Saw this over on HF. Some video footage off Springfield's web site of Dekanich from last night's SO win:
Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch has his latest Sunday column up. He drops some interesting CBJ nuggets:
The waiting game continues in Columbus. At the midway point of another lost season for the Blue Jackets, observers across the NHL are waiting to see if the other shoe will drop with GM Scott Howson, coach Scott Arniel or star W Rick Nash. “Something has to give, you’d think,” noted one league executive. “They’re going nowhere.” While the talk is the Jackets can’t afford to fire either Howson or Arniel, nobody is sure Columbus can afford to keep them, either. Many believe it’s time to ask all-star Nash to waive his “no-movement” clause and give the franchise a fresh start. The 27-year-old Nash, selected No. 1 overall by the Jackets in 2002, has suited up for only four playoff games and could fetch a big return if the Jackets decide they need to start over. Even with a cap hit of $7.8 million for three more years, a team would be willing to take a chance on Nash ...
Blue The Jackets are still trying to move C Antoine Vermette and the Oilers are willing to send RW Ales Hemsky packing as well. Both have been on the market all season.
Everyone loves to immediately dismiss Garrioch but does what he say here really not jive with anyone?
We can all use our own brains and connect our own dots.
There have been rumors of Vermette being on the block all season. And the folks at the top of this turd sure as hell better be contemplating all scenarios after what will likely be the worst season in Blue Jackets history.
I have also heard that nugget before about Priest not wanting to fire Arniel or Howson because of money. That would sum up this franchise perfectly -- give the 62 million dollar squad a pass so he can save 2 million on the GM and Coach.
Garrioch's column also comments on the asking price for a guy like Getzlaf and Ryan. He cites a league source saying the Ducks want two first round picks and two high end prospects. That sounds about right *if* they only wanted futures.
The reason why I bring that up is if we were to ever consider dealing Nash, certainly that would be the price for him. Although I think the Jackets would want an established player or two in addition to some futures.
So reallignment is off the table for now.
The one argument I can see from the player's side is the unbalanced conferences which gives less than half the league a better chance at making the playoffs. If I was a player, I wouldn't like that either. Why should I bust my butt just as hard as the next guy when that next guy has a built in unfair advantage? Keep in mind too that everyone wants their name on that cup and playoff points are like gold when in comes to contract negotiations.
What I don't by is the travel excuse. I don't think you need a sample schedule to recognize has this alignment plan would level the playing field for all involved from a travel perspective. This one wreaks of new NHLPA bossman Donald Fehr trying to flex his muscles.
At the end of the day what does this tell me? Get ready for another lockout.
I followed the 04-05 lockout day by day - hell, hour by hour. The good news is I don't think the differences here will prevent the NHL from a complete lost season. The big battle last time was for revenue linkage (ie salary cap) -- there is no way that will be revoked. This time it won't be a complete system overhaul but tweaks to the existing system. Owners will want to keep a bigger share of the pie and close loopholes like cap length of contracts while the players will want more say in league matters (franchise relocation/expansion, suspensions, marketing, etc) and my guess is a further reduction in the years it takes to become a free agent.
One thing I do know is that both sides would be absolute IDIOTS to have any kind of a work stoppage. The league is doing very well right now. Revenues keep going up. The parity is there. They have a nice new shiny TV contract. For the love of hockey, work it out!
But leave it to these clowns to f*** it all up.
The "battle of the basement" begins tonight @ 8!
-LTL
