The Columbus Blue Jackets: Help is on the way!

When I was in college, there was a bum on campus that was very good at freestyling. He would always finish up his verse with "help is on the way." This is a statement for the Columbus Blue Jackets. As the Jackets are enjoying another long off season, their farm club, the Lake Erie Monsters, made it to their first Western Conference Final in AHL play. A host of the players have already played with the Blue Jackets so that experience is going a long way. I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but other people not so much.

I try to get people I know pumped up about the Blue Jackets. This is proving to be harder than getting people pumped about the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1990s. Look at the Bengals now, they are winning a hell of a lot more games and making the playoffs. I truly believe that the Blue Jackets are on this plan, for a lack of a better term. I think the Blue Jackets will make the playoffs next year and will be a serious threat to win the team's first playoff series.

Let's talk about the help that is on the way:

Josh Anderson

Let's start with Josh Anderson, a right winger with the ability to score. He is a big bruiser at 6'3" and 221 pounds. He could easily be a 3rd or 4th line player for the Blue Jackets. Josh would definitely fit into the Jackets grind-it-out style. He has had multiple call-ups to the Blue Jackets but not for extended periods of time. I think if you give the guy a real chance when you call him up to the team, his confidence will soar. I'm a bit biased, though, because he is my favorite guy on the Lake Erie Monsters.

Joonas Korpisalo

Another huge part of the Lake Erie Monsters' success has been the goaltending of Joonas Korpisalo. I do not think you can say enough good things about this guy. He was up with the team for an extended period of time due to injuries to Bobrovsky and McElhinney. He did all you can ask for and more. He kept the Blue Jackets in many games and gave them a chance to win every time he stepped in the net. Unless the Blue Jackets trade Bobrovsky or McElhinney he might be stuck in Cleveland, but just know there are great players ready to go in net if needed for the Blue Jackets.

Zach Werenski

It would hard to talk about the Monsters key players without naming Zach Werenski. At only 18 years old, this Michigan product is already making waves for the Monsters. He scored the game winner to advance the Monsters into the Western Conference Finals. He is exactly what the Blue Jackets need on the blue line; someone that is willing to pinch in the offensive zone. He also has a great shot from the point, another huge benefit for the Blue Jackets. Pair him up with Seth Jones and you have a top line defense that is set for years to come.

Sonny Milano

Let's talk about a true wild card and that is Sonny Milano. Milano plays with a flare like Patrick Kane does — a little undersized but with a great ability to score. He just had a Sportscenter Top Ten play when he scored on a spin-o-rama against the Grand Rapids Griffins. He also was called up to the Blue Jackets toward the end of last season. Milano and Saad seemed to work well when they were paired on the same line, maybe a little foreshadowing for next season.

Other guys I really like on the Monsters who could help the Jackets include:

#BattleTogether

Kerby Rychel - a left winger out of California. Just really needs a solid opportunity like Josh Anderson to be called up with the team. Not afraid to drop the gloves if necessary.

Michael Chaput - a center with good size. Just a solid all around player and could really help the Blue Jackets depth at center.

Oliver Bjorkstrand - a right winger with a nose for the net. He spent much of last season injured but the upside on this guy is huge. Get him up to the show with a couple of good players on his line, and this guy will get you goals.

These guy will definitely be able to help the Blue Jackets in the near future. They are going to bring a winning attitude to a team that desperately needs it. Plus, the Blue Jackets have the third pick in the draft. Nothing bad lasts forever. Things are going to change, I can feel it. HELP IS ON THE WAY!

NHL Pump Up Songs

What better way to get pumped for your team's game then a great song!  By no means is this a definitive list. Some songs include adult language, you might want to cover your children's ears from time to time. Here is our list of great songs for every team:

Eastern Conference:

Boston Bruins - I'm Shipping Up To Boston by The Dropkick Murphys; For Boston by The Dropkick Murphys; I Wanna Be a Bear by The Descendents, The State of Massachusetts by The Dropkick Murphys;

Buffalo Sabres - Let Me Clear My Throat by DJ Kool; A Box of Sharp Objects by The Used; Boris the Blade by MyChildren MyBride; House of the Flying Daggers by Raekwon; Your Sword Versus My Dagger by Silverstein;

Carolina Hurricanes - Rock You Like A Hurricane by The Scorpions; Hurricane by Bush; When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin; They Said a Storm was Coming by Jamie's Elsewhere

Columbus Blue Jackets - For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica; Ohio is for Lovers by Hawthrone Heights; We're From Ohio by My Sky Your City; The Whip by Locksley; For Those About to Rock by AC/DC, Ohioisonfire by Of Mice and Men;

Detroit Red Wings - Detroit Rock City by Kiss; Bawitdaba by Kid Rock; Mighty Wings by Cheap Trick; On Wings of Integrity by MyChildren MyBride;

Florida Panthers - Black Cat by Janet Jackson; Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent; "Cha!" Said the Kitty by Local H; Tommy the Cat by Primus;

Montreal Canadiens - Le But by Loco Locass; Because You Love Me by Celine Dion;

New Jersey Devils - Runnin' With the Devil by Van Halen; Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones; What Hell I Have by Alice in Chains; Countdown to Hell by Crossfaith; The Man Named Hell by The Showdown;

New York Rangers - Rangers Victory Song by J. Fred Coots; Eyes of a Ranger by Tirk Wilder; New York, New York by Frank Sinatra;

New York Islanders - No Sleep Til Brooklyn by The Beastie Boys; Islander by Falling Up;

Ottawa Senators - Wake Me Up by Avicii, Politican by Cream; Studying Politics by Emery; Politically Correct by SR-71;

Philadelphia Flyers - Motownphilly by Boyz II Men; Flying High Again by Ozzy Osbourne; Fly By Night by Rush; Flights by Falling Up; Given to Fly by Pearl Jam; Learning to Fly by Pink Floyd; Learning to Fly by Tom Petty;

Pittsburgh Penguins - Song 2 by Blur; Pittsburgh by The Amity Affliction;

Tampa Bay Lightning - Thunderstruck by AC/DC; Ride the Lightning by Metallica; Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks; Lightning Crashes by Live; Southern Weather by The Almost; You Can't Wrestle Swordfish in Tampa by Scarlett O'Hara;

Toronto Maple Leafs - Forest by System of a Down; Sweet Leaf by Black Sabbath; Fat Lip by Sum 41; Freewill by Rush; No Leaf Clover by Metallica

Washington Capitals - Out of Control by Capital Lights; Paul Revere's Midnight Ride by Four Year Strong; The Shot Heard 'Round the World by Ween; I'm Just A Bill by Deluxx Folk Implosion

Western Conference:

Anaheim Ducks - Bro Hymn Tribute by Pennywise; I Come From the Water by The Toadies;

Calgary Flames - Fight Fire with Fire by Metallica; Take This Life by In Flames; Fire by Jimi Hendrix; Burn by Alkaline Trio; Original Fire by Audioslave; Back Burner by August Burns Red; Burnin' For You by Blue Oyster Cult; Light My Fire by The Doors; Children of Fire by Oh Sleeper; The Flame in All of Us by Thousand Foot Krutch;

Colorado Avalanche - Trapped Under Ice by Metallica; Cold as Ice by Foreigner; Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh; Sound of Winter by Bush; Snow (Oh Hey) by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Chicago Blackhawks - Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis; Sweet Home Chicago by The Blues Brothers; Here Come the Hawks by J. Swayzee; Bad Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce;

Edmonton Oilers - Gasoline by Audioslave; Fuel by Metallica; Gasoline by Seether;

Dallas Stars - Astronomy by Blue Oyster Cult; Starz by Smashing Pumpkins; Stars by Switchfoot; Texas is South by The Devil Wears Prada; Shooting Star by Bad Company; Star 69 by R.E.M.;

Los Angeles Kings - Our Kings by Miss May I; King Nothing by Metallica; Royal Blood by Bury Tomorrow; Hollow King by Fit For a King; You Wear a Crown but You're No King by Blessthefall; Flight of Kings by The Classic Crime; King for a Day by Green Day; Down with the King by Run DMC; King for a Day by Pierce the Veil; To Live and Die in LA by 2pac;

Minnesota Wild - Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf; Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N Roses; All My Friends are Wild by Adestria; Danger: Wildman by The Devil Wears Prada; Wild Out by The Lox; Wild Eyes by Parkway Drive;

Nashville Predators - Anything With Teeth by Bury Tomorrow; Beauty Through the Eyes of a Predator by Demon Hunter; Animal by Pearl Jam; Sabretooth by Hail to the King; Beast by Tech N9ne; Animal I have Become by Three Days Grace;

Phoenix Coyotes - Of Wolf and Man by Metallica; Bark at the Moon by Ozzy Osbourne; Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon; Cry Wolf by Texas in July;

St. Louis Blues - Country Grammar by Nelly; Roadhouse Blues by The Doors; When the Saints Come Marching In (Traditional)

San Jose Sharks - Savage Seas by Feed Her to the Sharks; Sink or Swim by Feed Her to the Sharks; Bloodlust by The Browning; Fins by Jimmy Buffett;

Vancouver Canucks - A Certain Shade of Green by Incubus; No Surprises by Theory of a Deadman;

Winnipeg Jets - Jet Airliner by Steve Miller Band; Jet Pilot by System of a Down, Cold Heart Bitch by Jet; Airport Song by Guster;

Disclaimers:

I had a hard time with some of the teams because not everyone is writing songs about Canucks. A Certain Shade of Green is a reference to the Green Men that harass opposing players in the penalty box.

In reference to the Washington Capital songs, I tried to pick songs about American History or at least had some reference to American History in the title.

Like I said, this list is not done, and if you have things to add just tell me.

The Chicago Blackhawks' Early Exit

Since the Chicago Blackhawks were bounced from the playoffs, I have been trying to collect my thoughts together to form a sensible post. For the most part, the struggle has been real. You never liked to lose to one of your rivals especially in the first round of the playoffs. Sometimes, you just have to accept that they played better than your team, and there's really nothing that could have stopped the defeat. Finally, to add insult to injury, a Blackhawks former player, scored the game winner for St. Louis.

It was just one of those seasons, it started out rough and it ended rough. We heard all about what and what not Kaner did with that woman for most of the preseason. I did not read all of the stuff that went down so I am not going to comment one way or another on that case. I try to focus on what players do on the field as opposed to the court room. If you want to read or hear about that, you'll have to look elsewhere. Kaner did have a great season winning the Art Ross trophy for the most points in the regular season.

Kaner and The Bread Man

Along with Kaner's play, Panarin aka the "Bread Man," had a terrific season. Kaner and Bread Man looked like they had played together for years. Hopefully, Panarin will win the rookie of the year. He broke the 30 goal mark in the last regular season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. I wish him success in the future with the Blackhawks, he is a great player and he is only going to get better. That could be scary for the rest of the NHL.

The Translator

Another bright spot for the Blackhawks was the addition of Anisimov. Part of the deal that sent Saader to Columbus; he ended up centering the line with Kaner and Panarin. He provided a nice fit for the Blackhawks, on and off the ice. I have always thought his play is much like Hossa's, a solid defensive player that can score when necessary. One of those players that doesn't always get the credit he deserves because all the little plays that he makes do not end up on the stat sheet. He also provided translation for Panarin off the ice, which earned him the nickname "The Translator."

TVR

On the blue line, the Blackhawks had to be happy with the progress of Trevor Van Riemsdyk. With the departure of Oduya, TVR stepped up in a big way. He logged big minutes for the Blackhawks this year compared to last year. He was barely getting into the game and now he is a top or second line defense men for the future. With Keith and Seabrook getting older, it's nice to know that the Blackhawks have players like TVR on the blue line to fall back on. I hope to see much more of TVR in the future, he will be a great defense men for the Hawks.

In the net, Crawford looked very nice. He led the league with 7 shutouts on the season. Though hampered by injury at the end of the regular season, he kept the Blackhawks close in the series against St. Louis. He is a great goalie, and probably will go down in Hawks history as one of the best goalies that the franchise has ever had. Hopefully, the Hawks can keep him around as long as he stays in the league.

Belfour at North Dakota

The Blackhawks this year also continued their connection with North Dakota. They signed Luke Johnson and Nick Schmaltz, both were big reasons why North Dakota won the NCAA tournament this year. North Dakota has produced Blackhawks greats like Toews and Belfour, so they definitely have a recipe for success up in Grand Forks. It will be nice to get these players in the organization and see what they can do on the ice for the Blackhawks.

So in conclusion, it was not the end that the Blackhawks wanted but there were definitely some bright spots. Hopefully, the players can get some well deserved rest with the time off. It would be silly to think, oh yeah, we are going to win the cup every year. We need to be realistic about things, and move on. The future while filled with uncertainty, there are some very bright spots for the Chicago Blackhawks. I will end this post in three words, LET'S GO HAWKS! LET'S GO HAWKS! LET'S GO HAWKS!