Just wanted to pass along the following flyer from the Forward Together Columbus folks - they have a rally planned for tomorrow night at the R Bar starting at 5 p.m.!

For more details check out their official web site here.

-LTL

I wrote this today in the A.M. and didn't publish it as it was just one big ole rant.

With the last breaking news that Hitch has been fired I figured I'd throw it up to point out one major thing - Hitch is just one piece of the puzzle of what ails this franchise and quite frankly I think there are much bigger problems to address.  There is a lot of other cleanup that must take place.

While I type up my thoughts on the end of the Hitchcock era I thought I'd post this in the interim.

*********************************************

It's getting increasingly difficult to muster up the energy to write about this squad.

...and you know what?  It's not even about the losses any longer.  That ass kicking at the hands of the Avalanche last night was just another embarrassing loss in a long string of bad losses.

Ho hum.

The losses don't even register an emotion from me at this point.  If they win.. "good"... If they lose.. "good"..

The season has been shot.... in fact its looked like a union blue coat after the battle of Gettysburg for quite some time now.

No.. for me I'm absolutely disgusted with the "plan" for this franchise.  A "plan" that looks about as well thought out as a finger painting.

If anyone really knows what the "plan" is please chime in.  I think it's to draft and develop young talent and surround them by competent veterans.  I think it's a to play a defensively responsible game that generates it's chances off of checking.

Here's the problem.  You have to be able to draft and develop talent and you have to have veterans that are capable of playing in the roles they are given.  Never mind that a defensive checking system is like bringing a knife to a gun fight in today's NHL.

The Jackets have to be the worst team in the NHL at drafting and developing talent.  They have 1 star out of all of those lottery picks and even he is invisible to often.  They've never connected on a 2nd round pick.  They have young players who have regressed to the point of embarrassment this season.  I have absolutely no confidence that if this team does end up with a top pick that the Jackets won't screw it up.

Somebody please tell me how Don Boyd has a job?  Oh, it's not his fault?  Then whose fault it is?  I'm sick and tired of the excuses.

We have a GM who doesn't even make a damn phone call to see what it would take to land a young defensive stud who even on a down year would be the best in this lineup.  A player who only a year ago many saw as a top 10 defensemen in this entire league and was put in the same sentence with young stars like Crosby, Malkin and Ovechkin.

There are holes so big on this roster you could fit the entire state of Texas in it yet not even a friggan phone call!?

He's too expensive... he's got attitude issues.. more excuses.  Great players are expensive.... every professional athlete has attitude problems.  That is why you pay a coach 1 million a year to deal with them.

(it's just one game but the Leafs shutout the Devils last night in Phaneuf's debut...just sayin)

I don't even want to know what Howson's plans are for the deadline - if he's even thought out that far.

A coach who scratches a player because "he's in-between two systems".  Here's a new flash - this team has been in-between two systems all year.  Play the friggan guy so his trade value increases and we can unload him.

We have ownership that squeezes it's cheeks so tight that a g-string couldn't find it's way through.

Speaking of owners -- does Mike Priest and co. really expect this fan base to be convinced they care when they've heard absolutely squat from the from the majority owner?

Outside of a guy like Umberger I'm not sure any of the veterans really give a shit anymore.  As I said uur captain has been invisible too often.  Commodore sounds content cashing his checks at the Club CBJ service desk.  Huselius is too busy picking his butt after yet another turnover. What has Sammy Phalsson done all season for his 2.6 mil?  Oh that's right - he plays his best in the post-season....

We have game ops that's as stale as a ballpark beer and as sloppy as a 2 year old's diaper.

We have broadcasters that make people want to change the channel.

There is no direction. There is no accountability.  I get no sense at all that there is any plan at all other than the status quo.

That is a plan that will see MANY season ticket holders throwing in the towel and taking the next off ramp come renewal time.

I'm not here to tell anyone what to do with their hard earned cash -- I can only say what I can do with mine.   When I get that phone call to renew I'm going to have a checklist and if those items aren't checked than I don't sign any checks.

*********************************************

The good news is that firing Hitch shows that the status quo will not be tolerated and that the powers to be have finally started looking towards next year.  The firing of the coach is the easy part however -- there are bigger and more challenging issues to address.

I'll have much more on Hitch later tonight.

-LTL

He has made 2 Blockbuster trades... here they are..

From Calgary:

Dion Phaneuf

Fredrik Sjostrom (Bottom 6 defensive forward, think younger Malhotra)

Keith Aulie (Huge framed D prospect, 50/50 chance of making it to the NHL)

From Toronto

Stajan  (2/3rd line center, reminds me a lot of Vyborny)

Hagman (2/3rd line winger, he never really impressed me)

Mayers (35 years old, long time Blues, Gritty energy line player who is way past his prime)

White (Pretty decent allround defenseman, didn't see enough of him to make a judgement but

Toronto Fans seem to love him)

My take: Sutter has lost his marbles, seriously this is all he could get for Dion Phaneuf ?? Plus he's giving up a decent prospect as well, not mention a bottom 6 forward... for Stajan, Hagman, Mayers and White.. Stajan and Hagman allthough they are solid NHL level players are middle of the pack players, White is arguable the best player a solid allround defenseman, Mayers is just a dump.. Sutter really couldn't get a better package from another team ??

The second trade...

From Anaheim

JS Giguere (Surpassed by Hiller, but he's still an OK goaltender, can he become the old JSG we knew??)

From Toronto

Vesa Toskala (Ultra streaky goaltender, who has redefined slump on mutiple occasions)

Jason Blake (36 and past his prime, speedy with good hands, but especially the last couple of years has lost his scoring touch..)

My take: Wow Anaheim, really ?? JSG should still have some decent trade value and all they got was a Goaltender that redefined "suck" this year and a veteran who is way past his prime..

I have to congratulute Burke for being able to translate his unwanted pieces into Phaneuf and Giguere...

Howsen, really ??? You missed Phaneuf ??? We couldn't match Hagman, Stajan and White ???

I wanted to quickly post my thoughts about this piece made about Pittsburgh's interest in RJ Umberger made in the Dispatch today:

The Blue Jackets have had trade talks with Pittsburgh regarding winger Raffi Torres, whom they are almost certain to move before the March 3 trade deadline. Best guess is the Jackets are seeking a second-round draft pick.

But the Penguins would like to shoot higher than Torres. Buzz around the NHL is they're planning to take a run at Blue Jackets forward R.J. Umberger, who grew up in the Pittsburgh suburb of Plum.

The Penguins want a long-term solution at wing, not an annual rent-a-winger.

If they re-sign defenseman Sergei Gonchar, they might be willing to part with defenseman Kris Letang, a restricted free agent this summer.

The Blue Jackets have no choice but to overvalue Umberger, who has become the conscience of the dressing room. If Umberger and Torres are taken out of the mix, the Jackets would be the Tin Man.

But what if the Penguins offered Letang and a first-round pick?

Letang and a 1st would be a decent return but if I ever consider moving RJ Umberger it is going to be for our biggest needs in a #1 center or a # defensemen.

Does Kris Letang fill that #1 defensive void?  Nope.

Does the 1st round pick?  Hell no.  We have enough of those.

If the Penguins want RJ Umberger then Jordan Staal has to come the other way.

Forecaster's take:

Staal is a 6-4 220lb and is only 21 years old... He has 13g, 21a for 34p and a +12 in 55 games played.

Staal has yet to prove he is a #1 center but there just isn't enough ice time to go around to prove yourself when you're playing behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

In Columbus he'd get all the PP time team he could dream of and I'm certain those numbers would improve.  The guy is also great in his own end and has the size to handle other top line centers in this league.

The dollars even line up nicely with Staal signed for the next 3 seasons at 3.5, 4.5 & 4.5 and then is a RFA.  RJ is on the books for 3.75 & 3.75 and will be a UFA -- he'd easily resign in his hometown however.

Staal, Brassard and Vermette give the Jackets a great look down the all important center of that ice.  He could even make one of the other two expendable to fill that #1 center hole although I'd look at other assets to do that with.  Losing RJ would make them a little weak on the wing but they still have Voracek, Huseilus, Clark and Nash as well as guys like Filatov, Calvert and Mayorov in the system.  Heck Vermette could even be moved to wing.

Imagine Staal and Nash on that top line?  He would the quintessential Hitch-cock player if they continue in that direction.

I love Umberger and I think he's got a huge role on this team but if Pitt offers up Staal then I pull the trigger.  I think the Jackets would have to add a little more as Staal is younger, plays a bigger position of need in the league and will still be an RFA when his contract expires but I think this is close in value.

I have my doubts Pitt would sacrifice their center depth but if they want a long term solution at wing like Umberger then I don't settle for anything less than filling a long term solution at one of our biggest areas of need.

Fire away - would you do:  Umberger + Torres for Staal?

-LTL

The Jackets were not going to get denied in this game.  They did not allow themselves to be pushed out of this game and in fact, did a lot of pushing!  Mathieu Garon was the difference for the Jackets and Kris Russell was the overtime hero.

The end result was a spirited win in St. Louis - the first in 9 tries.

STOPLIGHT GAME REVIEW
@ St. Louis
01.30.10
SCORE: Jackets 3 Blues 2

GREEN
* Despite the disappointing season a group of Jacket Backers still made the 6+ hour drive out to St. Louis to take this one in.  In fact a hat trick of green lights for all of ya!!  Nice to see the Jackets reward you guys with a 'W' which will make that drive home just a little sweeter.

* Garon gets the Jackets two points.  He held this team in it in the first and then did what he could in the 3rd -- especially some of those saves he made while the Blues were shorthanded.  Then to cap it off was a spectacular save on MacDonald.

* Russell uses that skating and gets rewarded with what I think is his first goal in OT.  He also had a team high 4 shots and played 20:36.

* Always great to see a meat and potatoes type player in Dorsett get a goal. Good for him and good for the Jackets to get on the board first in a game for once..

* Nice feed on that goal by Modin.. need him to keep making strong plays like that one to drive his stock up.

* Really good 2nd period and the PP did what it needed to do on that 5 on 3. Nice patience shown by Tyutin on that shot -- we've seen him rush those and/or get them blocked -- he timed that one perfectly.

* Umberger was a warrior.  I really enjoyed his game.. the price he paid in front of the net.. the way he was carrying the biscuit...

* Roy had another solid night.  I really don't understand why this guy gets the scratch.

* Jackets got physical.  They outhit the Blues 24 to 16 and for once, were not pushed out of the game.

* First win in 9 games in St. Louis.

* Brassard's celebration after Russell's goal was priceless.  Nice feed up the ice by him and liked his play along the boards.  Dude also only lost 1 of 9 faceoffs on the night.

* Crunch win again.  Ohio State loses in OT tonight but won last night against #10 ranked Ferris State.

YELLOW
* Did anyone miss Huselius tonight?

* Don't look now but I saw a player in that 22 jersey for this one.  Commodore played the way he has to play -- was physical and mixing it up out there.  Had a team high 4 hits.

* Maybe its just me but why does Nash always look exhausted after just one swipe down the ice?  I watch some of the other elite players in this league and they seem like the energizer bunny and just go and go and go....  He did have his moments creating offense but he did take a couple of minor penalties.

* For those draft watching like me it's actually a good think the Blues got a point.

* As Matt the Mask pointed out to me in a text - sure would be nice if they played a little Pantera during a fight like the do in St. Louis... instead we get the Sound Of Music..

RED
* Officiating was pretty horrendous on both sides... the non-call on that slash Umberger took and then I'm not sure what the Blues did give the Jackets a 5 on 3.... they seemed to call the little crap (Nash interference?) and let whacks and slashes go all night long.  If I'm a player on either side I have no idea how to play this game.

* Jackets go into prevent mode in the 3rd period.  Roy out on the PP was all the evidence needed and the Blues has more chances than the Jackets on the PP.  They need to go for the throat but when you coach plays defensive players in offensive situations it's no wonder the team falls into that shell.  The Jackets play not to lose instead of playing to win.  Sometimes they get away with it but a lot of times they don't.

* Why hasn't someone flattened Oshie by now? Wouldn't have minded seeing Brewers face used as windex along the glass either.

* Voracek only 12:53 of ice.  Have GOT to play these kids more.  This team has to go 19-3-3 to make the playoffs -- use these games to play the friggan kids!!

* Fox Sports for not showing Jacket Backers group.

* I don't know how much longer I can take Davidge.. he is not "as good as it gets"...

3 BRIGHT LIGHTS ON THE NIGHT
1 Jackets deliver 'W' for Jacket Backers
2. Garon's game was gorgeous!
3. Jackets the instigators.

Solid win for the guys in union blue.

-LTL

Reminder:  OSU Men's Hockey

Just a reminder:  OSU hosts host nationally-ranked Ferris State in collegiate hockey action, at Value City Arena, tonight at 7:05. 

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87731&SPID=10406&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=204875385

The Ice Hockey Buckeyes defeated Ferris State, last night, 5-3, behind a stellar performance by OSU goalie, Cal Heeter, who made a career-high 46 saves, including 20 in the third period,  in a Central Collegiate Hockey Assocation (CCHA) game last night in Value City Arena.

So, come out and support collegiate hockey, and take, perhaps, one last gander at Zac Dalpe, a 2nd round selection by the Carolina Hurricanes, a few seasons back, and a personal man crush of our own LTL.

As Coach John Markell - such a great guy, BTW - told Matt The Mask and I, after the Kings (game) debacle, he believes Dalpe will, after the season, go to the 'Canes, as they will probably be going to a youth movement.

Youth movement?  They have that in the NHL?  Somebody better tell Hitch - ah, too late.

Go Bucks!

- Mase1

Just saw this on Puckrakers:

http://blog.dispatch.com/cbj/

So, let me get this straight:  The Kings, who smoked the CBJ, in their own house, practiced in our house, with a nearly full contingent, and our "heros" had 2...yep, you read it, right...2 players opt to practice?  Are you kidding me?

Yeah, this team's making that playoff push...

-Mase1

Mase1 back, again!  Apologies..

Well, I guess any notion that an 8-2 run was in this team's makeup, was squashed, last night, as the LA Kings, a rising power in the Western Conference - digest that for a minute, eh? - rolled into Nationwide Arean, took every early punch from the Blue Jackets, survived, then dominated the CBJ in every aspect of the game, last night, posting a 4-1 victory.

Look, I want to be positive - I pride myself on being positive, which is tough for someone who used to be an auditor, for so many years.  But, after trying to be fed the Kool-Aid by Hitch and our TV broadcasting team - "We're only eight points out of the last playoff spot" - Hey myopians:  Did you also notice that we'd played 3-4 more games than those above us?  So actually, we were more like 12-14 points out of the last playoff position.  So, quit insulting our intelligence - be confident, but quit insulting those of us who actually still care and are knowledgeable about the sport.

Seeing that I do like to be positive, given last night's outcome - let's face it:  there were no green lights to be given out, at least for this team.  So, being the creative dude that I am, I would like to take some liberty and reward green lights for some areas that would otherwise be ommitted.

With that, onto the recap:

GREEN

Well LTL-Nation, only 2 more days until LTL is back in the fold.  Say it all together, now....THANK GOD!

In the interim, here are the latest power rankings I've developed.  Seeing that those ranking have been picked up by CBSSportsline.com, and seeing that (that) particular ranking is included in the meta-score...AND, seeing that the CBJ are so bad, my power ranking position for the CBJ is identical to the meta-score (that's the only upside of their ineptitude). 

Now, the other teams, 26th and up?  THAT takes some work - but, that's my problem, isn't it?

In any event, here are the power rankings for the week ending January 29th, 2010.

http://www.insidehockey.com/columns/5726

Just a friendly reminder:  Just 148 days until the NHL draft...

- Mase1

I received this "Backers Blast" email from the Jacket Backers weighing in with their thoughts on "Forward Together Columbus" and the arena issue:

We have all heard about the Arena Lease Issue, now is your chance to help!  We encourage everyone to go to www.forwardtogethercolumbus.org to sign their petition.  By signing this petition you are letting our government and civic leaders know that we are counting on them to solve this issue.

We would also ask for your help and encourage you to talk with your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers about this issue.  We are hockey fans - we get it.  It is our job to help get the message out to others who may not look under the surface and understand everything that the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nationwide Arena, and the Arena district has brought to our broader community.

The Message of Forward Together Columbus is that "It's not just about hockey".  The economic impact of the Arena District is amazing.  This impact reaches far beyond the Arena District and very deeply into our community.

In 2oo8, the Arena District provided $29.6 million to our state and local governments and it is estimated to grow to $60.7 million per year over the next ten years.  These are dollars that would have to be raised elsewhere or cut from the budgets of state and local governments if it wasn't for the Arena District. (source: the Buser Report)

Among its many accomplishments, The Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation has donated over $2.3 million dollars to local charities.  Without the Blue Jackets, the Foundation and these donations would disappear.  (source: Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation website)

The Columbus Blue Jackets' players and coaches make over 300 public appearances annually in support of local organizations.  The financial impact and additional awareness for these organizations is immeasurable.  But again, the impact is far beyond the borders of the Arena District and improves the larger community.  (source: Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation website)

Volunteers that work the concessions at Nationwide Arena have raised over $500,000 for the organizations they represent in the greater Columbus area.  These organizations are often church groups, little league baseball teams, youth dance troupes, school organizations...

These are only a couple of the countless examples of how having a professional sports team in our town has benefitted the larger community.  It does not begin to measure the economic impact that is coming into our community from tourists that have made the Arena District their destination, from near and far.  It is impossible to quantify the increased awareness of Columbus Ohio on a national level due to the exposure of a major sports franchise and the increased tourism generated.

It is obvious to us, the fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets, that it is not just about hockey.  So please, take a few minutes to sign the petition at www.forwardtogethercolumbus.org.  Take the time to talk with your neighbors and friends about the great things that have been brought to Columbus along with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Columbus Blue Jackets provide an anchor tenant for Nationwide Arena.  Nationwide Arena is the fuel for the economic engine of the Arena District.  The Arena District's economic impact enriches everyone's life in the Greater Columbus Community.  IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT HOCKEY!

They have also highlighted some economic facts and figures that have benefited not only the Arena District but the Columbus community as a whole:

* 170 businesses operate in the Arena District

* Nearly 5,500 people are employed in the Arena District

* Nearly $350 million are earned by employees in the Arena District

* $29.6 million in tax revenue generated in the Arena District in 2008 - projected to grow to $60.7 million annually over the next ten years

* Since 1998 property values in the Arena District have risen 267%

* Countless lives improved through Hats for Heroes and Hockey Fights Cancer Programs

* Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation has donated $2.3 million to local charities

* Immeasurable impact of the growth of youth hockey leagues providing safe and healthy recreation for our children.

* 1999:  150 youth, 350 registered adult hockey players in Columbus area; 1 high school program

* 2009:  4500 youth, 1500 adult registered players; 17 high school programs with 27 varsity, jv or club teams

-LTL