This news just popped up on twitter thanks to the Blue Jackets beat writers, who took a break from their usual negative stat spewing to share the decision. The reaction was exactly as I had anticipated, with much disdain and disappointment as it would seem mini-Cam, Gizmo, and other 'not tall' expressions were shared wishing it was someone else.
While the move makes little sense in that Atkinson was one of the harder working players game in and game out, it does make sense in that his contract allows more flexibility than any of the others. They have the ability to call him up and send him down at any time, unlike the player who I personally would have sent down, Derek MacKenzie. He would have to clear waivers before going to Springfield, which is fairly risky business for what many consider to be a workhorse fourth liner.
This does come as a very curious decision though, as Jared Boll was scheduled to miss a substantial amount of time with his injured finger, leaving only one reserve player on the Jackets active roster to move in and out of games. Last night, that 'one' was Maxim Mayorov, who seemed to be one of the more productive forwards in the game against Vancouver. In any case, this now leaves the Blue Jackets with a full roster on the ice, but no one to replace an injury (or flu-ish type game decision). Could this mean a trade is looming?
I certainly hope not. The team has not been 'bad' per se, they have simply had rocky stretches during their games. Certainly goal scoring has to be a concern (two goals scored in literally every game has them at 19th in the league) which still begs the question of why they would send down one of their goal scorers, who has an absolute cannon of a shot. Couple that with the fact that they outshot Colorado 30-14 in the first two periods last night, but could only muster a single goal, and I have to wonder if it is not so much the execution of their offense, but the follow up.
Case in point: Rick Nash scored the game tying goal in the second period by following up on his own shot to bang home a rebound. Interestingly enough, while the play may have been slightly broken, he was the first forward to reach the net after his own shot. I think the issue here is getting into the harder areas of the ice. Varlamov was decent last night, but he wasn't closing the door on every shot. The rebounds were there for the taking but the lack of net presence shut the door on many opportunities.
This post was designed to be a simple reaction to the Atkinson demotion, but it seems like there is so much more going on here. Good teams win their games because they outwork the opposition. Great teams find a way to win games they have no business winning. For the Jackets, I think it's time to play a full sixty minutes in order to get classified as a 'good team'. In 20 games, when they've got everything sorted out, I will start selling that 'great team' concept a bit more.
In the meantime, I hope this demotion is short lived. Cam brought a lot of fire to a relatively listless (at times) on ice product, and he was quickly becoming a fan favourite.
Carry the Flag!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Recap: Columbus vs Colorado 10/12
This will act as somewhat of a recap to the Blue Jackets game against the Colorado Avalanche, while also generating crater sized holes in some of the more ridiculous statements I have had the opportunity of enduring last night on twitter. I usually don't get too bothered by the comments that are made post game on numerous social media outlets. Yes, I get plenty argumentative, but I don't USUALLY get bothered by it. Tonight, I am bothered.
Attendance
First and (for some ridiculous reason) foremost, the attendance. Portzline tweeted the grand total at the arena of 8,986. For a night that found the Jackets blacked out in all viewing areas, one would suspect that those interested in the team, the game of hockey, and the success of the franchise would make a point to come out and support the team in person. Tickets were more than accessible to those looking for discounted rates, and yet somehow, only half the building was filled.
What gets me so 'bothered' is that these people (literally it simply refuses to stop being retweeted on the #CBJ feed) who don't seem to muster the energy to attend games, feel the need to publicly note the lack of attendance. Now, I drive about an hour and a half to attend what I am hoping to be 30-50% of the home games in Columbus (so far I am 2 for 3), so I don't have all that much sympathy for people who can't travel a very short distance to enjoy one of the most exciting sports this earth has to offer. So if you're someone who retweeted and didn't feel like showing up, come on. Get out there and support this team. You are the reason the attendance was so low.
Mason
Second, this insane amount of thrashing that Mason gets game, after game, after game. Two goals were scored on him this evening in regulation. One in which he made the first save through traffic, but could not get enough of the rebound to keep it out of the net. The game tying goal came late in the game in what I would suspect was his 15th of 16 shots against him in the third period alone. It was a point shot with plenty of traffic in front of the net, which tipped off of a jumping Landeskog and found the far side of the net just inside the post. Mason completed the game with a .938 save percentage.
In the shootout, Mason struggled. For anyone that doesn't know why, I highly recommend you watch what happened. An absolute snipe by Hejduk that went just under the crossbar, and a gorgeous deke by Matt Duchene that scored through the five hole. I am not going to speculate whether other goalies would have made these saves, but they were two of the more impressive shootout attempts I have seen this year. Compare them to the Prospal and Carter attempts, and you're looking at a D grade vs and A grade, easy.
The Record
0-3..... AND 1!!!!!!!!! Try not to lose your lunch over this. Sometimes the wins come easy, and sometimes it takes nothing short of a miracle to make something happen. At this point, the Jackets are finding multiple periods a game of pure dominance, followed by (or as a result of) some truly mediocre hockey. Tonight, I certainly think they held back in the third period in an attempt to protect the 2-1 lead after Martinek ripped a point shot through Varlamov, but they really did not do a bad job of it. Short of one fluke deflection, all signs were pointing to a textbook victory for the Jackets.
What is being ignored here, is the progress that was made. Mason had a game, the defense had some very notable quality (see Martinek - dude has HANDS! - and Methot - who was physical and appeared to be all over the puck tonight). Once again the mistakes were present, but the level of disastrous mistakes were held to a minimum, and those mistakes which were made were quickly recovered or resolved by an additional player moving in. If you need a thumbs down, my nod goes to Clitsome on D (made some truly mediocre plays are looked hurried a lot) as well as MacKenzie (who I still cannot figure out how he is in the lineup over Mayorov, especially considering how lost he looks on the wing).
While this is only one play, I really want to point out an absolutely ridiculous faceoff win by Antoine Vermette. After the puck was won slightly behind the opposing center, Vermette literally reached around the guy with one hand and pulled the puck back to his defender. I have never seen anything like it and frankly, I did a double take to really consider what he had done. I have long been a fan of Vermette's ability on the draw, but this was just beyond anything I have seen.
The Positive
I experienced another awesome meeting with some fellow bloggers and tweeps during the first intermission. Finally purchased my Blue Jackets third jersey (went with the man, Carter), and enjoyed the excellent seats and service of the club level. I also enjoyed two of the more impressive periods of hockey I have seen out of this team, and one fantastic effort by Steve Mason, including a kick save which he appeared to intentionally launch toward the empty blueline, sending the Jackets on the rush. While I am disappointed about the loss, it is a step in the right direction and I expect more success for the team as the season wears on.
Carry the Flag!
Attendance
First and (for some ridiculous reason) foremost, the attendance. Portzline tweeted the grand total at the arena of 8,986. For a night that found the Jackets blacked out in all viewing areas, one would suspect that those interested in the team, the game of hockey, and the success of the franchise would make a point to come out and support the team in person. Tickets were more than accessible to those looking for discounted rates, and yet somehow, only half the building was filled.
What gets me so 'bothered' is that these people (literally it simply refuses to stop being retweeted on the #CBJ feed) who don't seem to muster the energy to attend games, feel the need to publicly note the lack of attendance. Now, I drive about an hour and a half to attend what I am hoping to be 30-50% of the home games in Columbus (so far I am 2 for 3), so I don't have all that much sympathy for people who can't travel a very short distance to enjoy one of the most exciting sports this earth has to offer. So if you're someone who retweeted and didn't feel like showing up, come on. Get out there and support this team. You are the reason the attendance was so low.
Mason
Second, this insane amount of thrashing that Mason gets game, after game, after game. Two goals were scored on him this evening in regulation. One in which he made the first save through traffic, but could not get enough of the rebound to keep it out of the net. The game tying goal came late in the game in what I would suspect was his 15th of 16 shots against him in the third period alone. It was a point shot with plenty of traffic in front of the net, which tipped off of a jumping Landeskog and found the far side of the net just inside the post. Mason completed the game with a .938 save percentage.
In the shootout, Mason struggled. For anyone that doesn't know why, I highly recommend you watch what happened. An absolute snipe by Hejduk that went just under the crossbar, and a gorgeous deke by Matt Duchene that scored through the five hole. I am not going to speculate whether other goalies would have made these saves, but they were two of the more impressive shootout attempts I have seen this year. Compare them to the Prospal and Carter attempts, and you're looking at a D grade vs and A grade, easy.
The Record
0-3..... AND 1!!!!!!!!! Try not to lose your lunch over this. Sometimes the wins come easy, and sometimes it takes nothing short of a miracle to make something happen. At this point, the Jackets are finding multiple periods a game of pure dominance, followed by (or as a result of) some truly mediocre hockey. Tonight, I certainly think they held back in the third period in an attempt to protect the 2-1 lead after Martinek ripped a point shot through Varlamov, but they really did not do a bad job of it. Short of one fluke deflection, all signs were pointing to a textbook victory for the Jackets.
What is being ignored here, is the progress that was made. Mason had a game, the defense had some very notable quality (see Martinek - dude has HANDS! - and Methot - who was physical and appeared to be all over the puck tonight). Once again the mistakes were present, but the level of disastrous mistakes were held to a minimum, and those mistakes which were made were quickly recovered or resolved by an additional player moving in. If you need a thumbs down, my nod goes to Clitsome on D (made some truly mediocre plays are looked hurried a lot) as well as MacKenzie (who I still cannot figure out how he is in the lineup over Mayorov, especially considering how lost he looks on the wing).
While this is only one play, I really want to point out an absolutely ridiculous faceoff win by Antoine Vermette. After the puck was won slightly behind the opposing center, Vermette literally reached around the guy with one hand and pulled the puck back to his defender. I have never seen anything like it and frankly, I did a double take to really consider what he had done. I have long been a fan of Vermette's ability on the draw, but this was just beyond anything I have seen.
The Positive
I experienced another awesome meeting with some fellow bloggers and tweeps during the first intermission. Finally purchased my Blue Jackets third jersey (went with the man, Carter), and enjoyed the excellent seats and service of the club level. I also enjoyed two of the more impressive periods of hockey I have seen out of this team, and one fantastic effort by Steve Mason, including a kick save which he appeared to intentionally launch toward the empty blueline, sending the Jackets on the rush. While I am disappointed about the loss, it is a step in the right direction and I expect more success for the team as the season wears on.
Carry the Flag!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Special Teams Need to be Special
After the loss to Vancouver Monday night, solutions for the team (some more ridiculous than others) began pouring out on twitter through the #CBJ feed, and I felt compelled to consider the possible solutions myself. There is of course the obviousness of it only being a three game stretch, and while the team sits winless, they also were not blown out in any of their games and maintained solid puck possession for solid stretches in each game. I also considered the fact that three games in four nights can wear on players, as well as the fact that this new look Blue Jackets team inevitably needs some time to gel (Go read this post on team rebuilds over the last couple seasons and their success rates early on in the season by Matt over at the Cannon. It's eye opening for those thinking this is the fate of the season).
With that said, I decided to go after the most glaringly disappointing stat the Blue Jackets had to offer. Enter special teams. I am going to break them apart as they are both painful, but my short disclaimer is of course that the season is only three games deep, and it does take time for teams to gel (especially with all the new comers and rookies). With that said, it doesn't close the door on speculation.
The Powerplay :: 0% :: 0 for 16
It is an awful number to look at. Like the rookie who can't score his first goal, or the veteran who can't seem to reach a milestone. It is a monkey that will cling on the backs of every single player spending time on the powerplay until they score one. There is no question they have to be better here. While chances are slowly looking better and better, their passes have been mediocre and their shots have been off target. In fact, during at least two of the games, powerplays have caused them to actually LOSE momentum rather than gain it.
But here's the surprising stat. They are not the only ones. This 0% is actually tied, for 24th in the league. There are six other teams (including most notably the Rangers and Red Wings) who have yet to bury on the man advantage. It is not an excuse, but it definitely puts it into perspective considering the Red Wings usually have a tremendous powerplay.
Obviously the subtraction of Wisniewski has been an issue. He is a great fit on the point and the youth movement, while being positive for the team, seems to be a bit overwhelmed in these scenarios. This certainly should not be a scapegoat for their lack of success, but considering he was brought in with the intent to better the Jackets chances with the man advantage, I am more than comfortable in waiting until he gets back before I really get critical about their powerplay percentage.
The Penalty Kill :: 63.6% :: 4 of 11
This is an awfully underwhelming number. Off the top of my head I can think of three of the goals the Jackets have given up while down a man (I'll check the box scores to remember the fourth). Aside from one goal, it was the result of a very poor play by a Blue Jacket player leaving a man open. In a quick rehash: MacKenzie overcommits to a pass, leaving Suter with a lifetime to shoot after the pass across the crease is made. Tyutin is left waving his stick as Scandella burns him from the outside and walks in alone on Mason. (Heatley's goal is excluded, as that was just a fantastic redirect). Finally, Burrows is given the free lane to the net after Methot overcommits to the point man and gets two whacks at the puck, the second of which finds the back of the net.
These are not the worst goals ever allowed, but they are the defensive breakdowns that cost teams hockey games. I am sure each play will be broken down and wrist slaps will be given, but they are going to have to iron it out before October disappears into November. They currently sit at 28th in the league with 63.6% on the penalty kill, and it simply isn't good enough with the offensive output at only 2.0 goals per game (18th in the league).
The Blue Jackets are going to need to find a way to become special on special teams. I had the opportunity of witnessing some excellent control on the powerplay in the pre-season, and I have to admit I like what I saw. Crisp passing that was on the tape and not fluttering, and some seriously quick thinking leading to a few 'jump out of your seat even though it's just pre-season' goals. If they can find a way to return to that form I believe there is plenty of opportunity to succeed without Wiz, but his return will be one of the major contributors to the success of the man advantage.
Carry the Flag!
With that said, I decided to go after the most glaringly disappointing stat the Blue Jackets had to offer. Enter special teams. I am going to break them apart as they are both painful, but my short disclaimer is of course that the season is only three games deep, and it does take time for teams to gel (especially with all the new comers and rookies). With that said, it doesn't close the door on speculation.
The Powerplay :: 0% :: 0 for 16
It is an awful number to look at. Like the rookie who can't score his first goal, or the veteran who can't seem to reach a milestone. It is a monkey that will cling on the backs of every single player spending time on the powerplay until they score one. There is no question they have to be better here. While chances are slowly looking better and better, their passes have been mediocre and their shots have been off target. In fact, during at least two of the games, powerplays have caused them to actually LOSE momentum rather than gain it.
But here's the surprising stat. They are not the only ones. This 0% is actually tied, for 24th in the league. There are six other teams (including most notably the Rangers and Red Wings) who have yet to bury on the man advantage. It is not an excuse, but it definitely puts it into perspective considering the Red Wings usually have a tremendous powerplay.
Obviously the subtraction of Wisniewski has been an issue. He is a great fit on the point and the youth movement, while being positive for the team, seems to be a bit overwhelmed in these scenarios. This certainly should not be a scapegoat for their lack of success, but considering he was brought in with the intent to better the Jackets chances with the man advantage, I am more than comfortable in waiting until he gets back before I really get critical about their powerplay percentage.
The Penalty Kill :: 63.6% :: 4 of 11
This is an awfully underwhelming number. Off the top of my head I can think of three of the goals the Jackets have given up while down a man (I'll check the box scores to remember the fourth). Aside from one goal, it was the result of a very poor play by a Blue Jacket player leaving a man open. In a quick rehash: MacKenzie overcommits to a pass, leaving Suter with a lifetime to shoot after the pass across the crease is made. Tyutin is left waving his stick as Scandella burns him from the outside and walks in alone on Mason. (Heatley's goal is excluded, as that was just a fantastic redirect). Finally, Burrows is given the free lane to the net after Methot overcommits to the point man and gets two whacks at the puck, the second of which finds the back of the net.
These are not the worst goals ever allowed, but they are the defensive breakdowns that cost teams hockey games. I am sure each play will be broken down and wrist slaps will be given, but they are going to have to iron it out before October disappears into November. They currently sit at 28th in the league with 63.6% on the penalty kill, and it simply isn't good enough with the offensive output at only 2.0 goals per game (18th in the league).
The Blue Jackets are going to need to find a way to become special on special teams. I had the opportunity of witnessing some excellent control on the powerplay in the pre-season, and I have to admit I like what I saw. Crisp passing that was on the tape and not fluttering, and some seriously quick thinking leading to a few 'jump out of your seat even though it's just pre-season' goals. If they can find a way to return to that form I believe there is plenty of opportunity to succeed without Wiz, but his return will be one of the major contributors to the success of the man advantage.
Carry the Flag!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The Methot Hit
Midway through the second period during the Columbus/Vancouver game, Marc Methot was penalized (fairly) for boarding Sedin as he played the puck into the Columbus end. This was briefly discussed as a potential "Shanaban" scenario for many, and here are some pictures to show just how the play happened.
Sedin is sideways receiving the pass along the boards. As he makes a move to continue the puck on into the Blue Jackets end, he turns his body towards the boards. During that move, Methot comes in with the intent to essentially plaster Sedin with a big hit.
As he nears him though, it becomes obvious that he will only be hitting numbers, and he begins to lay off the hit. He is clearly committed to making contact with Sedin, and he sends him into the boards generating the boarding call.
This image shows post connection. Now, on many of the suspended hits from behind we have seen this year, there is little to no indication of stopping on the hitting players behalf. As the picture above shows, Methot makes a conscious effort to avoid demolishing Sedin, and while he made a pretty solid attempt of embellishing the hit, there was no real injury on the play. He played in the resulting powerplay, not missing a beat.
I think the decision by Methot is exactly what the league wants to see. He certainly deserved to sit for two minutes, but this is what I believe to be a textbook two minute boarding penalty, not an intent to maliciously injure a player or something that is deserving of a suspension.
Edit: The league agrees with me, as many are reporting that Methot will not be receiving further discipline from the league. I think this is a huge step in the right direction, and a bit of an easier pill for the fans of the Blue Jackets to swallow considering their obvious disdain for the statement call made on James Wisniewski in the pre-season.
Carry the Flag!
Sedin is sideways receiving the pass along the boards. As he makes a move to continue the puck on into the Blue Jackets end, he turns his body towards the boards. During that move, Methot comes in with the intent to essentially plaster Sedin with a big hit.
As he nears him though, it becomes obvious that he will only be hitting numbers, and he begins to lay off the hit. He is clearly committed to making contact with Sedin, and he sends him into the boards generating the boarding call.
This image shows post connection. Now, on many of the suspended hits from behind we have seen this year, there is little to no indication of stopping on the hitting players behalf. As the picture above shows, Methot makes a conscious effort to avoid demolishing Sedin, and while he made a pretty solid attempt of embellishing the hit, there was no real injury on the play. He played in the resulting powerplay, not missing a beat.
I think the decision by Methot is exactly what the league wants to see. He certainly deserved to sit for two minutes, but this is what I believe to be a textbook two minute boarding penalty, not an intent to maliciously injure a player or something that is deserving of a suspension.
Edit: The league agrees with me, as many are reporting that Methot will not be receiving further discipline from the league. I think this is a huge step in the right direction, and a bit of an easier pill for the fans of the Blue Jackets to swallow considering their obvious disdain for the statement call made on James Wisniewski in the pre-season.
Carry the Flag!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Recap: Columbus vs. Vancouver 10-10
o-3.
For the first time in franchise history, the Blue Jackets are winless in their first three regular season games. There really is no good way of stating that, but there are a whole lot of positives to take out of the first few games of the season that I will focus on rather than looking over the edge, and I strongly recommend people consider some of these thoughts before they quickly flush their CBJ interest down the toilet.
First, they played one of the league's best teams tonight in the Vancouver Canucks and put up a fantastic fight for more than two periods of hockey. While there is a definitive need to find a full sixty minutes of effort and success each game, there were very clear signs of competitive hockey throughout the game. Strong play left the first period with a clear edge to Columbus, but unfortunate events lead to a tie game (thanks a lot fantastic tip that barely clipped the top corner). While I would hope that they could pull ahead during these stretches, that is simply something that will come in time.
Secondly, and this is a fantastic point by Scott Arniel in the post game tonight; This was the third game in four nights for Columbus. That is a LOT of hockey to play, and their efforts certainly showed something negative in the third period, whether it was being burnt out or just bad hockey. As someone who has played hockey before (not pretending the quality was this high, but I've played weekend tournaments that range from 4-6 games in a span of 3 days) I can honestly say the quality diminishes for teams who become worn out. Again, this is not a clear cut excuse for a mediocre on ice product, but it certainly makes some sense based on their quality in the first two periods.
The third point I would like to make, is how the secondary lines have been useful after a lackluster start to the season. The Umberger-Vermette-Brassard line was functioning and showed plenty of promise tonight, while the Dorsett-Pahlsson-Mayorov line did a tremendous job of causing the Sedin line to be all but irrelevant for LONG stretches of the game. I really hope I don't need to go into detail explaining how impressive that is, but in short, it is not something that too many teams in the NHL can muster.
Finally, for the love of god, leave Mason out of this. He made SOME big saves tonight, and let in three goals. Goal one was a fantastic tip sending the puck from lower 5% of the net to BARELY clipping the crossbar before going in. The second goal was again redirected by Hodgson who was left alone in front of the net. The third and final goal was scored after he made the original save and the Vancouver forward was able to take an extra whack at the puck. I can understand the expectations are high for Mason, but try not to get ahead of what really is happening on the ice. He has made some very strong saves and given his team a fair chance to win the game early on. It has to be a team effort.
Please don't take this as me sympathizing for their loss. I bleed Columbus Blue Jackets hockey all season long and would love nothing more than for them to succeed and reach the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, but I am not of the mindset that badgering and throttling them for losing games like they did tonight will benefit anyone. As I noted earlier today, I think it's high time we as fans of this team take a new line on cheering and really give them the support they probably desperately need to get beyond their current struggles. Colorado is in town Wednesday and the time is now to get Columbus loud and support the team in their attempt to acquire their first win of the season.
Carry the Flag.
For the first time in franchise history, the Blue Jackets are winless in their first three regular season games. There really is no good way of stating that, but there are a whole lot of positives to take out of the first few games of the season that I will focus on rather than looking over the edge, and I strongly recommend people consider some of these thoughts before they quickly flush their CBJ interest down the toilet.
First, they played one of the league's best teams tonight in the Vancouver Canucks and put up a fantastic fight for more than two periods of hockey. While there is a definitive need to find a full sixty minutes of effort and success each game, there were very clear signs of competitive hockey throughout the game. Strong play left the first period with a clear edge to Columbus, but unfortunate events lead to a tie game (thanks a lot fantastic tip that barely clipped the top corner). While I would hope that they could pull ahead during these stretches, that is simply something that will come in time.
Secondly, and this is a fantastic point by Scott Arniel in the post game tonight; This was the third game in four nights for Columbus. That is a LOT of hockey to play, and their efforts certainly showed something negative in the third period, whether it was being burnt out or just bad hockey. As someone who has played hockey before (not pretending the quality was this high, but I've played weekend tournaments that range from 4-6 games in a span of 3 days) I can honestly say the quality diminishes for teams who become worn out. Again, this is not a clear cut excuse for a mediocre on ice product, but it certainly makes some sense based on their quality in the first two periods.
The third point I would like to make, is how the secondary lines have been useful after a lackluster start to the season. The Umberger-Vermette-Brassard line was functioning and showed plenty of promise tonight, while the Dorsett-Pahlsson-Mayorov line did a tremendous job of causing the Sedin line to be all but irrelevant for LONG stretches of the game. I really hope I don't need to go into detail explaining how impressive that is, but in short, it is not something that too many teams in the NHL can muster.
Finally, for the love of god, leave Mason out of this. He made SOME big saves tonight, and let in three goals. Goal one was a fantastic tip sending the puck from lower 5% of the net to BARELY clipping the crossbar before going in. The second goal was again redirected by Hodgson who was left alone in front of the net. The third and final goal was scored after he made the original save and the Vancouver forward was able to take an extra whack at the puck. I can understand the expectations are high for Mason, but try not to get ahead of what really is happening on the ice. He has made some very strong saves and given his team a fair chance to win the game early on. It has to be a team effort.
Please don't take this as me sympathizing for their loss. I bleed Columbus Blue Jackets hockey all season long and would love nothing more than for them to succeed and reach the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, but I am not of the mindset that badgering and throttling them for losing games like they did tonight will benefit anyone. As I noted earlier today, I think it's high time we as fans of this team take a new line on cheering and really give them the support they probably desperately need to get beyond their current struggles. Colorado is in town Wednesday and the time is now to get Columbus loud and support the team in their attempt to acquire their first win of the season.
Carry the Flag.
CBJ Fans Need a New Strategy
I am not one to call out a fan base. In fact, while I love to discuss, argue, celebrate, and dwell over the game of hockey, I rarely chime in on discussions about the fans. For Columbus, it seems to have become commonplace to discuss and usually speak negatively about the fan base (or lack there of), causing many jaded, success hungry individuals to take a rather dark line on responding to the analysts around the league.
My first concern, of course, is the misdirected hatred. Certainly we have seen plenty of negative commentary flood the #CBJ feed on twitter, and the annual pessimism towards team success leaves many fans ready to jump at any biased or unfair comment they see, but we as a fan base would probably do well to stop. Admittedly I have been at fault in this scenario, but I have changed my strategy a bit and it seems to be working quite well. Rather than throwing names or generating negativity towards someone, I have begun demanding accountability towards silly accusations. I cannot help but think that many in the hockey world find the Blue Jackets community to be lacking in hockey knowledge, and if we can represent our team through logic and fact, I believe it will do well to reduce the amount of un-researched negativity.
My second concern is a need (as a whole) for this fan base to get more people educated about the game of hockey. While the franchise is still relatively new in comparison to other teams in the league, it is high time to remove the awful stigma that Columbus is 'hockey stupid' or 'fair weather' in any sort of way. I believe the roots of hockey in Ohio are quite strong, stemming back to a number of Ohio native NHLers, strong hockey colleges, and as far back as the Barons in Cleveland. I am going to take it upon myself to get more people involved in the game of hockey and try to educate them on the rules and concept of the game, and I truly hope the rest of the fan base who have stuck through during the last decade of Blue Jackets history will do the same. New fans deserve to know how and why this franchise was made possible. They deserve to know why Rick Nash and Jeff Carter on the ice together is something this team has never seen talent-wise, and they deserve to know why hockey belongs in Columbus.
Finally, I am very concerned with the representation at hockey games. While I can appreciate the disdain towards a losing record, or a faltered play, booing the on ice product will never benefit anyone. A long time ago I tried to define what it means to be a fan. The best I could come up with, was "someone who loves, lives, and CHEERS a team, through the great times and the bad times." If people are booing the Blue Jackets, they are not acting like a fan in my books. Rather than kick our boys while they are down, I believe the Columbus fan base needs to make a concentrated effort to avoid making things worse than they already are.
This was brought about thanks to an awesome conversation this weekend between myself and a few other fantastic Blue Jackets fans. When we thought back to the game, it was noted that there was quite a bit of booing as the Jackets struggled to gain the zone during the powerplay, and frankly, I understand. I was sitting in my seat huffing and puffing, sighing and "oh my god'ing" as much as anyone, but I never booed. By the time the Jackets scored their second goal, I was already personally defeated and while I went through the goal claps and chants, I really did not have it in me to get crazy excited about the game.
I will give the fans credit where they deserve it, as they rallied big time in the last few minutes of the game trying to generate solid energy for the guys working to tie the game, but I wonder if it was too little too late. They needed this momentum to get out of their funk in the second period, which was notably miserable in terms of fan response. I am going to jump on board the band wagon whether the on-ice product deserves it or not. I may not be a season ticket holder, nor is it all that likely that I will attend more than 25 games this year, but when I do I will make sure to be as much of a positive influence as possible, and I truly hope other Jackets fans do the same.
It's time to take back this arena and make it the experience we know it can be. Cut the booing. This team can do better, but so can we. Carry the Flag!
My first concern, of course, is the misdirected hatred. Certainly we have seen plenty of negative commentary flood the #CBJ feed on twitter, and the annual pessimism towards team success leaves many fans ready to jump at any biased or unfair comment they see, but we as a fan base would probably do well to stop. Admittedly I have been at fault in this scenario, but I have changed my strategy a bit and it seems to be working quite well. Rather than throwing names or generating negativity towards someone, I have begun demanding accountability towards silly accusations. I cannot help but think that many in the hockey world find the Blue Jackets community to be lacking in hockey knowledge, and if we can represent our team through logic and fact, I believe it will do well to reduce the amount of un-researched negativity.
My second concern is a need (as a whole) for this fan base to get more people educated about the game of hockey. While the franchise is still relatively new in comparison to other teams in the league, it is high time to remove the awful stigma that Columbus is 'hockey stupid' or 'fair weather' in any sort of way. I believe the roots of hockey in Ohio are quite strong, stemming back to a number of Ohio native NHLers, strong hockey colleges, and as far back as the Barons in Cleveland. I am going to take it upon myself to get more people involved in the game of hockey and try to educate them on the rules and concept of the game, and I truly hope the rest of the fan base who have stuck through during the last decade of Blue Jackets history will do the same. New fans deserve to know how and why this franchise was made possible. They deserve to know why Rick Nash and Jeff Carter on the ice together is something this team has never seen talent-wise, and they deserve to know why hockey belongs in Columbus.
Finally, I am very concerned with the representation at hockey games. While I can appreciate the disdain towards a losing record, or a faltered play, booing the on ice product will never benefit anyone. A long time ago I tried to define what it means to be a fan. The best I could come up with, was "someone who loves, lives, and CHEERS a team, through the great times and the bad times." If people are booing the Blue Jackets, they are not acting like a fan in my books. Rather than kick our boys while they are down, I believe the Columbus fan base needs to make a concentrated effort to avoid making things worse than they already are.
This was brought about thanks to an awesome conversation this weekend between myself and a few other fantastic Blue Jackets fans. When we thought back to the game, it was noted that there was quite a bit of booing as the Jackets struggled to gain the zone during the powerplay, and frankly, I understand. I was sitting in my seat huffing and puffing, sighing and "oh my god'ing" as much as anyone, but I never booed. By the time the Jackets scored their second goal, I was already personally defeated and while I went through the goal claps and chants, I really did not have it in me to get crazy excited about the game.
I will give the fans credit where they deserve it, as they rallied big time in the last few minutes of the game trying to generate solid energy for the guys working to tie the game, but I wonder if it was too little too late. They needed this momentum to get out of their funk in the second period, which was notably miserable in terms of fan response. I am going to jump on board the band wagon whether the on-ice product deserves it or not. I may not be a season ticket holder, nor is it all that likely that I will attend more than 25 games this year, but when I do I will make sure to be as much of a positive influence as possible, and I truly hope other Jackets fans do the same.
It's time to take back this arena and make it the experience we know it can be. Cut the booing. This team can do better, but so can we. Carry the Flag!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Kubalik Shows Promise
There has always been crazy amounts of hype surrounding star players drafted in the first five or so picks making their debut in the National Hockey League. Many people like to gage a players ability based on those first couple games, and some even go as far as critiquing the entire team after those first couple games, deeming the season a success of a failure. In Columbus, guys like Nash and Filatov had that hype.
But the unsung heros seem to come from the depths of the Columbus draft days, like Matt Calvert (5th round, 127 overall in 2008), Derek Dorsett (7th round, 189 overall in 2006), Kris Russell (3rd round, 67th overall in 2005), Jared Boll (4th round, 101st overall in 2005), Grant Clitsome (9th round, 271st overall in 2004), and Marc Methot (6th round, 168th overall in 2003). The success of a team can be measured in a handful of ways that are generally not televised or highlighted by the media because of the lack of 'sexyness' that it generates. Sure enough though, Columbus is knee deep in mid draft talent, and over the last two weeks, two more names have been added to the list.
Kubalik showed promise in Columbus' training camp this year, making decisions hard in a top six that had very little wiggle room (not to mention a hungry Calvert also waiting in the wing). I support any conclusion that says he belongs in a top six role and may struggle outside of that realm. I personally agree that players with specific styles are wasted in secondary roles, and Kubalik is no exception. He spent the year conditioning his talent in Springfield and took to the ice for the first time as a Jacket last night. No ticker tape parade, no fans expectations waiting to skyrocket at the ring of a post or the crunch of a check. Just Kubalik, showing the Jackets faithful what he is capable of accomplishing in a Blue Jackets jersey.
Early in the game I saw comments regarding his play become a bit negative on twitter. Certainly moving to the NHL stage against one of the premier Eastern Conference teams is a daunting task, and getting his feet wet may have included a dunking or two, but by the second period, the line of Calvert - Vermette - Kubalik was far and away the most effective unit for the Jackets. My favourite talking point of the game for him was watching him chase a defender around their net, forcing a weak pass to the secondary defender on the boards. Kubalik sprinted and pressed him, who had to make a play back behind the net with Kubalik once again quickly in pursuit. The puck was finally cleared, with Vermette and Umberger watching on as the rookie jetted from side to side forcing difficult passes.
If Kubalik brought anything last night outside the actual game itself, he brought a very distinct definition of quality drafting to Columbus. He was drafted 7 picks after his linemate from last night, Matt Calvert. Another 5th rounder making waves in the Blue Jackets roster, and another successful start to what I believe will be a strong NHL career.
Carry the Flag!
But the unsung heros seem to come from the depths of the Columbus draft days, like Matt Calvert (5th round, 127 overall in 2008), Derek Dorsett (7th round, 189 overall in 2006), Kris Russell (3rd round, 67th overall in 2005), Jared Boll (4th round, 101st overall in 2005), Grant Clitsome (9th round, 271st overall in 2004), and Marc Methot (6th round, 168th overall in 2003). The success of a team can be measured in a handful of ways that are generally not televised or highlighted by the media because of the lack of 'sexyness' that it generates. Sure enough though, Columbus is knee deep in mid draft talent, and over the last two weeks, two more names have been added to the list.
Kubalik showed promise in Columbus' training camp this year, making decisions hard in a top six that had very little wiggle room (not to mention a hungry Calvert also waiting in the wing). I support any conclusion that says he belongs in a top six role and may struggle outside of that realm. I personally agree that players with specific styles are wasted in secondary roles, and Kubalik is no exception. He spent the year conditioning his talent in Springfield and took to the ice for the first time as a Jacket last night. No ticker tape parade, no fans expectations waiting to skyrocket at the ring of a post or the crunch of a check. Just Kubalik, showing the Jackets faithful what he is capable of accomplishing in a Blue Jackets jersey.
Early in the game I saw comments regarding his play become a bit negative on twitter. Certainly moving to the NHL stage against one of the premier Eastern Conference teams is a daunting task, and getting his feet wet may have included a dunking or two, but by the second period, the line of Calvert - Vermette - Kubalik was far and away the most effective unit for the Jackets. My favourite talking point of the game for him was watching him chase a defender around their net, forcing a weak pass to the secondary defender on the boards. Kubalik sprinted and pressed him, who had to make a play back behind the net with Kubalik once again quickly in pursuit. The puck was finally cleared, with Vermette and Umberger watching on as the rookie jetted from side to side forcing difficult passes.
If Kubalik brought anything last night outside the actual game itself, he brought a very distinct definition of quality drafting to Columbus. He was drafted 7 picks after his linemate from last night, Matt Calvert. Another 5th rounder making waves in the Blue Jackets roster, and another successful start to what I believe will be a strong NHL career.
Carry the Flag!
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