I would trade nothing. We're starting a huge swing on our schedule. We always play around 25% hockey on the road. With or without Brass we'll probably be last in the west in three weeks.
I think short of getting Zetterberg and Datsyuk for some Gatorade we're sunk, so there's no reason to trade any good young players for three weeks of .250 hockey.
Ahhhh, No, Howson will not make a move, perhaps he will bring up Filitov after the Juniors tournament, maybe see if he can get an enforcer, but no, he will not make a move.
This is where we see, as Hitch calls it, our competitive depth
I wouldn't be surprised to see Mike York hit recall waivers today and in Phoenix tomorrow or in Columbus for LA on Tuesday. With our luck, Phoenix would claim him on waivers and he'd score a hat trick to beat us on Saturday.
With Brassard out, the Blue Jackets lose a huge part of the one thing they don't have much of to begin with: skill.
Since that's the case, Howson has to make a move, right?
Who would you trade and for what? Are there any "bullets" in that gun anyways?
Yep, Brassard is out, guess we'll just have to cut Sundin a check and sign to a 2 year contract. Its that simple to get a top center in this league, right?
Sorry for the fecetious tone, but if top centers were available, we'd have grabbed one long before Brassard got hurt last night.
I would trade nothing. We're starting a huge swing on our schedule. We always play around 25% hockey on the road. With or without Brass we'll probably be last in the west in three weeks.
I think short of getting Zetterberg and Datsyuk for some Gatorade we're sunk, so there's no reason to trade any good young players for three weeks of .250 hockey.
Worst possible time for an injury.
I disagree. I think this team will continue on its .500 hockey pace. The fact of the matter is that even with Brass in there we can't score consistently. Does it help to have him in the line-up?... Yes. Is our goal scoring really what's been winning us games recently?...No.
Right now our team rests squarely on the shoulders of good goaltending. When our goalie dominates (see Mason) we win. When the goalie sucks (see Pazzy) we lose, it's that simple. Sticking to that I don't think the team dynamic changes a whole lot even with the subtraction of Brass. So my prediction is continued .500 hockey.
Yep, Brassard is out, guess we'll just have to cut Sundin a check and sign to a 2 year contract. Its that simple to get a top center in this league, right?
Sorry for the fecetious tone, but if top centers were available, we'd have grabbed one long before Brassard got hurt last night.
Geeze, thanks for enlightening me!
Look, I'm not saying we should or even could trade for a top center at this point. What I AM saying, is that for skilled players we've got Nash, Voracek, Huselius and... uhm...
This was an issue before Brassard went down and now it's a gigantic issue.
If nothing's done, we run a real risk of scoring less than two goals a game over the next 3-4 weeks, and that won't be good enough.
Howson was allegedly working on something. Something he was working on for a while.
Per "you know who":
Quote:
Today I heard about two trades that were attempted. One with the Blue Jackets and one with Dallas. The BJs wanted Dubinsky.
Attempted and wanted are in the past tense. With Sundin signing with Vancouver, I'm not sure the Rangers are in a hurry now. The next domino to fall with them may involve Bouwmeester. If they pick up JBo they again will have to look at shifting a contract. If I'm Howson, I stay in touch with Sather. Rozsival and Dubinsky would complete this team if he can get them on the cheap.
Look, I'm not saying we should or even could trade for a top center at this point. What I AM saying, is that for skilled players we've got Nash, Voracek, Huselius and... uhm...
This was an issue before Brassard went down and now it's a gigantic issue.
If nothing's done, we run a real risk of scoring less than two goals a game over the next 3-4 weeks, and that won't be good enough.
I feel your pain, its my pain too, and I don't mean to make light of the subject. Scoring is going to be an issue for this team for the forseeable future. Let me say this. Hitch built this team, his way, big on size, strength, and speed. Stocking up on that skill set comes at a price, and thats finesse, scoring touch, etc.
Kyle Wellwood...perfect example of H and H's unwillingness to compromise on size and strength, in order to add some scoring punch. Wellwood clears waivers back in October and Vancouver snatches him up. 12 goals later....7 of which are PP goals....VAN looks pretty good.
Yeah, we should find out by 1pm of any immediate help.
I suspect we plunder SYR again and bring up York to give him his chance as others have guessed.
I was screaming "NO!!!" when Brass dropped the gloves- you could just see it coming.
He's got balls, that kid. (I didn't think it was a smart move though)
He was buzzing around the ice like a spider monkey(Brass Monkey?) hopped up on Mt Dew, you could just see it in his eyes. That kid lives by the creed that if "you aint first yer last."
How many lame Talledega Nights references can I fit in one thread?
Kyle Wellwood...perfect example of H and H's unwillingness to compromise on size and strength, in order to add some scoring punch. Wellwood clears waivers back in October and Vancouver snatches him up. 12 goals later....7 of which are PP goals....VAN looks pretty good.
There were a lot of teams didn't want him. At the time he was fat and lazy. The situation for Vancouver was completely different than what it would have been for Columbus. For them, it really wouldn't have mattered that much if he had staid fat and lazy. They still would have had scoring. But for Columbus, he would have been much more a deciding factor in games and if he'd still be lazy, it would have hurt the whole team.
I can't call Hitch or Howson out for not getting him, because at the time he looked like a really bad choice. The same reason Toronto let him go.
I disagree. I think this team will continue on its .500 hockey pace. The fact of the matter is that even with Brass in there we can't score consistently. Does it help to have him in the line-up?... Yes. Is our goal scoring really what's been winning us games recently?...No.
I think he still had more influence for this team than just on-ice performance. He's pretty emotional player and a rookie. That catches up for other players too and he'll be missed in the locker room...
You'll probably all grill me for bringing this up, but I think it might do Howson well to pick up the phone and give Peter Forsberg a call. Sure he's a shell of his former self, but even at 80%, Forsberg would be the most talented center this team has ever had. Nash-Forsberg-Huselius wouldn't be too bad.
BTW, with all the guys on the IR right now, how much cap space do we have? The injury that could end up being the longest term I think is Chimera. Popping groins don't sound good.
BTW, with all the guys on the IR right now, how much cap space do we have? The injury that could end up being the longest term I think is Chimera. Popping groins don't sound good.
I thought I heard Rimer mention last night that Chimera's injury wasn't as bad as they initially thought and that he may only be out a week. Did anyone else catch that?
You'll probably all grill me for bringing this up, but I think it might do Howson well to pick up the phone and give Peter Forsberg a call. Sure he's a shell of his former self, but even at 80%, Forsberg would be the most talented center this team has ever had. Nash-Forsberg-Huselius wouldn't be too bad.
BTW, with all the guys on the IR right now, how much cap space do we have? The injury that could end up being the longest term I think is Chimera. Popping groins don't sound good.
Ugh... look... Forsberg has been my favourite player for like 15 years now ( )... but there is no way in hell he will ever come here. Period.
These "half a year at full pay" guys don't want to come out of retirement to "maybe" make the playoffs. They want to win, and win this year.
That's not the case here, I'm afraid.
We just have to hope some guys already on the roster can step it up. I think calling up Filatov would be a good move (I don't give a **** about the whole "if he plays more than 10 games..." scenario)... but we'll have to wait AT LEAST until he comes back from the WJC.
Its that simple to get a top center in this league, right?
good one.....
)... but there is no way in hell he will ever come here. Period.
