Blue Jackets News

Nash structures deal so it helps Jackets
Comment
July 4
Columbus Dispatch
 
"That massive display of fireworks launched from the Arena District last night could easily have had a dual meaning. The Blue Jackets were in full-blown celebration mode after signing captain Rick Nash to an eight-year, $62.4 million contract extension. The deal, which begins with the 2010-11 season, will pay Nash an average of $7.8 million per season. "It's a very fair number," general manager Scott Howson said. "Rick made a statement to the team and the city that he's not out for every last dollar. He wanted to have a fair contract that allows us the flexibility to build the team around him. "This is very exciting for all of us. We're glad it's done, and now we can get onto task of ..."
Captain has shown he's worth every penny
Comment
July 4
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"Rick Nash was a rich young man yesterday. He is a much richer young man today. The thing about it is, he wanted to make his money here, in Columbus, and be a part of a process here, in Columbus. Nash wants to win a Stanley Cup, and he thinks he knows the parade route. Nash signed an eight-year contract extension last night worth $62.4 million. Throughout the hockey world, there will be those who say the Blue Jackets overpaid for their franchise player. We heard that last time Nash signed a contract extension, in 2004, when the Jackets gave him a five-year deal worth $27 million. That contract was a bet: If Nash was going to be a star, if he was going to be the cornerstone of the franchise, ..."
Star Forward Nash Re-Signs With Blue Jackets
Comment
July 3
TSN.ca
 
"Rick Nash will be staying in Columbus for the long haul. The 25-year old forward has signed an eight-year, $62.4 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets. The yearly cap hit on the deal is $7.8 million. Nash, who tallied 79 points in 78 games played last season, was the fifth highest goal scorer in the NHL in 2008-09, netting 40 goals. In 2003-04, Nash shared the Rocket Richard Trophy for leading goal-scorer with Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk . The four-time all-star who became the captain of the team less than two years ago was scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the 2009-10 season."
No. 1 pick turns heads with his speed, skills
Comment
July 2
Columbus Dispatch
 
"It didn't take long for John Moore to show the Blue Jackets what he can do on the ice. Three days after being selected No. 21 overall in the NHL draft, the defenseman, regarded for his speed and above-average puck-handling skills, skated into development camp to show off his skills to the coaches. So far, he has lived up to the hype. Not afraid to enter the scoring zone, Moore, 6 feet 2 and 189 pounds, can get down the ice in three or four strides and has a knack for creating scoring chances. That's partly why the Blue Jackets, who ranked near the bottom of the league in defensive scoring last season, targeted Moore, an 18-year-old from the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, Ill., who was the ..."
Opening offer a disappointment for Nash
Comment
July 2
Columbus Dispatch
 
"It didn't take long for the Blue Jackets' contract negotiations with captain Rick Nash to take a contentious turn. After meeting with his agent, Joe Resnick, Nash told The Dispatch last night that the initial offer from Jackets general manager Scott Howson fell short of what he had in mind. Nash watched yesterday's free-agent spending spree, with NHL teams continuing to shower elite players with huge contracts, and said he expected more from the Blue Jackets. "There were tons of teams throwing some pretty big money around," Nash said. "If this doesn't get done, I'm sure I won't have a problem getting signed by somebody next summer." Neither Howson nor Nash revealed details of the proposal, ..."
NHL teams still willing to spend big for top talent
Comment
July 2
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Bob Hunter
"Times are tough. We know this not only because some of us have been struggling to pay our bills after being laid off, but because the Blue Jackets wouldn't give Manny Malhotra the $2 million or more he apparently thinks he deserves as a asterisk-lugging first-line center. But hey, we're all in this together, right? Maybe not. Yesterday, the Blue Jackets signed free-agent center Sami Pahlsson to a three-year, $7.95 million deal, showing that maybe this "times are tough" hockey stuff isn't exactly as it appears. Pahlsson is one of the top checking-line centers in the NHL and a definite upgrade over Malhotra, a decent third-liner who inadvertently wound up on the first line last season and ..."
Blue Jackets busy in market
Comment
July 2
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets' No. 1 offseason priority -- re-signing captain Rick Nash -- might be on hold for now. But the team added two key players yesterday on the first day of NHL free agency, signing center Sami Pahlsson to a three-year, $7.95 million deal and goaltender Mathieu Garon to a two-year, $2.4 million deal. The signing of Pahlsson, considered one of the NHL's top checking-line centers, means Manny Malhotra's days with the Blue Jackets are over. "(Pahlsson) brings experience winning experience," general manager Scott Howson said. "He can play against the top players in the league. He'll probably play between 16 and 18 minutes a night and against all the top players in the league. "Our ..."
Sign Nash, then wait for trades to fill gaps
Comment
July 1
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"Rick Nash is going to re-up in Columbus. By all indications, it will get done, and sooner rather than later. The Nash extension is the most important player-personnel deal in the history of the Blue Jackets. Nash will agree to terms and remain entrenched as the team's captain and franchise player -- or he will be traded, to salvage some value before he hits the free-agent market next year. If Nash gets traded, the Jackets lose. It would be a major blow to the franchise, its roster, its fan base, its perception of viability. In such situations, I always recall the words of former New York Knicks President (and current St. Louis Blues owner) Dave Checketts: "If we trade Patrick Ewing to the ..."
Jackets' Umberger not Olympic invitee
Comment
July 1
Columbus Dispatch
 
"A career-best 26-goal season was not enough to get Blue Jackets forward R.J. Umberger an invitation to the U.S. Olympic hockey orientation camp. The Ohio State product was one of the notable omissions when the 34-player camp roster was released yesterday by USA Hockey. Umberger, who helped the Jackets earn their first playoff appearance, said he was disappointed to learn of his exclusion and will use it as motivation for next season. The versatile Umberger added that he would accept any future invitation. USA Hockey is expected to ask 50 others to participate in a pre-Olympic anti-doping program, which allows them to be added to the roster. The camp is Aug. 17-19 in suburban Chicago, and ..."
Wooing Nash
Comment
July 1
Columbus Dispatch
 
"At an airport hotel in suburban Toronto yesterday, the Blue Jackets commenced their push to keep captain Rick Nash under contract long into the future. Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson organized a noon meeting with Nash and his agent, Joe Resnick, at which Howson laid bare the Jackets' plans long into the future: how he plans to build the Blue Jackets, where Nash fits into the grand scheme, etc. It was seen by Resnick as a bold and unique move. But with Nash able to sign a contract extension as of noon today, Howson was willing to go out of his way to state the Blue Jackets' case. "This is the most important contract I've ever been involved with," Howson said. While some NHL clubs ..."
Tollefsen on way out as free agent
Comment
June 30
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, one of the toughest players to ever dress for the Blue Jackets, probably won't play for them again. The Blue Jackets did not extend a qualifying offer to Tollefsen by yesterday's deadline, which makes him an unrestricted free agent Wednesday. "It was actually a very difficult decision," general manager Scott Howson said. "Ole is everything you want represented in a Blue Jackets sweater. He's unselfish. He has lots of character. He's hard to play against. He has all the characteristics of our kind of player." But Tollefsen, who missed 94 of 164 games the past two seasons mostly because of injuries, had two strikes against him. To keep him, the Blue Jackets ..."
NHL salary cap traps teams in free agency market
Comment
June 30
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Over the last three summers, the salary cap in the NHL has jumped $17.7 million. The individual increases from year to year were $5 million, $6.3 million and $6.4 million. Teams looking to add help through free agency had a little extra allowance, and many clubs bettered themselves over cash-strapped franchises by spending that allowance. In 2007, Daniel Briere signed an eight-year, $52 million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. In 2008, the Chicago Blackhawks inked Brian Campbell to an eight-year, $56.8 million deal. But with the NHL's announcement last week that the salary cap in 2009-10 will increase only $100,000, to $56.8 million, some upper-echelon clubs are expecting a ..."
Malhotra signing appears unlikely
Comment
June 29
Columbus Dispatch
 
"With two days to go before NHL free agency opens, it's almost certain that Blue Jackets center Manny Malhotra will test the market. General manager Scott Howson and Malhotra's agent have not spoken in more than a week since negotiations stalled. Howson would say only that "We have significant ground to cover" if a deal is to get done. The two sides are apart on both dollars and the length of the contract, Howson said. Malhotra made $1.5 million last season, the final year of a three-year contract. Malhotra has not returned several calls from The Dispatch this offseason. If Malhotra leaves, the Blue Jackets will need to add two centers, either through trade or in free agency, which begins ..."
Fans might feel blue about Lynch's college allegiance
Comment
June 28
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets draft pick Kevin Lynch might have two hurdles to clear before he's really embraced by some central Ohio fans. Lynch grew up in Grosse Pointe, Mich., an avid fan of the Detroit Red Wings who attended "tons of games" in Joe Louis Arena. If that's strike one, get ready for strike two. Lynch is also a rabid fan of Michigan, where he'll be a freshman this fall. How long might it take to endear himself to Blue Jackets' fans? "Once they get to see him play," Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson predicted, "it will happen pretty quickly." Lynch, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound center, was the second-round choice of the Blue Jackets yesterday in the NHL draft in the Bell Centre. He was ..."
New goaltenders coach gets rave reviews from Mason
Comment
June 27
Columbus Dispatch
 
"It has been an offseason filled with awards and rewards for Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason. He earned NHL Rookie of the Year honors last week and was named a second-team All-Star. Mason also treated himself to a new car, a Mercedes-Benz SL63. The most important acquisition, however, might be the goaltenders coach who will greet him at training camp in September. Mason, 21, is eager to work again with Dave Rook, who helped transform him into one of the best goaltenders coming out of junior hockey. "To work with him for an entire season at the NHL level is only going to bode well for myself, and I think it will be a good opportunity for him," Mason said yesterday. Rook will be ..."
It's easy to overestimate the impact of NHL draft
Comment
June 27
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"The first round of the NHL draft was staged last night at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The rest of it will be conducted today. This is the weekend of hope, and it numbs the mind to think about all that franchise-building, packed into two days in one place. Holy Tinkertoy. "The best way to build is through the draft" is one of the oldest bromides in the game, and it is an immutable fact right? Only to a degree. The vast majority of teams are just like the Blue Jackets. They build with first-round picks, by keeping them or trading them. Sometimes, they look smart on a second- or third-round pick. Sometimes, they look brilliant on a fifth-, sixth- or seventh-round pick. We'll know in three to ..."
More than expected
Comment
June 27
Columbus Dispatch
 
"John Moore turned off his cell phone and handed it to his mother last night about one hour into the NHL draft in the Bell Centre. "It was buzzing like crazy," he said. "I didn't want to be one of those guys who's on his cell phone (when he gets picked.)" Moore could have waited a bit longer for the cameras to turn his way -- longer than he expected and longer than the Blue Jackets believed possible. They drafted the lanky, swift-skating defenseman with the 21st pick, making him the first blue-liner they've taken in the first round since 2000. "He's a great skater," general manager Scott Howson said. "I mean, a great skater. "We're bringing a player into our organization who can transport ..."
Moore says "50-50" to play at CC
Comment
June 27
Denver Post
 
"John Moore was drafted 21st overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in Friday's first round of the NHL entry draft. The question next is: Where will Moore play next season - Columbus, Kitchener, Ontario or Colorado Springs? Moore has been recruited by the Colorado College Tigers but may opt to play for Kitchener of the OHL instead if he doesn't make the Blue Jackets out of training camp, which is unlikely. Moore was the only player with any conceivable upcoming local ties taken in the first round. The defenseman, a native of Illinois, said it's "50-50" whether he'll play at CC this fall."
Draft rumors fly, Jackets wait
Comment
June 26
Columbus Dispatch
 
"As the NHL rumor mill kicks around some of the biggest names in hockey -- Jay Bouwmeester, Dany Heatley and Tomas Kaberle -- the Blue Jackets exist in a sea of relative calm heading into tonight's entry draft in Bell Centre. General manager Scott Howson has had trade talks with at least four clubs, he said, but only trades that would involve draft picks. The Blue Jackets hold the No. 16 overall selection in tonight's first round, but might be looking to move. "We're not talking about a big move in either direction," Howson said. "Just a couple of spots, depending on how this plays out. "We aren't willing to part with the assets it would take to move way up in the order." The Blue Jackets ..."
NHL draft: Fortifying the defense
Comment
June 25
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets fortified their corps of defensemen last summer by adding Mike Commodore via free agency and Fedor Tyutin through trade. That made the Jackets a much more difficult club to play against, but it didn't make them any more dangerous when they had the puck. The Blue Jackets were 22nd among the 30 NHL teams in scoring by defensemen, proof that offensive skill on the blue line -- a rare commodity throughout the league -- remains especially scarce in Columbus. The reason? A strong case could be made that it's rooted in the Blue Jackets' selections in the NHL entry draft. The Blue Jackets will take part in the franchise's 10th entry draft this weekend in Montreal. Since drafting ..."
Blue Jackets: Blue-line prospect arrested in purse theft
Comment
June 25
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets prospect Will Weber was arrested on Sunday outside a bar in Oxford, charged with stealing a woman's purse. Weber, a defenseman taken in the second round of the 2007 draft and a student at Miami University, was charged by Oxford police with theft and underage drinking. He was released by police. According to the Oxford Press, Weber told police he had consumed between six and eight beers at a residence before entering the bar, and that he took the wrong purse when he and a female companion were leaving. The Blue Jackets did not learn of the incident until yesterday, said general manager Scott Howson. They were attempting to reach Weber last night. "We want to talk to him first ..."
Jackets due different draft view
Comment
June 21
Columbus Dispatch
 
"In the Blue Jackets' previous nine trips to the NHL entry draft, the walk from their draft table on the arena floor to the main stage where the picks are announced has been shorter than a Chernobyl tree. Since the NHL places the draft tables for its 30 clubs in worst-to-first order, snaking in five rows of six tables each away from the dais, the previously sad-sack Blue Jackets always had a spot in one of the first two rows. That won't be the case Friday in Montreal's Bell Centre, however. "I'm glad to say our seats won't be nearly as good this year," said Don Boyd, Blue Jackets director of hockey operations and its draft guru. "That's a sign of progress, right?" The Blue Jackets have ..."
Still a debate over who should be No.1
Comment
June 21
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Ever since the 2008 NHL entry draft ended, a debate regarding this weekend's draft in Montreal has been in place: Who should be the No. 1 overall pick, playmaking center John Tavares or towering defenseman Victor Hedman? Now, there's a third name crowding the scene at the finish line, heart-and-soul center Matt Duchene. New York Islanders GM Garth Snow, who holds the No. 1 pick and doesn't plan on trading it, won't say whom he's leaning toward. "I made up my mind awhile ago," Snow told the New York Post. The safe bet remains Tavares, who has been a headline-maker in Canada since he was granted "exceptional player" status and allowed entry into the Ontario Hockey League as a 14-year-old. ..."
Blue Jackets' Mason named NHL's top rookie
Comment
June 19
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason won the Calder Memorial Trophy tonight at the NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas. The award is given annually to the league's top rookie based on voting by members of the Professional Hockey Writer's Association. Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash was named winner of the NHL Foundation Award, recognizing a player's "commitment and service to charities in his community." Mason, 21, also was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy -- given to the NHL's top goaltender -- which went to Boston's Tim Thomas. Mason led the NHL in shutouts (10), was second in goals-against average (2.29), tied for ninth in wins (33) and 11th in save percentage (.916). He helped steer the Blue ..."
Where does goalie rank in Columbus' best years?
Comment
June 19
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Rob Oller
"Besides possessing the knack to play well with sticks, Steve Mason and Jack Nicklaus would not seem to have much in common. But by winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie last night, Mason joins the Golden Bear in select company. The Blue Jackets goaltender becomes one of only a handful of professional athletes with strong Columbus ties to receive a substantial honor for a single-season performance. By winning the Calder, which is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, Mason not only brings the Blue Jackets out of the background for a day, but it places a more lasting historical stamp on the 21-year-old Canadian. He joins a list of Columbus-connected ..."
Mason thanks family, Blue Jackets for honor
Comment
June 19
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets tore it up in Las Vegas last night. Goaltender Steve Mason won the Calder Memorial Trophy, given to the NHL's top rookie, and captain Rick Nash won the NHL's Foundation Award, recognizing his charity work. "It's a great night for the Blue Jackets," Mason said. "We were very well represented." Mason also was named to the NHL's second All-Star Team and the All-Rookie Team, capping a season in which he made a meteoric rise out of the Canadian junior system to rank among the top 10 in almost every statistical category. "It's a great way to wrap up a pretty incredible season for myself," Mason told The Dispatch by telephone. "I'm the only person who gets credit with an award ..."
Odds favor Jackets' Mason in Las Vegas
Comment
June 18
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Steve Mason, who turned 21 last month, flew to Las Vegas yesterday. But this won't be the typical young guy's first-time soiree through Sin City. For one thing, the Blue Jackets rookie goaltender will have his mother, his girlfriend and a slew of family members in his traveling party, not to mention his boss, Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson. And contrary to the slogan "Whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," Mason is hoping to bring something home. "It'll be a different kind of fun," Mason said. "But it's going to be a blast, for sure." Mason is the favorite for the Calder Memorial Trophy, given annually to the NHL's top rookie, at tonight's awards show in the Palms Casino ..."
Nash's future about to get clearer
Comment
June 17
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"The NHL has reached its annual nadir of activity. Below this still surface there is a roiling of rumor, innuendo and speculation. The surface will be broken two weeks hence, on July 1, the start of the summer signing season. It will bring a mushroom of furious activity. Here in Columbus, fans are girding for trades -- and they are looking forward, with some trepidation, for the start of contract negotiations with Rick Nash. Nash. The name is popping up at block parties, backyard barbecues and along the saloon rails. Will the Blue Jackets' franchise forward remain to take the team to a new level? Or, is he destined to move on to some other pasture? As of July 1, the picture will begin to ..."
Bright future on a big stage
Comment
June 15
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Steve Mason was angry. At 16 years old, he was living 100 miles from home, barely playing for his junior club and on the brink of quitting hockey. "I was really frustrated," Mason said. "I called home a lot, because there were more than a few days when I thought I just wanted to walk away. I thought I'd go back to playing hockey with my friends, go back to a regular school and get on with my life." Only four seasons later, Mason -- now entrenched as the Blue Jackets' No. 1 goaltender -- is preparing to take a much different walk this week. On Thursday, at the NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas, Mason will likely make his way through a crowd of the best hockey players in the world to take the ..."
Will more pros go for a title shot over pay?
Comment
June 10
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"Marian Hossa has been one of the focal points of the Stanley Cup Finals, for the obvious reason. Last spring, he was on the losing Pittsburgh Penguins' side. Last summer, he turned his back on Pittsburgh's huge contract offer, eschewed long-term financial security and signed a one-year contract with the enemy. This spring, he and the Detroit Red Wings met his old mates in a rematch for the championship. To Pittsburgh fans, Hossa is nothing more than a malevolent traitor. To Detroit fans, he is as scholarly, wise and benevolent as Little Caesar himself. In the bigger picture, Hossa is another prominent name in a growing list of athletes who put winning ahead of windfall. If this seems like ..."
New coach for goalies nears deal
Comment
June 10
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason will be reunited with his favorite coach next season. The Blue Jackets are close to naming David Rook the club's goaltending coach, The Dispatch has learned. An announcement is expected this week. Clint Malarchuk, the Blue Jackets goalie coach since 2006, will not be back with the club. "We're still working out the details with David," general manager Scott Howson said. "But he's the only person we're talking to now, and hopefully it's only a matter of days before it's done." Rook, who was a goaltending consultant with the St. Louis Blues this past season, has spent the past seven seasons as the goaltending coach for the London Knights of the Ontario ..."
Prospect must prove he belongs, earn trust
Comment
June 9
Columbus Dispatch
 
"At this point last summer, the torment was just beginning for Blue Jackets prospect Stefan Legein. His heart wasn't into gearing up for another hockey season, but his head knew there was no easy alternative. In August, Legein's agent notified the Blue Jackets that Legein wouldn't be attending training camp, that his career was on hold indefinitely, perhaps permanently. "Looking back, it probably wasn't the best thing I could have done for my career," Legein said with a chuckle. "But I had to do it. I know I had to do it, and it's happened now, and I can't take it back. "I know the Blue Jackets and everybody in hockey will probably never look at me the same way again." While most hockey ..."
Sin-tax idea likely being put on shelf
Comment
June 2
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Local opposition and a less-than-stellar lobbying effort helped doom a plan to aid the Blue Jackets through increased sin taxes, and no plan B has presented to help the financially challenged hockey franchise. Democratic lawmakers from Franklin County were supposed to meet with Blue Jackets officials today, but that has been canceled as all sides seem to agree that the current plan is all but dead. "I don't know that it has any supporters," said Rep. Tracy Heard, D-Columbus. All three Franklin County commissioners have said they would not support the current proposal, which calls for raising taxes on alcohol and cigarettes to fund a county takeover of Nationwide Arena. Gaining Statehouse ..."
Lease concerns aren't new
Comment
June 2
Columbus Dispatch
 
"More than a decade ago, a spurned investor warned that the lease for the Blue Jackets would make it difficult for the Columbus hockey team to be successful financially. During a legal fight among the original group of investors seeking a Columbus NHL franchise, businessman Lamar Hunt, a founding owner of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and MLS' Columbus Crew, said the lease terms "almost certainly" would result in "a loss for the entire 25-year term of the lease." Because of a dispute over the lease, Hunt walked away from the effort, and John H. McConnell went from a minority investor to the face of the Blue Jackets ownership. Flash forward to the present. The team says it has lost $80 ..."
Like it or not, arena plan needs to be considered
Comment
May 30
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Bob Hunter
"When I think of the impact Nationwide Arena has had on our community, my first thoughts are of the NCAA men's basketball tournament that stopped here in 2004. Cincinnati and Kentucky were among the four teams in the local bracket, so the Cincinnati sports media invaded the city en masse. Most reporters had been to Columbus many times, for Ohio State events, state high school tournaments and maybe even a few Clippers games. But they hadn't been Downtown in years, and many of them were stunned by what they saw. Many of us ended up at an Arena District restaurant table afterward, and the primary topic of conversation was of a Columbus they had never seen. "I had no idea," a Cincinnati writer ..."
Second Blue Jackets broadcaster goes off the air
Comment
May 21
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets television broadcasts will have a much different look next season. Three weeks after analyst Danny Gare was told that his contract would be allowed to expire, The Dispatch has learned that Jim Day will no longer be part of Fox Sports Ohio's coverage team. Sources say it was a mutual decision between the network and the club. Day, a Westerville native, has been a host or reporter since the Blue Jackets joined the NHL in 2000. Neither Fox Sports Ohio nor the Blue Jackets would confirm the report, but multiple sources toldThe Dispatch that Day will have other assignments during hockey season. "It would be premature for me to talk about any movement among our personnel," Fox ..."
It's hard not to pull for Canada Coyotes
Comment
May 20
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Bob Hunter
"Have you ever found yourself rooting for something that is probably against your self-interests? That describes me as the Phoenix Coyotes' court drama plays out. I know the NHL's bid to stop owner Jerry Moyes from selling the team to a guy in a moving van is in Columbus' best interests. At the same time, it's hard not to root for someone who wants to take the NHL's version of Citibank out of the Arizona desert and move it back to Canada. Columbus' interests aside, taking the Coyotes back across the border -- the team moved from Winnipeg to Phoenix in 1996 -- carries a ring of justice. The NHL would be better off with some of its southern U.S. franchises in Canadian cities, where the fans ..."
Mason's great, but he needs support
Comment
May 19
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason, 20, yesterday was named NHL Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News. He is the odds-on favorite to win the Calder Trophy, and he will stand with the finalists for the Vezina, when the league has its award show in Las Vegas one month hence. This is heady stuff for a glory-starved hockey market. How about the Big Kid? Mason put the Jackets on his back and carried them to their first playoff appearance. He was 33-20-7 with a 2.29 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. He was at or near the head of a sterling class of rookies, which included Bobby Ryan, Kris Versteeg, Steven Stamkos, T.J. Oshie, Jake Voracek, Drew Doughty, Luke Shenn, Zach ..."
Howson Not Going Anywhere
Comment
May 13
Columbus Dispatch
 
"It's been almost two years since Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson was hired to replace Doug MacLean. In some respects, it seems hard to believe that much time has passed. But when you think about some of the major events that have occurred under his watch -- Adam Foote, Nikolai Zherdev, Pascal Leclaire were all traded, R.J. Umberger, Mike Commodore and Kristian Huselius were all acquired -- it seems like Howson's been in central Ohio a long time now. I was expecting to have a Howson "scoop" early this summer. He signed a three-year deal when he was hired in June 2007, so he would have been coming into the final year of the contract this summer. But that's not the case. The ..."
NHL hidden in plain sight on Versus
Comment
May 12
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Bob Hunter
"In the spring, I usually make a point of asking people if they are watching the NHL playoffs. For some reason, the negative responses always surprise me. Last week, one conversation jumped from the Buckeyes to the Indians to the Cavs. After a friend had gushed about LeBron James and complained about the lack of suspense in Cavs playoff games against Detroit and Atlanta, I asked him if he had watched any of the NHL playoffs. "I didn't know they were on," he said. He might have been joking, but it wasn't easy to tell. The NHL playoffs weren't on his radar. He didn't once consider watching them. He gathered that the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins were involved, but he didn't know ..."
Commissioners of the big four sports gather to discuss 'The Future of Sports'
Comment
May 7
New York Daily News
 
"They are portrayed as having the job security of a Supreme Court justice or the president of North Korea, but even the commissioners of the four major North American sports have to occasionally answer questions about the future of their sports at a time when, as one of them said, the economy is in the greatest downturn since the Great Depression. Wednesday, Bud Selig of Major League Baseball, Roger Goodell of the National Football League, David Stern of the National Basketball Association and Gary Bettman of the National Hockey League assembled at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Midtown Manhattan to discuss some of the issues facing an enterprise with a combined revenue of $21.2 billion. ..."
Fan who inspired Jackets dies of cancer
Comment
May 2
Columbus Dispatch
 
"In a joyous locker room minutes after the Blue Jackets clinched their first Stanley Cup playoff appearance April 8 in Chicago, forward Jason Chimera hurriedly reached for his cell phone. He had voice mails from family members and text messages from old friends, but the first call he placed was to Ryan Salmons, a 19-year-old Jackets fan whose fight against cancer had inspired the team. "What people don't realize is how much Ryan meant to us," Chimera said. "What Ryan and his family don't realize is we talked about him in the dressing room when he wasn't around. He was one of our motivating factors for making the playoffs. Guys would say, 'Let's win this one for Ryan.' " Salmons died ..."
Blue Jackets' Hejda, Picard each have wrist surgery
Comment
May 1
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets defenseman Jan Hejda and minor-league left winger Alexandre Picard underwent wrist surgery Wednesday in Columbus. Hejda had surgery to reattach a torn ligament in his left wrist and will wear a protective splint for eight weeks before beginning rehabilitation. He's expected to be ready for training camp in mid-September. "It was pinned and reinforced," Blue Jackets trainer Mike Vogt said. "This is something he's played with the last month of the season or so. "It's an injury that -- if not taken care of -- we're talking major instability." Hejda played in all 82 games this season and has missed only one regular-season game in his two seasons with the Blue Jackets. He missed ..."
Jackets' announcers deserve an answer
Comment
April 30
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"The NHL playoffs served up two Game 7s on Tuesday. Both games were fantastic to watch -- and to hear. The Washington Capitals beat the New York Rangers on a goal by Sergei Fedorov with five minutes remaining in regulation. The Carolina Hurricanes-New Jersey Devils game, which the 'Canes won 4-3 after a stirring comeback, would have defied description if not for the men handling the call. Hurricanes announcer John Forslund, who was heard on the highlight shows later in the night, gave 'Canes fans the right level of emotion as the great Martin Brodeur was beaten twice in the final 80 seconds of regulation. Yet Forslund did not gush or pander, and he made room for his color man to fill out ..."
Mason on Vezina short list
Comment
April 28
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Blue Jackets rookie goaltender Steve Mason has never been to Las Vegas. His first trip is setting up to be memorable. The NHL announced yesterday that Mason is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, given annually to the league's top goaltender. Boston's Tim Thomas and Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom are the other finalists for the award, which is voted on by the NHL's 30 general managers. "It's an unbelievable honor," Mason said. "When you look around the NHL and see the type of goaltenders who play in the league ... to be considered in the top three is really special. "I know I couldn't have done it without the players around me and without the opportunity (coach Ken Hitchcock) and (general ..."
Blue Jackets' Mason earns long break
Comment
April 25
Columbus Dispatch
 
"In early January, Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock was asked how he intended to use rookie goaltender Steve Mason through the balance of the season. "Now and forever," Hitchcock deadpanned. It was a witty retort, one the coach didn't mind trotting out on several occasions. The line never got old, but the goalie who inspired it grew tired. After a four-game playoff sweep at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings, Hitchcock said what many had assumed: the Jackets overplayed Mason. "We did it with all the intentions of helping the team get into the playoffs," Hitchcock said. "There was no mental or physical rest for him." Hitchcock said yesterday, however, that he had no regrets starting the ..."
Nash noncommittal on contract
Comment
April 25
Columbus Dispatch
 
"A clean-shaven Rick Nash stood in the locker room yesterday discussing the atmosphere inside Nationwide Arena on Thursday night. An energetic, sellout crowd saw the Blue Jackets rally twice from two-goal deficits before falling 6-5 to the Detroit Red Wings, completing a four-game sweep of the Stanley Cup playoff series. "Obviously, I watched a lot of hockey growing up in Toronto and I have never seen fans stand for a period and a half and be that loud," Nash said. "That's how good it can be if we get on a run." Blue Jackets fans no doubt like the sound of "we." Nash has only one season remaining on his contract, but the Jackets can begin negotiating with him on July 1. After a 40-goal ..."
Red Wings' reward is waiting game
Comment
April 24
Detroit Free Press
 
"Welcome to the crummy part of the playoffs. Take care of business and what's your reward? A week of waiting. The Wings finished off an impressive sweep of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. (Remember all that angst before the series began? How the Jackets were the upstart, young, hungry team with the hot goaltender? How the Wings lacked passion and defense and were primed for an upset? That's a pretty good indication of how much stock you should put into predictions. We'll keep making 'em because people gobble them up. But the best series are always unpredictable, aren't they?) And now the Wings will sit for at least a week before playing No. 3-seeded Vancouver or the ..."
Jackets hung tight with 'big brother' Wings on this night
Comment
April 24
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Michael Arace
"Columbus waited nine years for the NHL playoffs. The moment came … and then it was gone. Went quick. It ended last night in Nationwide Arena, where the Detroit Red Wings completed a first-round sweep of the Blue Jackets. Game 4 was not like Games 3, 2 and 1 - and yet it was. The Jackets were recognizable, they belonged on the same ice as the defending Stanley Cup champions - and yet they lost. Already, the scrutiny has commenced. The Red Wings' playoff-tested toughness exposed the postseason puppy-hood of the opponent and gave Jackets management a handy offseason guide. Much more analysis will be levied in the coming days, weeks and months. Changes are forthcoming. Maybe, even radical ..."
Babcock angry after being pelted by Columbus fans: 'That's unacceptable behavior'
Comment
April 24
Detroit Free Press
 
"Blue Jackets forward Kristian Huselius finally rediscovered his scoring touch. It came a few games too late. Huselius contributed a goal and an assist - his first points of the series - but the Detroit Red Wings closed out a Stanley Cup quarterfinal with a 6-5 win in Nationwide Arena in Game 4. The left winger had been so ineffective that coach Ken Hitchcock dropped him from the first to third line. Huselius had been slow to regain his rhythm after suffering a concussion April 4. "I felt better for sure," Huselius said. "I had a slow start to the series, but I finally felt like I had my legs tonight." Huselius tied the score at 1 early in the first period with a power-play goal. It ..."
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