Zak MacMillan: CBJ G47 -- Johnny Hockey Tribute Show

He'll get booed for sure but hopefully when they play the tribute vid, fans give him a standing ovation. He was a fun player to watch for 8 years. The Flames are not nearly as entertaining without him. Can't blame him for wanting to be closer to home, plus who'd want to play for Sutter ?

He'll get booed for sure but hopefully when they play the tribute vid, fans give him a standing ovation. He was a fun player to watch for 8 years. The Flames are not nearly as entertaining without him. Can't blame him for wanting to be closer to home, plus who'd want to play for Sutter ?
- tincup

CGY and NJD offered more to have him, still chose CBJ

He should have swallowed his pride and hurt feelings and signed with the Flames. By the time Columbus is a contender, he’ll be in his golden years, at least with the Flames he’d get a little playoff action.

It's an important trip for one reason:

The new CBJ coach just got fired.

Assuming that Larsen gets fired at the end of the season, the first logical candidate is Bruce Boudreau, a veteran, winning coach that has a least a reasonable track record working with young talent. He's not Torts, but he is a veteran coach and IMO a veteran coach is needed for this team.

Agree?

CGY and NJD offered more to have him, still chose CBJ
- Zak MacMillan

No, he should have signed in Columbus for all the reasons he stated when he signed in the summer. He is a great fit with this team, and will be much more comfortable than in Calgary and New Jersey next season.

Nobody expected the nuclear bomb that detonated in Nationwide Arena this year. Nobody expected the complete failure of everyone young behind the blue line that played at least decently well last year (or at least decently enough the front office thought they could become at least average NHL players).

Add to it many key injuries and presto! You have a mess. By the time his contract is up in Columbus he will be quite happy to have played here.

The new CBJ coach just got fired.

Assuming that Larsen gets fired at the end of the season, the first logical candidate is Bruce Boudreau, a veteran, winning coach that has a least a reasonable track record working with young talent. He's not Torts, but he is a veteran coach and IMO a veteran coach is needed for this team.

As much respect as I have for Bruce Boudreau I'm not convinced he'd be the right coach to take the BlueJackets to the next level. Given - he's probably a much better talent evaluator, and more likely to put the right players in the best place to suceed. Is he dynamic enough to get them ready to hit the ground running next season ?? I would hope that at least 2 of Johnson, Marchenko, Sillinger, Chinakhov take a big step forward next season, and the other 2 show positive progression. Jiricek will also be in Columbus next season, and we need his development to go better than that of the above 4 players.
If Jarmo would hire Boudreau, his usual M.O. is that we'll see an almost immediate uptick in the team's play, for at least a couple of seasons, but playoff success is sketchy at best. So he might be right to get the team back on track, but to then take the next step in the playoffs - going deep - would have to be another coach. His coaching life-span per team is about 4 years.
If/when Larsen is gone, it should be a clean sweep for the coaching staff, and everyone let go.

The new CBJ coach just got fired.

Assuming that Larsen gets fired at the end of the season, the first logical candidate is Bruce Boudreau, a veteran, winning coach that has a least a reasonable track record working with young talent. He's not Torts, but he is a veteran coach and IMO a veteran coach is needed for this team.

As much respect as I have for Bruce Boudreau I'm not convinced he'd be the right coach to take the BlueJackets to the next level. Given - he's probably a much better talent evaluator, and more likely to put the right players in the best place to suceed. Is he dynamic enough to get them ready to hit the ground running next season ?? I would hope that at least 2 of Johnson, Marchenko, Sillinger, Chinakhov take a big step forward next season, and the other 2 show positive progression. Jiricek will also be in Columbus next season, and we need his development to go better than that of the above 4 players.
If Jarmo would hire Boudreau, his usual M.O. is that we'll see an almost immediate uptick in the team's play, for at least a couple of seasons, but playoff success is sketchy at best. So he might be right to get the team back on track, but to then take the next step in the playoffs - going deep - would have to be another coach. His coaching life-span per team is about 4 years.
If/when Larsen is gone, it should be a clean sweep for the coaching staff, and everyone let go.
- birdie03

Kids going to be a star, watching him at the world juniors really opened my eyes. Columbus has done a good job drafting the last little while. I know the Flames where big on Sillinger, you could see the disappointment at their draft table when Columbus selected him right before their pick.

No, he should have signed in Columbus for all the reasons he stated when he signed in the summer. He is a great fit with this team, and will be much more comfortable than in Calgary and New Jersey next season.

Nobody expected the nuclear bomb that detonated in Nationwide Arena this year. Nobody expected the complete failure of everyone young behind the blue line that played at least decently well last year (or at least decently enough the front office thought they could become at least average NHL players).

Add to it many key injuries and presto! You have a mess. By the time his contract is up in Columbus he will be quite happy to have played here.
- jkumpire

They offered more money, not sure what their direction is. Columbus heard a big fish wanted to go, and did everything right to get him here! Win for the us fans, the city, and the hockey world