Zherdev is on my bad list...

After reading Portzline's blog today I am really really upset with him. I said everyone was getting a clean slate and everyone would be on my good list at the beginning of the season but Nik has kind of let me down.

Now, back to Zherdev. It's hard to explain exactly how poorly he practiced today. I'd say he was invisible, except that his performance was so bad, so disinterested, you couldn't help but notice him. When a puck would come between him and a defender, Zherdev wouldn't even attempt to win the puck with his stick. He'd simple concede possession and skate away. He was bad in Sunday's preseason game against Buffalo; he was awful earlier today.

Why does he do this? I don't understand...I hope he sits opening night...I want to enjoy my experience. Portzline has his thoughts on who he thinks will start opening night and on what line....like I said these are only thoughts...

F1: Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, David Vyborny
F2: Fredrik Modin, Sergei Fedorov, Dan Fritsche
F3: Jason Chimera, Michael Peca, Gilbert Brule
F4: Jody Shelley, Manny Malhotra, Jiri Novotny
Spare: Nikolai Zherdev

I really like the top line...I haven't seen Brassard play but everything I have read and heard says he is doing just great. Nikolai Zherdev sitting obviously makes me happy. It looks like Leclaire will be playing opening night since Norrena hurt himself. And, Leclaire has had a decent camp and a fairly decent few pre-season games. But, Freddy can't get back soon enough!!!!!!!!!!! As for defense...Portzie has these...

D1: Rostislav Klesla, Jan Hejda
D2: O-K Tollefsen, Adam FooteD3: Duvie Westcott, Kris Russell
Spare: Ron Hainsey

Kris Russell has had an amazing camp and well he deserves to be up here he's a little guy. And, granted all of these line ups are if everyone is better we have had quite a few injuries in the pre-season.

Here are injuries as of right now.
Michael Peca (groin)
Adam Foote (hamstring)Fredrik Norrena (knee)
Fredrik Modin (back)
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (knee)
Dan Fritsche (hip)

Let's hope everyone is better...soon!!!!!!! I haven't had a chance to go to any of the pre-season games or any of the practices but if anyone has let me know. Also, be sure to check out Aaron Portzline's blog Portzline's Puck-Rakers.

Zherdev a centre?!

Apparently, Hitch has decided to move Zherdev to the top line where he will centre Nash and Vyborny. At least for a little bit. Intereseting move by Hitch but I think it's a move to show Zherdev that we want him to succeed to tell him that this is a new chance for him. A new start. Hitch has a way of molding people and gosh darn it he is going to try it with Zherdev.

"My focus is to be successful offensively, your best players have to have the puck more," Hitchcock said. "This is an opportunity for him to have the puck more. Regardless of who plays centre ice, whether it's Vyborny or him or whatever, or if we decide to go with (Sergei) Fedorov or (Michael) Peca there, we want people to play together that are creative."

Training camp opens tomorrow without Alexandre Picard and Zenon Konopka. And, the pre-season begins on Sunday playing the Nashville Predators.

Oh Nikolai...

Scott Howson met with Nikolai Zherdev in Ottawa on Wednesday. I am glad he had this meeting. Nikolai needs to know what will be allowed, what won't fly, what is to be expected, yada yada yada.

"It was good to get to know (Nikolai), to learn about him and his family," Howson said. "He's been through a lot; he's experienced a lot, and he's still a young guy. It was a productive meeting. I wanted him to get a feel for me -- it's the first time we've ever met -- and I wanted him to know what we're trying to do in Columbus. We talked about some of the issues in the past, and I heard him out on that. And I told him why I came to meet with him, what our expectations are for him this coming season."

I really hope that Nikolai has a break out season and just does amazing for us. If not then it's onto the trading block...I think at least.

"Nikolai can certainly make a big difference as far as getting us to a higher skill level," Howson said. "He could make us a bigger threat. But it's more than that. We want to have a strong team, and to get that, everybody has to be important, and everybody has to know they're important. We wanted Nikolai to know and feel that he's a big part of what we're trying to do."

Apparently Zherdev wants to be one of the top players in the NHL. Well Nik prove it.

2003 Draft Picks

Round 1 ~ 4th Pick ~ Nikolai Zherdev

Round 2 ~ 46th Pick ~ Dan Fritsche
Round 3 ~ 71st Pick ~ Dmitry Kosmachev
Round 4 ~ 103rd Pick ~ Kevin Jarman
Round 4 ~ 104th Pick ~ Philippe Dupuis
Round 5 ~ 138th Pick ~ Arsi Piispanen
Round 6 ~ 168th Pick ~ Marc Methot
Round 7 ~ 200th Pick ~ Alexander Guskov
Round 8 ~ 233rd Pick ~ Mathieu Gravel
Round 9 ~ 283rd Pick ~ Trevor Hendrikx

Nikolai Zherdev, a left/right winger, was our first pick of the 2003 Draft. But, since we have had him, he hasn't done much but mess up with team chemistry and been a thorn in our side. However with Howson as the new General Manager he will be starting with a clean slate! So best of luck to Nikolai. TSN has his assets, flaws, and potential as:

ASSETS: Skates with explosive strides and is one of the best one-on-one players in hockey. Can do anything he wants with the puck and oozes offense.

FLAWS: Needs a lot of work in defensive-zone coverage. Takes too many shifts off. Must become more dedicated to the NHL game.

POTENTIAL: First line winger.

Then, there is Dan Fritsche, who was the 46th pick in the NHL Entry Draft. He's a Center by trade and played pretty well for us last year (59 games played 12 goals 15 assists 27 points). Dimitry Kosmachev has spent his entire career in Russia and my guess is that he will probably stay there. Kevin Jarman is a kid who played college hockey for UMass...and just finished his senior year. Phillippe Dupuis spent most of last year in the American Hockey League playing for the Syracuse Crunch. However, he did spend some time with the Dayton Bombers. Arsi Piispanen has spent his entire career in Finland. I don't suspect he will be coming over anytime soon. Marc Methot has turned into be a surprise for the Jackets he went in the 6th round and played in 20 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets last year. I think with a little more time in the AHL he will be up in the Blue Jackets uniform full time in no time. Alexander Guskov is playing over in Russia and like all the others I don't suspect to see him over here anytime soon. Mathieu Gravel quit playing hockey in 2005-2006...I don't know why...but he did...at least that's what hockeydb says. Trevor Hendrikx was actually drafted by us twice in 2003 and then again in 2005...he played his first year as a professional hockey player last year for the Dayton Bombers.

Here is my question...how do I find out if we still have the rights for these players...I'm not sure how all this works...I may put my googling skills to work after I post this up. If you want to see previous draft picks I have some of them complete:

• 2000 Draft Picks
• 2001 Draft Picks
• 2002 Draft Picks

I really want to finish these...before the next draft haha. So I have like a little less than a year...I'm sure it'll happen haha.

How did I miss this?

I was reading through Arace's blog...and apparently the Jackets offered Zherdev for Lupul...I'm not gonna lie...I like it. I like it a lot. Anyway, that's it just thought it was interesting.

What's this feeling?

I don't even know. The more this sinks in, the more excited I am to get Scott Howson in the building and get things going. The press conference is expected to start at 1 p.m. Once he enters the building he is got a lot to do. The draft, dealing with our UFA's and RFA's, Free Agent Signings, and Portzline even threw out the idea of buying out Fedorov and Foote.

I'll start with talking about the Fedorov and Foote buying out option. I love Fedorov, always have, and always will, but my love for him doesn't change the fact that he is not worth the money. However, when it comes to Adam Foote, I have no problem keeping him. Adam Foote is our Captain and I highly doubt that they will buy him out. But, then again, I had never even thought of buying these guys out as an option.

Then, there is the Draft, it's a week from today. He's going to check out what our Scout's are thinking then he is going to figure out what he wants to do. By the way, expect my Draft Post up Sunday night, it will take me a bit to do and I have quite the weekend ahead of me.

RFA's and UFA's while I don't expect any of our UFA's to be back. I am pretty sure Howson will at least consider bringing back Eriksson. He will have to make qualifying offers to our RFA's by July 1st.

Then there is his front office. I am expecting an entire house cleaning. We need better scouts. Howson has been given the reigns to do whatever he sees fit in the front office which is a great thing.

Then he has to deal with the always lovely, Nikolai Zherdev. While, I can see his potential I think he does more harm that good so I am hoping that a trade does take place at some point soon.

No matter what you have thought about the Jackets in the past...look out for us now. We have a new General Manager. Fans have hope. We have arguably the best coach in the NHL. And, we WILL be better come this October. So, Welcome to the Columbus Blue Jackets Scott Howson!!