (because I’m realistic) at least during the commercial breaks and halftime of Penn State-LSU matchup in the Capital One Bowl. After the game, there’s still time to get some food and stuff before the Rose Bowl. Go Bucks!