Jackets Land Williams From Thrashers

While my wife and I were doing our best Canadian impersonations . . . shoveling our driveway (my wife for the second time today), the Jackets completed a trade with the Atlanta Thrashers, acquiring Center Jason Williams in return for Clay Wilson and a 6th round draft pick in the 2009 draft.

Williams, a 28 year old Ontario native, brings a right-handed shot and power play point experience to the Jackets. His NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings came in the Jackets' inaugural season of 2000-2001. He spent most of the next 3 seasons bouncing between the AHL and the big club, though stuck with Detroit through the 2002 Stanley Cup campaign. His breakout year came in 2005 - 2006, when he had 21 goals and 37 assists in 80 games for the Red Wings. He netted his first career hat trick against the Bluejackets on October 22 of that year in a 6 - 0 Wings victory. All 3 goals came in the first period. The following year, 2006 -2007, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks after he sustained a concussion in a hit delivered by then-Edmonton Oiler Raffi Torres. His contributions during the 2007 -2008 season were limited by a sports hernia injury. He became a free agent after that season, signing with the Atlanta Thrashers.

A power play specialist with a strong shot and good savvy, Williams is on the smallish side, at 5' 11" and 195 pounds. THN describes his skill set as follows:

ASSETS: Is gifted and savvy. Can put up solid numbers and works well with talented linemates. Is very useful on the power play and can even play the point.
FLAWS: Lacks size and supreme skating ability. Must play a grittier game in order to maximize his productivity on a scoring line.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top six forward.

This seems like a nice pick-up by Howson on several levels. We simultaneously get a right handed shot, power play experience and depth at forward, while not giving up much. Wilson was clearly not in the long term plans for the Jackets, and the 6th round choice is a no-brainer. We are on the hook for about $1 million of his $2.2 million salary. He has only a 1 year deal, so some risk on being able to sign him. However, having spent most of his career in Chicago and Detroit, Columbus could not be viewed as a stretch for him. At 28, he is experienced, but still young enough to potentially be around for a long time.

This was a fine bit of sleight of hand -- everyone was looking at potential PP help coming from a defenseman with a right handed shot, with most attention focusing on Pavel Kubina of Toronto. That could still happen, but I would still look now for a draft choice deal for Nik Antropov from Toronto. With Vancouver having put Curtis Sandford on waivers, we may take a shot at him, if he is around, to provide insurance for Le Claire.

Bottom line, the first piece of the puzzle is in place, with minimal investment on our part. Good start Scott!!!

Above The Line!!!

In his post-game comments, Ken Hitchcock noted that it was a big deal that the Jackets leaped over Colorado into the 8th spot in the Western Conference -- noting that it is always better to be above that red, black or green line that they put after the number 8 team in each conference. To be above the line in January, with Nash, Brassard, Chimera, Torres, LeClaire, Novotny, Tollefson, Murray out, is a very big deal indeed.

Tonight was a Minnesota Wild game wrapped around a Pittsburgh Penguins game. For the first two periods, and the first and last parts of the third period, this was a defensive, neutral zone chess match. Watching Colorado set up their defense was deja vu to last Saturday against the Wild. They collapsed down low, keeping us from establishing our game below the goal line. We stifled their entries and otherwise kept them pretty much to the perimeter. The two young goalies, sporting #1 on their backs, were pretty strong, with both having surrendered their lone goals on rebounds.

Then, there was the 3:41 of the third period, when the two teams played like it was an exhibition game of 3-on-3. First came Russell's absolutely sick pass to Umberger in the crease on the power play. The exuberance lasted all of 50 seconds, when Chris Stewart leaned in and knocked one home from the right dot that Mason would surely like to have back. (New Flash: Mason is human!) Undaunted, just 65 seconds later, Malhotra and Huselius execute a perfect give and go, and the lead is ours. We keep a strong forecheck, and Peca pots a rebound 30 seconds later. A whole 71 seconds goes by before Mackenzie gets called for hooking, and just 5 seconds later the whole CBJ defense, including Mason, is out of position, and the Avs sink the power play goal to close within one. Sanity returns at that point, and Hitch-Hockey takes over for the remainder of the game.

Big home win -- here are the +/- rankings for tonight:

+ Crowd -- I was frankly worried as warm-ups concluded, but the typical late arriving CBJ crowd made a good showing for a cold Tuesday night, and were actively engaged. Hitch said after the game that there is an energy now that the players can feel, as well as a sense of expectation on the part of the fans that the team "will keep its foot on the gas". Good stuff . . .

+ Offensive Zone Play -- While it was a 1 goal game, and shots were only 1 apart (27 CBJ to 26 Avs), the CBJ dominated the offensive zone for long periods of time. Though the Avs defense frustrated us early, the third and fourth lines refused to surrender the puck, which really created some energy in the house and carried over to the other lines. Our forecheck became increasingly effective as the game progressed. Though Colorado had 3 goals, and some periods of pressure, there was never the feeling of extended dominance as there was with the CBJ tonight.

+ Attention to Detail -- We again did many of the little (and not so little) things well. We were patient with the puck in our own zone, and got the puck out under pressure time after time. We are getting much better in knowing when to dump and when to carry the puck through the zone. Russell is a master at this. We dominated the faceoff circle 32-17, held our own with hits, and surrendered only 4 power plays, though the first two relatively early had me concerned.

+ Attitude -- These guys just will never give up. Huge goal by Voracek at the end of the first to knot it up, as it was clear Colorado was going to be content playing for a 1 - 0 win. We took them out of that mode. It was great listening to Peca, Umberger and Voracek after the game, talking about how they knew they could dominate the third. Another 3 goal third period -- really good stuff.

+ Individuals -- Huselius, Russell, Malhotra, Picard, Boll, Peca, Umberger, Voracek were all huge. Backman had perhaps his most solid game, making some nice plays at both ends. Filatov is scary -- so good with the puck, knows where to create space, head always up. 25 more pounds is all he needs. Modin was unspectacular but solid, and Tyutin and Commodore turned in their usual good work. Mackenzie and MacDonald each showed energy in spots.

-Youthful Exuberance -- Hitch has talked all year about the roller coaster ride we will all be on with these kids, and that 3:41 of the 3rd showed what he meant. In the offensive zone, we were like piranha after a leg of lamb -- we smelled blood and were attacking relentlessly. The down side was that in the process we forgot all of the Hitch fundamentals of play in the other two zones. We were so anxious to get back to the offensive zone to score again that the PK totally blew the Avs third goal, and Mason and the defense kind of snoozed through the 2nd goal. No big deal, as it was fun to watch . . . sort of.

-Filatov Minutes -- OK, this is not really a minus from the team perspective, but it's my blog, so I reserve the right to be selfish. I kept looking for Filatov to come on the ice, and was frustrated I didn't see him more. I know -- Hitch knows what he is doing, but still . . .

A blue collar victory, making it 7 of the last 9, and 8 of the last 9 at home. The Russell-Umberger and Huselius-Malhotra plays are things that very good hockey teams do, and we are starting to do them every game. Different contributors each night, and a good measure of competitive composure.

In Puck-Rakers, the boys have been pulling lyrics from songs to make their points lately. How about this oldie, which kind of describes the Jackets over the last little bit:

. . . Comin' home to a place he'd never been before

He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again

You might say he found a key for every door

-- John Denver "Rocky Mountain High"

Sorry, couldn't resist a little Colorado dig here. Go Jackets!

Foote or Not -- Time To Bury The Avalanche

Much has been made of the scheduled Adam Foote appearance at Nationwide tonight, and an equal amount made of the fact that he will not be here tonight. Sure, he is a sniveling, cowardly traitor without the cojones to admit/explain his actions, but that is not important anymore.

Would we really want to be paying $3 million per year for 4 points, -7 and more time on the IR than Klesla? Didn't we get a nice draft pick for Adam's treachery? Haven't we thumped the Avs like a drum in their own building, twice? The answers are No, Yes and Yes, respectively, for those who are either newcomers or are just emerging from an alcoholic blackout.

What we do need to concern ourselves with tonight is an Avalanche team that has one three in a row, and is showing signs of overcoming their own injury problems. Wolski has been hot, and was one of the 3 Stars for NHL Network. Raycroft has assumed the starting goalie duties, and has a sub-3 GAA and a .900+ Save %. He has not lost on a Tuesday this year, and Mason allegedly has not won on a Tuesday. (I have not had time to verify this latest purported statistic). Smyth is always a pain, and Leopold is showing signs of life.

Keys tonight are the same as every game right now, as we move our way back toward health:

--Stay out of the box
--Tight defense and a strong forecheck
--Aggressiveness in the offensive zone
--Create space and put pucks on net
--Create lanes for Mason to see, and don't let Avs in the blue paint.

The Avalance will be wanting to get into our kitchen after two losses at home, and defending their tenuous hold on playoff positioning. I don't think so . . . Go Jackets!

Fans Dominate Avs Blog/Ottawa Rumors Pick Up

Just a couple of quick items to get the day started:

-- CBJ fans have been doing a great job of representing on the Colorado Av's blog referenced here yesterday! Nicely done. For those who have not had a chance to visit, here is the link.

-- My sources from Ottawa and Quebec (yes, I really have sources!) are telling me that a deal sending Vermette to the CBJ is picking up steam and getting some considerable air-time on radio. No word on who would be heading north, but conventional wisdom is that it would be a player plus draft pick(s). Trying to get my hands on more details. Stay tuned!

Preview of Av's game later this afternoon.

Another Great Mason Article

Check out this great article on Mason at The Hockey News!

CBJ Climb TO #13 in THN Power Rankings

The Jackets have climbed to #13 (from #17 last week) in The Hockey News power rankings, including an interesting note:


Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle, who'll be on the move at some point, would be a nice addition to the league's worst power play

Monday Miscellany

Here is this week's installment of tidbits from here and there:

Nash To IR -- This was reported by Puck-Rakers this morning. Normally, this would be a 3-Alarm post all to itself, but the nature and circumstances of the move lead me to thing there is nothing particularly sinister here. Retroactive to January 6, MacKenzie called up, and Howson states that they needed the roster spot. He said Nash wasn't moving as quickly as expected, but no setbacks. He could be available as early as the Friday NJ contest. I would like to have him available for the NW Canada trip, but more important that he is around for the long haul. A nice luxury to have the play from our youngsters that makes this approach even possible.

Toronto Rumblings -- Interesting item from The Hockey News today:

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle has long been a subject of trade rumors this season and last week he added fuel to the fire by saying he’d be willing to waive his no-trade clause if requested by management.Leafs GM Brian Burke has stated he won’t ask any of his players currently with no-movement clauses to waive them, but it’s believed if one of them - be it Kaberle or fellow Leafs blueliner Pavel Kubina - wants out he’d be willing to deal them. It might be in the players’ best interests to request a trade now when the two would have a say in their potential destinations. Should the Leafs miss the playoffs, there’s a clause in their contracts that provides Burke a two-month window to deal them to any NHL team without permission. The Leafs aren’t about to tank the season to try to land in draft lottery contention for the 2009 first overall pick, but a package centered around either Kaberle or Kubina could be used by Burke to try to land a high pick come this June’s entry draft.

Thus, while not earth-shattering by itself, it does lend credence to the theory that Toronto would make people available for draft picks, meaning the CBJ could well be in the hunt there. This would enable Toronto to stock up for the draft without "officially" tanking the season. Of course, if they part with Antropov, Kaberle and/or Kubina . . .

Playing Dress-Up -- Also from THN is the following from Adam Proteau's blog:

Steve Mason may single-handedly be responsible for me getting dressed up like a Civil War soldier for a future game in Columbus. I’m slowly coming to terms with this, but if the rest of his Blue Jackets teammates don’t do much to help Mason out, I think they should have to wear the damn antique clothing too.

Colorado Bulletin Board Material -- Finally, as if we ever need incentive to beat the Avalanche, with or without Adam Foote, the following is Adrian Dater's blog entry for today in the Denver Post:

Rayzor will again be the Avs’ padded guardian of the corded igloo tomorrow in the land that gave you Wendy’s hamburgers and Woody Hayes. That’s four straight starts for Rayzor, while Boods contemplates losing his starting job for the second straight season right around the midway point, this time to a different goalie.
No Adam Foote on the trip (sorry, to those bitter Columbus fans who were anticipating taking out their life’s frustrations on him in what would have been his first game back in the CBJ. I guess they’ll just have to go back to burning Michigan and USC flags instead - 35-3, Buckeye fans, OUCH!) and no Ian Laperriere either.
No Rick Nash for the Dinner Jackets either. Placed on IR today, retroactive to Jan. 6. That would make him eligible to return for tomorrow’s game, but it won’t happen. He’s out with a bum knee.

Let me see, CBJ beats Avs 4-2 and 6-1 in their house, and he is talking smack? Here is link to his blog for intrepid readers desiring to comment. I might just drop a word or two in myself . . .

Go Jackets !!!