SportsFan Magazine Preview

I answered a few questions for SportsFan Magazine for the Blue Jackets preview. Be sure to check it out here.

Oh Jason Chimera...

Jason Chimera aside from being the joker in the Blue Jackets locker room is started to show that he is much more than a checking line forward. In an exhibition game last week he had a goal 2 assists and 2 fights. A Gordie Howe hat trick plus some. (Gordie Howe hat trick is a goal a fight and an assist). When speaking to a reporter about it he said:

Reporter: "Do you prefer Gordon or Gordie?"

Chimera: "Mr. Howe would be fine."

How can you not love that guy? Chimera is such an important part of the Blue Jackets. When Hitchcock took over last season he sat all the players down and gave them specific rolls. Hitch told Chimera...that everyone has to check and everyone has to score. Also, when Hitchcock got here Chimera's all around performance improved.

Chimera had two goals, four assists and a minus-5 rating in 20 games before Hitchcock was hired last season. In 62 games under Hitchcock, he had 13 goals, 17 assists and a plus-7 rating.

Pretty impressive. During training camp Chimera has been on a line with Jakub Voracek and Derick Brasard. Hitch wants him used to scoring goals.

"Jason has always been an elite skater," Hitchcock said. "If not the best skater in the league, he's one of the top two or three. He'd get going so fast that it was hard to make plays. Well, his mind has now caught up with his legs, and he's able to think on the ice."

Also, on the camp front after reading Portzline's blog apparently Shelley is taking on a leadership role (which I have talked about before) telling one of the younger campers to get his act together.

Camper of the day: Jody Shelley. I won't tell you who, but Shelley strongly, professionally and bluntly corrected a young player for leaving the ice too early after Wednesday's practice. Big No. 45 said his peace and moved on. No hard feelings, no discussion needed. That, friends, is leadership. This, friends, is a new era.

Jody Shelley according to Portzline at least would be the captain of the Blue Jackets if he wasn't a fourth line winger.

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.

I'm back.

After taking a long long break from my blog I am back and very excited for this season. While I had every intention of posting a Preview for the Blue Jackets but things with my family and friends came first. Things are beginning to calm down...which is always a good thing. I should start posting normal posts tomorrow but for now...I will just throw out some links.
Sarah at Neutral Zone Trap has her preview for the Jackets.
And Drew at End of the Bench has his Jackets preview.
Today is Detroit Red Wings bloggers day...so here are their links...
Abel to Yzerman's preview.
George has his preview at Kukla's.
Christy at Behind the Jersey has hers.
Gorilla Crouch has his.
Gloveside has the preview up also.
Enjoy the reading...and I will be posting on a daily basis again beginning tomorrow.

On a totally random note...you should check out this picture it's quite trippy!!

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.

Chelios hates Detroit.

I love my team.

I had the opportunity on Tuesday morning to go to a breakfast where Jeff Rimmer, Mike Priest, Scott Howson, and my personal favorite Ken Hitchcock spoke. Rimmer basically gave a general talk and said that he was excited for the season and that there is a lot of 'professionalism' and accountability in the dressing room, but we need to wait and see what they do on the ice. Priest spoke mainly of the business of the team like how far we've come since getting the team. Howson spoke about building the team and how you've got to develop your players and how you have to have the right players on the ice. Like he always says anyone has a chance to make the team come training camp. Then Hitch got up he was the one to not use the microphone. He said we know what everyone is saying, they're saying we're going to finish 13th or 14th in the conference. They don't know our team. I know our team. Since I took over the team we were a .500 team. I'm in the business of winning. Our team is completely healthy and there won't be any off time at training camp. He got me completely pumped up for the season. I am so excited to see these boys out on the ice. I want to see what they do. I have a feeling that they will surprise a lot of people. Training camp starts tomorrow. I won't be attending the Friday session but I am hoping to make it up to the Saturday session.

Central Division Preview

Third Man In previews the Blackhawks...check it out here. And, for a full schedule of events be sure to check right here. I will be previewing the Blue Jackets and also the St. Louis Blue's.

Wow...I have been away for too long.

Well, most of you who have read my blog know what's going on right now. A very close family friend, in fact they're just like family, had a heart attack Saturday night. He was coding (his heart stopped) and possibly went without oxygen to his brain for 45 minutes. Since Saturday night I have had my 'little sister' Natalie and have been staying with her every night. This is the first chance I have had to actually sit down and write. Please keep my other family in your thoughts and prayers.

I will be posting about hockey now...because I need to get my mind off of things. Apparently, we have a brighter dressing room now because there are new lights and because guys seem to have hope now. Original Jacket David Vyborny said:

"It's real now," said right winger David Vyborny, who has been with the team
from the start. "It feels real."

Short and to the point but you know how it feels any Jacket fan knows exactly how it feels. We finally have the potential to do something. We have a General Manager who is willing to let our young players mature. We have a coach who won't settle for anything except excellence. Us fans are ready for it. We want to win. We want our boys to win. We want to know what it feels like to watch your team play in May. But, we know that won't happen this year...at least I don't think.

"The general feeling is that we can't wait to get started," Tollefsen said.
"That's why everybody's here so far before training camp. We have lots to
prove."

As far as the Super Series goes...Stefan Legein played amazing so has goaltender Steve Mason.

Right winger Stefan Legein, the Blue Jackets' second-round pick (No. 37) in
June, has played on a checking line and on Canada's top penalty-killing unit. He
also has scored three goals.
"Stefan has played his style," Howson said.
"He's been gritty, high energy. … He's brought a lot to the team."

I am really excited to see what goes on at training camp. It should be amazing...we have talent coming up quick. Let's hope that this season turns out well and that we will prove that we're not bottom feeders. Speaking of training camp, the Blue Jackets will get their first look at Voracek!! His coach told the Dispatch this,

"The first thing you appreciate as a coach is that he never takes a night off,"
Russell said. People say that about a lot of guys, but it's the dead-on
truth about Jakub. I've asked him who he wants to play with (on his line), and
he refuses to give me names. He says, 'I don't care who I play with. You coach,
I play.' "

While it is highly unlikely that Voracek will make the big show this season Howson isn't ruling it out saying like he always does that everyone has a chance at training camp.

"I don't rule anybody out from making the team," Howson said. "Jakub will be
given every opportunity. But we're not going to keep him (on the Blue Jackets)
to play 40 games. We're not going to keep him up here to play on the fourth
line. He's either going to be one of our best top-end players, or he'll go back
to junior and have a great season. Either way, his future is extremely
bright."

I personally am content with letting him do what he does in junior and get him when we can. He seems to have a lot of potential although I was re-watching the draft and TSN said that Jakub was one of the most NHL ready of all the boys.

Mark Bell suspended.

Thanks to Kukla for posting this.

Sources tell TSN Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mark Bell has been suspended indefinitely without pay after being placed into stage two of the NHL’s substance abuse program.
In order to be reinstated, Bell will require the recommendation of program doctors along with the approval of both the National Hockey League and the NHLPA.