I know that some people are upset that he has been let go, but I am not really sure why. The argument always seems to mention that he took us to the playoffs. Let’s say he did. What has the result been the past few season?  Has he continued building a playoff team? While things have slightly (and I do mean slightly) improved this season over last, it is not the turn around this team needed.

Is it all Howson’s fault? Absolutely not, but it’s hard to argue the fact that he has butchered this team. Coach after coach, trades missed, players lost, his system isn’t working.

A restructure is exactly what this team needs, and Davidson seems to be on the right track by removing Howson, but was also very quick to announce that Jarmo Kekalainen would be taking his place. This is the guy that was responsible for the prospects that are the CORE of the Blues (David Backes, David Perron, T.J. Oshie, Alex Petrangel). With a rebuild going on in Columbus, drafting players will be key, and given his track record Kekalainen is the perfect person for the job.

It’s really too early to tell what’s going to come of this move CBJ fans, but I for one am very excited for this team moving forward.

I have to believe we as fans make a difference, and even more so in a 48 game season.

The shortened season means a number of things. Every win is vital. Every loss is a greater blow. Every suspension has a greater impact and it means the impact we can make as fans grows as well. I believe that a loud and raucous arena benefits our players, and is why I am such a great supporter of the fantastic Arch City Army, and I urge any of you reading this to check them out on Facebook, or their website. Go watch a game with them in their section, they are a loud and passionate group of fans. That passion enhances the hockey experience at Nationwide. We know that our arena is not always full, we know sometimes the opposing teams fans make more noise than we do. Can you image how that feels to our players ? How would you feel, if as a player you came to your home arena and the visiting fans are more vocal than your own fans ? Would that help to motivate you ? Would that help you to battle on? Yes the organisation has it’s part to play, yes the players need to perform, but we as fans need to show up and cheer them on. Time and time again the players say how much it helps them to hear us as fans cheering them on. We know how much players such as Boll, Wiz, Umby, JJ, Brass and Dorse love playing for the Jackets and it makes a difference to have the support from the crowd, our participation as fans can make that difference between winning and losing, Which would you rather attend a half empty arena or a full one ? Where the fans make so much noise you cannot hold a conversation with person next to you, not so good for a date night, but good for atmosphere.

The shortened season may actually makes this possible. As well as full season tickets the Jackets sell half, quarter, six games flex packs. Usually those attending the games will be spread over the forty one homes games. They are now going to be spread over twenty four home games. That gives the Jackets the chance to get more people into the arena, more of our fans. That’s why those of you who are multiple games ticket holders need to attend all the games you brought tickets for. Those of you who buy single season tickets, still buy those tickets, carry on defending nationwide, come join the battle. Some say attendance will be down, some don’t give the Jackets much hope, it is time to prove them wrong, are you going to be the loud fan? are you going to make a difference this season?

The costs of the league have risen to largely unsustainable amounts, especially for the smaller teams. Something does need to be done to cap the costs. Both sides would agree on that much. The owners want to claw back a larger share of the revenue and that is to some extent understandable. The owners front up the money, without which they would be no team, no arena, no staff, no equipment, no players, no flights across the country. The owners face the lions share of the financial risks, it is only fair that they should receive a suitable return. However the stance taken by the owners is not conducive to an equitable and quick resolution to the dispute. The owners and those acting on their behalf, have acted in bad faith from the outset of the process. They should have extended the CBA for a year, whilst a deal was reached. The owners/Bettman initially came in with a hostile offer of a 57/43 spilt of revenues in favour of the owners. The only result of this was to enrage the players, it gave the impression that the owners were not willing to treat their negotiating partners with respect. This along with other factors indicate that the owners/Bettmen are not taking this process as seriously as they should. The comments by the Red Wings executive that the players were in effect cattle, the owners out of hand dismissal to counter proposals by the players, and during the last week, leaving a voice mail, to reject a counter proposal, instead of talking direct, the withdrawal of the concessions that had in a fit of peak, to sign massive contracts, in the order of 90 million dollars then complain your wage bill is to high, to sign these contracts knowing that the expiry of the CBA meant you were unlikely to have to honor them is wrong. To say you will die on the hill of 5 year contracts, when you have been inking contracts that last years longer than five years. If 5 years is so important, why did you sign 5 years plus contracts over the last couple of seasons ? It suggests that the owners/Bettman, seems to view the players with contempt. Can you really be surprised then that negotiations fail ?

Now it is not entirely the owners fault. The players want their contracts honored and that is a reasonable request. However the players have to realize they are in a very privileged position. All across the NHL playing and viewing world, people are losing their jobs, being laid off, taking wage freezes or wage cuts. What makes the players think that they should be immune from having to accept worse conditions ? The average worker in both public and private sectors are having to accept contracts they signed be re negotiated , to worse terms and conditions just to keep their jobs.

These are the people who live pay check to pay check, who spend that money so the players can keep their good pay checks. I understand that the career of a hockey player is short, I understand the money they make over the next 4 to 5 years has to last them and their families a life time. I understand over that life time they are likely to incur higher medical expenses and suffer health problems. I also understand that just because they are earning millions it does not give the owners the right to treat them with contempt or mean they are less deserving of sympathy. The 50/50 spilt with the 300 million in additional pay is a fair offer to both sides. To complain about the length of contracts being limited or when you can become a free agent, is less justifiable. As a player you are making a fantastic wage, you get to play in some of the best arenas, you get to play with some of the most talented and athletic sportsman anywhere in the world. You get to lead a pretty cool life style, where you do not really want for anything. How many of your fans can say that ? The fans subsidize that life style you have now. I am not saying that the players are being greedy, just that it may be time to realize that they may not get everything they want, and they they may just have to live with that. That if they have to wait until 28 before coming a free agent or having contracts limited to 5 years may just be the price of playing top flight hockey in one of the worlds most elite leagues.

You who are reading this, and many blogs like it and will have your ow opinion as to blame for. The points I raise are not seeking to paint one side as more villainous, they are just my personal thoughts on the matter. The sad fact of this whole débâcle is that the people who pay the heaviest price, the ones that suffer the most are the ones that least can afford to pay it, the one that lest deserve to pay it. The arena workers, the workers in the bars, restaurants and hotels around the arenas. The city of Columbus that was due to host the all star game. Not only has our city lost out on the revenue, but it has also lost the chance to show why Columbus is such a great city, the friendliness of its inhabits , its atmosphere, and why we love our Blue Jackets so much. The NHL has made sure that the winter classic will go back to the Big House in 2014, we can only hope that they show Columbus the same respect and give us the all star game in 2015.

The whole futility of this lockout makes me angry, the fact as fans we are powerless to alter a ridiculous situation, in which billionaires battle with millionaires over how to spilt an incomprehensibly vast sum of money, enough money for a good deal all round. Yet greed and egos get in the way, all that has been achieved is the waste of nearly half the season, the money that could have earned by having games is gone. The longer it goes on the more money lost, money that will never be recovered. The owners went for the nuclear option of lockout, the players dug themselves in. None of the actors in this farce should be surprised, that they are now getting hurt by the fall out, more so than if they had the sense to come to an agreement.

I will leave now with one closing thought, if I ever I need to negotiate anything in my life, a new TV, a broadband deal, a pay rise, a mortgage, the last place I will look lessons from the NHL and NHLPA, I would end up destitute and homeless.

Footnote:

Since writing this the union is now talking about de-certification, it appears we are even further from finding a solution.

While I’m not sure of all of the technical details, here is what I have gathered thus far:

• An X-Box tournament/simulation of the cancelled CBJ game Friday was scheduled to take place at the R-Bar.
• The Arch City Army showed up in full force, DBJ and his posse were in attendance, and the Jacket Backers also helped spread the word.
• At the start of the tournament, Leo himself made an appearance to set things off right by performing the National Anthem.
• The tournament went on as scheduled, with programs, commercial breaks, and giveaways.
• Then during the third period the magic happened. Jeff Rimer, Bill Davidge, and George Matthews show up and begin to call the simulated game.

That’s right, Jeff Rimer, Bill Davidge, and George Matthews. I wasn’t wasn’t there, but I could only imagine the energy, and pure awesomeness that was present in the R-Bar that night!

From DBJ:

Long about the third period, something momentous happened.  The ‘boys’ showed up.  That’s right.  Jeff Rimer, Bill Davidge, and George Matthews all came to participate in the camaraderie of the night.  It was great having them in the bar that night.  But then the treat started.  From their well deserved perch at the bar, George Matthews and Bill Davidge proceeded to call the simulated game.  For yours truly this was a blast from the past back to old radio days.  Additionally, there are certain freedoms that happen when one is not subject to FCC regs on over the air broadcasts, and George and Bill took perfect advantage of the liberties to give an exciting and heartfelt call to the simulated game, supported by raucous cheering of the patrons.

The lockout has every hockey fan down, and has created a very negative vibe, but events like this just make me smile. I wish I could have made it that night, and honestly if I would have known that this was going to unfold I probably would have made the two and a half hour drive to participate. If this happens again, you can bet your ass that I will be there!

“To whom much is given, much is expected”

It is an old and oft used quote which means a) I can use it without have to pay any royalties and b) fits in with my talent for originality

A twitter post from one of our players got my attention a couple of weeks back. They had decided to ride in the Polentia 100 mile sponsored cycle ride to benefit the James OSU cancer hospital. Now this player had decided to do this on the night before. My initial thought was that hockey players have an awesome level of fitness to be able to say, with less than 24 hours notice “I am going to do a 100 mile cycle ride” and then think nothing of it. The second thought came a bit later on and it was this, that we have a great group of players here in Columbus. Players that have made Columbus their home and want to give back to the local community in a variety of ways. Boll is around Columbus for the summer, appearing at two fan events, the select a seat open house ( 9th of August) and a Front Street Friday (15th June). Dorse has not only done the open house but also was at the Dublin Irish festival ( 5th of August) meeting fans and signing autographs. Dorse by the way was the player that decided, on the spur of the moment to do that 100 mile cycle ride, (putting his feet and legs to good use instead of his hands). Cam Atkinson organized a fund raiser for the Marty Lyons foundation (set up to benefit seriously and terminally ill children) in Greenwich, Connecticut. James Wiznewski uses his wizwear website (www.wizwear.org) to benefit the USO.

Our players are approachable. Recently a friend of mine came across RJ Umberger on a night out, who has good enough to pose for a photo. Last season the Jacket’s gave out back stage passes to fans giving them the opportunity to meet with players after the game. During the last season you had two celebrity bar tending nights, with the players staying after they had finished their bar tending duties just to hang out with the fans. Much like the party for season tickets holders at Columbus Zoo. Then you have the Black tie Blue Jacket style show, which brings me onto the Blue Jackets Foundation, which has raised over a million dollars for various local charities and non profits. It is not just current players, former players such as Nash and Methot took the time to meet with their fans and give back to their community with hospital visits, reading to children at local libraries. Now I don’t know what other teams and their players get up to, I don’t follow them, but just for us, here in Columbus seems like we have a great group of guys.

Now I know we want wins, and believe me I want them just as much. However I take pride in the fact that our players and the organization do so much to give back to the local community. The players have truly made C-BUS their home. This is something we as fans can we should take pride in. Legacy is a word being used a lot following the Olympic games over here. We have in Columbus a team that is leaving such a legacy. Wins come and go, they fade with time, but making a positive impact, in your own community lasts a life time. Whilst we wait for the season to start and the NHL lockout cold war hots up, lets celebrate that legacy.

My name is Dave Thomas, I am not a re incarnation of a certain founder of a fast food chain, nor to the best of my knowledge am I in any way related, unless my parents are saving that revelation for the Jerry Springer show. The similarities stop at the name, as. I am younger, slimmer and still alive.
I am from London, England, Yes London, England, where that small and seldom heard of sporting event going on at the moment, the one whose opening ceremony confused everyone not from this isle, (although that may not have been helped by NBC). Something that this opening blog might do as well, without the help from NBC.

So how did someone from London, England become a Blue Jackets fan ?, Back in November 2008 I was visiting Columbus, having studied at the Ohio State University, and said I wanted to see a hockey game. It was a fantastic time, even if the exact rules of the game were a little unclear. Taking the lead from the gentlemen sitting in front of me and wanting to get into the spirit of the occasion, I yelled out exactly what he had been yelling, as the people in the surrounding seats turned around in surprise to see and hear a heavily English accented voice yell “punch him in the head”, sadly it was not until the 3rd period the players acted on this sage advise.

Since then, I have followed this team, my team from a different continent, a different time zone, through the highs and lows, thanks to the wonders of internet streaming and various gigabytes of data, much to the delight of my ISP, whose data limits now lie shattered and and their gigabyte data charging policy ensures that, their profits now rival the GDP of some of the most advanced economies. Yet that along with the very late nights, has been worth it, that along with the joy at hard fought wins, with the anger at games lost in the last minute/second, has been both the price and privilege of being a Columbus Blue Jackets fan. Our struggles shall define us. It will become part of a heritage, that in the darkest hour we joined the battle and stayed a part of that battle. We have set ourselves aside from mere band wagon fans, flitting from team to team as a honey bee going from flower to flower on a warm summers day.

When I started this post I was not sure where I was going with it, the Nash trade is done, then I came across some comments made by the former Blue jacket, Marc Methot, click here to read.

Marc said that sometimes it was hard to play in Nationwide, that sometimes the opposing fans out numbered the home fans and that made it tough. Make no mistake, he has no issues with the fans, just the lack of them, and yes, some of that comes down to the team performance over the years, but turn the question around, what impact do we have as fans ? we can alter games, our presence can spur the players on, to dig that little deeper, to work the little hard when the body aches and the limbs are tired.

A little over  a year ago, after our loss at the end of the season to Buffalo, a lot of people were saying that the atmosphere was quiet, that opposing fans out numbered the Jackets fans. That night, their and then, even through distance prevented me from doing any concrete, I started “Reclaim our Barn”, (because that is how we change the world through Facebook groups right ?)
The sole purpose of the group was to get Blue Jackets fans back in Nationwide, to act as a rallying cry for us to quite literately, reclaim our barn from the hordes of opposing fans. Unbeknownst to me and a little before, another group of wise men, had the same idea. Reclaim our Barn never really got off the ground, but the other group, the Arch City Army did. Their deserved success shows, what a difference we as fans make. The cheering, the noise, the passion is the boast our players need. The unspoken part of Marc’s comments, are that we need more people to come along and make noise. All the players are aware of the Arch City Army, and pretty much they all love them. The point of this is not an advertisement for the ACA, (although I do highly recommend joining them, and watching a game/s in their section) The point is that we can, as individuals do exactly what they are doing, we can make noise, we can cheer our players onto victory and we can do it from whatever seat we have in the arena. We don’t need to be a part of a certain group, we are all already Blue Jackets fans, all we need to do is bring our passion to the arena. I know and understand our record is not good, I understand the frustrations of wanting to see a winning team and lots of money spent, especially in these austere times. Go back to your first Jackets game, do you remember it ? , think about your favorite Jacket’s memory, the one that will stay with you to your deathbed, the one the makes you smile when you are having a bad day, tap into that passion and use it when you come to the games. I know not everyone can go to every game, but the games you do attend, bring you voice, make noise, make sure that the teams we are playing, know they are stepping into an away area. Reclaim our Barn has stalled a little, but I shall continue with it, I carry on joining the battle, and I hope that you will join me, if I could finish with a shameless self plug, stop by Facebook and check out Reclaim our Barn, check out the ACA also, I hope you will join the battle this season and who knows maybe I may even see some of you at nationwide this season.

Thank you for reading this

Dave

Some fans are mad at Howson for driving Nash away, others are upset with Nash for wanting to leave. But who is really at fault here?

Firstly, Nash plays with little to no heart for his team as of late. I am sure being part of a failing franchise has added to this, but he is the captain. It has been obvious to me that he wanted to leave. It has also been said that he request that the GM be replaced. Guess what Rick? You aren’t the boss. That decision isn’t your’s to make, and requesting a trade after there was no change is a rather cowardly way to deal with it. Nash signed a long term commitment with this club, with the town, and with the fans. Abandoning ship with things get tough is not something that will gain Nash much respect.

But then there is the other side of the fence. Howson has failed to make any real progress towards moving this team forward. Coaches have come and gone, and at this point as GM a lot of eyes are on him to fix things. This hasn’t happened, and logic dictates that All-Stars won’t stay in, nor come to Columbus. He has created a mess, and I honestly feel that his days *should* be numbered.

So who is the villain in the Nash v Howson debacle? BOTH! Nash wanting to leave, while understandable, is absurd. After all of the talks about this being his team and town, it is a knife in the back for all of the dedicated Nash fans. I am ready to see him go, as I think it is best to move the team forward at this point, and he should bring some value back in a trade. Howson handled the whole situation poorly, and has created a mess in Columbus. After the way he handled Nash’s request, he is going to have a hard time bringing new talent to the CBJ.

This club is in trouble. They need changes. But on the plus side, how could things get any worse for the CBJ? Hopefully it’s uphill from here.

Here is what I am seeing from the fan base on the subject. You can basically divide the fans into 3 groups:

Group #1 feels that giving Arniel the ax accomplishes nothing, as this teams issues are deeper than coaching. Majority of this group want Howson, and the players themselves held accountable.

Group #2 appreciates the fact that changes are finally being made. Although late in the season, it is pleasant to see at least something is being done.

Group #3 consists of the fans that are already gone. These people have already given up on the team and will only care again when the team starts winning. To sum it up, the bandwagon fans.

Myself, I fall in the middle between group #1 and #2. While firing Arniel most likely won’t solve the issue, it is a step in the right direction. No, the roster problems are not his fault, and yes some sort of major revamp is needed. But ultimately the team isn’t winning, and that falls on Arniel’s shoulders. A new coach may not be a fix all, but ultimately it is the coach’s responsibility to build a winning team with what he is given.

I honestly expected this move much earlier in the season, and at the time I expected Howson to go to. But seeing as how they waited so long to relieve Arniel, I really have no prediction as to what the future lies. As crazy as this club is, they may decide to keep Howson in hopes that ANOTHER coaching change will fix things.

Long story short, this club is a disaster and needs fixed… By ANY means necessary.

Boone Jenner November Stats: 8GP 4-6-10 -3 14PIM
Jenner started off hot for the Generals picking up 5 points in his first two games of the month then Jenner had a rough night against Kitchener going pointless and being a -3. After picking up a assist against the Petes Boone was off to play against the Russians in the Subway Super Series as if being a -3 in the loss wasnt bad enough Jenner suffered a injury that forced him to miss 4 games. When Boone returned to the lineup he picked up points in 3 of the last 4 scoring 3 goals and a assist. Boone was one of the many prospects to take part in Movember you can see his progress here. Jenner will take part in Team Canada’s selection camp for the World Juniors next month.

Dalton Smith November Stats: 12GP 3-3-6 -10 17PIM
Dalton Smith is hopefully getting back into the rythem of things after missing almost all of October with a suspension. Smith started off with a goal and a assist in a win over Belleville then went quiet for 6 games before having a quick 2 game point streak with a goal and 2 assists. The goal can be seen here just fast forward to about 2 minutes in. Smith closed out the month scoring his third goal against Jenner and the Generals before being held scoreless against Kingston.

Brandon Archibald November Stats: 11GP 0-1-1 +4 8PIM
This will be kind of a quick one as Brandon only picked up a assist in the whole month of November. Times are still rough in Saginaw as the Spirit won only 4 of the 11 games it played last month 3 in overtime. To find a positive for Brandon his current +4 rating is tied for third on the team.

Lukas Sedlak November Stats: 7GP 3-6-9 +7 7PIM
Sedlak and Chicoutimi played less games than even some of the Blue Jacket’s college prospects. But in those 7 games Sedlak had points in all but 1 of them including 3 multi point games. Lukas started November on a 5 game point streak scoring 2 goals and 6 assists, Sedlak had 2 assists plus took on a player 4 inches taller than him in his second fight of the year in a win over Victoriaville. In a win over the Armada Lukas scored a beauty of a one timer adding a assist.(goals about a minute in, warning bagpipes at the beginning) The only game Sedlak went scoreless was a shootout loss to Michael Chaput and Shawinigan. Sedlak is on the Czech Republic’s preliminary roster for the World Junior Championships with fellow Czech/QMJHL Prospect Petr Straka

Petr Straka November Stats: 13GP 4-6-10 -5 10PIM
If Petr continues his current trend look out in December, after scoring 3 points in September 5 in October then 10 in December. I kid because hopefully Petr will time with the Oceanic while he plays for the Czech Republic in the World Junior Championships. Straka never went more than 2 games in November without a point including a month closing 3 game point streak. Petr’s best night came against the Olympiques when he had a goal and a assist.(Highlights here right off the bat #23)

Mathieu Corbeil November Stats: 9GP 7-2 .917SV% 2.33GAA 1 Shutout
It was your usual month in Saint John play 13 win 10 of them, Matieu Corbeil went 7-2 last month losing to fellow prospect Petr Straka and Rimouski and Quebec when top draft prospect Mikhail Griorenko who had a hat trick. Corbeil tied a franchise record when he made 30 saves to shutout Baie-Comeau to pick up his fourth shutout of the season. Corbeil was named first star in two of the wins when he made 28 saves in a win over PEI and then in a overtime win over rival Moncton when he made 30 saves.

Michael Chaput November Stats: 5GP 1-7-8 +6 2PIM
Chaput missed time in November when he suffered a shoulder injury in the team’s win over PEI missing the next 5 games. In those 5 games the Cataractes went 2-3 and according to a writer I talk to in Shawinigan “were not the same team when hes not in the lineup”. Chaput got off to a strong start when he and ex-MAINEiacs teammate Kirill Kabanov put on a show in the third period leading a comeback win over Quebec in which Chaput had a goal and 2 assists. Chaput picked up 2 assists in a win over Victoriaville after that he was named to play for Team QMJHL in the Super Series but then the PEI game happeneed and he couldnt play. When Chaput returned he picked up 3 assists in the teams’s last 2 games both wins. Chaput won 65% of the faceoffs he took in November and ranks among the Q leaders.

Austin Madaisky November Stats: 12GP 1-4-5 +5 14PIM
After getting off to a fast start picking up 12 points in his first 14 games he slowed down in November picking up 5 points in 12 games. Not that Austin is complaining after missing the playoffs last year the Blazers are one of the best teams in the WHL going 7-4-1 last month and are 18-7-1 on the year. Austin had his fourth multi point game of the season when he had a goal and a assist in a win over Seattle.

It was announced earlier this week that Oliver Gabriel was returned to the Portland Winterhawks and is expected to join the lineup this weekend giving the Blue Jackets at least two prospects in each CHL league. Gabriel was returned to Portland because he was struggling to get into the Falcons lineup as a rookie. Since this was a month long recap im running a bit long so i’ll end this here I thank you for reading and can follow @cbjprospects for updates on all these players. Ill get to work on the NCAA prospects and Mike Reilly and Anton Forsberg.