A nice add to this site, you can see the UFA by any year. Next year at this time looks like a whale of a crop. It dwarfs the quality of this year, although some players will certainly be signed before.
Lecavalier, Gaborik, Havlat, Tanguay, Koivu, Guerin, Kovalev, Bertuzzi, Cole, Gionta, Tkachuk, Horcoff, Sedins, Comrie, Cammalleri, Afinoginov, McDonald, Connolly, Calder, Zetterberg, Sykora, Kotalik, Antropov, Franzen on a list of the UFA FORWARDS
This is definitely keeping with the Jackets theme of being a "day late and a dollar short". When we don't have money, there's a great UFA crop, and when we have money for the first time in years, the UFA prize is Daymond Langkow.
I still think this team can improve signifantly with a focus on lesser players than Marleau and Jokinen. I've heard the organization say they won't mortgage the future or break the core for a short term fix. If that's really true they need to have their limit on what to spend on these two guys.
I sincerely hope that Vermette is on the radar. Maybe we can take Tanguay's salary and have Lombardi thrown in too for something reasonable. I'm willing to take a chance on Connolly if it can be done for something minor (yes, I'm aware of the health history but he's pretty amazing when in the line up and if he can buy us two years for Brassard to ove up the line up....). Carter or Umberger would help this team. Umberger could likely be had for less. Umberger and Gagne (yes, another health risk but could be a dump) could relieve the flyers of the money they need for Carter.... Dubinski - heck the Rangers never liked young players (I know he's not going anywhere). I would even consider Kessel although he's not a "Hitch guy" but look what Hitch has done for Z thus far....
Maybe San Jose does sign Campbell. What if they can't trade Marleau for something reasonable. How about a reasonable offer sheet for Pavelski?
On the bright side I still think the CBJ can improve their back end in free agency but we really need at least ONE center. Brassard on the 2nd isn't ideal to me but he certainly is better than having Novotny or Malhotra up there and right now that's our only two centers unless we bring Peca back which is unlikely.
Kick every tire. I happen to agree with this, but would prefer at least one of the moves be for a "significant" player. It would signal confidence to the fan base, if nothing else. (Not that that's the reason it should be done, but it would be a collateral effect.) And maybe to potential free agents, as alluded to by AP today.
__________________
"Every game, every point is a necessity." -- Ty Conklin, January 2007
Anyway, time to face reality, man. This team has no luck.
See:
-expansion draft
-every draft lottery held in our existence
-development of prospects
-high picks in bad draft years, low picks in good draft years
-bad UFA classes when we have $20 million to spend
-not having assets to do anything on trade deadline day
-ending up in the Western Conference instead of the East
A nice add to this site, you can see the UFA by any year. Next year at this time looks like a whale of a crop. It dwarfs the quality of this year, although some players will certainly be signed before.
Lecavalier, Gaborik, Havlat, Tanguay, Koivu, Guerin, Kovalev, Bertuzzi, Cole, Gionta, Tkachuk, Horcoff, Sedins, Comrie, Cammalleri, Afinoginov, McDonald, Connolly, Calder, Zetterberg, Sykora, Kotalik, Antropov, Franzen on a list of the UFA FORWARDS
It's an interesting list, but realistically, I think the crop will be much, much thinner when 7/1/09 rolls around. I'm guessing the likes of Zetterberg and Franzen won't be going anywhere. Plus, unless the CBJ have shown they're contenders, some of these guys, such as Lecavalier, won't be interested. Others, such as Tkachuk, Comrie, Sedins, Bertuzzi, etc. will be a good way to start a fight on this board. When it all shakes out, maybe two or three legit (i.e., we'd want 'em & they'd want us) possibilities will be left.
Maybe building an arena on the old state pen wasn't such a good idea after all. My wife's convinced that the arena and an ancient Indian burrial ground have a connection. I'm starting to believe her.
I haven't give up hope. I still think there are a lot of options for us and once the draft starts the real action kicks in. I'm going to keep telling myself that we were almost there last year so maybe the modest changes will do it....
A nice add to this site, you can see the UFA by any year. Next year at this time looks like a whale of a crop. It dwarfs the quality of this year, although some players will certainly be signed before.
Lecavalier, Gaborik, Havlat, Tanguay, Koivu, Guerin, Kovalev, Bertuzzi, Cole, Gionta, Tkachuk, Horcoff, Sedins, Comrie, Cammalleri, Afinoginov, McDonald, Connolly, Calder, Zetterberg, Sykora, Kotalik, Antropov, Franzen on a list of the UFA FORWARDS
thats no different than every year at this time. most those guys will be signed to long term deals well before free agency rolls around.
AP gives us another kick in the nuts this morning. It's definitely reality, but it still seems like a kick in the nuts. This team really has an enormous task at hand:
DJ, when I read that, I thought that AP was actually quoting this board, verbatem. What's the beef? You're correct - it is reality.
If we have to spend $15MM to get to the floor anyway, why not drop a big rock in the pond. That's the way to get a big splash.
If we have to spend $15MM to get to the floor anyway, why not drop a big rock in the pond. That's the way to get a big splash.
For the second time this week, I'm moved from my previous stance of silence on the issue, but wouldn't it be nice if some of that dough were going to be paid to a big-name free agent in the second year of a contract?
Yeah, yeah. Budget, I know. Then that's poor ownership or poor GM-ing.
For the second time this week, I'm moved from my previous stance of silence on the issue, but wouldn't it be nice if some of that dough were going to be paid to a big-name free agent in the second year of a contract?
Yeah, yeah. Budget, I know. Then that's poor ownership or poor GM-ing.
Poor timing, is more like it. But unless we can find Mr Peabody's Way-Back machine we have to deal with today. (With an eye on what the effect will be two years from now.)
why do people care what people say or write about this team? ive never understood stuff like that. do i like seeing something good said or written about teams i like. of course. but it doesnt mean anything. nor does the bad stuff. especially when its by people that know less about the sport than the people posting on these boards.
Anyway, time to face reality, man. This team has no luck.
See:
-expansion draft
-every draft lottery held in our existence
-development of prospects
-high picks in bad draft years, low picks in good draft years
-bad UFA classes when we have $20 million to spend
-not having assets to do anything on trade deadline day
-ending up in the Western Conference instead of the East
the one that really gets me fired up is that the nhl let two existing teams pick ahead of us in our first draft. thats such ********
For the second time this week, I'm moved from my previous stance of silence on the issue, but wouldn't it be nice if some of that dough were going to be paid to a big-name free agent in the second year of a contract?
Yeah, yeah. Budget, I know. Then that's poor ownership or poor GM-ing.
No sense in rehashing last summer but that ghost does linger, look at it this way, we may get Schenn based on doing nothing back then. Next year we may get the 1st pick and land the next Gretzky. Things could be worse.
anyone else worry like me that the Jackets are gonna get a worse, but bigger name player, just cause they think the fan base isnt smart. i.e. they think it needs to be a big name even if it isnt the best for the team. i actually kind of think that . i would be going after the Vermettes, Carters, Meszaros', etc. all the good, young players who are just starting to peak over a player like Marleau or Malone. but hey, what do i know.
anyone else worry like me that the Jackets are gonna get a worse, but bigger name player, just cause they think the fan base isnt smart. i.e. they think it needs to be a big name even if it isnt the best for the team. i actually kind of think that . i would be going after the Vermettes, Carters, Meszaros', etc. all the good, young players who are just starting to peak over a player like Marleau or Malone. but hey, what do i know.
That's one thing I'm not worried about. It seems the opposite of the philosophy Howson has revealed so far.
I think management realizes that the fanbase is educated and not naive. (for the most part )
i disagree. cause everytime you hear someone talk, they seem in shock when a fan says somthing/asks something smart.
I think most of that is just buttering up the base so to speak. Management seems to be making the conscious effort to let the fans know that they hear them, and their legit concerns and dreams.
i disagree. cause everytime you hear someone talk, they seem in shock when a fan says somthing/asks something smart.
I can't recall dates or links but over the years I've heard many comments from both media and a few CBJ folks mentioning how knowledgeable much of the local fanbase is about the game. I've also read many comments in Ray Stein's column that indicate the same, some of th comments are dumb but for the part most reflect a fanbase that quite sharp.
That said, GM's listen to their advisors and peer professionals when building a roster; they do have a small portion of one ear tuned into the fans and media but not all much.
If Marleau isn't available, the Blue Jackets may have to consider Jokinen.
So much for "the Jackets have NO interest in Jokinen." And "Jokinen will not be a Jacket."
But it should have been obvious from day 1 that if Olli was an option and the other options didn't pan out that Olli would be considered by Jackets management. He has to be, he's a legit #1 center.
So much for "the Jackets have NO interest in Jokinen." And "Jokinen will not be a Jacket."
But it should have been obvious from day 1 that if Olli was an option and the other options didn't pan out that Olli would be considered by Jackets management. He has to be, he's a legit #1 center.
Good call out, one day "absolutly no way" then the next day "have to consider"!
And people call us flip floppers around here, if the local media experts flip then I guess we can to....
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