Drinking my coffee this morning and the one thing going through my mind is how, during the presser, Howson leaned his bony little body forward and said..."and I told him (Rick Nash) I was going to say that he requested the trade..."
Bullying. One last attempt at bullying.
Howson also said that Nash would remain the Captain. The room knows. The room is behind Nash. If there was ANY division, Howson would have said something about putting it to a vote or consideration of other applicants for the position.
If ownership says fine, we'll fire Howson and Priest, but we're also trading you (we can't have you holding the franchise hostage), that could very well be an acceptable outcome.
This is where I'm at. Hand the reigns to Patrick or lean on him as an advisor to bring in a new GM.
At the same time, we do not know what the front office requested of Nash and his agent during this time. We do not even know if the comment from Nash's agent was something Nash approved of.
We need to be careful about forming conclusions. Yet.
I agree we need to wait for both sides of the story to come out (although I am completely disgusted w/ both sides regardless). However, if Resnick made a statement like that without Nash's understood permission, Nash needs to fire him immediately as that would be completely inexcusable.
Last edited by GV Blue Jacket: 02-28-2012 at 09:26 AM.
Reason: Clarifying statement.
If a new NHL experienced management team was brought in by the NHL at JPM's request it's possible Nash might stay. Priest would have to be history on all levels and now that Patrick is implicated (he sat right next to Howson when they tossed Nash under the bus) he would have to go as well.
Melrose even said a new management team may decide to keep Nash. It may not be necessary to sell off Nash for new pieces in order to win with a competent organization rebuilding the Blue Jackets.
I could not agree more. Blame goes all around, but Nash has tried to play himself off as the white knight here, but that has obviously not been the case. IMO, Howson was left no choice but to out Nash after Resnick made the bull**** statement about not expanding his list of acceptable destinations. When Nash is apparently the one that initiated this process, he can't handicap the team by limiting trade possibilities to a small handful of teams.
To those that say the Howson ruined Nash's trade value because other teams now know he has to be moved, you forget that multiple teams still will want his services and they will be bidding against themselves. The only thing that has changed is that the option of Nash not being moved has been taken off the table.
To be quite honest, I am amazed other teams have showed as much interest as they have given Nash's ridiculous cap hit which does not really match the stats that he puts up.
JPM really needs to blow this whole thing up with completely new management. But, to those who say are hoping that new management will appease Nash, that ship has sailed. Nash has always said the right things, but he has never really shown leadership or passion on the ice (except the Olympics) and now it is obvious he can no longer be trusted as a leader off the ice either.
Rick Nash has every right to decide where he plays. That's not up to me or you. The issue here is not the list of teams that Nash provided, 5-6, which is more than fair, but the asking price determined by Howson, who admits it was high and doesn't apologize for it or appear to be willing to lower it when making statements like "we don't have to trade Nash".
I don't agree with everything you've posted recently (which is fine), but I fully agree with all of this.
I don't care who's on the team anymore - "name on the front is more important than the name on the back" and all that - I just want to watch a team that isn't flat-out depressing.
The only thing I can hope for at this point is that Nationwide, as part owner, puts some pressure on JPM to make some management changes - although, I don't know how likely something like that really is.
Thanks man (or woman). Yeah we don't have to agree. Whats important is that we are the fans. No matter our opinions, we both want to see our team do well. We are fighting the same battle. More and more I feel like the fans are the only ones that feel that way.
Nash was great, he has the right to want out and play for a good team and meaningful games.
He also captained teams that quit on Hitch and every other coach. I'm glad Howson is holding out until hd can get roster players and not just a bunch of prospects that may or may not pan out.
It's bull to ask for a trade in January and have it be done by Febuary. Especially when you give a list of teams that is short, and most of those teams don't have the assets to even trade for you, like SJ.
He should have either held his request until the summer or given a broader list if he wanted out that badly right now. But if you want out, man up and take responsibility for your trade request. I don't blame him at all for wanting out, and Howson was respectful and didn't publicly say it, until his d bag agent had to go public and try to pressure them into making a deal.
I agree we need to wait for both sides of the story to come out (although I am completely disgusted w/ both sides regardless). However, if Resnick made a statement like that without Nash's understood permission, Nash needs to fire him immediately as that would be completely inexcusable.
Maybe. However, players do tend to all their agents and PR groups to make a lot of those decisions.
January 28: ASG announced to be Columbus next year
2/8 Prospal signed to a contract extension to end his career in Columbus.
Seeing as Nash wanted out in January, I would imagine that this hit the front office like a ton of bricks, in that the front office probably knew that the ASG was in the mix. Getting the ASG next year, now the front office is faced with their only representative in the game not wanting to be here. How ticked do you think that made the front office?
It kind of puts a new light on the Prospal signing, in that you get a popular player signed to a contract to end his career here and become "a face" of the franchise and now will be put into the front office when he retires. Nash should have finished his career here, but Prospal is the one because Nash wants to leave.
Maybe this is a reason why Howson threw Nash under the bus. I don't agree with it, but the time line, to me, is fascinating.
Yeah, cause he is such a proven NHL talent. Love how so many are attaching the hopes of this team to a guy the Jackets may or may not even have the opportunity to draft; let alone the fact that he may or may not pan out. Just my opinion - feel free to flame away..................
All that matters right now is the Columbus Blue Jackets. I'm tired of having "faces of the franchise". The Jackets have a lot of work to do to create an environment suitable for players to come into.
Rick Nash has every right to decide where he plays. That's not up to me or you. The issue here is not the list of teams that Nash provided, 5-6, which is more than fair, but the asking price determined by Howson, who admits it was high and doesn't apologize for it or appear to be willing to lower it when making statements like "we don't have to trade Nash".
No, Rick Nash does not have every right to decide where he plays. He is under contract. When he becomes an unrestricted free agent, then he can decide.
Howson doesn't have to trade him, nor should he sell him low. He is the CBJ's most valuable asset.
Rick Nash has every right to decide where he plays. That's not up to me or you. The issue here is not the list of teams that Nash provided, 5-6, which is more than fair, but the asking price determined by Howson, who admits it was high and doesn't apologize for it or appear to be willing to lower it when making statements like "we don't have to trade Nash".
Rick Nash did decide - when he signed a 7 year deal. And I don't see how asking to be moved when under contract gives a 5-6 team list (if it is that number) a fair amount to work with if he wanted out by trade deadline. And why does Howson have a mandate to move Nash?
Edit: Someone posted before me again. Totally not trying to pick on you Cougar. You rock! Just didn't agree with the above statement.
You have to scroll down. It has fallen of the first group of shows. It is a great listen. I may be mental but I do still enjoy listening to MacLean.
Portie has some good stuff and MacLean had a great comment on management vs a star player. He said management never wins because all the public sees is the star. He brought up the example of Zherdev and how he tried to hold firm and was lambasted by the public and the media. At ownership direction he ultimately had to mostly cave to Zherdev's demands. I don't see how the CBJ are going to look anything but clueless in this.
Yeah, cause he is such a proven NHL talent. Love how so many are attaching the hopes of this team to a guy the Jackets may or may not even have the opportunity to draft; let alone the fact that he may or may not pan out. Just my opinion - feel free to flame away..................
John Tavares in LI. Taylor Hall in EDM. Steven Stamkos in TB. A lottery pick can completely turn a franchise around, i'm excited for a young guy to come in and do that. Enough of Nash, RJ, and Tyutin, they can all join Vermette in Phoenix.
Give Dorsett the C since he actually cares and give Nash the rest of the year off.
No, Rick Nash does not have every right to decide where he plays. He is under contract. When he becomes an unrestricted free agent, then he can decide.
Howson doesn't have to trade him, nor should he sell him low. He is the CBJ's most valuable asset.
While technically true, the milk is soured. You really want to create a potentially toxic locker room for the sake of holding to your principles?
Somewhere between both extremes is the correct answer. The player, ultimately, always holds the cards. He can, if he so desires, half ass his way through the contract and make life a living hell for the franchise. That can backfire on the player as well.
It's just an ugly situation, even if you try and make the best out of it.
All that matters right now is the Columbus Blue Jackets. I'm tired of having "faces of the franchise". The Jackets have a lot of work to do to create an environment suitable for players to come into.
I disagree - the environment is fine, it's the players that are the problem. They quit on every coach, they routinely don't show up for games and suffer huge embarrassing losses, they don't even finish periods and find a way to give up a goal with 30 seconds left because they're too busy thinking about their tee times.
Get these overpriced, complacent vets out of here, and the young guys we have like Cam and Johan and Moore who haven't been tainted by 4 years of losing take over the room and bring some excitetment and passion
There's nothing left to lean on this season but the draft and the cooresponding offseason for trades, acquistions, etc.
Take the "C" off #61.... Reasons aside, you ask out as the captain, you are no longer fit to wear the "C".... Its not out of anger, its out to duty to the other 20+ guys in that lockerroom. Howson has been walked all over his whole time here anyways....
Whats the point of keeping it on now? Nash is leaving, sooner or later. Why not shake the foundation of the room for the rest of the season to show that this rebuild will not be taken lightly? You don't have to slap it on someone else right away permanently. Take it off, let Nash play in hopes that he rekindles some more interest and hopefully, recoups come of his value Howson threw away yesterday.
There's nothing else to lose that we can lose this season. Apologies to Coach Richards, but I don't think he had a snowball's chance in hell at keeping this job long term.
I'm not either, honestly. What exactly HAS his role been in this Nash mess? He's high enough in the organization that I think it's naive to think he doesn't have a hand in how this has been handled as well.
But it seems likely (if not inevitable) that he would survive any sort of purge, if there is one, either as the man or as the man behind the man.
We have to cross our fingers and hope he will be the answer.
Suddenly the words have a different meaning and stripping Nash of the "C" causes a locker room backlash.
There are a lot of facts we don't know.
Quote:
Originally Posted by blahblah
Not sure if anything needs done to finish out the year. Not sure "giving it to Vinny" is the right idea.
The last thing I am concerned about right now is who the captain is. I am fine not having one right now if it's determined Nash has lost the room and/or it's creating too much drama.
Yes I am backing off my "take it from him now" stance upon further deliberation.
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"Every game, every point is a necessity." -- Ty Conklin, January 2007
"I'll have a chance to compete for the post of first issue. This is the most important thing." -- Sergei Bobrovsky, June 2012
Rick Nash did decide - when he signed a 7 year deal. And I don't see how asking to be moved when under contract gives a 5-6 team list (if it is that number) a fair amount to work with if he wanted out by trade deadline. And why does Howson have a mandate to move Nash?
Edit: Someone posted before me again. Totally not trying to pick on you Cougar. You rock! Just didn't agree with the above statement.
Thanks
Well, you gotta look at the whole picture though. Nash didn't just wake up and decide he really hates Columbus or his G/F wants brighter lights, bigger city. He wanted a change in management. They said no. Ok, so move me cause I can't stand it. Then he gives them a list of 5-6 teams he feels are able to compete for the Cup. I think that's a pretty reasonable number...it's true. Take away all the hype and you've got maybe 8 tops that are built to make a run not just now but in the future.
The one thing I wanted to point out was that when we focus on that number (5-6) we are totally ignoring the fact that Howson set the price. He was the one who set the price high and he isn't apologizing nor is he going to change it.
