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The First 4 and PLD Rumors |
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Hello Jackets fans....
Sorry that I have been absent in the first week of the season...there is a lot going on, including the fact that Fox Sports Ohio is not provided to ANY streaming service. And I am not going back to cable! So, I have been getting game recaps and highlights from the interwebs. But the most popular thing out there involving the CBJ is PLD rumors. More on that in a minute.
First 4
Columbus started the season on the road, first in Nashville then off to Detroit. The Preds outscored the Jackets 8-3 over two games. Ouch. Not a great start (understatement). In the Motor City (sorry I cannot bring myself to call it HockeyTown) the CBJ skated out of town with 3 of a possible 4 points. Bobby Ryan proved that he can still tickle-the-twine, scoring 3 times in the series. Texier has had a hot start, including a 3rd period goal against the Wings to force OT. He has an excellent opportunity to put up 20+ goals if these early returns are indication of his play this season.
A slow start from this team was not totally unexpected. But it doesn't get any easier with the Stanly Cup Champion (and recent rival) Lightning coming to town this evening (and Saturday). That is followed up by the return of Bob to NWA for a pair next week. Should be a fun first homestand. Honestly a split would be great, anything better than that is gravy.
PLD Rumors
If you are like me you cannot stop reading these outlandish PLD rumors. There are so many involving about half the NHL that I cannot get them all down (or cite them all).
Here are my favorites:
I'm going to start off slow here in PHI from phillysportsnetwork.com. 'JvR and a pick or two...*maybe* toss in one of Wade Allision/Nic Aube-Kubel/Elliot Desnoyers.'
Not a huge fan of this, but it could be say 'plan F'. Whatever happened to them wanting to move ghost-bear? Not that the CBJ need another high-end D-man...but hey?
Moving on to prohockeyrumors.com citing PLD's 'first destination choice' as MTL. Names like Nick Suzuki, Alexander Romanov (maybe he's 'untouchable' according to MTL), Jesperi Kotaniemi and Victor Mete swirl. Shoot, throw in Carey Price and C-Bus will let you have your pick of one of our two tenders (or both, why not).
There is always the one-for-one madness that everyone is reporting on: PLD-Laine. Not sure that Laine would fit great here in Columbus and would have the same RFA signing fiasco next off-season with him.
Don't count the flames out according to matchsticksandgasoline.com as they could see Monahan, Oliver Kylington, Matthew Phillips and the 2021 1st rounder headed to C-Bus. They may have mistyped it, I believe it is spelled G-A-U-D-R...hahaha.
And there is the Wild (hockeywilderness.com) who would package 'Eriksson Ek, first round pick,
a top prospect not named Marco Rossi, and possibly adding a mid-round pick.' We could swap Foligno bros too, right?
Last and certainly not least are the Rangers. According to foreverblueshirts.com a package could include Adam Fox or Kaapo Kakko. More likely the deal would start with Ryan Strome and a prospect. While the NYR and CBJ don't currently occupy the same division it is likely that they will shift back together in the Metro and that makes an inter-division exchange challenging.
This writer's opinion is that JK continue to let the tension build...for another week or so.
Would TOR still be willing to part with William Nylander?
Could CHI move on from Toews (and others) although we don't know when he may play again?
Who would you target? Let's chat in the comments!
Good Luck and GO JACKETS! (beat Lightning)
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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