Friday's post is sponsored by the letter A, and the number 52.
Here's a dandy of an article from Uni Watch, courtesy of their ESPN.com affilitation. What does it say? Well, I'm glad you asked:
Actually, maybe this is what a hockey uniform should look like. This version of the team's logo (inspired by Ohio's state flag, don't ya know, which of course is the coolest of all state flags because it's the only one that isn't rectangular) has always been miles better than the club's letter- and insect-based insignia. Although the streamlined look isn't very traditional, Uni Watch likes it, right down to the thin hemline piping. Only problem is that the jersey is so clean and crisp that the breezers and socks look clunky by comparison. Uni Watch is just thinking out loud here, but is it possible that this jersey would actually look better with Cooperalls? Just askin'.
He does have a point about the clunky appearance of the socks, however that could very well be more a matter of player preference. But then again, Tapeleg noticed the same thing when he snapped some shots of the new jersey and pants/socks on a mannequin during the draft. You would think sock slippage would be an easy thing to remedy, though.
Overall, Uni Watch gives the new Jackets' jersey a spiffy A-. I wonder if that includes a shiny star sticker on the nose, too!
Foote regrets leaving Colorado; I yawn
You know, for the life of me, I just can't will myself to get all that worked up over this. Like I said in Kukla's post where he posted this article, I am just very apathetic to Adam Foote's public declaration of regret and remorse that he left for Colorado for the money in Columbus.
The only thing that really makes my interest perk up just a bit as I read this, is whether or not this will lead Ken Hitchcock or other members of the organization to question Foote's role as captain of the Blue Jackets. Irregardless of whether or not Foote is a good leader, questions are going to now hang all around Foote as to whether he has the energy or the enthusiasm to lead a team that he wishes he hadn't joined.
If not, who becomes the new captain? To me, Rick Nash and David Vyborny may be the only two options available on this team ... however Dan Fritsche, being the Ohio native and seemingly one of the team's emotional leaders, could be an outside candidate (though if Veebs or Nash is promoted, that does open up an available Alternate Captain slot, so long as Foote is outright stripped of the 'C' and not simply demoted to an 'A').
Jackets' tab Claude Noel as new assistant coach
Apparently the Predators' fire sale isn't limited just to players (yeah, I doubt this has anything to do with that, but still). Claude Noel, who up until now had been the the head coach of the Nashville Predators' AHL farm team -- the Milwaukee Admirals -- for the past four seasons, has been brought on as a new Blue Jackets' assistant coach.
So, just who is Claude Noel? A quick overview shows us that he's ...
- 51 years old.
- Has been coaching in different capacities since 1990 in the AHL, IHL and ECHL.
- Has a history with Ken Hitchcock from Hitch's days in Kalamazoo.
- Recently led the Admirals to two Calder Cup Finals, winning one in 2003-04.
I got to admit, this actually has me feeling a smidgen of optimism right now for the coming season. Just a smidgen, though.
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So, okay. I know I promised a M/W/F format from now on, but seeing as how I find myself a bit preoccupied with some preparations for a vacation back home to New Jersey starting on Sunday, I am not going to be able to get up anything on the Jackets' picks today. Yes, I know, I keep procrastinating on that ... I apologize.
But I'll bend the rules on my format because of this, and have something up by sometime tomorrow afternoon. As it stands, I already have all I need for me to cook up an article on the picks ... I just haven't gotten it down on paper (or on keyboard) yet.
Until then, just hang tight!
Labels: coaches, Dis or Dat, jerseys
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At 11:43 AM,
said…
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At 1:35 PM,
said…
I'll ditto Skraut's recommendation as well. Somehow, Modin slipped my mental grasp. Another good candidate, for sure.
I'd hesitate at naming Fritsche to be in the mix at the point. I love his attitude on the ice, and his willingness to do anything for the team, but he's only played 137 NHL games to date. And to suggest that he's a candidate because he's from Ohio... Doug MacLean would be proud of you, Mike. :)
Have a good trip to Jersey. Be safe! -
But Crosby only played one season's worth of games! And he's only 19!
... yeah, horrible comparison, I know. I just like Fritsche a lot, and if he continues to exceed expectations, I foresee great things for him down the road as a Jacket.
As for Modin? Well, I'm not going to be dumb enough to disagree. The guy had me eating crow after I criticized the 3-year contract that Doug MacLean gave him, only to turn on the afterburners down the stretch of the season right after that. Considering most guys would shut it down after landing a contract during a worthless season, that speaks volumes about Freddy Mo. -
At 10:53 PM,
said…
Maybe give Fred the A. If we relieve Foots of his captaincy (and I think we should, because I don't see him as a team leader, not just because of his crying the blues over leaving Colorado), perhaps we should take a page out of the Ranger's song book and keep 3 alternates. Don't name a captain until the right person is ready. There isn't a good reason to stuff any old person in to fill a spot.
I'd love to see Freddy Modin with a C on an A. THERE is a guy with work ethic that every member of the team should look up to.