Blue Jackets News

"The majority owner of the Blue Jackets died April 25 at 84 years old after an extended illness. "He doesn't have to be made larger than life," former Columbus Mayor Greg Lashutka said. "He wouldn't have liked that. But he was a great, great man." A crowd of 4,261 was filled with blue collars, white collars, business suits and hockey sweaters. The dais was shared by former politicians, an NHL player, a country music star and a zoo director. Behind them, three large screens showed images of McConnell's life, family and friends. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman sat on the floor among McConnell's family and friends, including former Nationwide CEO Dimon McPherson, an array of Columbus business professionals, and several Blue Jackets players and coaches."

"John H. McConnell's wide-ranging interests and accomplishments are reflected in the people who will pay tribute to him tonight at a memorial service at Nationwide Arena. McConnell was the founder of Worthington Industries and the majority owner of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He died April 25 at age 84. The service will feature remarks from Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; former U.S. Rep. John R. Kasich; former Mayor Greg Lashutka; and Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash. Country singer Neal McCoy is scheduled to perform."

"Blue Jackets prospect Stefan Legein, the second-round pick in the 2007 draft, has left the Syracuse Crunch to get a jump on his offseason conditioning program, general manager Scott Howson said. Legein, a winger, played sparingly in just two Crunch postseason games after joining the team from junior hockey last month. Howson said he didn't want Legein, 19, serving as a spare part when he could be getting started on his workouts."

"Long before the Blue Jackets played their first game -- perhaps before they were even known as the Blue Jackets -- the McConnell family was prepared for the inevitable. The death of majority owner John H. McConnell on April 25 will not disrupt the day-to-day operations of the club, president Mike Priest said, nor will it result in an ownership shakeup or in the Blue Jackets being put up for sale. The transition of majority ownership to McConnell's son, John P., will follow a path that was mapped out as many as 10 years ago."

"Blue Jackets defenseman Jan Hejda did not want to test the waters of free agency this summer. He said that several times this season, and now he has proved it. Hejda, 29, re-signed with the Blue Jackets, agreeing on a three-year contract worth $6 million... The club is likely to re-sign restricted free-agent defensemen Marc Methot, Aaron Rome and Clay Wilson, but, of that group, only Wilson can be considered an "offensive" defenseman, and it's unlikely the Blue Jackets would bank on him being in their top six heading into training camp."

"What will be our playoff tradition? Shaved heads painted blue (Blue Man Group)? Civil War regalia? Something spontaneous, that we can't predict? In the Arena District, work on the new ballpark continues apace. The stadium now has a shape. You look at it and think about a home run call: "Look out! That one's bound for Neil Avenue!" Someday, a fan will catch one of those balls, and she'll be on her way to a Blue Jackets playoff game. She'll be moving through a blue sea of humanity rolling around Nationwide Arena. She'll be waving a white towel and whooping, there, at the epicenter of everything anyone is talking about at this time of year. The sun will be shining, the flowers will be blooming, the scalpers will be barking and the taverns will be teeming."

"One by one, Derick Brassard's teammates received late-season call-ups to the injury-depleted Blue Jackets. Derek MacKenzie. Joakim Lindstrom. Alexandre Picard. Zenon Konopka. Adam Pineault. Tommy Sestito. A slew of Syracuse Crunch forwards was promoted ahead of Brassard."

"As majority owner of the Blue Jackets, John H. McConnell's power, wealth and influence could have made him an imposing figure in Nationwide Arena. But McConnell was known by all -- players, management, front-office staff and arena workers -- as, simply, "Mr. Mac." News of McConnell's death yesterday hit home like that of a family member."

"The Blue Jackets have a coach, a captain and a goalie; Scott Howson can back up the truck for the rest."

"The Blue Jackets will have up to $20 million to spend on roster improvements this summer, along with a directive from ownership to get better quickly."

"It took more than two months, but his Syracuse Crunch teammates finally have found something that defenseman Duvie Westcott can't do for them -- grow hair."

"Blue Jackets top goaltending prospect Steve Mason will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to repair a minor tear in a knee. The injury could cause the 19-year-old to miss four to six weeks, said Jackets assistant general manager Chris MacFarland, and prevent him from playing May 16-25 in the Memorial Cup, the top tournament in junior hockey. MacFarland said the magnetic resonance imaging revealed no ligament damage."

"Blue Jackets left winger Rick Nash had minor throat surgery yesterday. "I'm sore," Nash said via text message, "but the doctors said it went well." The procedure was a completion of a tonsillectomy performed four years ago. He is expected to need two to four weeks to recover, so he might miss the early part of the world championships, which begin May 2 in Canada."

"Left winger Rick Nash and goaltender Pascal Leclaire are the names that can be written on the lineup card in ink for next season. The Dispatch takes a look at the roster -- who is under contract, who could be on the way out and who could be on the way in, either from the minor leagues or junior ranks..."

"Ten months after taking the job as Blue Jackets general manager, Scott Howson remains a bit of a mystery, not just to fans in central Ohio but throughout the NHL."

"Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock stayed busy this week, for the sake of his sanity. He had exit interviews and coaches meetings. He had prep work for Team Canada, which he will direct in the upcoming world championship. Each day, he has embraced this work. And each day, when he finished, he found himself in his white SUV, driving around Columbus, with nothing on the radio and no destination in mind. He was lost. "For nine months, it's focus, focus, focus," he said. "And then, all of a sudden, there's nothing.""

"Vyborny, 33, has followed the same routine after each of his seven seasons. This one, however, was much different, his future in hockey never so uncertain. The Jackets are not expected to re-sign the unrestricted free agent, who is the franchise's all-time leader in points (317), assists (204) and games played (543). No one is saying as much, but as Vyborny accepted a hug from a member of the Jackets' public relations staff, there was an air of inevitability surrounding his visit."

"After ending the season with one win in their last nine games, the Blue Jackets were content to neither win nor lose in the NHL draft lottery last night. The Blue Jackets will have the No. 6 pick at this summer's NHL entry draft in Ottawa after the lottery played out in the same order as the standings."

"On a day the Blue Jackets gave away thousands of dollars in prizes and merchandise, the most generous act might have belonged to a fan. Season ticket-holder Jeffrey Jones, 48, of Westerville, won the game-worn jersey of Tommy Sestito on Sunday in Nationwide Arena, but offered to return it upon learning the rookie had made his NHL debut. As part of an annual franchise promotion, players give the jerseys off their backs to fans after the final home game of the season."

"A few moments after the Blue Jackets ended their season yesterday with a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues, captain Rick Nash was handed a microphone to address a crowd of 17,739 in Nationwide Arena. Most of these fine folks have endured a lot over the past seven seasons: excuses, end-of-season apologies and lots and lots of losses. Nash, keenly aware of the situation, summed it up perfectly: "You've got to be the most patient fans in the league.""

"But with 1 minute, 34 seconds remaining, and in the least likely situation for the Blues center to be on the ice, Tkachuk buried No. 500 from long distance, icing a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jackets and putting a lofty accomplishment on a potential Hall of Fame résumé. "

"The last game of any season brings a certain amount of sadness because "this group" is no more; it brings wistful ends as well as bad ones. The "win now" mandate means there may be as as many seven or eight new faces in the dressing room next season, and David Vyborny, the last of the original full-season Blue Jackets, probably will be one who is missing."

"Center Michael Peca scored the Blue Jackets' final goal of the season yesterday in Nationwide Arena. Was it also his final goal as a Blue Jacket? The franchise's biggest offseason signing, Peca said yesterday that he wants to return yet needs management's assurance it's building toward title contention before making a decision."

"Despite a hard-working effort, the Jackets could not convert early scoring chances and fell to the St. Louis Blues 3-0 in the Scottrade Center. Blues goaltender Manny Legace made 25 saves to earn the shutout, but never laid a mitt on some the Jackets' best opportunities."

"Move forward 178 days to the home finale and the dynamics were considerably less exciting. Starting moments after the Cardinals' game ended, the Blues defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 in front an announced sellout of 19,150."

"Will he trade right winger Nikolai Zherdev, whose stock has soared this season? Will he trade both No. 1 picks? Will he tender offer sheets to restricted free agents? Will he acquire the rights to unrestricted free agents before they hit the market?"

"The Blue Jackets who close the season today against the St. Louis Blues aren't the same old team that stumbled through the NHL for most of the past six seasons. It is a cousin, maybe. It shares the previous teams' failure to make the playoffs, but that's it."

"When Mike Priest was named president of the Blue Jackets nearly 12 months ago, his name was barely known among fans or the NHL."

"Keith Tkachuk, F, Blues: Scored the 498th and 499th goals of his career"

"But Thursday morning, standing outside the locker room in Detroit's Joe Louis Arena, Leclaire welcomed the chance to meet with Yzerman, an assistant general manager for Team Canada."

"Coach Ken Hitchcock has a message for weary Blue Jackets who seem to be on the ice virtually every other shift: The offseason starts Sunday night and not a moment before."

"The Blue Jackets are 17-17-9 against the Blues, including 3-0 in the Scottrade Center. This is the seventh of eight meetings this season with St. Louis going 3-3."

"The lasting image will be that of the puck, flipped by Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg from behind the goal line, hitting the left pad of Blue Jackets goaltender Pascal Leclaire and bouncing into the net with 11.4 seconds left as he tried to get back in position. In reality, the Blue Jackets' loss to the Detroit Red Wings last night could be traced to a sequence a few minutes earlier, when a long shift in the Jackets' zone led to a Columbus penalty and, ultimately, to a Red Wings tying goal. At that point, momentum was lost, and soon, too, was the game. The Red Wings took a 3-2 win before 19,435 in Joe Louis Arena, a kick-in-the-gut loss as the Blue Jackets wind down the season."

"It was a fitting way for the Red Wings to clinch the Presidents' Trophy. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock has preached all season about shooting the puck. Henrik Zetterberg has listened well. Zetterberg, from behind the Blue Jackets net, back-handed a shot off the leg of goalie Pascal Leclaire with 12 seconds left for the winning goal Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena to earn the Red Wings a 3-2 victory and the Presidents' Trophy. "

"Johan Franzen didn't get the game-winner this time, but his goal helped the Red Wings capture the Presidents' Trophy for a record sixth time. No other club has won the trophy more than twice in the 22-year history of the award... The Wings didn't have to worry about overtime, though. Henrik Zetterberg's goal from behind the net with 12 seconds left gave the Wings a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jackets on Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena."

"At 11:41 a.m. yesterday, right winger Adam Pineault walked into Joe Louis Arena with his sticks in one hand and a travel bag in the other. By now it's a familiar scene -- fresh-faced reinforcements arriving from minor-league Syracuse to help the Blue Jackets wade through a flood of late-season injuries."

"Late Tuesday night, the Blue Jackets might have taken a big step toward finally acquiring a legitimate No. 1 center. And, of all people, they have Adam Foote to thank for it. The former Blue Jackets captain helped the Colorado Avalanche secure a playoff spot with a victory over Vancouver. That means the Jackets will receive Colorado's first-round pick in the upcoming draft as part of the Feb. 26 trade for Foote."

"The prospect of making an NHL season debut in Joe Louis Arena might overwhelm some minor-league players. Not the irrepressible Zenon Konopka. Hard-core Blue Jackets fans know Konopka to be a competitor of the highest order, an agitator who has stirred more pots than Chef Boyardee."

"The Blue Jackets are 11-25-1-7 all time against Detroit, including 6-13-0-3 in Joe Louis Arena. This is the eighth and final meeting of the season. The Blue Jackets are 3-3-1."

"Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock won't have to watch the early rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs in misery. His time will be occupied. Hitchcock was named yesterday to coach Team Canada in the World Championships on May 2-18 in Quebec City, Quebec, and Halifax, Nova Scotia."

"The Blue Jackets won't come out and say they no longer want David Vyborny, because that would be in poor taste. Vyborny won't comment, because he can't discern, with surety, what is next for him."

"Clad in his familiar Blue Jackets pullover, Ritchie Shepard emerged from the locker room Friday morning slowly pushing a supply cart."

"The Blue Jackets are 3-8 in shootouts this season, losing more of the game-deciding gimmicks than every other NHL club except the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres (nine each)."

"With very little margin for error, the Blue Jackets have spent most of the season standing on the precipice. Last night, two split-second sequences -- one that hinged on the edge of a skate, the other on the tip of a goaltender's glove -- spelled doom for the Blue Jackets and served as the perfect metaphor for their season. They couldn't hold leads of 3-1 and 4-3, ultimately losing to the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in a shootout before 20,885 in the United Center."

"But the Hawks wouldn't allow it. They rallied from a two-goal, second-period deficit and then again after being down a goal midway through the third for a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory Sunday night before a crowd of 20,885 at the United Center."

"The Blackhawks rallied from deficits of 3-1 and 4-3 to beat the pesky Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 in a shootout Sunday and keep their playoff hopes alive with three games left."

"Only two NHL clubs have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the past seven seasons -- the Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers. The Blue Jackets will have to wait for 2008-09 after they were eliminated from contention yesterday before playing their 79th game of the season. Perhaps this will be at least a little consolation for weary Blue Jackets fans: The Syracuse Crunch, with a handful of Blue Jackets prospects on its roster, is tearing up the American Hockey League."

"With one week to go in the NHL season, the Blackhawks are refusing to go away in their pursuit of a playoff spot. The Hawks came face to face with what likely would have been the end on several occasions Sunday night at a sold-out United Center, only to rally from behind twice to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 in a shootout."

"It's been quite a rookie season for Patrick Kane. The 19-year-old forward is setting records and keeping the Chicago Blackhawks in the hunt for a playoff berth. Kane scored the only goal in a shootout and the Blackhawks boosted their slim playoff chances with a 5-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night."

"On a night Nashville enforcer Darcy Hordichuk was driven headlong into the bench and two Blue Jackets defensemen were possibly concussed, the hardest check came courtesy of reality. For several minutes it left coach Ken Hitchcock reeling."