Blue Jackets Rumors
Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson is hoping to add a puck-moving defenseman via trade, but he's not desperate to do so. Howson reiterated today that he's not burning up phone lines or begging his fellow GMs for help.
"We'd like to make an upgrade, sure," Howson said. "But if we don't get a deal done, I'm fine taking this group of defensemen into the start of the season with us. We think it's a good group; a group that can win games for you."
Jackets expect to pick coach within 10 days Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson nearly two months into a coaching search that has dominated the first part of a crucial off-season expects his exhaustive search to be finished in seven to 10 days.
Add Another NameScott Arniel, coach of the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose, is on the short list of candidates to become the Blue Jackets next coach, The Dispatch has learned.
Arniel, 47, spent 11 seasons in the NHL with Winnipeg, Buffalo and Boston. After his NHL career ended, he played eight more season of pro hockey, both in the AHL and the now-departed IHL.
Jackets probably will be sellers While many Blue Jackets headed to the tropics, the desert or the Olympics over the past 24 hours, general manager Scott Howson packed his bags for a scouting trip this week through several small Canadian towns.
That's not the only short stick Howson drew during the NHL's two-week Olympic break.
While many GMs are looking to add talent for a stretch drive toward the Stanley Cup playoffs, Howson expects to be unloading players.
Hitch***** won't be going anywhere By Phil Coffey
Now that the NHL has seen its first coaching dismissal of the 2009-10 season, there will be an inevitable search on to see who might follow John Stevens out from behind the bench.
Don't look at Columbus' Ken Hitch***** as the next candidate.
Filatov might leave team this week, sources sayTom Reed and Aaron Portzline
Blue Jackets rookie forward Nikita Filatov, who has struggled to remain in coach Ken Hitch*****'s lineup, might be headed back to Russia, perhaps as soon as this week, according to sources within and beyond the NHL.
Jackets Full Of PromiseThe Columbus Blue Jackets finally broke the threshold that was a playoff berth and finally had a taste of the 2nd season. It was a long time coming for the Jackets, the last of the latest expansion teams to make it.
Now, they are looking to build on that success and there is a real positive feeling this team will be a force to be reckoned with for years. They have become a relatively stable franchise and by re-signing star Rick Nash to a long term deal, the proof is there that the Jackets have finally arrived.
Chimera On The Block?Aaron Portzline
The Blue Jackets have a glut of left wingers on their roster and a glaring need for a skilled defenseman. Really, it's the last hurdle for GM Scott Howson to clear this off-season.
Jackets Extend NashThe Columbus Blue Jackets have made a great statement towards stablizing their franchise by re-signing star forward Rick Nash to an 8 year 62.5 million dollar contract.
Columbus looking to add players? The Columbus Dispatch is speculating on the number of possible players who could end up as Blue Jackets before the trade deadline. Some of the players on this list include Lombardi, Marchant, Antropov and more.
