Bethany's Hockey Rants

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Trades, Planes, and Injuries…

by Bethany on 03/02/09 at 09:25 PM ET
Comments (3)

The Jackets ran into a hot Canuck team last night. It also didn’t help that the Jackets seemed like they didn’t care one bit about the game.

Thankfully the Jackets remain in sixth place in the Western Conference with another big game coming up tomorrow against the LA Kings.

The real story though, the trade deadline.

It’s a scary time especially for Jackets fans. Some want to make a big splash, while others (read as me) want to make a small splash and wait for free agency to get the guys we need.

Even though it’s scary, it’s also like Christmas. I know that the Jackets are going to do something. I just have no idea what exactly that something is yet. I know that my captain is not going to be taken away on a super fast jet to Calgary. I know that Howson will do what he feels is best for the team, and I trust him to make the right decisions.

Look at his record. For the old Foote, we got RJ Umberger, and a fourth round in this years draft.

We also got Jason Williams for Clay Wilson and a sixth-round draft pick. Clay Wilson never really fit into the system for Columbus, but Williams has been a stud since acquiring him.

We picked up Dubie off of waivers without giving anything up. Yeah, you can argue this one, but we needed a backup, and we got a backup.

We picked up Gratton off of waivers without giving anything up. He looks good out there and we needed a center.

Howson has a good record for this team, he is highly intelligent, and won’t do anything stupid. We know this.

As I mentioned earlier Howson was in Ottawa, Saturday. Portzline seems to think that he was there for Vermette, who I like, but I really don’t see Ottawa trading Vermette for Pazzy.

I really would like to see Nik Antropov as a Blue Jacket and feel like he’s a better fit for the Jackets. The kid is 6’6’’ and 230 pounds - also, you have to love this video of Antropov and Ponikarovsky.

As for seeing Jokinen in a Jackets sweater - don’t count on it. He’s not worth it.

Sean Avery was placed on waivers today - I don’t expect him to go anywhere BUT to the Rangers, but again, you never know. I seriously doubt that Sean Avery will be picked up by Columbus. We already have Boll and Dorsett as our guys, and there’s no way that Hitchcock would ever put up with Avery, and there is no sense in messing with our room.

I liked Tkachuk and Nash together at the ASG but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Tim Connolly is a name that keeps coming up over and over again. I like him, I really do, but I still prefer or maybe just have my heart set on Antropov.

Other Jackets news, that has nothing to do with the deadline:

*Chimera is on the Injured Reserve. He is still having trouble with his groin, from what I have been reading and seeing he is having trouble pushing off when he skates. He is going to see a third specialist, and I guess we will find out more soon.

*Peca may be out for a while also. We find out more on him tomorrow. He took a puck to the face and got a pretty good gash, and had a headache. He didn’t play after the first period.

*Nikita Filatov is still in Syracuse, but, he seems to be quite sick. I was catching up on the Crunch news and Lindsay Kramer said that Filatov has had a sinus infection for a couple of weeks and has lost some weight. Nikita is supposed to see a doctor today.

*The Jackets had a tough morning today. They landed at 4:06, and were stuck inside the airport for close to an hour and a half. Those poor guys had to have been beat and there were no chairs for the boys to sit.

Nash sprawled out right next to the booth, using his luggage as a pillow. Fedor Tyutin slumped against the wall, resting his head against a fire extinguisher on the on the wall. TV star Jim Day went flat on his back.

I can just imagine Hitchcock in the airport. If you watch Jackets games close enough you know what he looks like when he’s pissed. His cheeks get red, and he looks like he could kill the next person to do something wrong.

I’ve never flown in or out of the Columbus airport. But, it’s ridiculous that these boys had to WAIT to leave the airport for flying in, even if they were flying in from Canada. According to Portzline the airport is given a list of people who are on the plane and their passport numbers - to help expedite the situation. Why was this not done before the plane landed? Why did they wait, if they knew it was “schedule maintenance.”

Just another reason to hate airports I suppose. Make sure you read the full story linked above.

Filed in: Columbus Blue Jackets, Nikita Filatov, , | Bethanys Hockey Rants | Permalink
Tags: Columbus+Blue+Jackets, Jason+Chimera, Michael+Peca, Nikita+Filatov, Trades,

Comments

It really stinks that they got stuck in the airport but the idea of our hockey team on the floor sleeping did put a smile on my face. Sorta payback for the two horrid games they played on their trip to Canada.

Just kidding.

Sorta.

I am heading to Port Columbus on Friday to fly to a warmer destination- hoping I don’t end up sleeping on the floor.

Posted by elisa from worthington on 03/03/09 at 08:23 AM ET

I don’t get the fascination with Antropov...I’d rather take the gamble on Connolly any day of the week. An extreme skilled, true centerman.

Posted by VandyBuck on 03/03/09 at 08:38 AM ET