Interim-coach Claude Noel will not have a second interview, however the report states that Noel is still in the running for the job.

It has also been confirmed that Detroit Red Wings assistant Paul MacLean is no longer in the running for the coaching position.

MacLean, who has been an assistant with Detroit since 2005, interviewed for the Columbus job last Tuesday and was told he would hear back from the club within a week.

The news of MacLean being ousted from the running comes as a surprise to some as many saw him as a strong candidate for the job.

Arniel was hired as Manitoba’s head coach in 2006, and won the AHL Coach of the Year award in only his third season at the helm, leading his team to the Calder Cup Finals.

According to the Winnipeg Sun, Arniel will also interview for the Atlanta Thrashers head coaching position.

Dineen, currently the coach of Portland Pirates of the AHL, played for the Blue Jackets from the team’s establishment in 2000 until he retired in 2002.

Dineen was named AHL Coach of the Year in 2006 after his first season with Portland.

Also still in the running for the job is Hamilton Bulldogs’ head man Guy Boucher.

In his only season with Hamilton, Boucher led the Bulldogs to a 52-17-11 record and like Dineen, won the AHL Coach of the Year award in only his first season.

Boucher’s team currently holds a 2-0 lead over the Texas Stars in the AHL Western Conference Finals. The Montreal Canadiens, Hamilton’s NHL affiliate, have said they will not stand in the way of Columbus speaking to Boucher.

Howson has indicated that the club is still a couple weeks away from making a hire, stating that it will most likely come in late May or early June.

To have any chance at making the playoffs this squad is going to have to make some changes, some sacrifices. Clever t-shirts with slogans like “It Starts Now” aren’t going to cut it.  It isn’t just the players on the ice that need to make the changes, the sacrifices, but the coaching staff and the front office as well. Tonight’s game is number 42 for the Blue Jackets, the official start of the second half of the season. Making changes for New Year’s, or the new season as the Blue Jackets would like to treat it, certainly isn’t a new practice. So without further ado, the Blue Jackets 2010 New Year’s resolutions.

Scott Howson: The Blue Jackets are still without a legitimate number one center or defenseman. Derick Brassard was supposed to be the number one, but clearly he wasn’t ready to take it. Maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t the best idea to sign kid with 48 career games in the league, coming off an injury, to a four-year contract extension with a $3.2million annual cap hit. If the club is confident that he is capable of becoming a bonafide first-line center, why not have him playing with Rick Nash? If they’re not, then they need to start the searching now. On the defensive front, not a single player on the team is a top defenseman, and one could argue that there isn’t a no. 2 among them. John Moore isn’t going to blossom into a top defenseman in just a year. Something, or rather someone will need to be added through a trade or free agency. Ownership has claimed that they are willing to spend money to be competitive, time to make them pony up, and preferably before summer.

Ken Hitchcock: For starters, how about winning significantly more games in 2010 than in 2009? To do so it’s going to require a bit of philosophy change and negotiations. Hitchcock has historically been very hard on young players, while being slightly more lax on veterans. Unfortunately, that sort of mentality simply cannot cut it with the youngest team in the league. If he wants to be in Columbus by this time next year, he’ll need to become an equal-opportunity stickler. Yes, young players make mistakes, but so do veterans. Hitchcock may be starting on this resolution a little early as mistake-prone Mike Commodore appears to once again be a healthy scratch this evening; he was kept out of the lineup in favor of newly-acquired Milan Jurcina Tuesday night.

The next step is benching mercurial winger Kristian Huselius and there’s a laundry list of players perfectly capable of reevaluating their game in the press box. This organization has more depth than it has ever had and if veterans are not playing to the level they need to be at, there are numerous young guys waiting in the wings dying for a shot. Give the young guys chances and allow them to make and learn from their mistakes. It is crunch time, but there needs to be accountability throughout the locker room. The divide between veterans and youngsters needs to be broken down to get everyone playing their best and this team headed in the right direction.

Rick Nash: Nash needs to stop trying to do everything by himself, whether in the locker room or on the ice. Nash has been held to just 12 points in the last 21 games, 18 of which have been losses. He needs to do more and produce more, but he makes himself much easier to take out of the game by failing to utilize his teammates. He plays like the biggest, strongest, most skilled kid on the peewee hockey team. The only problem is, in the NHL other teams recognize that and can shutdown one elite player. In his defense it is tough to build chemistry when you’re playing with different players each night, but it’s even harder to score on a one-on-three.

In the locker room Nash has an equal amount of work to do. The first thing he needs to do, if not already, is to ask for help. Last season the veteran presence of Michael Peca helped lessen the leadership burden that comes with the “C”. He served as a mouthpiece for Nash in the locker room as well as a player that helped teach the Hitchcock system to the youngsters. With Peca is gone and players like Rostislav Klesla and Fredrik Modin out for large portions of the season, the leadership burden has fallen almost solely on the 25-year-old. He doesn’t need to, nor should he have to shoulder the load on his own. If that means calling Michael Peca for advice, so be it. If that means reaching out to newly-acquired winger Chris Clark (four-year captain of the Washington Capitals) and asking him to help fulfill a leadership role on the team, do it now rather than later. There is no time to spare.

Steve Mason: For the reigning Calder Trophy winner, 2009 has been bittersweet. Steve Mason took home some serious hardware for his performance during the year. Yet, this season he has looked far cry from the Mason of the last. His poor play has been exaggerated by the porous defense that has been in front of him most of the season but let’s be clear. Mason is in the midst of a sophomore slump. One of the things Mason needed most has already been done for him. He was stripped of the starting role. While that may not have been in his personal interest, it taught him a very tough lesson that needed to be learned. Nothing is given in this league. It’s earned.

The move is hoped to unleash the competitive monster that dwells inside Mason. You begin to recognize how much of a competitor he is when you speak with the kid, more so than with most professional athletes. He’s had to compete for every role he’s ever held be it with two different junior teams, Team Canada in the World Juniors or the AHL. Lest we forget that he was an injury call-up last season whose competitive edge made it impossible the Blue Jackets to send him down. However, going into the season as the undisputed starter and franchise goaltender, Mason appeared to become a little too confident and much too complacent.

Since Hitchcock announced the “Win and you’re in” policy, Mason has played extremely well and cut down in the areas that have hindered his play the most this season: bad goals and the reaction that follows, positioning and rebound control. One need not look further than Tuesday night in the first period when Mason allowed a relatively soft goal against the Islanders. Earlier in the year, it would be no surprise to see the Isles come down and spot two or three more on Mason. He went on the turn away every remaining shot and kept the Jackets in the game, only to fall in a shutout. He’ll need to continue to play with that competitive edge for the rest of the season if he wishes to truly reclaim his net.

These resolutions only address a few of the major issues this team is facing. Feel free to share your resolutions for the team, coaching staff and management.

Happy New Years from the FTC Staff!

-Bart Logan

bartftc@gmail.com

Twitter: BartFTC

This moves follows a rumor-laden day that linked the Blue Jackets with other Capitals blueliners Shaone Morrisonn and Karl Alzner as well as the likes of Toronto and Ottawa as potential trade partners. This appears to be a very sound deal for the Union Blue and one that confirms Ken Hitchcock will not be leaving before the Olympic break.

At 6’4” and 240lbs Milan Jurcina adds some serious size to the Union Blueline. The native of Slovakia has registered 14-36-50 and a +8 rating in 302 career games with the Bruins and Capitals. He also adds a very heavy right-handed shot to the Columbus back end. The bad: Jurcina has been characterized as inconsistent his entire career, is prone to mistakes in his own end and is a below average skater. The good: his $1.37million contract is up at the end of the season so if he doesn’t play well, he can be off the books this summer.

Clark, 33, was the Capitals captain and a very capable checking line right winger. He’s just the kind of player Hitchcock covets in his locker room: solid two-ways, tough on the boards and in front of the net. He’s got over 500 games under his belt, a feet only three other Jackets, Sammy Pahlsson, Kristian Huselius and Fredrick Modin have reached. He’ll be brought in with hopes that he might be able to serve in a sort of Michael Peca role. He’s a vocal leader and he’ll hopefully be able to help translate Hitchcock for the younger players and bet them bought into Hitch-hockey. He’s under contract through next season at $2.65million.

Jason Chimera will be missed by many in the Blue Jackets locker room and in the stands. He’s one of the longest tenured players in team history, with 331 games with club to his name. He put up 62-74-137 over four plus seasons with the Blue Jackets. He was acquired by Doug MacLean on October 8, 2005 the day after an opening night loss, for fan favorite Geoff Sanderson. He quickly endeared himself to the Blue Jackets fans and the Columbus community for his dedication on the ice and charitable work off it. “We’d also like to thank Jason Chimera for his contributions to the Blue Jackets organization both on and off the ice over the past four-plus seasons,” Howson said in a club statement. He’ll be sure to receive a standing-ovation when the Capitals come to town in April.

This is an interesting move for the Jackets, who take on the Red Wings tonight in Nationwide Arena. Neither player will be in the line-up but will be expected to debut New Years Eve against Nashville. It’s not a blockbuster deal but Scott Howson’s known for doing well and sometimes finding gems in low-key trades like this. The team needed some sort of spark, nearly all other options have been exhausted. Only time will tell.

-Bart Logan

bartftc@gmail.com

Twitter: BartFTC

UPDATE (3:53PM)

According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the Jackets have acquired Milan Jurcina and right wing Chris Clark from the Washington Capitals. The CBJ  have sent left winger Jason Chimera the other way. Still awaiting  conformation from the team.

———–

It’s no secret Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson is looking to make some changes in the locker room. He wants to add a defenseman with Rostislav Klesla sidelined until after the Olympic break. But now things are starting to materialize and it is quite likely the the CBJ could make a move within the next 24 hours.

The team the Jackets have been linked with the most is Washington. The names being tossed around are a trio of Caps blueliners: Shaone Morrisonn, Milan Jurcina and Karl Alzner. Morrisonn and Jurcina both have good size and are relatively sound in the defensive end. Jurcina owns a big right-handed shot, but is a less than average skater and is prone to mistakes. He’s not going to solve many problems for the Union Blueline. Morrisonn offers similar size and has spent time paired with Mike Green, no small task because Green’s defensive lapses are well documented. Morrisonn has good mobility for his 6’4″ 215lb frame. He’s never finished a season in the NHL with a minus rating but right now in 0-3-3 in 28 games with a plus/minus of -1.

Karl Alzner is a wildcard. The 5th overall pick in 2007, Alzner is not the sort of player general managers like to move. He’s got good size at 6′ 2″ and is a very good skater. In 10 NHL games this season Alzner is 0-4-4 with a +2 rating. In 40 career NHL games the former Bill Hunter winner (WHL’s top defenseman) is 1-8-9 with a +1. He’s got a lot of potential and would require a good package going the other way. To make things even more interesting, Alzner has been scratched from the Caps lineup for tonight’s game.

The players the Blue Jackets are rumored to be sending the other way include Jason Chimera, Raffi Torres and Nikita Filatov. Obviously Alzner would not be coming for the likes of Chimera or Torres, so in likelihood, if a deal is done it will be Morrisonn or Jurcina coming the other way. Washington is in need of checking line wingers and that’s one thing the Blue Jackets have an abundance of. While the CBJ management would prefer to move Chimera, who’s do $1.87 million a year for the next three seasons, Torres is more attractive as a player and his contract is up at the end of the year.

Washington is rumored to be interested in Filatov. The skilled Russian would likely thrive in the nation’s Capital with the likes of Alexander Ovechkin, Niklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin. , Washington GM George McPhee may be even more interesting in adding Filatov after  Semin declined a long-term extension in favor of a one-year deal. Most people’s money is on Semin hitting the market come the Summer of 2011. That being said, with all of Filatov’s baggage, he probably would need to be paired with another player to bring the likes of Alzner to Ohio’s Capital.

Also, Toronto is rumored to possibly joining the deal making it a 3-way. This could be very interesting. The name thrown most around in Toronto is Tomas Kaberle. However, the skilled defenseman has a no-trade clause he must waive in order for Brian Burke to move him. He’s also at an all-time high in value and would likely not accept a trade to Columbus and I can’t see the Jackets sending to king’s ransom to Toronto for Washington to pick up Kaberle, even if Alzner and Morrisonn/Jurcina came back this way. Regardless, it looks like a deal could get done soon.

UPDATE (3:08PM)

The Leafs are rumored to be out of the deal, if they were ever really in it. The Ottawa Senators are rumored to have joined negotiations but it’s not clear if they would be part of a 3-team deal or a separate deal with the Jackets. The Senators GM Bryan Murray is rumored to be a big fan of Filatov. It’s no secret that Scott Howson covets defensive prospect Brian Lee. We’ll keep you posted.

-Bart Logan

bartftc@gmail.com

Twitter: BartFTC

Flashback to August 2nd, 2005. The lockout had ended less than two weeks earlier and the biggest free agent frenzy the league had ever seen had just commenced. The Blue Jackets threw their hat in the ring and signed veteran defenseman Adam Foote to a three-year contract. He brought with him two Stanley Cups with won with the Avalanche and a wealth of playoff experience. He was supposed to be the leader on the blue line for the Jackets and the man who would help lead them to their first playoff appearance. It wasn’t any coincidence that Luke Richardson gave up his “C” to Foote during that first season.

Now fast forward to two seasons ago. The Jackets are struggling but only a few points out of a playoff position as the trade deadline approaches. Foote is of the final year of his contract and negotiating with rookie GM Scott Howson for an extension. The Jackets and Foote are separated by $1 million in the two-year extension negotiations. On deadline day, Foote is traded to the Colorado, his former team, for a first round draft pick. Or, that is how he downplays it.

Jackets fans remember things a bit differently. They remember allegations that Foote would become a cancer in the locker room, that the “captain” would be a bad teammate, if he were not traded. They remember the private jet that was waiting for Foote as the trade was announced to fly him to Calgary to participate in the Aves first game after the deadline. They remember Foote being a no-show last year in Colorado’s two visits last year.

While most of the team has turned over from Foote’s final season, his betrayal is still fresh in the minds of those who were. Rick Nash, Jason Chimera, Jan Hejda, Jared Boll and Kris Russell remember their individual meetings with coach Ken Hitchcock after Foote’s departure. They remember their captain deserting them in the down stretch. This team is in the midst of its worst stretch of the season and have just three wins in their past 10 games. This team is coming off of an embarrassing 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in front of their home crowd. This team needs the crowd in this game. This team needs some sort of spark. Here’s hoping Adam Foote can finally provide that for the team.

-Bart Logan

bartftc@gmail.com

Twitter: BartFTC

The last we see of Filatov in a Blue Jackets sweater?

After rumors started circulating yesterday, the Blue Jackets announced this afternoon that winger Nikita Filatov has been loaned to CSKA Moscow for the remainder of the season. The prize Russian prospect will play out the rest of the year in the KHL. While the move may have materialized quickly, the ground works have been set for some time.
It has been reported that Filatov’s development, or lack-there-of, has been a point of contention between general manager Scott Howson and head coach Ken Hitchcock. Filatov was a preseason Calder canidate after he made waves in eight games with the Jackets last season, including a hat trick against Minnesota. Many saw Filatov as the best player not in the NHL last season, but his 2009-2010 has not gone according to plan.
In 13 games with the Jackets this season, Filatov registered two goals on just 11 shots; he had four goals on ten shots last year. The diminutive winger has been a healthy scratch in six games this season, including last night’s shootout victory over Edmonton. In his 13 games, he’s averaged just north of eight minutes of ice time. He has had limited opportunity to crack the top six. Instead spending his limited ice time with the likes of Rick Nash, Jake Voracek, or Antoine Vermette, he has been plying his trade with on lines with Jared Boll, Mike Blunden, and Andrew Murray. Not exactly skill players. That’s what it comes down to.
Hitchcock won’t give youngsters ice time unless they earn it in his eyes. Sure there is always the potential for Filatov to make plays. However, while the potential may be there, the on ice product has been a different story. Filatov has played very poorly away from the puck, and carelessly when he has had it. He turned over the puck three times in one shift late in the second versus Anaheim, in a 2-2 game. That doesn’t cut it on a Hitchcock hockey team.
Is this the best move for Nikita Filatov and the Jackets? Hardly. While little Nikita will assuredly get the ice time on CSKA Moscow, along with the opportunity to play for Russia in the World Junior Championships, Blue Jackets brass cannot be comfortable with the deal. Rumors of a KHL departure began swirling in the off-season, and one has to believe that the Filatov-Hitchcock relationship has been damaged this season. Hopefully it is not irreparable. Scott Howson believes that the sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft will be back for training camp next year. Filatov has echoed the sentiment and continues to claim that he wants to play in the NHL. Hey Nikita, you were playing in the NHL.
It’s hard to take one side or another as details are still being revealed. This lone just doesn’t sit comfortably. There is precedent and Filatov will not be the only Jackets prospect playing overseas. Lesser defensive

prospect Andrei Plekhanov is playing the season with Dynamo Moscow. The Blue Jackets have loaned players to European teams before, but with no transfer agreement between the KHL and NHL, it would not take a lot for things to take a turn for the worse.
With the contracts of Fredrick Modin, Raffi Torres, Andrew Murray and Jared Boll all coming off the books at the end of this season, It’s likely Filatov will have a better shot at cracking into the top six next season. He’ll also get the opportunity to grow and add muscle, something Hitchcock would definitely like to see. He’ll be playing in probably the best league talent-wise, outside of the NHL. Despite trying to put a positive spin on it, it’s still hard to stomach the move and this will not be the last we hear of it this season.
Comments welcome.

- Bart Logan
bartftc@gmail.com
Twiter: BartFTC

Let’s backtrack a bit to what predicated the first series of healthy scratches, then to the more confusing second go-around of diminished ice time and healthy scratches.
Hitchcock and Filatov met – for about 10 minutes, right before the 4th game of the season, against the Calgary Flames – at center ice. By the accounts of the local print media, it was quite a scene as Hitchcock, tapping his stick, at times, on the ice, “informed” Filatov as to what’s expected of him, at the NHL level. What follows is what the local print media disclosed on the exchange/session – call it what you may:

Besides letting Filatov know he’d be a healthy scratch for that evening’s game, Hitchcock also emphasized that Filatov needs to be more competitive on the puck. In short, Hitch wants Filatov thinking “quality over quantity.”

But the most interesting element – is that both player and coach conceded that Nikolai Zherdev has been discussed in relation to Filatov’s development. If you recall, the relationship between Hitchcock and Zherdev wasn’t exactly rosy, although Hitchcock and GM Scott Howson did reach out and work with the enigmatic Zherdev, to the point of making him more productive, before trading him in July, 2008, to the New York Rangers.

Filatov seems genuinely receptive to following Hitchcock’s instruction, and has since worked on those recommended areas of improvement, and has demonstrated a willingness to compete on the puck and has generally improved in all facets of the game.
Then, more confusion – Part Deux.

Filatov gets the opportunity to get back into the lineup against the Phoenix Coyotes, on October 28th, this after a series of games in which Filatov was “healthy scratched” – not injured, just benched. Filatov responded by playing, quite easily, his best game of the season. While he didn’t factor into the lone goal of the first period, trust me, he was the most dominant offensive player on the ice for the CBJ.

Then, after logging over 6 minutes of quality ice time, Filatov got to play a whopping 2 shifts, totaling 1 minute and 40 seconds of ice time.

Hitchcock’s explanation for the sudden (ice time) drop? “Well, we were in a lot of special team situations”. Wait, isn’t the power play (PP) one of those special teams situations? The Blue Jackets, after the first period, after leading 1-0, were thoroughly dominated by the ‘Yotes, the rest of the way, losing 4-1. You mean to tell me, when the score was 2-1 and 3-1, and they were on the PP, that Filatov couldn’t have been on the PP unit? Now, remind me, who was on the PP unit when they scored their lone goal? Heck, I’ll answer it, for you – it was Filatov.

Filatov doesn’t see the ice, basically, for the rest of the game, but, more than a few veterans absolutely stunk up the joint. What was their “punishment”? Not only plenty of ice time, the remaining two periods, but, continued high ice time minutes the next few games.

Let me demonstrate this confusion, numerically, by comparing the TOI of Derek Brassard and Jake Voracek, at this time, last season – their first full season’s with the CBJ.

Brassard’s TOI – Games 10 – 12, 2008-2009 season:
16:33
12:10
17:02

Voracek’s TOI – Games 10 – 12, 2009-2009 season:
16:23
14:27
12:18

Filatov’s TOI – Games 10 – 12, 2009-2010 season:
9:51
8:43 (Phoenix game, Oct. 28th, per above)
Healthy Scratch

Now, the Blue Jackets organization reported that Filatov experienced back spasms, for the games in which he was scratched, both against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals; however, the organization also indicated that, even if Filatov was healthy, he would have been healthy scratched, for those games.
Then, still more confusion – Part Trois.

Filatov returned to the lineup against the San Jose Sharks, and logged a season high of 11:33 TOI. This was more due to a rash of injuries to the CBJ forwards than any reward, trust me. And, before you get too excited about that jump in TOI, Filatov then logged 5:48 TOI, last night, against the Thrashers, a team, one would think, given their propensity for full-throttle offensive pressure, would be tailor-made for someone like Filatov.

Last I checked, the San Jose Sharks apply that same kind of offensive pressure, combined with even more grittiness. The reason I mention the Sharks’ grit is the very reason Filatov has been healthy-scratched for the games in which he has been benched.

All players develop differently but Filatov, Brassard and Voracek are all, elite blue chip talents. Both Brassard and Voracek didn’t look much better or worse last season than Filatov did, at the same stage, this season.

Add to this, Ken Hitchcock’s assessment of Filatov’s talents – Hitch has gone on record and likened Filatov to another pretty decent Russian talent – a guy by the name of Pavel Bure, stating that Filatov is the type of player who, in one fail swoop – AKA the wicked wrister – can change the complexion of a game.
Now, I know the team is doing pretty well, leading the Central Division standings, with a 8-5-2 record, but, the team also started 5-1-0, so, the notion that Filatov isn’t playing well enough to take regular shifts and decent TOI, hold little, if any, weight. This team is 3-5-2 over their past ten games – no one, outside of Rick Nash, was playing well enough to log excessive minutes, in comparison to Filatov’s putrid minutes.

Filatov’s either good enough to play in the NHL, or he isn’t – if he is good enough, then play him. If he isn’t good enough to warrant TOI, then send him some place where he can obtain some experience – that plan sure worked for Kris Russell, when they sent him down, early last season, and, upon returning, took his game up a few notches, much closer to the team’s expectations.

The coaches either trust him or they don’t – if they don’t, please then, don’t leave him hanging. This treatment of Filatov isn’t doing anyone any good – the organization is killing his confidence and they’re killing his trade value, if that is, indeed, their possible intention. Last I recall, Filatov’s name was offered by other teams, during trade discussions, this past off-season and during last year’s trade deadline. I also seem to recall Filatov being ranked the no. 1 prospect in the NHL.

Which leads me to believe that there is more to this story…something, off-ice, that is the reason for this confusing, inconsistent, treatment of the budding superstar
Is Filatov showing up late for practices? Is he staying out too late, painting the town (pretty hard to do, BTW, in Columbus, Ohio)? Is he not dedicating himself, seriously, to the NHL? Has he broken any laws? Does he have a bad attitude? Is he a bad teammate? For those last two, all that has been reported is to the contrary, but, it could be spin – I recall the positive spin on Zherdev – a changed man, during his last season, here, only to be later told it hadn’t really improved, all that much. Ask NY Rangers fans – they witnessed his enigmatic ways, first hand.

Although, being a former auditor, I probably have a higher than normal conspiracy quotient, but, something is awry. I have watched Filatov play, every game, this season, and I haven’t seen this horrible play to warrant this inconsistent treatment. Sure, he’s made his share of rookie mistakes, but, last I checked, he’s a rookie!

As mentioned, above, there are veterans, on this team, during the 1-4-1 stretch, play far worse, only to keep logging the TOI. And, as mentioned in a previous article, it seems far too long a leash- status quo – for the veterans, and far too short a leash for this world-class talent. Let the kid play!

As a prologue to this article, Filatov scored the first, game-tying, goal against the Hurricanes, this past Saturday (11/7), and logged significant ice time (9:17 – well, for him, anyway). But, before you get too excited, again, keep in mind that several forwards are still banged up, so, when the troops return, and Filatov starts to incur significant, consistent minutes, I will admit to my error – but, I’m not counting on that happening, although I sure hope I’m proven wrong, to the benefit of Filatov and, ultimately, the organization.

A lot was accomplished, and even more was learned, during that frenetic dash to the playoffs in March and the all-too-brief four game playoff appearance. The team found another level of effort during that Game 4, and appeared to grasp a communal understanding of what was needed for playoff hockey. At the same time, Columbus fans found a new level of passion and commitment that knocked the assembled media and NHL officials for a loop.

That Game 4 was a galvanizing experience for Blue Jackets hockey. When you listen to Hitchcock talk, he clearly learned something by that experience – and this is a man who has hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup. His philosophy hasn’t changed, but there are some tweaks, some enhancements, a little bit of flash in the game. The players are speaking with one voice about the system and the talent. GM Scott Howson has been decisive and targeted, both in filling specific holes (Pahlsson, Garon, Stralman), and in securing his existing talent (Nash, Brassard, Vermette). For the first time in memory, the Blue Jackets had some really talented players in camp who couldn’t make the team.

Now that the rehearsals are over, and opening night is at hand, it is time to look at what has been added, what is missing, and what it will take to keep the show playing into June.

First, the new. Sammi Pahlsson was brought in to anchor the checking line and fill the shoes of Manny Malhotra, who was unable to reach terms with the club and was allowed to explore free agency. He brings the type of solid skating, puck handling, grit and responsibility that both Hitchcock and Howson seek. While there may be some dropoff in faceoffs from Malhotra, one of the league’s best in the circle, the Jackets are counting on Vermette, Murray, Blunden and Brassard to make up for any shortfall.

Even more significant for the organization is the addition of Mathieu Garon to provide much-needed backup for Calder Trophy winner Steve Mason. Although AHL veteran Dan LaCosta played well in two critical games down the stretch, he did not command the trust of the organization, nor did regular backup Wade Dubielewicz. Hitchcock unabashedly rode young Mason all the way to the playoffs, even through a significant bout of mononucleosis. This ultimately showed in young Mason’s performance down the stretch, which was heady but not up to his lofty standards. With one exception, Garon played extremely well in the pre-season, and should provide the cushion needed to keep Mason fresh for the entire season.

Michael Blunden was added to compete for the 4th line center slot and provide depth at wing. Most recently, Scott Howson crafted a trade with Calgary to bring young defenseman Anton Stralman into the fold. This was a typical Howson move, bringing in a player who flew under the radar for many, but fits the specific profile of the player the team lacked – a defenseman with a right handed-shot, good size, a heavy shot from the point, and good skating and puck moving ability. Calgary fans were not pleased with this trade, which saw a 3rd round draft pick head north, as Stralman had an excellent camp. In Columbus, Stralman will help the much-maligned power play, and will add some much needed shooting credibility at the blue line. With Fedor Tyutin and Kris Russell, all of the anticipated pairings will now have a legitimate offensive threat from the defensive corps.

The final new components are the full-time debut of highly-touted winger Nikita Filatov, the club’s first round pick in 2008, and a healthy Derick Brassard. In his eight game NHL audition last year, Filatov notched four goals, including a hat trick. He added some heft to his wiry frame over the summer, and impressed Hitchock with his commitment to the defensive end of the ice in camp. Though the coach would never admit it in public, the young Russian’s shooting and passing abilities are eyebrow-raising. He and R.J. Umberger will likely alternate second and third line duties, depending upon the opponents and the matchups. In the meantime, Brassard has demonstrated the deftness with the puck that made him the leading Calder Trophy candidate last year, until a shoulder injury sidelined him for the year at the 31 game mark. He will provide Nash and Huselius with the true #1 center they have lacked, making that a very scary line.

What is missing? Not a lot, if the truth be told. Malhotra was the most visible departure, due both to his faceoff prowess and his popularity with the fan base. However, he was a fish out of water much of the year, attempting to center the top line with a skill set more attuned to the third or fourth line. While capable of some slick plays, he more often missed the mark on open opportunities. Ole-Kristian Tollefsen took some physical play with him, but was a true liability with the puck, and lacked the quickness necessary to adequately defend his own zone. Michael Peca’s leadership in the room will likely be missed, but retirement looms for Peca, who was a game competitor to the end, but ultimately no longer has the skills to compete at the NHL level on a consistent basis. Winger Jason Williams was allowed to sign with the dreaded Red Wings, a move that perplexed many in the Blue Jacket fan base. Williams brought a sniper’s shot to both the even strength game and the power play, and was a key contributor down the stretch. A healthy Raffi Torres will be slotted to fill that gap.

These targeted changes, combined with another year of experience for the likes of Nash, Russell, Umberger, Torres and others, have led to a more all-encompassing change, at least if pre-season is any indicator. In past seasons, the Jackets have been primarily a three-player offensive club. The defense manned the points, tried to keep the puck in the zone, but ultimately were called upon to begin retreating if possession was even debatable. Without a right hand shot, or a real power shooter at the point, the club had to rely on some fancy playmaking down low to score.

This Blue Jacket team has speed to burn – at every position. It seems that this has led Hitchcock to loosen the reins a bit, allowing the defense to penetrate and become a more integral part of the offense. This, of course, is a recipe that the Red Wings have used with success for ages, and Hitchcock candidly admitted having some skull sessions among the Canadian Olympic coaches (led by the Red Wings’ Mike Babcock). The result has been a dramatic increase in the number of shots the Jackets have been able to put on goal, and a corresponding increase in the minutes of possession in the offensive zone. This should bode well for a significant boost in offensive production, which last year was in the bottom third of the league. It will also take heat off of the defense and goaltending, which already were well within the top half of the league last season.

In the murderously competitive Western Conference, and particularly the Central Division, which will again threaten to place 4 or 5 teams in the post-season, these changes are essential. The one Achilles’ Heel shared by many teams in the West is goaltending. On the more seasoned end of the spectrum, Luongo had a shaky start against Calgary, and merits watching. Turco needs to re-discover his game in Dallas, and Kiprusoff needs to improve his consistency. Khabibulin, Osgood and Huet will provide many grey hairs to their respective coaching staffs and fans. On the other end, Mason (St. Louis), Rinne (Nashville) and Hiller (Anaheim) must show that the flashes of brilliance they displayed last year were not flukes. Sure, Steve Mason needs to do the same for Columbus, but with Garon backstopping him, the Blue Jackets have among the best tandems in the West.

For the Jackets to reprise their playoff debut, they will need to remain healthy. While they have tons of young depth, they lack a lot of veteran leadership. Klesla, Commodore and Hejda will need to be solid in their own zone, allowing Russell, Tyutin and Stralman to work some offensive magic. With more trusted depth and experience on the blue line, this should be feasible, as the extreme minutes the Commodore/Hejda pairing were called upon to provide will ease off this year.

Similarly, the young studs must contribute. Filatov, Brassard, Voracek, Umberger will be called upon to produce, and the betting line is that they will do just that. The Jackets can trot out three lines capable of putting some big numbers on the board, and likely have the biggest offensive upside potential of any team in the West. With a healthy Brassard, Nash should challenge the 50 goal and 100 point marks.

This is an Olympic year, so the teams will be coming hard out of the gate, knowing that they will have a lengthy break in February. Columbus was hurt by a rash of hip flexor pulls and flu cases that limited the time the veterans had to work together. On the positive side, they youngsters benefitted from some major minutes in the pre-season. After a home opener, Columbus embarks on a tough West Coast trip, and plays the majority of their first dozen on the road. Toughness and execution will be necessary to bring a competitive record back home. A solid October will put them in good shape later in the year. With another year of experience with the Hitchcock system, and some serious talent, the Blue Jackets should be in every game.

The curtain goes up on Saturday night against Minnesota. It promises to be a good show.

This is the latest in a flurry of summer signings by Howson, during which he has secured long term deals for Captain Rick Nash (eight years) and center Derick Brassard (four years), inked shorter deals with defenseman Mark Methot and forward Derek Dorsett, and signed free agents Sammy Pahlsson and Mathieu Garon.

Clearly, the rapid signing of Rick Nash to a long term contract has had the desired “trickle down” effect with the younger players. Both Brassard and Vermette saw that signing as hugely positive, and noted their pleasure with the direction the organization was taking. By the same token, Howson is showing considerable faith in Brassard and Vermette, who played a combined total of 52 games for the CBJ last season (Brassard – 31 regular season, Vermette 17 regular season, four playoff games). Players appreciate that kind of confidence, and by all reports Brassard and Vermette are returning the favor through hard work.

The benefits of what Howson has done this summer are enormous for the franchise. First, he has locked up a significant percentage of his core talent for a long time. Huselius, Umberger and Tyutin are signed through the 2011/12 season, Commodore through 2012/2013, and Hejda through 2010/2011. Of the regulars, only Klesla, Modin and Torres are in their final year before UFA status. Howson now has the predictability he needs going forward, so that he will be able to address the increases that players like Voracek, Mason and Filatov will garner as they come off of their entry level contracts, while still being prepared for the eventuality of a cap decrease next year.

At the same time, all of this positive activity gets noticed around the league, and players begin viewing Columbus in a different light when it comes time for free agency. The fact that so many veterans are willing to sign extended contracts represents a big PR boost for the franchise. Season ticket sales are on the increase, the first day of practice drew a packed house — the signs are all positive, and Howson hand his team have a lot to do with it.

Aside from all of the other benefits of these signings, Howson now knows what he can spend in the short term. I frankly did not think that a Vermette deal would get done until later in the Fall, given the few number of games he played last season. Obviously, Hitchcock loves his talents at both ends of the ice, and Howson struck while the iron was hot. He now faces the glut of forwards and the absence of a offensively minded defenseman with a right-hand shot.

For now, the top two lines appear to be set, with Nash, Brassard, Huselius, Vermette, Umberger and Voracek accounting for those six slots. The third and fourth line forwards must come from a group that includes Modin, Chimera, Torres, Filatov, Murray, Dorsett, Boll, Blunden, Picard and Sestito, to include only the obvious candidates. While two-way contracts may enter into the mix a bit, the noises coming from Hitchcock and Howson indicate that the final slots are going based on merit, not contract.

Filatov is the real deal, and has started camp very well. While he will likely be eased into things in terms of minutes, his future is not on the third or fourth line, and for him the future is likely measure in weeks or months, not years. So, that being the case, who moves out of the top six? While injury could make that determination, Howson likely will have some tough decisions to make, sooner than later.

It seems likely that a number of forwards, and perhaps a defenseman coming up on free agency, i.e. Klesla, could be leveraged in a deal that would bring the necessary power play leading defenseman, and perhaps some depth at center. With so much of the tough contract work behind him, Howson has a better idea of what he has to work with. Do not be surprised if a deal or two materializes fairly suddenly during camp.

Howson continues to deliver the goods in his methodical, understated, but ultimately very effective way. The Blue Jackets are a different franchise today, and all of the signs are pointing up.

More to come as I am getting ready to interview Vermette. Check back.

Quotes from Vermette

“With Nash resigning, it definitely makes it a lot more attractive to stick around… It’s very exciting to be a part of this.”

“I like it here. I like how things are shaping up. I wanted to commit (for a long term).”

“I like it here. I wanted to commit (for a long term). It’s a young team with a lot of potential.”