Of all the NHL teams, it seems to me that the Columbus Blue Jackets are not clued in to the equal opportunity aspect of the sport. They have neither a plan or a playoff berth in their team's history. On the other hand, Minnesota, the Jackets' fellow expansionists, have been among the foes of the Western Conference. Will the Jackets ever be contenders? A sub question would be: If you were Jackets GM Scott Howson, would you trade Rick Nash and Rusty Klesla? The "supposed" franchise cornerstones have been nothing but.
2007-09-02 06:13:20 · 11 answers · asked by Snoop 5 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Yeah, I know I spelled "playoff" wrong. Sue me!
2007-09-02 06:13:54 · update #1
alwaysmoose- Goaltending is very important in the NHL, but the Jackets' goalies, Leclaire and Norrena, are best classified as solid backups at best. If a team is competing for the playoffs, one does not put their hopes in those guys. The smartest thing Howson could do is get rid of Nash (Anaheim for Bryzgalov?). He is nothing more than his generation's Ray Sheppard.
2007-09-02 06:25:10 · update #2
The big difference between Pittsburgh and Columbus in that regard is that the Pens at least had a semblance of a plan. The Jackets seem to still be in the "lost in the woods" mode. Getting rid of Doug MacLean was a great start.
2007-09-02 06:28:11 · update #3
Living in NE Ohio, I really hope so. The club had been marketing itself here for the first several years, but essentially have done nothing to make the trip attractive, unless one can package it with an Ohio State hoops game or some other event.
Also, it would have been a natural for Columbus to have their AHL affiliate with the new Lake Erie (Cleveland) Monsters, but the team has a working agreement with Colorado.
It can't be said that the Blue Jackets were under-financed at any point; rather, it has been very poor decisions by management that has made the club an absolute non-entity in the league. I don't see the tunnel ending any time soon.
2007-09-02 10:14:26 · answer #1 · answered by Zombie Birdhouse 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, first of all......................Rick Nash is a superstar who unfortunately doesn't have the supporting cast around him to make him look good (something Joe Thornton can do for Rick Nash magically).
The Columbus Blue Jackets do remind me of the California Golden Seals in a lot of ways. Seemingly content to play .400 hockey. No moves really designed to make the club any better. Lackadaisical play on the ice at the best of times. I just don't see them heading in the right direction.
I don;t trade Nash, and I don't trade Klesla.
I do trade Zherdev for somebody to play with Nash and Vyborny and I trade Fedorov to a contender for a good young player (or two) that complement the team and it's direction (which hopefully is north in the standings).
2007-09-02 14:41:19 · answer #2 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just look at the penguins over the past 7 years. 2001, they reached the conference championships, then for the next 5 years, they had either the number one or number 2 draft picks, now they are up there with the best teams in the nhl. The blue jackets will have their time soon enough.
2007-09-02 13:21:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
most likely they will. when well who knows but yeah they will make its to the playoffs. You do kinda have to point a finger at ownership when u have a commentment to losing. Maybe they do have a master plan and waiting or players to devolpe in minors. I think when they brought in sergi that was the goal of giveing nash a lil support. i agree 100 that they need to find themselves a starting goal tender. think there some out there just hope it doesnt turn into a luongo in fl situatoin.
2007-09-03 00:42:51 · answer #4 · answered by Jay Argentina 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know there is a lot of Parity in the NHL and Miserable teams don't stay miserable for too long. They'll have their day. They need to get their hands on some good (or lucky) goaltending
2007-09-02 13:19:19 · answer #5 · answered by alwaysmoose 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I were them I would stay crappy for atleast 2 more years to get John Tavares in 2009. That's a genious plan.
2007-09-02 15:01:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anything can happen. A Disney movie inspired team won the SC. :)
2007-09-02 14:24:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they will, not this year but fairly soon.
Thinking in terms of radioactive decay.
2007-09-02 14:49:00 · answer #8 · answered by cme 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure if they move to Hamilton or get demoted to an AHL team.
2007-09-02 17:13:57 · answer #9 · answered by PuckDat 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well like 5 yrs ago it looked better than it does now. but what comes around goes around.
2007-09-02 17:10:25 · answer #10 · answered by vball babe 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋