Bethany's Hockey Rants
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A Look at the Jackets
by Bethany on 01/24/09 at 12:50 AM ET
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The lonely Blue Jackets representative, Rick Nash, is enjoying his time in Montreal. While Nash is getting his All-Star on, the rest of the boys will be spread out throughout the world, and I, well I will still be here, working, going to school, and blogging of course.
So, what I want to do tonight is look at what has been going on with the Jackets, lots have changed, lots has stayed the same. Let’s think about the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Steve Mason has emerged as one of the best goaltenders in the league. Because of him, the Jackets are in a playoff race, a legitimate playoff race, ya know one when their captain won’t leave them. Pascal Leclaire had a brutal season, his nagging ankle injury has been an issue since he got Boogied in the preseason. Poor guy. Freddy Norrena and Wade Dubielwicz switched places, Dubie was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jackets, in a gutsy move by Scott Howson.
It’s easy to forget all the new faces on the team, but they have all - minus Backman, been a great improvement to this hockey club.
Commodore brought his voice, to yell at the guys in the locker room, and to get the boys up and playing. I love the way he leads on the ice also. He’s been great paired with Hejda, and I am slowly but surely getting used to his love of playing the body. Now, if we could just get him to change his number to 64…
Tyutin has been one of our best defensemen. He’s been a vision on the blue line. I honestly can’t think of a time when he’s made me nervous (although I am sure there are times). He’s fits right into Hitch’s system.
Kris Russell is playing his best hockey as a Blue Jacket since coming up from his stint in Syracuse, and changing his number to 10. Good for the kid, he’s going to be a big part of the Blue Jackets organization in the very near future.
Kristian Huselius and Rick Nash have played great together. They have been paired with countless centers, Umberger, Brassard, Malhotra, and have done extremely well regardless. Huselius is exactly what the Blue Jackets needed - a player whose name isn’t Nash, to score, and that’s exactly what he has done.
Umberger is one of my favorite additions to the hockey club. He has already surpassed his goal total from last season. Umberger has to deal with switching positions center to wing and back center, time and time again, but he does it very well.
I know I haven’t even talked about the kids. But I will, no worries.
Unfortunately another problem for the Blue Jackets is injuries. Currently we have quite a few guys who are mending. Brassard and Leclaire are finished for the season. Chimera, will be back after the break. Filatov, is nursing a leg injury. Peca is out of the lineup with an injury that the team is being very hush hush about (hopefully he will be back for the game against Detroit). Dorsett is recovering from a cross-check to the face. Jason Chimera is still working on his groin. Steve Mason is dealing with back spasms. Raffi Torres as been out a majority of the season, but is finally back, and healthy.
Here’s to a HEALTHY second half of the season ... one that will lead to our first ever playoff appearance ... I hope.
Filed in: Columbus Blue Jackets, , , Pascal Leclaire, | Bethany's Hockey Rants | Permalink
Tags: Columbus+Blue+Jackets, Kristian+Huselius, Mike+Commodore, Rick+Nash,
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Your fellow blogger “Abel to Yzerman” has taken a stab @ us referring to Lidstrom & Datsuyk “missing their BJ’s tuesday”...what a class act!
Posted by Lamdeveg on 01/24/09 at 10:37 AM ET