Blue Jackets season thread

Pro Sports 330 replies 12,538 views
gerb131's avatar
gerb131
Posts: 9,932
Feb 16, 2011 10:18pm
ptown_trojans_1;681455 wrote:A win would have been great, since LA is 4 points ahead, but a point is better than nothing.
I wasn't a fan of Garon in net, never seemed in control.

That wasn't by choice Mase is sick.
ptown_trojans_1's avatar
ptown_trojans_1
Posts: 7,632
Feb 16, 2011 10:29pm
gerb131;681457 wrote:That wasn't by choice Mase is sick.

Ahh, missed that, thanks.
gerb131's avatar
gerb131
Posts: 9,932
Feb 17, 2011 6:53pm
Brassard is out 2 weeks with a hand injury. Just when I start to believe....
ptown_trojans_1's avatar
ptown_trojans_1
Posts: 7,632
Feb 18, 2011 11:00am
gerb131;682322 wrote:Brassard is out 2 weeks with a hand injury. Just when I start to believe....

Yeah, I knew as soon as he went to the locker room he was done for a bit. Typical Brassard. I hope he can make it back for the stretch run.
Tonight's game is huuuuge. Jackets @ Hawks, 8:30.
Jackets are two points behind Hawks in the standings, and still four out from 8th in the West (Kings hold the 8 spot).
They still have to leap the Hawks, Wild, Flames and Kings to get in the playoffs. A tall feat for sure.
End of Line's avatar
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
Feb 18, 2011 1:41pm
Hopefully the CBJ can beat the 'Hawks in their barn tonight.
R
rugbywrestler
Posts: 462
Feb 18, 2011 11:06pm
4-3, Jackets with the dub!
ptown_trojans_1's avatar
ptown_trojans_1
Posts: 7,632
Feb 18, 2011 11:12pm
What a game.
6 straight road wins, awesome.
Jackets with 3 straight goals in the 2nd. Then, down 2 men the last 2:46 of the 3rd, they stop the Hawks PP. Great great defense.
Jackets now have 64 points, still 4 points away from the playoffs. But, the West is still so jumbled. Look at the standings tonight:
6. Stars: 68 points
7. Kings: 68 points
8. Ducks: 68 points
9. Flames: 68 points
10. Wild: 67 points
11. Jackets: 64 points
End of Line's avatar
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
Feb 19, 2011 1:59am
What's crazy about the CBJ is that, they have a better record on the road than they do at home.
O
OUdidntknow
Posts: 25
Feb 19, 2011 2:17am
ohiotiger33;526665 wrote:I figured we could put up a thread to discuss the Jackets this season.

They just beat Anaheim 3-1 to improve to 3-2-0 on the season. Nash had 2 goals and Mason stopped 31 of 32 shots. Glad to see the guys pick up their first home win. They are heading into a home stand right now, so it is important to pick up as many points as possible here early.
Go Jackets
O
OUdidntknow
Posts: 25
Feb 19, 2011 2:18am
Go Jackets
gerb131's avatar
gerb131
Posts: 9,932
Feb 19, 2011 6:27am
The_Crosby_Show;683598 wrote:What's crazy about the CBJ is that, they have a better record on the road than they do at home.

That is the sole reason we are on the outside looking in.
Happy about last night though thats fo sho.
TedSheckler's avatar
TedSheckler
Posts: 3,974
Feb 19, 2011 7:16am
At this point the CBJ need to be buyers. The Blues are in full sale mode. They traded Brewer and Johnson yesterday.
D
dave
Posts: 4,558
Feb 19, 2011 7:58am
Lets be honest here, even if they go 7-3 in the next 10 they are still probably not in the top 8. No Brassard and a brutal next several weeks schedule wise doesn't look promising. They should probably be selling, especially since they are losing money.
Y-Town Steelhound's avatar
Y-Town Steelhound
Posts: 1,388
Feb 19, 2011 10:11am
dave;683631 wrote:Lets be honest here, even if they go 7-3 in the next 10 they are still probably not in the top 8. No Brassard and a brutal next several weeks schedule wise doesn't look promising. They should probably be selling, especially since they are losing money.

They're losing money because they aren't competitive. That's the only way you get fans to the game by improving the team. They can't afford to be in sell mode again
F
FALLSGUY
Posts: 27
Feb 19, 2011 12:08pm
Sorry folks,there are just some cities that don't need a National Hockey League team. There are too many places like Phoenix,Tampa,Carolina,Columbus,maybe St. Louis etc. that just can't support a team. St. Louis is a sad case. That was an original expansion city and one of the more successful franchises at one time.
chicago510's avatar
chicago510
Posts: 5,728
Feb 19, 2011 1:21pm
FALLSGUY;683717 wrote:Sorry folks,there are just some cities that don't need a National Hockey League team. There are too many places like Phoenix,Tampa,Carolina,Columbus,maybe St. Louis etc. that just can't support a team. St. Louis is a sad case. That was an original expansion city and one of the more successful franchises at one time.

I 100% disagree with you. Fans are just not willing to pay these prices anymore for a team with 9 losing seasons out of 10 during the biggest recession of our lifetimes. If the team wins and the economy keeps improving i fully expect attendance to skyrocket again.

Plus the Arena lease deal the Jackets have is suicide.
Y-Town Steelhound's avatar
Y-Town Steelhound
Posts: 1,388
Feb 19, 2011 2:17pm
FALLSGUY;683717 wrote:Sorry folks,there are just some cities that don't need a National Hockey League team. There are too many places like Phoenix,Tampa,Carolina,Columbus,maybe St. Louis etc. that just can't support a team. St. Louis is a sad case. That was an original expansion city and one of the more successful franchises at one time.

Couldn't disagree more. Phoenix, Tampa, and Carolina yes, but not Columbus. Cbus is a northern city that supports its hockey. As said before, I don't care where you are, but if you have an expansion team and they have that many losing seasons you're not going to get fans to buy tickets. The Panthers, Lightning, and Coyotes have had more success than the Jackets and still don't bring in fans. You string together some winning seasons and the Blue Jackets sell out every game guaranteed. Hockey is growing more than ever in Columbus from the youth level on up. If you don't believe that Columbus is a city that can't support a hockey team, maybe you want to do a little research and look up a little team called the Columbus Chill.
ptown_trojans_1's avatar
ptown_trojans_1
Posts: 7,632
Feb 19, 2011 3:10pm
FALLSGUY;683717 wrote:Sorry folks,there are just some cities that don't need a National Hockey League team. There are too many places like Phoenix,Tampa,Carolina,Columbus,maybe St. Louis etc. that just can't support a team. St. Louis is a sad case. That was an original expansion city and one of the more successful franchises at one time.

That makes no sense.
1. Phoenix has a great atmosphere and they are on top of their division, the best in hockey easily.
2. Tampa is first in the SE Division and has a cup. Fans could be more, but its not like Atlanta.
3. Carolina hosted the All Star game, and they are in the playoffs right now.
4. St. Louis still has a solid fanbase, even with the team not doing well.

The only teams I could see cutting are Atlanta and Florida. The rest of the league is doing fine actually.

As to the Jackets, they need to pick up someone, but guys have been stepping up.
The problem is the West is so stacked. Look at the Pacific, easily the best division in hockey right now. The Ducks are in last, at 68 points haha. I could see the Jackets finishing with their best point total in franchise history-somewhere above 90- and missing the playoffs.
D
dave
Posts: 4,558
Feb 19, 2011 4:48pm
Y-Town Steelhound;683669 wrote:They're losing money because they aren't competitive. That's the only way you get fans to the game by improving the team. They can't afford to be in sell mode again

They have only 12 home games left. If you get an extra 3k walkup by still being in it for each of those games, thats 36k tix. Average $25 ticket = extra $900,000.

They can make a lot more money by cutting payroll right now rather than adding payroll and hoping it improves the team enough to draw the extra fans.
ptown_trojans_1's avatar
ptown_trojans_1
Posts: 7,632
Feb 19, 2011 4:55pm
dave;683917 wrote:They have only 12 home games left. If you get an extra 3k walkup by still being in it for each of those games, thats 36k tix. Average $25 ticket = extra $900,000.

They can make a lot more money by cutting payroll right now rather than adding payroll and hoping it improves the team enough to draw the extra fans.

They can't cut payroll and hope the team improves. This is not the Eastern conference. Jackets are playing their best hockey of the year and have only gained 4 points on the rest of the west the last week or so.
The team needs to trade and make moves to compete.
D
dave
Posts: 4,558
Feb 19, 2011 5:03pm
ptown_trojans_1;683927 wrote:They can't cut payroll and hope the team improves. This is not the Eastern conference. Jackets are playing their best hockey of the year and have only gained 4 points on the rest of the west the last week or so.
The team needs to trade and make moves to compete.

I never said they hope they improve by cutting payroll. I'm saying it's not in their best business interest to add payroll. The difference between adding and cutting is probably a couple mil, and it would be near impossible to recoup that unless they make the playoffs. Even adding a big time center out there only replaces Brassard, it doesn't really improve what they had going the last few weeks.

I want them to add, just saying what the owner is most likely thinking. Like you said, they are playing their best and still in 11th facing some really tough teams coming up.
End of Line's avatar
End of Line
Posts: 6,867
Feb 19, 2011 5:16pm
What UFA would the Jackets target?

Brad Richards? No, his contract is too big for the CBJ to take on and the asking price would be huge.
gorocks99's avatar
gorocks99
Posts: 10,760
Feb 20, 2011 6:08pm
Blackhawks going to manage at least a point against Pittsburgh today. Jackets need to beat Nashville on Tuesday to keep pace.
ptown_trojans_1's avatar
ptown_trojans_1
Posts: 7,632
Feb 20, 2011 6:14pm
gorocks99;685039 wrote:Blackhawks going to manage at least a point against Pittsburgh today. Jackets need to beat Nashville on Tuesday to keep pace.

Yeah, but last night was great as the Ducks, Stars, Avs, and Kings lost. So, the Jackets did not lose ground.
Still the Jackets just need to keep their head down and get points. This next week or so is a tough stretch. Then, the middle of March is a little soft.
gorocks99's avatar
gorocks99
Posts: 10,760
Feb 20, 2011 6:19pm
And the Hawks do pick up 2 points, so they're at 66 points and 59 games played. Jackets at 64 points, 58 games played. Flames/Ducks at 68 points, 60 games played. Basically, it's a MFing logjam and the Jackets need to get points as much as they can :)

We should know if the Jackets are contenders or pretenders by March 8 when they finish that five-game road trip. Seven games between now and then ... I think 4-3, 72 points and 65 games in the books, would be pretty decent. If we're at 74 points or higher, look out.