Bethany's Hockey Rants
Next entry: The Columbus Kids
Previous entry: Games, Goalies, and Trades
Williams is Welcome
by Bethany on 01/15/09 at 04:19 PM ET
Comments (4)
To clarify, I never said that Jason Williams would be the big key to making the playoffs - but he is a step in the right direction. Our power play, is at best pathetic. We needed a power play specialist and that is exactly what he is. One third of his production was produced on the power play, according to Michael Arace. So please, try to explain how that is not an improvement from what we had.
Here is a video from practice today. They talk to Huselius, Voracek, and Williams of course. I think Williams is happy to be one of the pieces to help us keep our playoff spot.
Moving on. Derek MacKenzie has been sent back down to Syracuse. Mayorov was also sent back a few days ago - I honestly don’t know if I wrote about that or not. Nash and Murray could return on Friday when the Jackets take on the New Jersey Devils. That means, we’ll have to toss a couple more guys back down to Syracuse. Just a guess - Filatov is staying.
Sanford cleared waivers so that means that we still don’t have that veteran goaltender that we needed.
The Jackets need to get a victory tomorrow night against the Devils. If they get that win they will keep moving up in the standing. Where the Jackets sit right now, it is totally possible that they can catch the fifth spot - where Vancouver currently sits. They are three points behind the Canucks with two games in hand. This is huge for the Jackets for the first time in franchise history we are buyers. We are making our way to the playoffs, and we are doing it with a deplieted lineup.
This team is something to be proud of. We may not be a flashy team, but we are a good team, who works hard every most nights. There have been very few games this season when I have been disappointed in their effort. I expect them to play well, and I expect them to try. I know we can’t win them all…obviously, but all I ask for is a little effort.
Steve Mason, is hopefully feeling better and will be playing on Friday. The kid is outstanding and we need him to help us keep our position in the standings.
Filed in: Columbus Blue Jackets, , | Bethany's Hockey Rants | Permalink
Tags: Columbus+Blue+Jackets, Jason+Williams, Steve+Mason,
Comments
I love the way Arace put it.
The way I see it, this is another one of Scott Howson’s un-sexy, highly intelligent and well-focused acquisitions.
Part of the reason I love this team is because they are a blue collar team.
Posted by Bethany on 01/16/09 at 09:43 AM ET
Last year one of the things that kicked off the Red Wings march to the cup was a trade for Brad Stuart, a serviceable stay at home defenseman who had played himself into the third pairing for a bad LA team. He immediately found a home on Detroit’s line, contributed mightily, and formed what was Detroit’s best d-pairing with Kronvall for much of the playoffs (not as much potential brilliance as Lids-raffy, but hellaciously unpleasant to play against and his solidity allowed Kronvall to do a lot more freelancing for those monstrous hits he was laying throughout the postseason).
Stuart was not a sexy acquisition, nor one expected to swing things very dramatically. He doesn’t win games for the Wings. He fit a hole on the Detroit roster that concerned management and was readily apparent to fans and, you know, it worked out pretty freaking well.
Not saying the BJ’s are suddenly a cup contender because they picked up this guy- I don’t particularly like him, personally- but filling an area of need is kinda important.
Posted by shanetx on 01/16/09 at 10:04 AM ET
Agree with shanetx. It’s easy to locate a flashy, in-demand player, but sometimes trickier to find someone who will fit with the team you have and shore up one of the weaknesses. I hope he does well. It took him a while to get righted after Torres destroyed him (and I think it took Torres a while to get over it, too).
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/17/09 at 12:01 PM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Most Recent Blog Posts
About Kukla’s Korner
Kukla’s Korner is updated around the clock with the work of our own talented bloggers, plus links to the best hockey writing around the internet. We strive to bring you all the breaking hockey news as it happens.
The home page allows you to see the latest postings from every blog on the site. Subscribe here. For general inquiries and more, please contact us anytime.
Get the top online sports betting bonuses available to sports betters!
When learning from experts it’s best to learn personally from them, or from their blog. We can provide that with poker lessons blog, your home to learn poker personally.
Do you get shocked from the luck in the game of poker? Stop getting shocked and start being a Poker Shoker.
As well as reading about hockey games, you can also find info about poker like which poker sites accept American Express or which are the best Canadian poker sites and also find the top rakeback sites at rakeback.net.
Kukla’s Korner is always a free service for readers, but it costs some money to maintain. If you’re ever in a position to donate a few dollars to help out, we’d be very appreciative.
We’re movin’ on up…
The pieces of the puzzle that is the first playoff appearance in CBJ history are being put into place. As Hitch says, this is a blue collar team. I don’t think you’ll see Howson make a “big” splash through trades. He’ll keep adding to the line-up with servicable players who fit the Blue Jacket mold.
Carry The Flag !!!
Posted by Rick on 01/16/09 at 09:36 AM ET