Svitov to be suspended.

I know I'm a day late on this. But, according to the Columbus Dispatch he will be suspended when training camp begins in September. We won't be paying his salary, he won't take a spot on the roster, and his salary won't count against the cap...thank goodness. No one in the organization has even spoken to Svitov since we learned that he had signed a contract in Russia. Quite frankly I think the deal turned out quite nicely.

I like the way Howson has handled the entire situation. He has handled it better than MacLean ever would have. Howson had this to say about the Svitov situation:

"We're still considering everything," Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson said. "You can try and fight it (in the Russian court), but you're not going to have any success in their legal system, just as they haven't had any success in the (North American) court system. You couple that with this question: Do you really want a player who doesn't want to be here?"

There's no point in us fighting it. I mean really he wants to go over there let him go. I know I'm quite happy with Mr. Peca.

Svitov...seriously?!

Svitov has left the Columbus Blue Jackets and is headed to Russia. The Blue Jackets issued a statement yesterday:

“We were informed by Alexander’s agent today that he has signed a contract to play with Avangard Omsk this season,” Howson said. “We will explore the situation in greater detail with respect to Alexander’s contract status and will make a decision after reviewing our options. While this news comes as a disappointment, it creates an opportunity for other players when we open training camp next month.”

So what does this mean for the Blue Jackets? It means, that, well while we lost a centre (one of the weakest positions for our club) that we are now back into the free agent market. Portzline reported today that Michael Peca may be interested in joining the Blue Jackets. And, while many people are suspecting that Peca is pretty much already a Ranger...there is always that possibility that he could join the Jackets...he had this to say yesterday:

"The most intriguing thing about Columbus -- if a scenario presented itself for
me to sign there -- is there aren't many coaches I hold in higher regard as Ken
Hitchcock," Peca said. "And I have a lot of respect for Scott Howson and the
things he did in Edmonton that a lot of people don't know about. I think
there's a lot of great hockey left in me. I think it'd be great to come in and
contribute to a team like that."

If the Jackets do not sign Peca...we could go after a defenseman...apparently we're looking at Markov. And, with training camp nearing...his price is getting lower and lower.

Bye Svitov.

Jackets Sign Brookbank.

Yeah that's right the Blue Jackets DID sign someone yesterday he just wasn't one of the BIG names...actually he pretty much was nobody because everyone I told was like who? But, the Jackets are hoping that he will be someone in the NHL. Sheldon Brookbank signed a one year $500,000.00 contract. It is a two way deal but Mr. Howson isn't planning on him being in the minors.

"This signing was done with (the Columbus roster) in mind," general manager Scott Howson said. "I expect him to be part of our group of seven or eight defensemen, and how much he plays will be dictated by him."

"(Brookbank) is a character guy," Howson said. "He's competitive. He's not fun to play against, and that's what we're going to create here.

"We don't expect him to come in and put up the same points in the NHL he put up in the AHL. But he moves the puck very well."

Also, the Dispatch reported today that the Blue Jackets will announce today that they signed Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and Alexander Svitov to two year contracts.

"Svitov's contract will pay him $1 million in 2007-08 and $1.25 million in 2008-09. Tollefsen will make $600,000 in 2007-08 and $750,000 in 2008-09."

Also, Mirtle has a list of all the UFA's that are left...maybe the Jackets will do something today!!

Buh-Bye Smiley

Well, Scott Howson has decided Aaron Johnson is not in the mix for us Jackets. I am a little upset about it. We decided not to make him a qualifying offer. The Dispatch spoke to Howson about it saying, "It was a tough decision but (Johnson) was going to get a one-way contract in an arbitration hearing, and we just weren't comfortable with that decision. We like the player. That's not the issue, we weren't willing to sign a one-(way) contract at this time." (A one-(way) contract means he will get the same amount of money in the minors as he would in the NHL.) It's not that I am upset that Johnson is leaving, but you do get attached to these guys but when I think about what he did in the time he was here...he didn't do a lot. So, I am sure that Howson and Hitch chose the right thing. Svitov, Murray, Glencross, Tollefsen, Lindstrom, and Goertzen were all given qualifying offers. I'm not going to lie seeing Howson make a decision like this is really setting him apart from MacLean in a good way. And, I am confident that he made the correct decision. Now, I'm just wondering about Erikkson. Mr. Howson plans to offer long term contracts to Svitov, and Tollefsen which I think is great. Those 2 are great players especially Tollefsen who I even noticed developing over the course of the season.
I am pretty happy that we qualified Glencross too. I absolutely love that guy and it takes me back to the days when I was first falling in love with hockey. So I love seeing him down on the ice. Anyway, I'm proud of our organization and what they have done so far.