Columbus Blue Jackets News

Cellar twins won't mail it in
Comment
March 16
Edmonton Sun
 
"If misery really does love company, it was a big group hug Monday night in Columbus. It was the Blew Jackets versus the Copper and Blew, two clubs that envisioned big things this season, sitting 14th and 15th in the Western Conference and meeting in what amounted to little more than a support group for teams playing out the string. "It's been tough," said Jackets defencemen Mike Commodore, who knows exactly how the woeful Oilers are feeling. "This is kind of new for me, being out of it with 15 games left, and it's not a lot of fun. It's one thing if you're out with two games left, because right up to the final week you're still in it and every game matters -- it's 'We've got to win, we've ..."
Showing some flash
Comment
March 16
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Antoine Vermette is having a career season with the Blue Jackets, but there will be no celebrating. For the first time in six seasons, Vermette's team will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs. "I won't lie. It's a tough situation to be in," Vermette said. "I remember last season coming to Columbus (from Ottawa at the trade deadline). That was so much fun. "I didn't have as many points at the end of the season, but it was a much more rewarding season." Thanks to a big night by Vermette and Kristian Huselius, the Blue Jackets earned a 5-3 win last night over the Edmonton Oilers before 13,603 in Nationwide Arena, a showdown between the two worst clubs in the Western Conference. It was a much-needed ..."
Jan Hejda may miss rest of season with knee injury
Comment
March 16
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Jan Hejda's season of frustration might end the way it virtually began. The Blue Jackets' top stay-at-home defenseman suffered a sprained right knee in the first period last night in a 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers and could be lost for the remainder of the season. Team officials estimated that Hejda will miss three to four weeks. He played just four shifts, one after being slashed by Edmonton winger and former Jackets teammate Gilbert Brule. The sprain is similar to the one he suffered to his left knee Oct.13 against Calgary. He was tabled for three weeks with that injury, and it took him an additional month to regain his form. Hejda was a plus-43 during his first two seasons with the ..."
Brule still stuck in cellar
Comment
March 15
Columbus Dispatch
 
"In some ways, little has changed for Edmonton forward Gilbert Brule since the Blue Jackets traded him in the summer of 2008. Brule still spends each March out of the playoff picture. The poor kid somehow got himself jettisoned to one of the few franchises more inept than the Jackets this season. In other ways, however, much is different for the No. 6 overall pick in the 2005 NHL draft. The diminutive winger has filled out where it matters most, on the score sheet. Brule returns to Nationwide Arena tonight as the Oilers' third-leading scorer, putting up career-high numbers in goals (15), assists (17) and points (32). "I'm playing with more confidence," Brule said. "Obviously, putting the ..."
NHL notebook: Hitchcock gets to work in desert
Comment
March 14
Columbus Dispatch
 
"When Ken Hitchcock was fired as Blue Jackets coach Feb. 3, he had only a few days of downtime before he could immerse himself in being an assistant coach for Team Canada at the Vancouver Olympics. Hitchcock is now in the desert of La Quinta, Calif., embracing another pursuit. "I'm training hard," Hitchcock said. "(Girlfriend Corina Kelepouris) has me doing a thing called cross fitness training, which is this very intense fitness program. "Out here I'm able to walk everywhere. There's a big mountain out beyond the backyard, which is pretty physically demanding. I'm working hard at it. We'll see where it goes." Hitchcock wouldn't say how many pounds he has shed, but it's clear he has ..."
Jackets notebook: Noel wants to be boss
Comment
March 14
Columbus Dispatch
 
"In 1993, as coach Claude Noel left the Dayton Bombers to accept an assistant's position at a higher minor-league level, the franchise owner made what proved to be a prescient observation. "He told me, 'I don't see you as an assistant coach,'" said Noel, the Blue Jackets' interim coach. Noel, 54, has shared that sentiment for some time. He said yesterday he sees his future as a head coach - whether it's with the Blue Jackets or somewhere else in the hockey world. "For me to have joy in my life, I have to be a head coach," Noel said. "I have to teach and that's when I have peace of mind. I fight for peace of mind every day. As an assistant, I don't have as much satisfaction." Noel, who ..."
Jackets unravel in second
Comment
March 14
Columbus Dispatch
 
"On nights like this, the season can't end soon enough for the Blue Jackets. Playing without two of their top three scorers and playing against a St.Louis Blues club desperate to make the playoffs, the Blue Jackets came out on the ugly end of an odiferous performance last night before 16,453 in Nationwide Arena. The Blues won 5-1 and at one point early in the third period had a 32-11 advantage in shots. "We have to keep stepping up as individuals," Blue Jackets forward R.J. Umberger said. "We chased all game and they had the puck, and we could not get it at all. It wasn't like we were passing up opportunities to shoot, we just didn't have the puck at all. "It's really tough to play like ..."
Blues are just too fast and strong for the Blue Jackets
Comment
March 14
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The writing of this entry is initiated at the start of the third period because, by this juncture, the die is cast. The St. Louis Blues are just too fast and strong for the Blue Jackets on this night. What is more, the Blues are firing lasers at Steve Mason, and the Jackets stopped getting shots – of any kind – in the first period. Things started well enough for the home team. The Jackets had a couple of early power plays and they moved the puck around, bip-bip-bip, to generate a few solid chances. Even the Dorsett-Brassard-Mayorov unit looked pretty good with the man advantage. But by the end of the first period, the momentum had begun to shift. T.J. Oshie was stoned on a redirection ..."
Blues hope they can finally find some success in Columbus
Comment
March 13
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
 
"If the St. Louis Blues fail to make the playoffs, their struggles against the Columbus Blue Jackets could be part of the reason why. The Blues try for their second win in five attempts this season against the Blue Jackets when the teams meet Saturday night at Nationwide Arena. St. Louis (31-26-9) is trying to move back into playoff contention in the Western Conference but is currently six points behind the eighth and final spot. However, the Blues have played well recently, winning six of seven, including a 2-1 shootout victory over the Islanders on Thursday, improving them to 3-1-0 on this six-game road trip. St. Louis is 19-10-4 on the road, its most away wins since earning 27 in the ..."
Matchup: St. Louis Blues at Columbus Blue Jackets
Comment
March 13
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"BLUES PREVIEW - The Blues have won six of their last nine road games and are 3-1 on their current six-game trip. The team, however, is just 3-7 on its past 10 trips to Columbus. BLUE JACKETS PREVIEW - After making the playoffs for the first time in club history last year, Columbus is playing spoiler down the stretch this season. The Blue Jackets are coming off a 2-1 win over Atlanta. WHAT TO WATCH - The Blues' Patrik Berglund takes a career-high, six-game point streak into tonight's contest. He netted his 11th goal of the season Thursday and has three goals and three assists in his past six games."
Jackets notebook: Matthews will return
Comment
March 13
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets radio play-by-play voice George Matthews will be back behind the microphone next season. Matthews has been with the organization since the inaugural season in 2000-01, becoming a fan favorite for his zealous, rapid-fire delivery. Last summer, when Matthews was given only a one-year contract - shorter than any of the other broadcasters' contract extensions - many assumed Matthews' days with the Blue Jackets were numbered. Neither Matthews nor the Blue Jackets would comment, although the Blue Jackets did confirm the report. The rest of the club's broadcasters - TV's Jeff Rimer, Bill Davidge and John Michael, and radio's Bob McElligot - have contracts extending beyond this season ..."
Methot's potential excites Jackets
Comment
March 13
Columbus Dispatch
 
"At first, Blue Jackets defenseman Marc Methot was put on the club's top defensive pair out of necessity. Eight games later, he's lining up next to Jan Hejda because it's interim coach Claude Noel's preference. "(Methot) is going to be a really good player for us," Noel said. "He's a smart player; really strong. And he's just touching the tip of the iceberg right now, just barely." When the Blue Jackets' list of top young talent is rattled off, it starts with goaltender Steve Mason, followed by center Derick Brassard and right winger Jake Voracek. Rarely, if ever, does it make its way to Methot. But the 24-year-old is getting a chance to play his way into the conversation. He's 6 foot 3, ..."
Nash, Huselius Out Vs. St. Louis
Comment
March 13
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets will be without two-thirds of their No. 1 line on Saturday when they play the St. Louis Blues. Right winger Rick Nash will miss his third straight game with a lower body injury, while left winger Kristian Huselius will sit because of an upper body ailment. Huselius returned Thursday after a two-game absence, but apparently aggravated the injury."
Jackets players know they must take charge
Comment
March 12
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"Conditions are right for a long-needed change to take root in Nationwide Arena. This change is only loosely connected to a series of unfortunate events - the losing streaks, coaching change, trade-deadline fire sale and overarching disappointment - that has darkened this, the Blue Jackets' ninth season. The players can become the face of the team. That is the change, potentially. Is that a major development? It should not be. When one conjures a hockey team, be it a Stanley Cup champion or an also-ran, the first pictures that spring to mind are the players: yesterday's Production Line, today's young Penguins, tomorrow's Coyotes. Last night, the Atlanta Thrashers were in Nationwide Arena. ..."
Blue Jackets notebook: Dorsett fills big shoes
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March 12
Columbus Dispatch
 
"In his first two seasons with the Blue Jackets, Derek Dorsett has played many roles: agitator, fighter, depth forward, third-line checker, alternate captain. Dorsett percolates with energy and ambition. He's game for a challenge. Last night, he was given a whopper - fill in for injured captain Rick Nash. Dorsett was elevated to first-line right winger alongside Antoine Vermette and Kristian Huselius. Dorsett contributed an assist and played a career-high 17 minutes, 30 seconds in the Blue Jackets' 2-1 win over the Atlanta Thrashers in Nationwide Arena. "I could never fill Nasher's shoes," Dorsett said. "I don't ever expect to be a first-line player but, if injuries happen, I want to prove ..."
Jackets reluctantly playing spoiler
Comment
March 12
Columbus Dispatch
 
"At some point in the next 21/2 weeks, the Blue Jackets will be mathematically eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, a cold smack of finality in the franchise's most disappointing season to date. Most of the players in the dressing room are resigned to this, though adamant that they won't be playing out the string in the final month of the season. "I don't think anybody wants to be a spoiler," Blue Jackets forward R.J. Umberger said. "Nobody wants to be in that situation this time of year. "Our chances are pretty much slim to none. We know that. If we need something to play for, it's playing the role of spoiler, playing for each other and playing for the city." The Blue Jackets beat the ..."
Jackets over Thrashers
Comment
March 12
Columbus Dispatch
 
"It was a messy night at the rink. It was also mesmerizing in its own, strange way. The Atlanta Thrashers' system might be described as . . . as . . . can anyone out there describe it? Go, go, go? As for the Blue Jackets, they were, once again, in a position where they had to nurse a lead deep into the third period. The Jackets prevailed 2-1 before a crowd of 13,459 in Nationwide Arena. The Jackets were out-shot 17-1 in the third period. How is that for exciting? Jackets goaltender Mathieu Garon made 28 saves, 16 in the third period. He kept a clean sheet until he was beaten on an unlucky carom with 2:21 remaining. Garon: "The first two periods we held them to something like 10 or 11 shots ..."
NHL return ends abruptly
Comment
March 11
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Just as Derek MacKenzie's latest crack at the NHL got started, his 2009-10 season might have come to an end. The Blue Jackets center, recalled from minor-league Syracuse on Tuesday to play against Anaheim, suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee late in the first period and is expected to miss three or four weeks. "Three to four weeks is the end of the (NHL) season," MacKenzie said. "But the Syracuse season might go a little longer. They're in the playoff race. Maybe I can get back for that." MacKenzie, the Syracuse captain, is wearing a brace on his left knee and has been told to stay off the leg as much as possible. Surgery won't be necessary."
3rd period has been brutal for Jackets
Comment
March 11
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Here's an item that might surprise Blue Jackets fans, given how the team has underperformed this season: The Blue Jackets have either led or been tied after two periods in 40 of their 67 games - roughly 60 percent of them. Those numbers are on par with some of the clubs likely to make the playoffs in the Western Conference this season. Before last night's games, Chicago had led or been tied in 43 of 65 games after two periods, Detroit in 39 of 66, Los Angeles in 39 of 65, Phoenix in 43 of 66 and Vancouver in 39 of 66. It's what has happened in the final 20 minutes - and beyond, in some cases - that has the Blue Jackets near the bottom of the NHL standings, charging toward yet another draft ..."
Coleman hints at public takeover of Nationwide Arena
Comment
March 10
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Officials involved in talks to stabilize the Columbus Blue Jackets' finances hinted yesterday that the plan taking shape is likely to include public ownership of Nationwide Arena. In an appearance on All Sides With Ann Fisher, the WOSU-AM public-affairs program, Mayor Michael B. Coleman said he envisions the involvement of both the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority and Ohio State University's Schottenstein Center. The Blue Jackets' $5million annual rent for Nationwide Arena and $4million annual loss to run it are the biggest factors in the team's finances, according to a report made in November for the Columbus Chamber. The report said losing the NHL franchise would devastate ..."
Nash vows Jackets won't quit on season
Comment
March 10
Columbus Dispatch
 
"A Blue Jackets season that many consider over has one month remaining. The team's top two leaders said yesterday that the final 15 games cannot pass without a sense of relevance and pride. With fan unrest growing and the Jackets reeling from a 6-0 loss Monday in Los Angeles, Rick Nash and R.J. Umberger said they are taking it upon themselves to promote the importance of the season's final weeks regardless of the standings. "Guys are playing for a lot of different reasons, but I've got to make sure these guys are playing for the pride of the city," said Nash, the team captain. "They can't just worry about personal stats and that. We are trying to build a fan base and maintain a fan base, ..."
Jackets show fight, rebound from lowlight
Comment
March 10
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets goaltender Mathieu Garon spent last night stopping pucks. His teammates, meanwhile, were busy saving face. Garon and the Jackets rebounded from a dreadful game in Los Angeles to earn a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Honda Center. The victory helped ease the sting from a trying three-game trip that included a 6-0 loss to the Kings on Monday. "This was big for us after a game like (Monday) night," defenseman Fedor Tyutin said. "We looked at ourselves in the mirror and didn't feel too good about ourselves and the team play. Today, I thought we were much better." The short-handed Jackets got goals from Derek Dorsett, Jake Voracek, Tyutin, Antoine Vermette and Derick Brassard ..."
Bounce jump-starts Voracek
Comment
March 9
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Nothing was going right for Jake Voracek. He couldn't score. He couldn't pass. Every play he made seemed like the wrong one. Voracek was a 20-year-old bereft of confidence on Feb.2, the night he finished with a minus-4 rating in a 5-1 loss to Colorado. "We weren't winning; nothing was working," Voracek said. "I'd try to make a play, and the puck would wind up on someone's skates. It was everything at once." It's amazing how, at even the highest levels of sport, one fortuitous bounce can swing a player's fortunes. For Voracek, it happened Feb.6, when he snapped an eight-game scoreless streak with a secondary assist on a fluky goal by Milan Jurcina. He finished the night with three points ..."
Now with Kings, Modin is on the right side in L.A.'s victory over Columbus
Comment
March 9
L.A. Daily News
 
"Fredrik Modin didn't pass to the wrong jersey. The Kings' newest left wing did have to be careful, though. Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Fedor Tyutin, his teammate just a week ago, was closing in on Modin's new linemate, Wayne Simmonds, at the Kings' blue line. But Tyutin couldn't get a stick on Modin's long pass out of his own zone. Simmonds did while spinning and tracking down the puck as it caromed off the boards before finishing the solo breakaway for his 15 th goal of the season at 5:49 of the first period Monday. As symbolic moments go, you couldn't draw up a better one for two teams headed in opposite directions. Modin, thanks to a deadline-day trade with Columbus last Wednesday, ..."
Rick Nash leaves game in first with undisclosed injury
Comment
March 9
Columbus Dispatch
 
"At least the Blue Jackets didn't keep their fans up all night this time only to blow another third-period lead. No, the outcome was delivered so quickly, so decisively, writers for Jay Leno could have penciled in Blue Jacket gags in time for his monologue. There was rich material to be mined from this odious performance. The Los Angeles Kings scored four times in the first 16 minutes last night on the way to a 6-0 victory in Staples Center. "That was more than tough, it was embarrassing," forward R.J. Umberger said. "We didn't play smart. If we get beat, we get beat. But we were our own worst enemies out there." Goaltender Steve Mason's recent run of fine play ended as he allowed the first ..."
GM's goal: devalue shootout
Comment
March 8
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Before entering the world of hockey management, Scott Howson made a living as a corporate lawyer. Over the next three days, the Blue Jackets general manager will state his case about why the NHL needs to revamp its point system in regard to overtime games and shootouts. In an effort to curb the rise in three-point games, Howson wants to dissuade teams from playing more than 60 minutes. His proposals will be discussed during the three-day general managers meeting that begins today in Boca Raton, Fla. It's the first time Howson has brought an issue before his peers and it's one sure to tweak some purists who don't want fractions introduced into the NHL standings."
Jackets' search for offense may start with defensemen
Comment
March 8
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson said yesterday he believes in the nucleus of his club, but understands change is necessary to prevent a repeat of this season. One place Howson figures to shake up the roster is on defense. He hinted at possible offseason deals as a means of generating more scoring, which Howson sees as the top priority for next season. That point was driven home like a railroad spike Saturday night in a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks, a game in which the Blue Jackets were outshot 44-22. "We have to get more offense out of the team," Howson said. "What you saw (Saturday) was a prime example. We got great goaltending from (Steve Mason) but couldn't create enough ..."
Winning eases contract hit for San Jose's Malhotra
Comment
March 7
Columbus Dispatch
 
"From a monetary standpoint, former Blue Jackets center Manny Malhotra was one of the unrestricted free agents who took a significant hit last summer. He had hoped to parlay his best offensive season into a nice deal, rejecting multiyear offers from the Blue Jackets and Atlanta Thrashers. As training camps opened in early September, Malhotra was still searching for employment. He finally signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks for $700,000 - about half of what the Jackets supposedly had offered as part of a three-year package. "It was unnerving, especially with a 1-year old boy," Malhotra said. After four-plus seasons with the Blue Jackets, Malhotra is enjoying his time with the ..."
Third-period goals sink Blue Jackets
Comment
March 7
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason deserved a better outcome. But this is San Jose, after all. No effort, regardless of how well-intentioned or heroic, ever seems sufficient enough for the Blue Jackets in HP Pavilion. Mason was brilliant in carrying a shutout into the third period, but the Sharks rallied with two goals for a 2-1 win before 17,562 teal-clad fans. The Jackets are 1-15-2 against the Sharks in San Jose. Their only win came on Jan. 30, 2004. Mason nearly delivered an improbable victory, making 42 saves, including many in spectacular fashion. But his teammates, weary from repelling waves of Shark rushes, wore down in the third period. The Jackets took five penalties in the last ..."
Den of Doom
Comment
March 6
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Life as a Blue Jacket in this city has been a living 'L.' The Jackets are 1-14-2 in the Silicon Valley. Since 2000, the winning percentage of .118 is the worst by any road team against a single opponent in the NHL having played at least 10 times. The second worst? Wait for it . . . It's the Blue Jackets again. They have clicked at .194 clip in Denver against the Avalanche. Thanks to Elias Sports Bureau for the numbers. Here is a closer look since 2000. These are regular season games: Blue Jackets at San Jose 1-14-2 (.118) Blue Jackets at Colorado 3-14-1 (.194) Coyotes at Vancouver 3-13-1 (.206) Panthers at Carolina 4-20-4; (.214) Ducks at Detroit 2-12-4; (.222) Canadians at New Jersey ..."
Trades force Noel to shuffle the deck
Comment
March 5
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The grease board in the Blue Jackets locker room yesterday offered an inspirational quotation: The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. Among the challenges immediately facing interim coach Claude Noel: simply filling out a lineup card. The Blue Jackets lost three veterans, Raffi Torres, Fredrik Modin and Milan Jurcina, at the NHL trade deadline without getting a regular contributor in return. They have recalled forward Mike Blunden from minor-league Syracuse and might need newly acquired defenseman Nathan Paetsch to play forward Saturday at San Jose. As the Jackets pick up the pieces, Noel remains optimistic even as he searches for suitable line combinations. ..."
From gold to gloom
Comment
March 5
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash walked into the locker room yesterday and saw three empty stalls to the right of his locker, the nameplates above each removed. Fredrik Modin, gone. Raffi Torres, gone. Milan Jurcina, gone. "Kind of lonely over there," Nash said. A week ago, he played for a Canadian Olympic hockey team worth its weight in gold. Yesterday, he dealt with the realities of another Blue Jackets' retooling project. The only Torres in the room was a bantamweight cage fighter named Miguel doing a meet and greet with players in advance of his Saturday fight in Nationwide Arena. A day after the Blue Jackets moved three veterans at the NHL trade deadline for draft picks, prospects and a ..."
Olympics hurt Jackets
Comment
March 4
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson sees positives in allowing NHL players to participate in the Winter Olympics. He's also dealing with the fallout from one of the negatives. While Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash (Canada) returned from Vancouver with a gold medal, defenseman Milan Jurcina (Slovakia) came back with a sports hernia. The injury, Howson said, diminished Jurcina's trade value. The club received only a conditional sixth-round draft pick from Washington yesterday. "This is one of the downsides to (Olympic participation) and this is one of the reasons why there is concern among the NHL teams," Howson said."
These trades produce little excitement
Comment
March 4
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"The NHL trade deadline came and went at 3 p.m. yesterday. The action was not what it used to be. Before the salary cap was instituted in 2005, deadline day was an unofficial holiday in Canada. Big-name players flew hither and yon. Now, it's more like spring cleaning. Playoff teams still buy. Non-playoff teams still sell. The difference is in the magnitude. This year, 48 deals were made before and after the Olympic break. Ninety-three players and 34 draft picks were involved. Most of the action rated low on the thrill meter. Arguably, the most exciting trade consummated yesterday was done between Colorado and Phoenix: The Coyotes got semi-sniper Wojtek Wolski for Peter Mueller (whom the ..."
On glum day, Torres, Jurcina, Modin dealt for draft picks, prospects
Comment
March 4
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets general manger Scott Howson went to the final hour before yesterday's NHL trade deadline before securing the second-round draft pick from Buffalo that he wanted for left winger Raffi Torres. But what Howson might remember most about the day is what he could not obtain for injured defenseman Milan Jurcina. The disclosure of Jurcina's sports hernia, diagnosed Monday, contributed to a precipitous drop in his trade stock. Instead of getting a possible third-round offer for Jurcina, who had a strong Olympics with Slovakia, the Blue Jackets settled for a conditional sixth-rounder in sending him back to Washington. Jurcina's injury should heal in four weeks after surgery, but the ..."
Jackets trade Mathieu Roy
Comment
March 3
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets have traded defenseman Mathieu Roy, playing in minor-league Syracuse, for center Matt Rust. Rust is playing at the University of Michigan. Rust, 20, was the Panthers' fourth choice, No. 101 overall, in the 2007 draft. He is a 5-foot-10, 192-pound forward. He has 11 goals and 21 assists in 37 games this season for the Wolverines."
Jackets Trade Alex Picard
Comment
March 3
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets have traded forward Alex Picard -- the franchise's No. 1 pick in 2004 -- to Phoenix for forward Chad Kolarik. Kolarik, 24, was a seventh-round pick (No. 199 overall) in the 2004 draft. He is 5-foot-11 and weighs 185 pounds."
Capitals Re-Acquire Jurcina From Blue Jackets
Comment
March 3
TSN.ca
 
"After just 17 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Washington Capitals have re-acquired defenceman Milan Jurcina for a sixth round draft pick. Jurcina was originally sent to the Jackets on December 28th along with Chris Clark in exchange for Jason Chimera."
Kings acquire Modin from Jackets
Comment
March 3
TSN.ca
 
"The Los Angeles Kings have added some offensive punch as they have acquired Fredrik Modin from the Columbus Blue Jackets for future considerations. The 35-year old Modin, who has an Olympic gold medal and a Stanley Cup ring on his resume, has been limited to 24 games this season due to knee and foot injuries. He has two goals to go along with four assists."
Jackets Trade Jurcina
Comment
March 3
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets have traded defenseman Milan Jurcina back to the Washington Capitals. The Jackets received a sixth round pick in return for the Slovak defenseman. Jurcina, an unrestricted free agent, was traded from Washington along with Chris Clark for Jason Chimera on Dec. 28"
Sabres get Torres
Comment
March 3
Buffalo News
 
"The Sabres, in search of a top-six forward with scoring potential, have acquired left wing Raffi Torres from Columbus, according to sources. The 28-year-old comes to Buffalo in exchange for defenseman Nathan Paetsch and a second-round draft pick, according to TSN. Torres has spent most of the season on Columbus' second line and has 19 goals and 12 assists in 60 games. His best season came with Edmonton in 2005-06, when he scored 27 times and helped the Oilers advance to the Stanley Cup finals."
Blue Jackets Send Torres To Sabres For Paetsch, Draft Pick
Comment
March 3
TSN.ca
 
"The Buffalo Sabres have gotten into the trade action as they have acquired forward Raffi Torres from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Nathan Paetsch and a second round draft pick. The 28-year old Torres has 19 goals and 12 assists in 60 games with the Jackets this season. This is his fourth NHL stop after stints with the Islanders, Oilers and Blue Jackets."
Gold medal hasn't hit home for Nash
Comment
March 3
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Rick Nash has returned from the Olympics with a new title to put before his name. No longer is he just Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash or All-Star Rick Nash. He is now gold-medal winner Rick Nash. "I don't think it's sunk in quite yet," Nash said before last night's game. "It's truly amazing to win gold in your own country. It's unbelievable. I think the biggest thing was the sense of relief after (Sidney Crosby's winning) goal went in. I've never jumped the boards so quick in my life. Just the relief that we did it in our own country with so much pressure on us was the biggest thing." Nash consistently talked about the pressure that the team was under. Nash finished the Olympics with two ..."
Sloppy game with a bad ending
Comment
March 3
Columbus Dispatch
 
"After a 16-day Olympic break, the NHL returned to Nationwide Arena last night. Nothing operated smoothly. Several synchronized skaters, performing during the first intermission, stumbled and fell to the ice. The IGS Energy Blimp, which floats through the arena distributing prizes, gently landed among the spectators after the second period. As for the Blue Jackets, they had kinks to work out, as well. They built a two-goal, first-period lead but committed too many mistakes in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks tied it with 5:19 remaining as defenseman Grant Clitsome, making his NHL debut, turned over a puck that led to a Kyle Wellwood tap-in goal. Vancouver won it at ..."
Noel: Fight when it's right
Comment
March 2
Columbus Dispatch
 
"In his three NHL seasons, Blue Jackets forward Jared Boll has earned the reputation of someone willing to lose the gloves and tangle with whomever he sees fit. With that in mind, interim coach Claude Noel recently spoke to the team, and Boll in particular, about being wise with the decision to tussle. Boll said the main message was that every fight needs to have a purpose. "You don't fight for yourself, you fight for the team," Boll said. "Even if you're going up against a bigger opponent or someone who's a little bit bigger, if it's going to help the team and if it's the right time, then do it. "Sometimes it's not the right time, so he just told me to pick my spots and know when to do it. ..."
Noel puts winning at top of his list
Comment
March 2
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets interim coach Claude Noel can get so deep into a philosophical response that he will occasionally stop himself and earnestly ask, "What was the question again?" It's one of several unconventional qualities of a 54-year coach who calls his hockey stick "Flamethrower" and allows the club's assistant equipment manager to decorate his office. But yesterday, as various members of the organization offered analytical answers to the question of what would constitute success in the final 19 games of the season, Noel was concise. "Winning, simple," he said. "A fan might say we need to win (this many), a rocket scientist might say, 'No, we need to win this (many).' We need to win them ..."
Gold medal could be silver lining for Nash
Comment
March 2
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Rob Oller
"A painting of Rick Nash hangs in the office of Blue Jackets interim coach Claude Noel, an abstract piece of art in which one would struggle to identify the player within the frame. The picture perfectly captures Nash's career. Seven seasons in Columbus and Jackets fans still are not exactly sure what to make of the team's best player. He is an enigma wrapped in a CBJ sweater. Is Nash a top-15 player in the league? Sometimes. Is the Blue Jackets' captain an effective leader? Maybe. This much is clear: Nash is a nice guy and ever-improving playmaker who might simply need a healthy dose of big-time success to finally bring his work into focus. Winning Olympic gold as a member of Team Canada ..."
Blue Jackets teammates gather to cheer on Nash
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March 1
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Six Blue Jackets players, representing three nations, found one common rooting interest yesterday while watching the Olympic gold-medal game. "Guys kept yelling at the TV set, 'Get Nasher out there again,'" forward Derek Dorsett said. "It was awesome to see him play such a good game." From the Downtown condominium of Jared Boll and Kris Russell to the suburban home of general manager Scott Howson, many were happy to see captain Rick Nash become the first Blue Jackets player to win an Olympic gold medal. Nash was a member of Team Canada, which outlasted the Americans 3-2 on Sidney Crosby's overtime winner in Vancouver. As the Canadians received their medals, even Boll, an American rooting ..."
Jackets' Mason hopes to pick up right where he left off
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March 1
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason doesn't deny he needed a two-week break. If only Wayne Gretzky had lit the Olympic cauldron in December. "I could have used it two months ago to break up all that poor play," Mason said with a grin. "It was obviously nice to have the time off, but for me, I would have rather kept on playing." Mason played his best four consecutive games of the season before the Olympic break, which began Feb.15. The run included his only three-game winning streak of what otherwise has been a sobering second season. He posted a 3-1 record in that stretch with a 1.26 goals-against average, a .960 save percentage and two shutouts. "The only difference I see in Mase is he ..."