Zak MacMillan: CBJ G33 — @ Chicago Blackhawks CBJ v CHI

Jack Johnson
Max Domi
Seth Jones


Connor Murphy

Thanks Zach -Here is what I predict:

Face-off, puck is dropped, and neither team wants to touch the puck. Nobody wants to win this game.

Nice write-up Zach. I've not watched much of the Blue Jackets this year, but if they are anything like the Hawks, get ready for a lot of indecision, inaccurate passing and passing up good shooting opportunities for an extra pass.

Oh, and chasing, lots of chasing.

Thanks Zach -Here is what I predict:

Face-off, puck is dropped, and neither team wants to touch the puck. Nobody wants to win this game.
- powerenforcer

This is the change the channel game I agree

Nice write-up Zach. I've not watched much of the Blue Jackets this year, but if they are anything like the Hawks, get ready for a lot of indecision, inaccurate passing and passing up good shooting opportunities for an extra pass.

Oh, and chasing, lots of chasing.
- Chunk

Hasn’t been much to write about aside the injuries and rumors around the rentals. A lot of down years and hope for the 23 draft

Nice writeup, sorry I have been gone for a while, lost a parent.

I can understand Chicago being so bad, its a planned rebuild. I just cannot understand what happened to the CBJ. While the injuries are massive, who even thought that with Johnny Hockey, a healthy Liane and a group of players with a year of experience and a decent finish last year this would happen.

I guess you have to pin it on the goalies, or likely the coaching staff. It's a mystery.

Just think how bad things would be if Johnny Hockey had not signed in Columbus?

Nice writeup, sorry I have been gone for a while, lost a parent.

I can understand Chicago being so bad, its a planned rebuild. I just cannot understand what happened to the CBJ. While the injuries are massive, who even thought that with Johnny Hockey, a healthy Liane and a group of players with a year of experience and a decent finish last year this would happen.

I guess you have to pin it on the goalies, or likely the coaching staff. It's a mystery.

Just think how bad things would be if Johnny Hockey had not signed in Columbus?
- jkumpire

I sent a pm to you.

This appears to be what is a year of being “bad by accident”

Have to think with Gaudreau signing, this was a team looking for playoffs.

This is a bad year for Columbus goaltending and injury management, have to worry some or all has to be on the coaching staff and upper management. Ownership down. Can’t be pinned on one, has to be with the group. There’s lots of optimism in the future, and I’m firmly in that beielf as well. All is lost this season. Look to 23-24

Maybe Texier and his family emergency might’ve also shaken the team up in the summer? I still see him as a fit on the third line come next season.

They need a number one center, one or two top four defenseman, and a legitimate number one goaltender to be a contender.

I don’t see a winger need, as those cupboards are the fullest.

Thanks for the PM!

I'm not sure about injury management, since so many of them are so varied. It is hard to see a pattern of injury leading to conditioning or training issues, but it is a possibility.

Coaching is a possibility, and it is always easier to fire the coaching staff than the 20 players on the roster, but where did they screw things up? They had a good preseason, worked in a lot of players, seemed to have a solid group, then the injuries and goals on top of goals happened.

Supposedly they did a lot of work on getting the puck out of their own end that the HC noted was a big problem last year, and it seems they just don't defend well this year. We could go on and on about this, but if they can't keep the puck out of the net all the offense in the world isn't going to win games.

As to player needs, isn't Johnson starting to show he might be the #1C the team needs? It will be interesting to see what happens with him going forward. As to the defense there has to be 6-8 decent players out of the mix of players on the roster or IR now. Unless you sell out Garikov, you have at least a decent core of 3-4 players.

Goalie is a mess, 'nuf said.

Question is now if the team gets the #1 or #2 pick do they go for the top on the board or reach for the #1 D-man prospect, even if he's #4 or #5 on the board? Probably not, but if your hole in on the back end will another offensive player help or not?

It might be an interesting draft for the CBJ, but I hate exciting drafts. I'd rather be picking 24th or lower any day of the week.