Before blaming Mason for our lost yesterday, lets look at the defense.
Offensive
How many times have we had to go out of the offensive zone because our D-man could not keep the puck in. How many times the D-man was not at his place during offensive and the puck went out. How many times our D-man carry the puck to the end zone at loose it and create a turn-over. how many time our D-man take a slap shot in the window.
Defense
How many times our D-man could not clear de zone, miss the pass and creates a turn over. How many times our D-man could not watch the player behind them. How many times have we seen our D-man missing their passes and create a off-side. How many time we see our D-man not taking his men on a face-off in our zone
If our D-man would play their role a little bit more and let the forward do theirs, maybe we wouldn't have that many goals against
If we look at the best teams in the NHL, theirs top 2 lines play together since the beginning, From good play to even worst, the stay toghter and the team wins,
A sign that the coach is completely confuse is when you start mixing line, worst putting a fighter on your top 6. Then wins are rare
These coaches will never have a winning team. When you stick with 3 guys playing together night after night, its create chemistry and provide many wins.
NHL is faster and very young these days, thing that the CBJ haven't figured out yet. Also, managment's advertizing is very poor, if you are a new fan, you will think that there are only 5 players in this team. Walk outside Nationwide arena and look at the big poster or in the windows, see if you can find Dorset or Mackensie. If we are logic here, these two players are very important on the defensive line (PK) but we don't see them nowhere
Trust your youngster, give confidence to your other players, have fun in the dressing room and you have a winning team.
I'll give you a example, If the Buckeye's coach decide to tell his quarter back to trow the football always at the same receiver, it takes away confidence to his quarter back to react by insctint to continu the play for a fist down or a victory.
The situation with the Jacket is simple, All the players, Nash and Carter included, have to play Arniel's game plan, shoot the puck and hope for a rebound. No PK for mostly all players except the 3rd line and very few other players. What does it gives, players like, Carter, Nash, Brassard, Prospal etc, are nerveous to make a mistake and to be send down (not for Carter and Nash), it gives less ice time to Nash and Carter. Nash can't stick handle as well as his debut.
Also, not having top player on the PK or end of game doesn't give us a chance to score a decisive goal. On PK, visiting D-man can carry the puck easily because they know that we will not have a beak away to score a shorthanded goal. We do not put doubt/nervosity on them.
Even in OT, our defensive line starts, again our chance to score is reduce and if we go to shoot out, chane goes on both side and we have lost many game because of that.
Lets hope 2012 will bring changment in the CBJ organisation
Just happened to see the "FIRE ARNIEL...NOW!!!!" thread by HockeyDude along with the comments by DBT and lennycohenfan.
I have to admit, I used to scoff when people would recommend trading Nash or Carter. Especially with Carter. All that we gave up to get him, and all that happened after the trade; it would be such an embarrassment to trade him to another team so quickly.
But now that I think back to 2008 with Sean Avery and the Stars I change my mind. Brett Hull had such high hopes for Avery being the player the Stars needed, sent tons of money his way, and look at how that ended. Granted, things haven't been as bad with Carter as with Avery (not that they've been anywhere near "great"), but I now agree it may be time for us to find him a new home. And best of all, since there is this bad acquisition precedent in place, we don't have to feel so embarrassed when we do.
Well the boys have had a couple of days rest and some more rest for the Christmas break is in the near future.But before the Jackets can start slugging down eggnogthere is a trip to Nashville!!!The dreaded Preds.A couple of questions for tonight’s game:Have they finally beaten the crap out of that monkey that has been riding their backs in the Music City?Will the now separated Nash/Carter line spur some offense in a way that we only dreamed possible for the days that they were together?I hope the answer to both questions is YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well it just keeps on getting better.An already rough season gets a black mark by a cancer in the room. There were 2 confirmed cases of Carter being a Delta Bravo. I won’t go into specifics as that would not be fair to those who were in the room who told what happened. That being said Princess Jeff apparently has a bit of an attitude problem when it comes to fulfilling his off ice contract responsibilities.I know, I know……..we are not playing well right now, the team is struggling but hey Jeff…don’t take it out on the fans or charity.Be part of the solution to make things better instead of acting like T.O. when things aren’t going YOUR way.We don’t need our good young players on the team to see this sort of rhetoric.Man up or move on…please.
A week ago we were holding onto a strong performance against Boston with the hope of beginning to turn things around. Since then the Jackets have gone 3-0-1 and tonight's 5-1 domination of Buffalo was the "easiest" win of the season.
Everyone is talking about Curtis Sanford, whose play has been superb. Will Mason be more comfortable when he returns to action, giving the Jackets a strong 1-2 goaltending team? However, if you're not seeing the better defensive support Curtis is getting, you're missing a key to the improved results for Columbus.
Last season I was a harsh critic of Marc Methot. It seemed that every time something bad happened to the Jackets he was around. But this year he is skating with authority, looking confident and, as far as one can tell on television, is playing strong in both the defensive and offensive aspects of his game.
Nice to see Nash and Carter putting some numbers up on the board. There's no reason this team can't improve from here, but it will take constant effort and an end to the key injuries.
Now it's time for a big game on the green field in that state up north, before the Blues come calling with old friend Hitch. It would be great to see a good, noisy, supportive crowd at Nationwide Sunday night to send the Jackets off on their road trip.
Are you like me? Do you suffer from P.E.? That is, Premature Excitement...
When it comes to the Jackets what other P.E. could there be? You'd think I might learn by now, and yet, I still look forward to each and every game. I keep thinking back to "The Fusille Jerry" episode of Seinfeld when George is having lunch with his mom at Monk's. After looking at the menu he says:
"Look at that. They got lobster on the menu. Who would order a lobster here. I mean, do they bring a lobster in everyday hoping today's the day."
I'm the same way. On gameday (since the time change, East Coast games start at 9am here in Japan) I think to myself: "Today's the day! We're gonna get back on track and get back into contention."
One would think that after 18 games at 3-13-2 I'd have learned my lesson by now (not counting yesterday's inspired performance against the Bruins). But why do we watch sports? Why do we really watch sports? For me it's not to define myself as much as it is for catharsis, the beauty of the game and of being a fan (I had to strike that out because of some of the passes I've seen lately by the Jackets). I'm a Blue Jackets' fan until the day I die (hopefully they'll be around that long - and that I don't die within the next few years) and I let everyone know as much. But win or lose I love watching the Jackets and I love watching hockey. While these days it looks like I'll be the only one in the stands come December 27 (next time I'll be in the States), you can bet I'm counting the days!
Last night/this morning at Midnight, NESN, the TV home of the Boston Bruins ran a replay of the B's shootout win over the Jackets. It was initeresting to hear the number of times that play-by-play (pbp) man Jack Edwards mentioned how sloppy, boring, or unexciting the game was. Meanwhile, for us Jackets fans that was secondary. The important thing is that our poor gang that can't shoot straight played toe to toe all night with the red-hot Bruins, Curtis Sanford turned in a stellar performance and with Rick Nash and Jeff Carter seemed to be showing a bit of developing chemistry, even if the best setups ended in shots ringing off the posts, ending up in the netting above the glass or in a missed pass or good defensive play.
While, as would be expected, the Bruins telecast focused on the home team, stellar analyst Andy Brickley did a great job of mixing in important points about Columbus' play. While Edwards blatantly homer pbp style can get old quickly, the former ESPN hockey man is still one of the better straight pbp men in the league. Meanwhile Jeff Rimer, I thought, turned in one of his better games of the season, which, granted, isn't saying much. He seemed energized by the Boston atmosphere and the presence of the Jackets' dads.
What do you think? If you have the Center Ice package, which announcing teams or individual pbp or color voices to you enjoy watching?
Let is be known that Kris Russell never quite fit into a CBJ plan on the ice. Kris, while always seemed to play with desire, his intangibles couldn't negate that he wasn't big enough to play a stay at home role and wasn't talented enough to play the skilled PMD the team has always needed. Truly a square peg in a world of round holes. His movement signals not only how far his stock has fallen since being drafted in '05, but also his return of a guy (Nikitin) that could potentially be toiling in Springfield for the season due to a one-way contract.
So as I sit there last night to watch REAL hockey, during the first intermission Eddie O comments on the Blues picking up Coach Hitch.While I am happy for Hitch to get another shot with a quality team the report made me chuckle.The first comment made was how the management in St. Louis saw enough of the direction that their team was going in that they knew it was time to make a change in some capacity.I know that I am not alone in saying this……”What the hell is our management teams breaking point?”2 wins people!!!2 wins and no changes????? Bring in some monkeys to run this circus because they could at least realize that there is a serious problem down on Nationwide Blvd.The entire operation needs to be looked at.We are shallow at best in net, our defense leaks like a sieve and our “goal scorers” are not putting the puck past rookie net minders.
I would like to order up a healthy dose of change all the way around please.
Despite the impressive win and effort last night against Anaheim on the back end of a back to back, change is needed now.
Mike Priest, for all his bluster and his ill-timed votes of confidence and his media bombshells, needs to either begin the process of an organizational clean out, or he needs to be reassigned by Junior and the Ownership group. I don't buy Mike Priest when he says he hasn't talked to Hitchcock (pretaining to the rumor that Hitchcock could return as an interim head coach if Arniel is released from his duties) I think Priest has his only de facto "advisor" in Hitchcock and the relationship has only continued because the big guy hasn't been a serious candidate for any head coaching position since the 3rd team in 8 seasons quit on him during the 09-10 season. Mike Priest will stick to his guns because his first two big hires where Hitchcock (Sorry Doug, this was Mike Priest's hire) and Howson (who was 2nd choice at best, a reoccuring theme within this organization) have/did fail to sustain or right the ship. At some point, either you need to hire a "Czar" of sorts, someone vastly respected, has won, has hardware and is someone that demands accountability from the top down, or Mike Priest must return to his duties prior to being named President of this franchise.
Scott Howson needs to go as well. As has become balantly clear now, despite him finally addressing first line center and the PMD defenseman, he took a huge gamble that Mason would return to his calder-winning form, nevermind that Mason had statistically been the worst starting goaltender in the league the last two seasons, by NOT doing more to acquire a guy that took take the reigns as a number one if need be and had vast experience in this league already as a number one. Howson's reactive nature has been overstated as his "patience" and how it one of his greatest strengths as a GM by his defenders. We are essentially near the same point where we were when Howson was hired, our cupboard, while in better shape with the number of potential NHL'ers, still appears to be the lower tier potential players, bottom six forwards and bottom two defenseman. "patience" is great when you have a well-defined goal, Howson's "goal" of building from the net out has ultimately failed, that makes two plans that have failed since he was hired.
Scott Arniel has looked overmatched since the trade deadline last season. I'm not sure if it can be pinpointed to a certain moment, or a certain player leaving the organization, but the players still appear to be the Country Club Atmosphere of the team is still in effect. I feel like Arniel is a man who has run out of answers, and a man who feels like the team's leadership has let him down.
Full disclosure: Rick Nash is a great player, a good community guy and a good representive of Columbus to the rest of the league.
Rick Nash is not NHL captain material. Becoming numb to losses, failing to embrace and lead a culture of change in the dressing room, too many people want to give and have given Nash a pass for years because he's the best player and he willingly signed away basically the best years of his career here. He isn't held to the standards that a NHL captain with a team in this situation should be held to, in my opinion. Many forget that Nash asked for the "C" following the trade of #52, consequently, it also happened just before the offseason in which the team was attempting to resign Nash to that monster contract. This team brought in 4 former captains to try and help with leadership, 4!!!
The lack of leadership that is listened to in the room is staggering. Players that are thought of as leaders without the letters quickly become apathetic to the never-changing dynamic of the room, there is a way of doing things in Columbus that has led to the lack of accountability...
Its a sad state of affairs in Columbus.
News now seems to be circulating that there will be changes, regardless of last nights win, forgive the skepticism, but I remain unconvinced that this current group, from the top down, can get it fixed.
Carter remains out of the lineup, young players are being sent to Springfield, Scouts in the stands... This season is on the brink.
The more I think about it, the more I feel the CBJ need to make a "shake up" trade immediately, something involving NHL players going both ways. This would need to be done IMMEDIATELY, within 2 or 3 games, after that, if this team goes 0-2, or 1-2 or 0-3 in that stretch, the chance at the post-season is gone, dead and buried. A trade would jolt the room, even its a short term answer, that COULD be enough to rally the team for a time.
Coaching remains a question mark, but i highly doubt this team learns on the fly and does a complete 180 under Todd Richards, who would likely be the interim coach this season. Unless there is a can't miss coach that wants to Columbus immediately and right this, there is little reason to fire Arniel until the seasons end.
So we wait again for next year. But, hey wait a minute!. Our next year will be alot like this year. Why?Look at who we have signed for next year and in many cases regretably beyond:
Nash
Vermie
Umbie
Tyutin
Mason
Brassard
Russell
Methot
Clitsome
Wisnewski (may or may not be a good thing)
Carter (ditto-although not overly impressed by his debut)
Counting Commie's buyout and a quick and dirty calc thats 46 mill.
Unfortunately thats 5 of out top 6
5 of our "top" 6 D-men
and our NUMBER ONE goalie.
So how do we rebuild this team, which obviously has many problems?
We should trade ANYONE. Have to, except we're sure Nash and others woud invoke their no trade clauses to stay here. OK, now that everyone has laughed that comment off as sarcasm, we should trade anyone and everyone, if possible.
But before we do, we should bag Howson who has put this mess together. And hire a real hockey guy. Someone who gets it. Next would be a very thorough review of Arniel and the coaching staff. Our guess is they need to go. Then have the GM hire a coach who is in philosophical agreeement and start rebuilding.
Tell the fans-hey we finally figured out what you guys figured out long ago- We suck and have for 11 years. Starting now the new GM is running things. We, the owners are sticking to steel and finances. Sorry for the screwups-all of them. One more chance, that's all we ask. We're going to do it right. Really. We ahve learned from our mistakes-heck, we've made enough of them.
Now, assuming we go 0 fer in 2011-12 and don't have typical BJ luck and lose the number ! pick, do we draft the Russian kid? We haven't had much luck with Russian players. If we draft Yakupov he inevitably will become a Zherdev or Filatov; if we pass we just passed on the next Ovie or Malikin. See our dilemma? What would you the fans do?
At least the community is responding and is bailing us out with that casino tax money. Buys us a bit of breathing room. Hmmm, maybe we should sell the team, make a few bucks and let some real hockey people with some knowledge of the game try the next go roiund.
Fans, what do you think? And before you get all supportive of us, remember, according to that Cap Greek (or whoever he is) we spent the THIRD HIGHEST amount this year-trailing only Washington and Philly. Hey, we spend, we should be as good-right?
The off-season is always a tough time for me. Even though there may not be any real news, I still tend to look at bluejackets.com and bluejacketsxtra about everyday. It's nice and comforting. Then September is right around the corner and pre-season games. How well did we do in the pre-season too - am I right?
And then the season started. I can't figure out what's going on (although the attempted passes in Detroit may be a hint). I noticed the other day that in the midst of this..."dry spell" I can't seem to get enough Jackets' coverage. I read what others write on twitter, watch On the Fly, and, of course, check everything going on here.
Usually when the Jackets lose I can't bare to watch On the Fly and face the music; something must be wrong with me this go around. I promise, I'm not really a glutton for punishment. I noticed maybe I was acting like a person dealing with the loss of a loved one; so I checked out Coping on Wikipedia:
People using problem-focused strategies try to deal with the cause of their problem. They do this by finding out information on the problem and learning new skills to manage the problem. Problem-focused coping is aimed at changing the source of the stress.
A few days ago Shawn Mitchell made an entry in Puck-Rakers entitled: "Grim, but grins." It coincidentally matches the article perfectly "Arguably, however, the best of all 'the methods people use to cope with painful situations...is humor! You feel things to the full...but you master them by turning it all into pleasure and fun!'"
Whatever mechanism we employ to get us through this rough stretch, don't forget about the team. I grew up supporting the Nordiques and dream of seeing a team back in Quebec - just not this one! (Also, let's not move anyone to Quebec until the Jackets are in the East where they belong.)
With the tenous position the Blue Jackets franchise is in here in Columbus, they cannot wait around any longer.
Howson has got to go out and find a goaltender. This team needs somebody to stand on their head and win a game. Our defense is not where it needs to be but a goaltender sometimes need to win a game on their own.
If the road trip does show results, Arniel will have to go as well.
Unacceptable to do nothing but move a couple of third and fourth liners around.
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