Columbus Blue Jackets: A Long December

The Columbus Blue Jackets are enjoying the best start in franchise history, and it has made Jackets fans everywhere optimistic. We put together a little parody of Counting Crow's Long December for your enjoyment! Hope you like it. If you forget how the original song goes, we have linked up the video at the bottom of the page!

Great Band! Great Team! Let's Go Jackets!

The Columbus Blue Jackets: A Long December

A long December and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can't remember the last time that the Jackets were leadin'
Now the wins come by so fast

And it's one more day up in the weight room
And it's one more night in Nationwide
If you think the losses could be forgiven I wish you would

The sound of a cannon in winter
And the feeling that it's all a lot of seasons, but no cups
All at once you look across a crowded arena
To see the way red light attaches to a goal

And it's one more day up in the weight room
And it's one more night in Nationwide
If you think you might come to see the Jackets I think you should

Turned on 97.1 sometime after two a.m.
And they talked a little while about the year
I guess the past makes you trust a little slower,
Makes you talk a little lower about the progress the Jackets have shown ya

And it's a long December and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can't remember all the times I tried to tell my myself
To hold on to these moments as they pass

And it's one more day up in the weight room
And it's one more night in Nationwide
It's been so long since I've seen the playoffs, I wish they would

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Credit: A Long December by Counting Crows

The Vegas Golden Knights: Logo Breakdown

The NHL has added their 31st team and last night they unveiled their mascot, the Golden Knights. I hope that they do well in Vegas. I am kind of nervous to see what teams I cheer for will have to give up for the expansion draft. At the end of the day, I think you have to be excited for the hockey fans that live in Vegas, and the ones that need an excuse to go to Vegas.

The NHL succeeded in the expansion effort to Vegas where other sports have failed. You talk about the NFL and their plans to go to Vegas but nothing has really materialized. The NFL has talked about the Raiders moving there but it seems like the Raiders just moved back to Oakland.

UCF's new logo

The Golden Knights will give Vegas back the hockey that it lost at the end of the Wranglers existence. The Wranglers were an ECHL team, that played in the Orleans Arena. Started in 2003, the Wranglers played until 2014. Outside of UNLV's club hockey team, it's safe to say that hockey is back in Vegas.

Let's dive into some analysis of the logo and the mascot name. When you think of the name Golden Knights, there's really not that many that come to mind, which is a good thing. The University of Central Florida is the Golden Knights, and they have a similar color scheme to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Florida Panthers

Another college that uses the Golden Knights as a mascot is Clarkson University. To my knowledge, best know for hockey, Clarkson uses more of a green and yellow color scheme. So, a little different than the black and gold but the same mascot name.

The shield behind the helmet is like the Florida Panthers logo, which the Panther head is placed in front of a shield. It's a nice look, makes people think of soccer logos but I like it. Maybe this a trend, is the NHL trying to move to logos in front of shields? The Florida Panthers debuted their new logo at the start of last season.

The helmet itself is similar to the one worn by the Senator in the Ottawa logo. Its a very similar style in helmet. Looking something straight out of a Roman legion. Maybe a little inspiration or influence came from that historical period.

Ottawa Senators

Overall, I like logo, it's definitely "Bold in Gold." Very professional looking, it will be interesting to see how it looks on the jerseys.

The secondary logo is a star in front of crossing swords. This would work well as a shoulder patch. I am not sure that you could use it for an alternate jersey.

Like I said, the Golden Knights puts the NHL at 31 teams, you have to think that they would not want to keep an odd number of teams. The question is, who's next?

Golden Knights Secondary Logo

More information on the Golden Knights:

Vegas Golden Knights' Website

The Columbus Blue Jackets Hot Start

The Columbus Blue Jackets, who are notorious for bad starts are off to the hottest start in franchise history. The team is currently riding a four game win streak, and an eight game home win streak. Leaving many people in the NHL saying, "Who would have thought?"

The season started a little bit rough, they had a good thing opening night against Boston. They were up 3-1 in the second period, and the Nationwide faithful were ready to start the season right. The Bruins exploded for five straight goals and won 6-3.

Two nights later, it was more of the same, the Blue Jackets found themselves down 2-0 until Zach Werenski scored a power play goal in the 3rd period. The Sharks quickly answered and it was 3-1. A late goal from another Lake Erie Monster, Josh Anderson, made it 3-2. Another game, another loss at home and it looked like it was going to be another long October.

The Blue Jackets had almost a week off before they played the Chicago Blackhawks. Something, clicked for the Blue Jackets during that time. Werenski opened the scoring for the Jackets. The Blackhawks answered for a tie in the second period, but the Blue Jackets had other ideas. The Jackets two goals in the second period would be enough, as the Blackhawks could only muster one goal in the third. The first win for the Blue Jackets on the season, and they started home streakin'!

Blackhawks vs. Blue Jackets

The Western Conference road trip we all feared, started with a bang. The Blue Jackets easily handled the Dallas Stars, 3-0. It was the first shutout for the Blue Jackets on the season.

A small hiccup in the trip was an OT loss to the LA Kings and another loss to the San Jose Sharks. It's a good thing the Blue Jackets do not have to play the Sharks anymore this year.

Things got back on track with a 4-0 win against the Not So Mighty Ducks! ;) It was the second shutout of the trip. The Blue Jackets finished the road trip with 5 points in 4 games, which in my opinion was better than expected. Especially, the way that the team rebounded in the final game against the Ducks.

Enter November, the Blue Jackets welcomed the Dallas Stars to Nationwide Arena. It was the first home game since the win against the Blackhawks. It look a late power play goal from Sam Gagner to force OT with the game knotted at 2. Seth Jones had the game winner in OT.

Hey Habs, scoreboard!

Next, came the Canadiens to Nationwide Arena. The Canadiens up to that point had not lost a game in regulation thru ten games. The Blue Jackets took no mercy that the Canadiens started the back up goal, as they pounded the Habs 10-0. The league took notice as one of the best teams had no answers for the Blue Jackets offense.

The next day was a quick trip for the Blue Jackets to St. Louis. The Blue Jackets lost in OT, not much to talk about when your team loses to the Blues. Facepalm.

The Blue Jackets returned home with a OT winner against the Ducks by the score of 3-2. The Blue Jackets finish the season with two wins against the Ducks, not too shabby.

Another home/away back to back found the Blue Jackets in Boston. The Bruins had the Blue Jackets number again. The Bruins had a huge first period and the Jackets just never got back into the game. The final score was 5-2. The Blue Jackets have one win and two losses in home/away back to back so far this season.

The bounce back came against the Blues, and it was beautiful. It was almost like the game against the Canadiens, the Blue Jackets could not miss the goal. The Jackets got the win 8-4, and a bit of sweet revenge against the Blues after the OT loss a week before.

A hug after a win is nice!

The Blue Jackets finished out the home stand with an OT win over the Capitals and a 4-2 win over the Rangers. The win against the Rangers was the 8th win in a row at Nationwide.

To bring you fully up to date, yesterday, the Blue Jackets beat the Capitals 3-2 in Washington, D.C. It was another one of those games where the Blue Jackets found themselves down early but did not give up. Two goals in the third period completed the rally for the win. It was the Blue Jackets second win against the Capitals in six days.

THREE TAKEAWAYS

1. The Blue Jackets are bouncing back when they are down. They used to fold and just take the "L" that is not happening. Whether it be during a game or during a road trip, this team is showing resolve early in the season. It is very refreshing to see.
2. The Rookies are showing up. Lake Erie Monsters like, Anderson, Sedlak and Werenski are having great starts to the season. They are out playing some of the regulars and it is challenging the team to play better. They know how to win, they won the Calder Cup last year.
3. Bob, the goalie, is giving the team a chance to win every night. The reason they are able to come back in many of these games is because they are only down a goal or two. Bob is playing great between the pipes and it is giving the team confidence they need to win

Loss to the Blue Jackets Sparks Blackhawks' 8 Game Point Streak

Since losing to the Blue Jackets three weeks ago the Chicago Blackhawks have been getting much better results, and winning more games after a rough start to the season.

The worst part of the start for the Blackhawks had been the power play. They were giving up a power play goal 50% of the time. The normal percentage of penalty kill is usually in the high 80s or low 90s, to give you an idea of how bad the Blackhawks' penalty kill had been.

Since the loss, the Blackhawks have won seven of eight games. The only loss came in a shoot out against Calgary. They are currently riding a six game win streak.

The Blackhawks' point streak started with a comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The game ended in a shootout win for the Blackhawks.

Following the loss to Calgary, the Blackhawks came back with other OT win, this time against the New Jersey Devils. It was another comeback win. Hossa's goal at the 17:49 mark in the third period tied the game. Anisimov scored the game winner in OT.

The Blackhawks came back to the United Center to face off with the Kings. It was the Blackhawks best effort of the season to that point. They won the game 3-0 and it was Crawford's first shutout on the season.

Next, the Blackhawks welcome the Flames to the United Center. They got a bit of revenge on the Flames with a dominating 5-1 win.

The Blackhawks closed out the home stand with another dominating effort against the Avalanche. The final was 4-0 and it was Crawford's second shutout in the last three games.

The Blackhawks flew to Dallas for the start of a home and home with the Stars. The Hawks were down 2-1 after the first; goals from Hartman and Kane in the second period sealed the victory.

Darling kick save

The second game against the Stars started in a similar way. After one period, they were down 1-0. Kane's goal in the second period made it 2-1 Stars.

The Blackhawks got the first two goals of the third period. The Stars were able to tie the game late in the third period. Luckily for the Blackhawks, Darling made a huge kick save in OT. Hossa scored the game winner with 28.7 second left in the OT for the Blackhawks' sixth straight win.


Center of Attention

During the current win streak, the Blackhawks have aided greatly by the play of former Blue Jacket, Artem Anisimov.

Currently, Anisimov leads the NHL in points (17) and goals (8). It helps playing with Kane and Panarin but you still got to put the puck in the net. Anisimov is making the most of his opportunity to play with two of the best players in the NHL.

2010 Stanley Cup Champions

We've Been Here Before

Towards the end of the 2009-2010, the Blue Jackets beat the Blackhawks in two straight games 8-3 and 4-2. Over the next seven games after the two losses, the Blackhawks won 6 of 7 games. That run also included a six game win streak. That season ended in the first Stanley Cup for the Blackhawks in 49 years.

Widespread Panik in Chicago

Panik Scores!

While the start of the NHL season has not been all that the Chicago Blackhawks have hoped for, there has been one bright spot and that is the play of Richard Panik.

Richard Panik is currently leading the NHL with 6 goals. He has scored in 4 of 6 games, including a hat trick against Nashville on 10/15. He also has points in 6 of the 7 games.

He had another good game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 3-2 loss for the Blackhawks. Panik scored a goal, and assisted on the other Hawks goal.

He had the game tying goal against his former team the Maple Leafs in the Blackhawks’ last game. The goal was huge in the comeback effort by the Hawks, which resulted in a shootout win. The goal was scored late in the third period at the 18:32 mark, just what the Hawks needed to force overtime.

Panik is playing his second season with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played in 30 games for the Blackhawks last year.  Panik was acquired in a trade by the Blackhawks for Jeremy Morin. Panik had been playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ AHL team the Toronto Marlies.

He had a breakout with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2014-2015. Panik played 76 of the 82 games, compiling 11 goals, and 6 assists. The 11 goals were a career high for the right winger with only three years of limited NHL experience under his belt.

He was expected to make the team the next season however he failed to make a roster with the Leafs. So he was sent to the Marlies. This was not the first time that Panik had been sent down to the AHL after struggling in the NHL.

Before being claimed off waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Panik had spent a couple of seasons in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. He started in 2012-13 with the Syracuse Crunch because of the NHL lockout. He finished the 2012-13 by playing 25 games with the Lightning. The next year he saw his play with the Lightning cut and he ended up back in Syracuse to finish out the season.

Panik has experienced success in the AHL, amidst being sent up and down from the AHL to the NHL in his short professional career.  He was part of the 2011-12, Norfolk Admirals that won the Calder Cup. The team also set a professional, North American record of winning 28 games in a row.

Hopefully, this success will continue for Panik. The Chicago Blackhawks need all the help they can get right now. They have had to start a bunch of rookies this season so Panik’s scoring has greatly boosted the team.

How the Chicago Blackhawks Saved the NHL

When Sports Illustrated put on the Chicago Blackhawks on the cover, after the lock-out of 2013, claiming they brought hockey back, one had to pause on that motion. I, for one, was a little skeptical that the Blackhawks could save the NHL. Though three years after the lock-out the ratings don't lie, the Blackhawks are running the show, and Chicago is loving it.

The NHL has enjoyed higher viewership when the Chicago Blackhawks have been in the Stanley Cup finals. Five of the ten most watched Stanley Cup Finals games have featured the Blackhawks. This includes the top rated Stanley Cup Finals game, Montreal vs. Chicago, from 1971.

Outside of the Boston -Vancouver series of 2011, in game clinching Stanley Cup Finals games, the NHL has struggled to get a rating above 7. In the years, that the Chicago Blackhawks have been in the finals ('10, '13, '15), the rating in similar games has not been below 8. What this means to the bottom-line is that, on average, one million more people are watching the Blackhawks' Finals compared to the rest.

Toews vs. Crosby

Not even Sidney Crosby can pull better rating than the Blackhawks. The 2016 Stanley Cup Finals lost out to the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals in every game except one. The clinching Game 6 rating for 2015 was 8.0, and the rating for 2016 was 5.4. That means that more than 2.5 million more people watched the Blackhawks get the Cup, then the Chosen One get his second cup in 2016.

The nay-sayers will tell you that the NBA Finals brought down the Stanley Cup Finals ratings in 2016. They won't tell you that the same teams played in the NBA Finals both years (2015 and 2016). Personally, I think the hockey fans chose not to watch because they did not want to see the Penguins win the cup.

Stanley Cup Rally Chicago

It has not always been this way though. When the Chicago Blackhawks were not as good in the early 2000's, their attendance was near the bottom of the league. As the Blackhawks struggled, so did the ratings for the NHL. During the early 2000s, the Stanley Cup Finals struggled to get ratings better than 4.

Things began to turn around in 2008-2009, the Blackhawks were getting better and the league decided to push all their chips behind Crosby. The Stanley Cup clincher rating finally got 8 million viewers in 2009 with the Pens - Red Wings Final. They were topped the very next year though with 8.3 million viewers in the game clincher between the Blackhawks - Flyers. Crosby was no match for the machine that was the Chicago Blackhawks.

Taking Over Soldier Field

So why does this happen? Chicago is a sports town. The people love their teams especially the Cubs. Chicagoans show up for Cubs games even when they are terrible. Other big cities like New York and LA have their teams but the support is not always there. Example, the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals (Rangers vs. Kings) game clincher only drew six million views. This was two million less viewers than the 2015 and 2013 game clinchers. The numbers don't lie, Chicagoans show up and the rest find something else to do.

It doesn't stop there, this fall for the 2016-17 season, the Blackhawks will be featured in 21 nationally televised games which leads the league. They will play in their third Winter Classic, which also leads the league. The Chicago Blackhawks drive the ratings right now in the NHL. It is safe to say that a team led by Captain Serious and that kid from Buffalo, NY did save the NHL.

References!

Stanley Cup Finals Ratings

2015-2016 NHL Attendance

Chicago Blackhawks Yearly Attendance

The Columbus Blue Jackets: Hunt For Green October

In the financial world, being in the green is where you want to be. Green means that your bottom line is showing a profit. Red on the other hand, means that you are at a loss. Clearly, if you want to stay in business being in the green is where it is at, and that has not been so easy for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets routinely struggle out of the gate, but they manage to play better over the rest of the season. This makes hardcore Blue Jackets' fans frustrated.

The last time the Blue Jackets had winning record in October, you have to go all the way back to the 2010-2011 season when Ken Hitchcock was head coach. He was fired mid-season, but he went on to coach the St. Louis Blues, made the conference final last year. Yet, the Blue Jackets were still last in their division. Just food for thought.

Todd Richards

Claude Noel served as the interim coach until he was replaced by Scott Arniel for the 2011-2012 campaign. That season turned out to be a disaster with a 2-10 record in October. Arniel would be replaced by Todd Richards, and the Blue Jackets coaching carousel continued to spin.

In the lockout-shortened season of 2012-2013, play started in January. The Blue Jackets stumbled out of the gate again with a 2-6 record. They rebounded very nicely and just missed out on the playoffs due to a tie breaker. So, even in the team's first season without Rick Nash, there was hope for the future.

The 2013-2014 season had a better start for the Blue Jackets, and they went 2-2 over their first four games. A three-game road trip sunk their record to 2-5. They rebounded with a three-game winning streak at home. Then they dropped the last game in October to go 5-6 for the month, and the hunt for a green October continued.

John Tortorella

The Blue Jackets won their first two games of the 2014-2015 season. By mid October, they sported a record of 4-2. Then, a West Coast road trip killed all the momentum. After beating the Sharks, they lost games to the Kings and the Ducks. It was followed up by losses to Ottawa and Toronto at home. The Jackets finished 4-6. It would be a long season for the team; they set a record for the number of games lost due to injuries.

October 2015 was a mirror image of October 2011. The team started October with a 2-10 record, which included losses in the first eight games of the season. Todd Richards was fired and replaced by John Tortorella.

Blue Jackets October Schedule

The upcoming season looks hopeful, even though their October schedule looks tough. They open against Boston, then face San Jose and Chicago at home. On a road trip to the West Coast, they play Dallas in the second game of a back to back (Chicago at home, Dallas away). From Dallas, they go to LA to face the Kings and wrap up October with dates against the Sharks and the Ducks. All games except the Boston game are against last year's playoff teams.

It's going to take a bunch of effort for a green October this year. The Blue Jackets have a bunch of young talent they can pull from to get wins. They also have veteran leadership that can help the youngsters along the way. A long West Coast road trip can be what this team needs to bring them closer together. As long as they can stay healthy and work together, the Blue Jackets could make this a season for the ages.

Columbus Blue Jackets Season Game by Game

Columbus Blue Jackets Coaches

A Moment in the Sun: Jared Boll

Jared Boll

Last week, Jared Boll was waived by the Columbus Blue Jackets. A ten year veteran of the team, the writing was on the wall for Boll. He was not getting much playing time, and was scratched in many games during the 2015-16 season. When he was given the opportunity to play he made the most of it, bringing the energy and the fight to a team that sorely needed it. He finished his time with the Blue Jackets as the guy with the most penalty minutes in team history.

Jared Boll was born in North Carolina but grew up in Crystal Lake, Illinois. He was originally drafted by the Kingston Frontenacs, but he never played for the team. Instead, he chose the college route starting in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars. He was named the captain of the team, and after a successful couple of years he was offered a scholarship by the University of Minnesota - Duluth. Though his style would have been great for the Bulldogs, he passed on that as well.

Boll vs. Voros

Boll found a home with the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL (Ontario Hockey League). The Ontario Hockey League is where many players go if they choose not to play NCAA college hockey. Boll was chosen as an alternate captain and quickly became a fan favorite. He spent two seasons in the OHL, and the Whalers won the title in his second season with the team. From early on, Boll was a fan favorite and took on a leadership role on both teams.

Boll vs. Parros

Boll was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2005. The Blue Jackets selected Boll with the 101st pick. He would not start with the team until the 2007-2008 season. Unless you are a great player, you are usually drafted a couple years before you actually start with the team. It's sort of like the baseball draft, and unlike the NBA draft; where players are going straight into playing in the NBA. This helps the players get ready for the physical and mental demands of playing NHL hockey.

Jared scored his first goal on October 10th, 2007 against the Phoenix Coyotes. He would not be known as a scorer during his time in Columbus. He would be known for his physical play and dropping the gloves. He brought energy to the table and a willingness to stick up for his teammates. When it was called upon, he would wear the alternate captain "A".

Boll vs. Tootoo

Boll's presence was not only impactful on the ice, but as well as off the ice. He was always out and about in the community. He was a common figure at Columbus Blue Jackets' Open Houses and Draft Parties. I have met him a couple of times, and I think he one of hockey's good guys.

I am sad to see Jared Boll go, he was a great player for the Blue Jackets in his ten years in Columbus. Hopefully, he will get a shot somewhere else. He was class act where ever he has been. He has been a fan favorite on every team he has played for, taking on leadership positions when necessary. His energy has been just as high on the ice, as it has been off the ice. Personally, I think the Blue Jackets should do him the honor of retiring his jersey.

Boll at Krumm Park 

Jared Boll Wikipedia - I found most of the information on Boll from his wiki-page.

Jared Boll Fighting Stats - From hockeyfights.com; stats on all of Boll's fights throughout his career.

Jared Boll Player Stats - Stats from Blue Jackets website.

Chicago Blackhawks: More Soup Please!

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed Brian "Soupy" Campbell to a 1 year deal just north of the $2 million mark. Campbell played for the Blackhawks from 2008-11. He became a cap causality and was sent down to the Florida Panthers. He had made it pretty clear in the last couple of weeks that he wanted to return to Chicago. He stated that, "his heart was in Chicago." The Panthers offered him a $5 million deal but he passed it up to become a Blackhawk one more time. There are a lot of people happy to have him back in Chicago.

Campbell got the primary assist on Kaner's goal that won the Stanley Cup in 2010:

Campbell's return will definitely help the Blackhawks on the blue line. Though Van Riemsdyk is up and coming, it will be nice to have more veteran leadership. Once Oduya was traded to the Dallas Stars, the Blackhawks were definitely lacking some leadership back there.

Soupy's Cup!

Not only will Campbell be able to provide some extra leadership, he will be able to save some minutes from top line defensemen, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Both of those players have logged a ton of minutes the past couple seasons. Having Campbell back will cut down on their minutes especially on the power play, if Quenneville does not want to play the younger players.

So, the Blackhawks got a veteran piece at a super discount price. The haters will say they only got a discount price because of his age. As I mentioned before, the Florida Panthers offered 5 million, and the Blackhawks signed him for 2.2 million. When you are as close to the cap as the Blackhawks are, saving 2.8 million can help you sign a couple of prospects or go after a free agent.

Soupy getting defensive!

I am going to stay optimistic about the signing. I think its great that Campbell is coming back to the Blackhawks. The top 4 defensive positions will be solidified again. Campbell's veteran leadership will help younger players like Van Riemsdyk, and assist on the power play. There are just too many pluses about the Campbell signing to be ignored. Soupy is a great player, and I am thrilled he is back on the Blackhawks.

The Legend of the Token Blackhawks Fan

Chicago Blackhawks

Ever since the Chicago Blackhawks have risen back to contention for Stanley Cups, the Chicago Blackhawks band wagon has grown by leaps and bounds. This has created a phenomenon known as "The Token Blackhawks Fan." It does not matter where you are, which teams are playing, but as long as you are at a hockey venue, there is a great chance that you will see someone wearing a Blackhawks sweater. The grassroots effort has gained so much traction that Waldo fears that he might be out of the job in the coming months.

The Chicago Blackhawks have not always been this prominent. For much of the late 90's and early 00's, the team struggled to stay out of the basement. Attendance fell towards the bottom of the league as the team went into a downhill spiral. It's almost as if it was set up like a movie, with a person down on their luck, and the eventual rise to power.

Toews and Kaner

The Chicago Blackhawks rise started in the late 00's with the draft picks of Kane and Toews. It was around these two players that the core of the new team was established. By 2009, the team was back into the playoffs and all signs were pointing up. The very next year, the Chicago Blackhawks won their first championship since the 1960s, and the bandwagon fans piled on the ship.

All of this winning increased the number of jerseys being bought by fans.  Not only by fans of Chicago but by other people that had never watched hockey before. By 2010, Kane and Toews broke into the top 10 of player jersey sales. By 2014, Kane was #1 and Toews was close behind. As of last year, Toews was #1 and Kane was #2. So after topping jersey sales, the rise of The Token Blackhawks Fan had begun and exploded from there.

Waldo

I honestly would not be surprised to see books come out to compete against Waldo. Pictures of fans in the stands, where you can find the guy or gal wearing the Blackhawks sweater. It's great entertainment to try to find The Token Blackhawks Fan, especially during intermissions when there is nothing to do. Personally, I am always on the lookout for the Blackhawks jersey and you should be too.  It's great, wholesome fun for the entire family!

Columbus Blue Jackets: State of the Union

If there has been anything we have learned from the Blue Jackets, it's to expect the unexpected. As we move into the offseason this has been no different. As the team looks to improve upon a lackluster 2015 season, the thought has to be, how can this not trend upwards.

Last week, during the 2016 NHL Draft, the Blue Jackets stunned the hockey world when they picked Pierre-Luc Debois over Finnish superstar Jesse Puljujarvi. They went with the center over the forward. Let's be real, how many forwards do the Blue Jackets need? The other reason has to be Puljujarvi just had knee surgery and would miss all of developmental camp. Would you risk a top pick on someone that young, having knee surgery already? I wouldn't.

They talked about trading down the pick. Many of the experts believed that Debois would have been available if they dropped down to the 5th or 6th pick. This might have been a better idea, maybe get an extra pick or two to drop down. In the end, they picked Debois and you have to live with it. He might not be NHL ready like Puljujarvi, but at 6'2" and over 200; he fits the mold of the classic grind it out Blue Jackets player that the fans in Columbus have come to love.

Rychel

The Blue Jackets provided more draft night surprises when they traded Kerby Rychel to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Scott Harrington and a conditional pick. Rychel had requested a trade early in the season when it became apparent that he was not in the Blue Jackets cards. He spent a good deal of time down in the AHL. A little bit head scratching here because it seems like they gave away a decent prospect for little value in return. Harrington had barely played last season and Rychel was a main contributor on the Lake Erie Monsters, that won the Calder Cup

Jones

In less shocking news, the Blue Jackets were able to sign Seth Jones to a long term deal. This is great in my opinion because his potential is very high. He is a puck controlling defenseman, who is young and should be a top liner for a while now. My thought is that you bring up Zach Werenski from Lake Erie and you have a great top line on the blue line. To make a comparison, Jones plays more like a Brent Seabrook and Werenski is more like a Duncan Keith, always looking to jump into the play on offense. The signing of Seth Jones, only means good things for the Blue Jackets in years to come.

An era came to an end as the Blue Jackets waived Jared Boll. A ten year veteran of the Blue Jackets, Boll was beloved by the fans. Mostly known for his enforcement roll on the team, he leads the Blue Jackets in career penalty minutes. Personally, one of my favorite players for the Blue Jackets; he was always out in the community. Whenever they had an Open House or a Draft Party, Jared Boll was always front and center with the fans. He will be truly missed.

Boll

Another era also came to end with the buyout of Fedor Tyutin. One of Scott Howson, the former GM, last laughs as he was booted out the door. Tyutin's contract was way too much than it was worth. He was making 4.5 mil a year as a second line defenseman. It was one of those contracts that you wish the Arizona Coyotes would just take off your hands. Not sure, what's next for Tyutin as he is getting older, we wish him well.

Other players that the Blue Jackets decided not to sign were Falk and Chaput. Falk was a top line defensemen that played with Werenski on the Lake Erie Monsters. He is a big guy that loves to throw the body around. A little bit of a slower skater but still, overall, a very skilled defenseman. Chaput never really got the NHL shot, I feel he deserved. A high energy guy, he was always first down on the forecheck. I hope that he has a long career in the NHL because I think he has a tremendous upside.

WE ARE THE FIFTH LINE!

Well as the summer continues, I will try to update you about the Blue Jackets and how they are doing. I am a little concerned about what happened to Chaput and Rychel but on the other side of the coin it was good to free up cap space by buying out Tyutin. That freed up cap space definitely helped sign Jones to a long term deal, which is a major plus. We will have to see how Debois turns out, way too early to make any judgements there. It's going to be a wild summer, you better get your seat belts on Blue Jackets fans.

The Lake Erie Monsters Resemble the Chicago Blackhawks

As I watched the Lake Erie Monsters play the Ontario Reign in the Western Conference Finals of the AHL playoffs, I started to notice something; the Monsters look much like the Chicago Blackhawks. The players, the game, and how the team played were eerily familiar. As I have continued to reflect on this thought, more and more evidence came to light that really helped me piece together this post.

Since I opened talking about the Monsters playing the Reign, let's discuss that for a moment. The Reign are the farm club for the LA Kings, a team that the Chicago Blackhawks know all too well. Between the Blackhawks and Kings you can account for the Stanley Cups won in '10,'12, '13, '14 and '15. The two teams met in the Western Conference Finals in almost all of the years mentioned. They had some very thrilling series over that span, and it was really great hockey to watch.

Quick (Kings) and Crawford (Blackhawks)

What makes this more eerie and more similar about the Blackhawks - Kings reference is they played against each other in the 2013 Western Conference Final. That year the Kings were the defending champions, just like the Reign were the defending champions. Both the Blackhawks and the Monsters used their speed and scoring as an advantage. The Kings/Reign could not keep up as the Blackhawks won the series 4-1 in 2013 and the Monsters won 4-0, sweeping their series in 2016.

The win against the Reign sent the Monsters to the Calder Cup Final. The Monsters are looking for Cleveland's first hockey title since 1964. The 2010 Chicago Blackhawks knew a little about a droughts for hockey titles; they had not won the title since 1961. The Blackhawks had not much to show for, besides being swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. Cleveland has been through a couple of franchises since 1964; the Barons, the Lumberjacks and now the Monsters; with limited success.

Ending the drought began in similar way, a changing of the guard. In Chicago, Rocky Wirtz took over and started building the team through the draft. Top draft picks like Toews and Kane helped to solidify the core of the Blackhawks in the latter stages of the decade from '00-'10. In Cleveland, a similar change took place as the Columbus Blue Jackets became the parent team for the Monsters. High draft picks like Sonny Milano and Zach Werenski were added to the team. They definitely have given the Monsters an infusion of youth for this year's playoff run.

Phil Simon

As you know a teams run to the playoffs is filled with ups and downs. The Monsters have recently mourned the loss of the beloved equipment manager Phil Simon. Phil died after a 6 year battle with Leukemia. The 2015 Chicago Blackhawks shared a similar loss with the apparent suicide of their equipment manager, Clint Reif. The Blackhawks dedicated their win in 2015 to his memory and made Clint's son part of the celebration after they won the cup. Our hearts go out to the Reif and Simon families, as they try to move on. We will keep you in our prayers.

Now, that we have talked about the teams a little bit, let's talk about the players:

Kane and Shaw

I think you have to start with Sonny Milano as Patrick Kane. Both of them have spin-o-rama goals to their credit. Both them have great speed and offensive abilities. Just give Milano some time and he might challenge Patrick Kane's numbers in the NHL.

Zach Werenski as Duncan Keith; both players have a great slap shot from the point. Not only that but both players have a great sense about when to jump in the play and when to hang back. Both have scored game winners in OT in the playoffs. Both played college hockey in the state of Michigan; Keith at Michigan State and Werenski at Michigan. They are very similar players.

Bjorkstrand

Oliver Bjorkstrand as Patrick Sharp or Brandon Saad. This comparison comes with Bjorkstrand's speed and ability to score goals. Both Sharpie and Saader have this and you can see it in Bjorkstrand's game. You let this guy on a break away and it's good night sweetheart.

Michael Chaput as Andrew Shaw. Both players are always the first down on the fore-check. They're energy guys that get other guys involved. You are not always going to see them on the score sheet but their presence on the ice is greatly appreciated by their teammates.

Hossa

Josh Anderson as Marian Hossa. Both are very good two way forwards. They are not scared to play physical if necessary. Both players are also known for timely goals. When they are out of the lineup, they are greatly missed.

That was just to give a little taste of what the primary players on the Lake Monsters translate over to the Chicago Blackhawks. As you can see they have quite a few guys that translate very nicely to some guys that have won multiple Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks. You just need to give these guys some time in the NHL and I am sure you will see the next generation of superstars.

Now that you understand that they have similar types of players, it is easy to see that they play a similar brand of hockey. Both teams, the Monsters and the Blackhawks, like to play with speed. They have many players that can get up and down the ice in the blink of an eye. The speed is a great tool especially against teams that like to play physical because sometimes they just cannot keep up.

Bruce Lee

Another thing both teams like to do is, wait for their opportunities to strike on offense. It is like Bruce Lee said, "When my opponent expands, I contract and when he contracts, I expand." Meaning you take your chances when you get your chances. If the other team is pressing, you contract in a defensive shell to prevent goals being given up. If you give either team a turnover, it's mostly going to end up in the back of your net.

Both teams have killer power plays. I think this stems from the amount of talent that the Blackhawks and Monsters possess. When you give either team a power play opportunity it is most likely that they are going to cash in. You might see a lot of passing at the beginning of the power play but by the end it is going to result in a goal.

Toews

Well, I just wanted to give you a flavor of how similar the Lake Erie Monsters and the Chicago Blackhawks are. As you can see they have a lot of things in common. Hopefully, it can translate into a Calder Cup win for the Lake Erie Monsters. The Chicago Blackhawks have captured three Stanley Cups and they are looking for more!