Fragile! THIS SIDE UP ^
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Courtesy of James Mirtle, and via the Boston Herald, we have this little tidbit of information to chew on this early afternoon:
"According to sources in the B’s dressing room, Reebok has been unable to correct problems with the new jerseys introduced this season across the NHL and will replace them at the company’s expense with new uniforms made of the old materials."
Talk about shameful. What happened to the glorified talk about how the jerseys would make players 8% faster? Or how they would wick away all that excess sweat?
While conversing with a friend of mine about a month ago, the topic of why is sweat building up in player's shirts -- as well as other pieces of clothing/equipment -- came up. And really, while the jerseys might be all sorts of technologically advanced and be the next best thing to sliced bread, players are still wearing the same, sweat-gathering undershirts and padding that they've always worn. Reebok must not have factored in such a thing, which goes to show how far ahead they seemed to be thinking. Changing hockey jersey material isn't as simple as changing the material for an NBA player's jersey or MLB player's uniform; those athletes don't need to worry as much about whatever they have under/around their jerseys/uniforms as much as a hockey player, who deals with elbow pads, leg pads, hockey pants, gloves, and skates.
And of course, there's still that issue about the jerseys easily turning in to shredded ribbons with just a good, hard yank during a fight between two enforcers. While I certainly believe it when players say that the material is flimsier than the original jersey material, it does surprise me when I feel the different material with my hands. I thought the EDGE seemed sturdier, just based off of the fact that it was stretchier, thus capable to handle more stress to pull. But then again, I'm not an NHL hockey player.
Still, this makes me wonder: will RBK have to do anything about jerseys that are currently in stores, considering that ... well, frankly, the "EDGE System" is being done away with (whether it's a temporary or permanent setback is debatable)? And what about the other 29 teams in the NHL? Are the Bruins the only one clamoring for replacement jerseys with the old material? Or will the other teams also be given the option to ask RBK to make them new jerseys with the old material? All out of RBK's pocket, at that.
Edit (2:06 PM ET): Uni Watch adds to the intrigue behind this story, commenting on the jersey issue after talking with a spokesperson from the NHL:
"Just spoke with an NHL spokesperson, who told me that the Boston Herald report is incorrect. As it was explained to me, Reebok has informed each team that players who have “moisture issues” with the new jerseys (i.e., lots of water ending up in their gloves and/or skates) will be given the option to have the option to wear a jersey with a new front panel made of a different high-tech material. The spokesperson maintained that there was no league-wide move to scrap the new jerseys, nor was there any move back to “old materials.”"
"“There are certain panels on the front of the jersey which are being replaced with a performance fabric, an air-knit fabric,” said Mansur. “They are being given to the players who are requesting them. There is no going back to the old jerseys, no. It’s just the use of an alternate (fabric) to resolve specific issues.”"
Well, give Reebok and the NHL credit for practically coming out, guns blazing, before this bit of news simmered and stewed any longer than it had.
Labels: jerseys
To all the ladies out there in the hockeylogosophere!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
This goes out to all you dandy ladies, who just love pink.
I forgot to mention that during my recent excursion to The Blueline during the locker room sale, I came across these magnificent things of beauty. Made with the most prettiest of girly pink, I said to myself as I gazed, wide-eyed at this newest creation by the wonderful folks at RBK and the NHL, "Wow! I know so many people who would just die for these with their team's logo on them!"
Just marvelous! Isn't it awesome how not only is RBK catering to our wonderful female fanbase, but also took the time out of their busy schedule to make sure that those beautiful, fashionable pink jerseys would also be made in a similar manner as the EDGE jerseys? I'm telling you, I need to use my overage funds from college to get one for Sherry, and Jordi, and Caps Chick, and the residents of IPB Manor, and the ladies at Hot Oil, and especially every single lady at Hockey Ladies of Greatness. And probably many others who I've simply forgotten to mention! :D
See!? They're even adding that gorgeous cursive of each team's name to the sleeves! Chicks dig that cursive, glittery writing!
(By the way, before one of the many females who I've slighted tonight kills me in my sleep, I leave all of my blogging belongings to Drew in my will. It's been a good life!)
I forgot to mention that during my recent excursion to The Blueline during the locker room sale, I came across these magnificent things of beauty. Made with the most prettiest of girly pink, I said to myself as I gazed, wide-eyed at this newest creation by the wonderful folks at RBK and the NHL, "Wow! I know so many people who would just die for these with their team's logo on them!"
Just marvelous! Isn't it awesome how not only is RBK catering to our wonderful female fanbase, but also took the time out of their busy schedule to make sure that those beautiful, fashionable pink jerseys would also be made in a similar manner as the EDGE jerseys? I'm telling you, I need to use my overage funds from college to get one for Sherry, and Jordi, and Caps Chick, and the residents of IPB Manor, and the ladies at Hot Oil, and especially every single lady at Hockey Ladies of Greatness. And probably many others who I've simply forgotten to mention! :D
See!? They're even adding that gorgeous cursive of each team's name to the sleeves! Chicks dig that cursive, glittery writing!
(By the way, before one of the many females who I've slighted tonight kills me in my sleep, I leave all of my blogging belongings to Drew in my will. It's been a good life!)
Labels: insanity, jerseys, slice-of-life
Friday's post is sponsored by the letter A, and the number 52.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Uni Watch digs the Jackets' new threads
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:
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 ...
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.
The strength of Nashville's farm system aside, leading a team to a Calder Cup is nothing to sneeze at. I'm actually surprised that he'd come on board with us, considering we already have your standard duo of assistants and a goalie coach. But Hitchcock had been saying during the town hall meetings and elsewhere that he was on the look-out for a new assistant coach, and it looks like both he and Scott Howson were able to find quite a pick.
I got to admit, this actually has me feeling a smidgen of optimism right now for the coming season. Just a smidgen, though.
---
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!
I got to admit, this actually has me feeling a smidgen of optimism right now for the coming season. Just a smidgen, though.
---
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
Just give him even more money; maybe he'll like Columbus then.
Monday, June 04, 2007
A whole bunch of things to touch on after a crazy weekend, but let's start off with the more important Blue Jackets news.
Prima donna Zherdev strikes again
You know, I just can't help but feel disgust after seeing what Nikolai Zherdev's "adviser" Sasha Tyjnch told Aaron Portzline and The Columbus Dispatch over the weekend. But then the other thing I feel is this great sense of apathy.
Zherdev backers will quickly jump to his aid, I'm sure, saying how this isn't Z making these comments but just an adviser of his who may be looking to stir the pot. To them, I say that unless I see Zherdev comes out publicly and states that he wants to play for the Blue Jackets, then there's nothing defendable here. What Zherdev and his camp don't seem to understand is that he is not in any position to start "suggesting" a trade. Z, as most people will recall, is not coming off one of his best seasons ... 10 goals in all, when this kid is supposed to be such a brilliant goal scorer?
At one point, Tyjnch says this about Zherdev's mind-set:
Being of the mind-set that one will remain a Blue Jacket, and wanting to play for the Blue Jackets, are two wholly different things based off of manipulative semantics. Much like when one says they apologize "if they offended you", compared to when someone says they apologize "for offending you", if that makes any sense.
Remember that months ago, there was an article that The Dispatch published concerning the opinion of other players in the Blue Jackets' organization on Zherdev, too, where at least a handful of unnamed CBJ players denounced Zherdev's behavior, while at the same time lamenting his work ethic. It's that very work ethic which has also led to Z being benched at times during the season, as well as chased off of the ice during practice skates not just by Ken Hitchcock, but also Gary Agnew.
I've heard plenty about how Hitch has thrown Zherdev under the bus at several occasions, including during the town hall meetings that took place back in late April and throughout May. Here's the thing, though ... Hitch has also called out other players, too. But the thing is that with those other players, such as Pascal Leclaire, he wasn't outright venomous or offensive. And that's because, in my humble opinion, Hitch knew that those players were doing the best they could to play better, more responsibly, and conform to a system which is supposed to help this team. Zherdev, instead, has tried to play the maverick ... the cowboy who plays by his own rules.
Does he, or his advisers, really think they'll be able to swing a favorable trade? Considering his poor production this past season, the Jackets' would be fortunate to get a 2nd round pick for this upcoming draft for him. And if I was team management, I wouldn't want to let go of Zherdev unless the team that he was going to gave the Blue Jackets, at the least, a 1st round pick and said they'd take responsibility for every penny left on his salary. This team could use an additional $2-3 million off of the books prior to the start of free agency to put to a better, if not long-term replacement tucked away in the FA market in a month.
Let Zherdev rot, I say. Like I said, unless he comes out publicly and states something contrary to Tyjnch's comments, then I have no reason to believe that Z isn't actively looking for a trade. Then again, I recall hearing how he wasn't doing too hot at learning the English language despite the requirements in his contract that he make a concerted effort to do so, so maybe that'd be expecting too much from him, right?
Blue Jackets' RBK Edge jerseys to be unveiled at the NHL Entry Draft
While Bethany broke this news last week, I wanted to wait until there was some sort of news link or word from a direct source that the Blue Jackets would be unveiling their own version of the RBK Edge jerseys at the NHL Entry Draft. Most signs had been pointing towards trying to get them ready for an unveiling, but nothing was officially announced until the end of last week, when the Jackets did so on their website.
It's my understanding, though, that this will only be an unveiling, which will take place just prior to the start of the draft itself onstage inside of Nationwide Arena. Unless I hear otherwise, the current plan is to take pre-sales for the jerseys at the draft. Even so, I'm happy to hear about this, and excited, too!
So this now means that at least two teams -- the Blue Jackets and the Washington Capitals -- have publicly announced that they'll be unveiling their new jerseys at the draft. Does anyone out there know of any other teams that have announced the same? It'd be a shame if only 2 of a whole 30 teams were doing so, and while I'm sure there's some teams just not announcing it until the draft edges closer, you never know.
GM search wraps up; waiting on the final decision
In the article posted to earlier concerning Zherdev, there's also a mention of how Don Boyd, the Blue Jackets' director of player personnel, has either had his second interview today, or did so yesterday. Bob Murray was also in during the time between games 2 and 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals, meaning that by the end of today, all of the final four candidates will have gotten their opportunity to show Mr. Mac (majority owner John McConnell) and Mike Priest why they should be his beloved team's head hockey man.
So what do we do now? Well ... we wait. And we wait, and we wait. And the longer we wait, the more that you get the feeling that the previous speculation about Murray being the top candidate is no mere speculation. I have no problem with that ... nothing like a little SCF to keep me pre-occupied while waiting for the Blue Jackets' knight in shining armor to come to the rescue, right?
Drew enacts Plan Alpha Delta Omega; bloggers plan to converge on Columbus faster than a blitzkrieg
... or at least that's what I hope will happen, now that Drew's gotten a plethora of e-mails sent out, we're seeing a lot of interest in a blogger get-together. Unfortunately for The Sailor, I don't have enough money to buy a round of frosty (or even warm) brewskis; but I did recently buy some yeast recently while attempting to make my own homemade pizza from scratch (dough making and all), so maybe I can dabble in some beer making of my own!
Or not. I wouldn't want to be held responsible for the death of anyone due to my own adventures in beer fermentation. Oiy.
I'm going to do my damndest to update anything that needs updating on that big post on the blog by the end of this week. Additionally, with the draft itself 18 days away, we still have some time to try and pick the perfect spot for people to gather at. If the other CBJ bloggers such as Sarah, Beth, Herringbone (even though he's stuck all the way in Seattle), or Tyler (or even the more Columbus/OSU-centric bloggers) want to help in the brainstorm process when it comes to picking the gathering place, then go nuts! The help would be appreciated!
Beyond my own NHL Entry Draft Primer, Sarah at Neutral Zone Trap has also done an amazing job herself at giving a massive rundown about Columbus, where to go, what to do, and everything else you can think of. Considering she's been here longer than me, I'd say she does a much more bang up job than I do when it pertains to covering all the bases on things you can partake in beyond just the draft while you're here.
Lastly, the Blue Jackets have been kind enough to put up a page on their website where you can get a good rundown on what to expect during the draft, and when things will be going on, so check it out!
I'm out for now. But not before I forget the weekly You Don't Know Jack!
Prima donna Zherdev strikes again
You know, I just can't help but feel disgust after seeing what Nikolai Zherdev's "adviser" Sasha Tyjnch told Aaron Portzline and The Columbus Dispatch over the weekend. But then the other thing I feel is this great sense of apathy.
Zherdev backers will quickly jump to his aid, I'm sure, saying how this isn't Z making these comments but just an adviser of his who may be looking to stir the pot. To them, I say that unless I see Zherdev comes out publicly and states that he wants to play for the Blue Jackets, then there's nothing defendable here. What Zherdev and his camp don't seem to understand is that he is not in any position to start "suggesting" a trade. Z, as most people will recall, is not coming off one of his best seasons ... 10 goals in all, when this kid is supposed to be such a brilliant goal scorer?
At one point, Tyjnch says this about Zherdev's mind-set:
But, Sasha Tyjnych said, Zherdev is spending this summer with the mind-set that he'll remain with the Blue Jackets.
Being of the mind-set that one will remain a Blue Jacket, and wanting to play for the Blue Jackets, are two wholly different things based off of manipulative semantics. Much like when one says they apologize "if they offended you", compared to when someone says they apologize "for offending you", if that makes any sense.
Remember that months ago, there was an article that The Dispatch published concerning the opinion of other players in the Blue Jackets' organization on Zherdev, too, where at least a handful of unnamed CBJ players denounced Zherdev's behavior, while at the same time lamenting his work ethic. It's that very work ethic which has also led to Z being benched at times during the season, as well as chased off of the ice during practice skates not just by Ken Hitchcock, but also Gary Agnew.
I've heard plenty about how Hitch has thrown Zherdev under the bus at several occasions, including during the town hall meetings that took place back in late April and throughout May. Here's the thing, though ... Hitch has also called out other players, too. But the thing is that with those other players, such as Pascal Leclaire, he wasn't outright venomous or offensive. And that's because, in my humble opinion, Hitch knew that those players were doing the best they could to play better, more responsibly, and conform to a system which is supposed to help this team. Zherdev, instead, has tried to play the maverick ... the cowboy who plays by his own rules.
Does he, or his advisers, really think they'll be able to swing a favorable trade? Considering his poor production this past season, the Jackets' would be fortunate to get a 2nd round pick for this upcoming draft for him. And if I was team management, I wouldn't want to let go of Zherdev unless the team that he was going to gave the Blue Jackets, at the least, a 1st round pick and said they'd take responsibility for every penny left on his salary. This team could use an additional $2-3 million off of the books prior to the start of free agency to put to a better, if not long-term replacement tucked away in the FA market in a month.
Let Zherdev rot, I say. Like I said, unless he comes out publicly and states something contrary to Tyjnch's comments, then I have no reason to believe that Z isn't actively looking for a trade. Then again, I recall hearing how he wasn't doing too hot at learning the English language despite the requirements in his contract that he make a concerted effort to do so, so maybe that'd be expecting too much from him, right?
Blue Jackets' RBK Edge jerseys to be unveiled at the NHL Entry Draft
While Bethany broke this news last week, I wanted to wait until there was some sort of news link or word from a direct source that the Blue Jackets would be unveiling their own version of the RBK Edge jerseys at the NHL Entry Draft. Most signs had been pointing towards trying to get them ready for an unveiling, but nothing was officially announced until the end of last week, when the Jackets did so on their website.
It's my understanding, though, that this will only be an unveiling, which will take place just prior to the start of the draft itself onstage inside of Nationwide Arena. Unless I hear otherwise, the current plan is to take pre-sales for the jerseys at the draft. Even so, I'm happy to hear about this, and excited, too!
So this now means that at least two teams -- the Blue Jackets and the Washington Capitals -- have publicly announced that they'll be unveiling their new jerseys at the draft. Does anyone out there know of any other teams that have announced the same? It'd be a shame if only 2 of a whole 30 teams were doing so, and while I'm sure there's some teams just not announcing it until the draft edges closer, you never know.
GM search wraps up; waiting on the final decision
In the article posted to earlier concerning Zherdev, there's also a mention of how Don Boyd, the Blue Jackets' director of player personnel, has either had his second interview today, or did so yesterday. Bob Murray was also in during the time between games 2 and 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals, meaning that by the end of today, all of the final four candidates will have gotten their opportunity to show Mr. Mac (majority owner John McConnell) and Mike Priest why they should be his beloved team's head hockey man.
So what do we do now? Well ... we wait. And we wait, and we wait. And the longer we wait, the more that you get the feeling that the previous speculation about Murray being the top candidate is no mere speculation. I have no problem with that ... nothing like a little SCF to keep me pre-occupied while waiting for the Blue Jackets' knight in shining armor to come to the rescue, right?
Drew enacts Plan Alpha Delta Omega; bloggers plan to converge on Columbus faster than a blitzkrieg
... or at least that's what I hope will happen, now that Drew's gotten a plethora of e-mails sent out, we're seeing a lot of interest in a blogger get-together. Unfortunately for The Sailor, I don't have enough money to buy a round of frosty (or even warm) brewskis; but I did recently buy some yeast recently while attempting to make my own homemade pizza from scratch (dough making and all), so maybe I can dabble in some beer making of my own!
Or not. I wouldn't want to be held responsible for the death of anyone due to my own adventures in beer fermentation. Oiy.
I'm going to do my damndest to update anything that needs updating on that big post on the blog by the end of this week. Additionally, with the draft itself 18 days away, we still have some time to try and pick the perfect spot for people to gather at. If the other CBJ bloggers such as Sarah, Beth, Herringbone (even though he's stuck all the way in Seattle), or Tyler (or even the more Columbus/OSU-centric bloggers) want to help in the brainstorm process when it comes to picking the gathering place, then go nuts! The help would be appreciated!
Beyond my own NHL Entry Draft Primer, Sarah at Neutral Zone Trap has also done an amazing job herself at giving a massive rundown about Columbus, where to go, what to do, and everything else you can think of. Considering she's been here longer than me, I'd say she does a much more bang up job than I do when it pertains to covering all the bases on things you can partake in beyond just the draft while you're here.
Lastly, the Blue Jackets have been kind enough to put up a page on their website where you can get a good rundown on what to expect during the draft, and when things will be going on, so check it out!
I'm out for now. But not before I forget the weekly You Don't Know Jack!
Labels: GM search, jerseys, nhl draft, Nikolai Zherdev, You Don't Know Jack
Of jerseys, the draft, and ... George W. Bush invading an orchestra!?
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Hey, a Dis or Dat about George W. Bush! This should be fun!
There isn't a damned thing to talk about when it comes to the Blue Jackets this morning. The lockdown of news coming about interviews for the vacant GM job continues (and so does Stan Fischler's man crush on Jim Clark over at The Maven's blog, which I still don't understand), meaning not even Lupin the III could sneak out with any information before being caught. I'd do anything right now to find out which outside candidates are scheduled to come to Columbus later this week. Even if the list I linked to yesterday by Michael Arace is indicative of who to expect, you never know who may pop up out of nowhere for an interview.
Beyond that, the NHL draft is just a little over a month away! ... and I still haven't updated the draft post, like I said I would! Crap, crap, crap!
But fortunately, my buddy and fellow CBJ blogger Drew at End of the Bench has recently informed me that he will be around for the draft, meaning I will be forcing him to help me with setting up this blogger get together. I'll be damned if I don't take his offer of help, since this whole idea was his in the first place. And besides, why waste a perfect opportunity for a wide variety of bloggers from all over to get together and ... well ... fight about which team is the superior team, right? One of the benefits of the draft being in Columbus, of course, is just how centrally located it is to a wide variety of other NHL teams. Just off the top of my head when it comes to bearable drives from Point A to Point B, you have ...
-Pittsburgh, PA (3 hours)
-Detroit, MI (3-4 hours)
-Chicago, IL (5-6 hours)
-Buffalo, NY (5-6 hours)
-Nashville, TN (6-7 hours)
-St. Louis, MO (6-7 hours)
-Toronto, ON (7 hours)
-North New Jersey (7-8 hours)
-Philadelphia, PA (7-8 hours)
-Raleigh-Durham, NC (8 hours)
-New York, NY (8-9 hours)
-Atlanta, GA (8-9 hours)
-Ottawa, ON (10-11 hours)
So right there you have half of the league when including Columbus! Eat your heart out, "I'm stranded nearly 13 hours by car from the closest other NHL team" Vancouver!
One final musing thought about the draft, though: as most people have probably read via Off Wing, the Washington Capitals are planning to have their new duds, with the heralded "Rbk EDGE Uniform System" technology, ready for an unveiling at a draft party. But besides that, this part of Eric's post about the unveiling piqued my interest when I saw it a couple weeks ago:
"The Capitals are the first team planning to have their new uniforms on hand at the NHL Entry Draft."
Reason enough to wonder about the rest of the league. In truth, the league lacks any sort of uniform policy (get it? Uniform policy about uniforms? Haha ... ha ... yeah ...) when it comes to team's unveiling of the new threads. In my opinion, this could seriously put the league in a bind come draft time, where one or two teams may have their jerseys ready to sell -- or at least enough to put on their draft picks -- while others won't even have a single jersey to give to their first round pick on the first day of the draft.
In all honestly, I think the league is seriously missing a perfect opportunity here by not getting right on this issue. Even if Rbk can't churn out the new jerseys quick enough to sell at the draft, how difficult is it to just make a couple jerseys for each team to have for their picks at the draft? It's the best opportunity for each team to unveil their new uniforms, especially when you consider just how perfectly located Columbus is and how accessible it is compared to other places where the NHL Entry Draft could be held. People coming from so many locations just to be there, first hand, to see their team's new uniforms? Imagine how awesome that'd be, not to mention the business it'd bring to the City of Columbus as a whole!
But again, just my opinion. Who knows, right? Maybe as time winds down and we get even closer to the draft, more teams will publicly and officially announce plans to unveil their uniforms at the draft, as well. We just have to wait and see.
Labels: Dis or Dat, jerseys, nhl draft
Game #65: Blue Jackets at Stars
Friday, March 02, 2007
Team: Columbus Blue JacketsRecord: 24-33-7
On the road: 10-18-3
Last 10: 3-5-2
Bloggers and local media:
Death Cab for Woody
End of the Bench
The Jacket Times
Hitchcock holds shootout tryouts during practice - Columbus Dispatch (Portzline)
Synopsis:
You know, I can't help but feel a sense of ... apathy, towards the rest of the season. But it isn't so much a negative kind of apathy ... if anything, it's more like I'm just content to see how things run themselves as the season winds down, starting tonight with the first of the final 18 games in this crazy season.
I think one of the things that had me in more amused than angered spirits was a quote in today's Columbus Dispatch article linked to Coach Hitchcock, in which he was asked about the possibility of players such as Rusty Kleska, Geoff Platt, and Zenon Kopoka taking part in future shootouts due to how well they did in a shootout practice. Hitch's response?
Hitch certainly has chutzpah, to be joking so candidly while the team has hit a nasty stretch that has seen them slip-slide down the standings.
I have to say, though my mood has lightened, I'm still down about how bad of a trade deadline the Jackets had, and Doug MacLean by affiliation. I've already touched on my feelings concerning Anson Carter's trade, and it looks like Drew has a different opinion about the whole thing, or places his frustration quota in to a different aspect of MacLean/team management altogether. I stand by my position, however, that the team was fleeced by Hurricanes' GM Jim Rutherford due to MacLean's ineptitude at the bargaining table. How can players of equal to or even lesser value than Carter give their former teams better trade results when it comes to draft picks and prospects (a possibly inaccurate example, but an example nonetheless, would be Georges Laraque netting the Coyotes a 3rd round in 2008 and a prospect, despite a similar age and even less offensive output ... and I won't be taking claims of "He's needed as Sidney Crosby's personal bodyguard" as legit)? It makes my head spin ... moreso when you consider that Ty Conklin's trade to Buffalo resulted in an even sooner draft pick than Carter. And don't give me any of that "The 2008 draft is supposed to be several rounds deeper than this upcoming one", either.
Wow. I guess I went on a little longer than I expected.
As a couple of quick hits, Rick Nash managed to give the collective state of Colorado a near-heart attack when he one-man teamed the Jackets to a near upset of the Avalanche on Tuesday, scoring two goals in the final two minutes before time ran out with a 3-2 final score. Jody Shelley also scored his first goal of the season, and as a result got his first point of the season in a stirring but nonetheless futile shootout loss to the Predators on Sunday, when the Jackets came back from down two goals in the third period.
Fredrik Modin signed a new deal with the Jackets for three years, worth just shy of $10 million total. I'm glad Modin is staying ... but frankly, I'm not happy at the price tag, considering his season so far. Another example of MacLean overpaying veterans that may be on the downslide? Maybe ... but I'll cross my fingers and hope that Modin can change my mind before the end of the season. Lastly, Dan Fritsche is out after a pair of Predator skate blades went emo on his wrist, and sadly it looks like he might be out for the season due to the severity and depths of the cuts ... and to add insult to injury, Pascal Leclaire's knee issues have now sidelined him for the rest of the season. As a result, recently waiver wire-acquired Brian Boucher -- formerly a member of the Chicago Blackhawks -- will most likely be backing up Fredrik Norrena for the season of the season, but you never know if Tomas Popperle may get a call up or two just for sake of grabbing a bit of experience. I know I'd like to see him get some time up here.
And lastly, Adam Pineault has recently been called up, and Geoff Platt will be playing tonight alongside Rick Nash and David Vyborny, which should be interesting. So now there's at least four Syracuse regulars up with the team, when you also thow in Curtis Glencross.
On the road: 10-18-3
Last 10: 3-5-2
Bloggers and local media:
Death Cab for Woody
End of the Bench
The Jacket Times
Hitchcock holds shootout tryouts during practice - Columbus Dispatch (Portzline)
Synopsis:
You know, I can't help but feel a sense of ... apathy, towards the rest of the season. But it isn't so much a negative kind of apathy ... if anything, it's more like I'm just content to see how things run themselves as the season winds down, starting tonight with the first of the final 18 games in this crazy season.
I think one of the things that had me in more amused than angered spirits was a quote in today's Columbus Dispatch article linked to Coach Hitchcock, in which he was asked about the possibility of players such as Rusty Kleska, Geoff Platt, and Zenon Kopoka taking part in future shootouts due to how well they did in a shootout practice. Hitch's response?
"I wonder what the general manager is going to say when he sees these guys coming off the bench next time," Hitchcock joked. "He’ll need a rip cord on his way out of the press box."
Hitch certainly has chutzpah, to be joking so candidly while the team has hit a nasty stretch that has seen them slip-slide down the standings.
I have to say, though my mood has lightened, I'm still down about how bad of a trade deadline the Jackets had, and Doug MacLean by affiliation. I've already touched on my feelings concerning Anson Carter's trade, and it looks like Drew has a different opinion about the whole thing, or places his frustration quota in to a different aspect of MacLean/team management altogether. I stand by my position, however, that the team was fleeced by Hurricanes' GM Jim Rutherford due to MacLean's ineptitude at the bargaining table. How can players of equal to or even lesser value than Carter give their former teams better trade results when it comes to draft picks and prospects (a possibly inaccurate example, but an example nonetheless, would be Georges Laraque netting the Coyotes a 3rd round in 2008 and a prospect, despite a similar age and even less offensive output ... and I won't be taking claims of "He's needed as Sidney Crosby's personal bodyguard" as legit)? It makes my head spin ... moreso when you consider that Ty Conklin's trade to Buffalo resulted in an even sooner draft pick than Carter. And don't give me any of that "The 2008 draft is supposed to be several rounds deeper than this upcoming one", either.
Wow. I guess I went on a little longer than I expected.
As a couple of quick hits, Rick Nash managed to give the collective state of Colorado a near-heart attack when he one-man teamed the Jackets to a near upset of the Avalanche on Tuesday, scoring two goals in the final two minutes before time ran out with a 3-2 final score. Jody Shelley also scored his first goal of the season, and as a result got his first point of the season in a stirring but nonetheless futile shootout loss to the Predators on Sunday, when the Jackets came back from down two goals in the third period.
Fredrik Modin signed a new deal with the Jackets for three years, worth just shy of $10 million total. I'm glad Modin is staying ... but frankly, I'm not happy at the price tag, considering his season so far. Another example of MacLean overpaying veterans that may be on the downslide? Maybe ... but I'll cross my fingers and hope that Modin can change my mind before the end of the season. Lastly, Dan Fritsche is out after a pair of Predator skate blades went emo on his wrist, and sadly it looks like he might be out for the season due to the severity and depths of the cuts ... and to add insult to injury, Pascal Leclaire's knee issues have now sidelined him for the rest of the season. As a result, recently waiver wire-acquired Brian Boucher -- formerly a member of the Chicago Blackhawks -- will most likely be backing up Fredrik Norrena for the season of the season, but you never know if Tomas Popperle may get a call up or two just for sake of grabbing a bit of experience. I know I'd like to see him get some time up here.
And lastly, Adam Pineault has recently been called up, and Geoff Platt will be playing tonight alongside Rick Nash and David Vyborny, which should be interesting. So now there's at least four Syracuse regulars up with the team, when you also thow in Curtis Glencross.
Team: Dallas StarsRecord: 40-16-8
At home: 29-9-1
Last 10: 7-1-2
Bloggers and local media:
Razor With an Edge
Andrew's Dallas Stars' Page
Stars' Norstrom has time to adjust - Dallas Morning News
Synopsis:
As much as I hate the south, and as a result the Dallas Stars by association, there are two things I like about the Stars:
-Daryl Reaugh is awesome.
-Tim Cowlishaw, though he no longer covers the Stars to my knowledge, is also awesome.
So while the Jackets' were about as silent as a silent-but-deadly dose of flatulence during the trade deadline and the days preceding it, the Stars did add a bit of punch to their roster. In one of the earlier moves prior to the deadline day, the Stars added prospect Shane Endicott to their herd of future players, then also added prospect Konstantin Pushkarev and also assigned him to the Iowa Stars. The only real trade that the team made which results in both direct and immediate impact has been Mattias Norstrom, who was brought in to add a bit more responsibility to the blue-line. Actually, just going off of the fact that the Stars are both 2nd in goals allowed and shots allowed, I'm a little surprised that they feel the need to add some muscle to their defense. Then again, they're still an iffy 21st on the penalty kill.
The Jackets have actually, believe it or not, won their first game in Dallas ever this season, when they defeated the Stars 3-1. Can they go for two in a row over the Stars so far this season, and also two in the Lone Star State? Hopefully.
As much as I hate the south, and as a result the Dallas Stars by association, there are two things I like about the Stars:
-Daryl Reaugh is awesome.
-Tim Cowlishaw, though he no longer covers the Stars to my knowledge, is also awesome.
So while the Jackets' were about as silent as a silent-but-deadly dose of flatulence during the trade deadline and the days preceding it, the Stars did add a bit of punch to their roster. In one of the earlier moves prior to the deadline day, the Stars added prospect Shane Endicott to their herd of future players, then also added prospect Konstantin Pushkarev and also assigned him to the Iowa Stars. The only real trade that the team made which results in both direct and immediate impact has been Mattias Norstrom, who was brought in to add a bit more responsibility to the blue-line. Actually, just going off of the fact that the Stars are both 2nd in goals allowed and shots allowed, I'm a little surprised that they feel the need to add some muscle to their defense. Then again, they're still an iffy 21st on the penalty kill.
The Jackets have actually, believe it or not, won their first game in Dallas ever this season, when they defeated the Stars 3-1. Can they go for two in a row over the Stars so far this season, and also two in the Lone Star State? Hopefully.
Labels: Blue Jackets, jerseys, pre-game, Stars, trades
The All-Star festivities: The good, the bad, and the--Zzzz ...
Thursday, January 25, 2007
And so ended the 55th Annual NHL All-Star Game last night, the first one since before the lockout stoppage, due to a combination of that and the 2006 Winter Olympics ensuring that it would not happen until this year.
The good:
-Hey, hey, what do you say!? Rick Nash, who didn't even deserve an All-Star invitation in lieu of his sluggish play throughout the season so far and low point total for a franchise player, helped lead the charge against the Eastern Conference with a 2 goal and 2 assist night, one of those goals a nice, hard rush towards the net to beat Marty Brodeur (though honestly, the defense gave minimal resistance). If we were to go off of NHL.com and their three stars on the night, then it stands to reason that Nasher was also the runner-up MVP of the game to Buffalo Sabres forward Daniel Briere. I wouldn't read too much in to this, though ... but, you never know, maybe this'll give Nasher some additional confidence when he returns to the team and is ready to play alongside his fellow CBJ on Friday night against Buffalo.
-The All-Star Game was, actually, pretty darn good! Could anyone have asked for a more fun second and third period with guys like Brodeur and Marty Turco keeping the Versus commentators chatting the whole time? The game also had a nice pace to it, and a respectable feel of competitive edge, even without the body checks and hard hits. There was enough jockeying for position around nets and board scrums for pucks that I finished watching with a sense of satisfaction.
-The new jerseys were, to steal a page from Borat, "very nice [insert thumbs up here]". Regardless of the fact that Fatty McBlobbicus won't be able to buy an authentic (or possibly even replica) jersey anymore and wear it to games unless they buy double their normal size when it comes to them, I've come to the realization that this is the best thing for the players when it comes to what they wear on the ice. So far, responses from players seem to be generally positive when it comes to the new jerseys and other parts of the ensemble, though remember to take some comments with a grain of salt (such as Sidney Crosby's), as they might just be shilling for RBK.
Remember to keep a sense of tentative acceptance with the jerseys though, folks. Right now, there isn't a fan out there who knows what the jerseys are going to look like when they're redone accordingly for all 30 teams in the NHL. What looks great as an All-Star jersey might turn out to be the coming of the hockey apocalypse if it doesn't work well with certain logos or colors.
The not-so-good:
-The rail cam was ... well, "cute", to say the least. But it just didn't work for me after the first or second time of the coverage dropping down to it. Keep in mind that the NHL's version of the rail cam, unlike the cameras you'll see when watching speed skating, had a limited degree of freedom when it came to moving around and catching the action. Speed skating rail cams get a lot of track to move around on, giving viewers the opportunity to watch a skater do full laps around the rink without having to stop. The NHL's rail cam, meanwhile, stopped at the blue line, and would have to zoom in (and with a grainy camera) on action in an offensive zone.
There's really two solutions to this. One, start working on an efficient way to get the rail cam to be authentic, in the sense that it has as much freedom as the speed skater cameras, or scrap it and start moving towards the Skycam, that many people know from the NFL.
-The Skills Competition was like eating a bowl of lukewarm chicken soup. It wasn't anything horrible to swallow, but it also wasn't exactly the most tasty meal. Like it'd just been sitting out for about an hour before even being served to the customer.
Food analogies aside, the fact that they held a shootout event three times was just plain boring. The big problem is that the shootout is no longer a novelty, or unique. We see it on a daily basis, and while it's definitely exciting, it also means that if it is going to happen in the Skills Competition, that it has to have the ante upped, to give the fans something interesting to watch.
Someone suggested at Kukla's Korner in a post's comments, I believe, the idea of integrating judging for creativity and trick shots in to the shootout. And that's really not a bad idea, either. Everyone wants to see more shots like Marek Malik's through-the-legs stunner last year, especially if this is going to be a staple of the All-Star festivities.
The league should also consider trying to add in some different events for a bit of variety. Why not try 2-on-1 drills, where two players start at their own blue line, and need to score on an odd-man rush while one defenseman tries to stop them. Or how about cooking up some sort of event for the goalies, who spend the whole time pretty much just eating pucks throughout the two day event? It certainly wouldn't hurt to give them something to do that might be fun for them, and interesting to watch as a fan.
The "It burns us, precious!! Burns usssss!!":
-The Young Stars game was atrocious. Oh my God, there's just no other way to sum it up. It was like watching crap with a side of crap, with additional crap for seconds.
I completely understand that the NHL is trying to shine a bit of a spotlight on the younger generation of players, and with good reason! The league needs to show fans the up and coming rookies of the league, introduce them to us, and show us that we're going to continue to have an influx of young quality forwards, defensemen, and goalies for as long as possible. But this isn't how you do it. This was a total farce, and it either needs to be scrapped altogether, or they need to overhaul the Young Stars game.
It probably didn't help that they treated the kids like second rate players. There was an article I read yesterday about how the players were pretty much thrown in to the workout rooms and meeting rooms to get ready for their game. Talk about disrespectful. If someone out there happens to find the article, please link me to it and I'll slide a link up here for it, too.
-The Canadian Anthem singer made my ears bleed with that twilling voice in the final verse of "O' Canada". The end.
-Rock/Country Singers between periods. DAMN YOU, DALLAS!
And that's it from me for today. I filled my weekly post quota just by posting three entries yesterday!
The good:
-Hey, hey, what do you say!? Rick Nash, who didn't even deserve an All-Star invitation in lieu of his sluggish play throughout the season so far and low point total for a franchise player, helped lead the charge against the Eastern Conference with a 2 goal and 2 assist night, one of those goals a nice, hard rush towards the net to beat Marty Brodeur (though honestly, the defense gave minimal resistance). If we were to go off of NHL.com and their three stars on the night, then it stands to reason that Nasher was also the runner-up MVP of the game to Buffalo Sabres forward Daniel Briere. I wouldn't read too much in to this, though ... but, you never know, maybe this'll give Nasher some additional confidence when he returns to the team and is ready to play alongside his fellow CBJ on Friday night against Buffalo.
-The All-Star Game was, actually, pretty darn good! Could anyone have asked for a more fun second and third period with guys like Brodeur and Marty Turco keeping the Versus commentators chatting the whole time? The game also had a nice pace to it, and a respectable feel of competitive edge, even without the body checks and hard hits. There was enough jockeying for position around nets and board scrums for pucks that I finished watching with a sense of satisfaction.
-The new jerseys were, to steal a page from Borat, "very nice [insert thumbs up here]". Regardless of the fact that Fatty McBlobbicus won't be able to buy an authentic (or possibly even replica) jersey anymore and wear it to games unless they buy double their normal size when it comes to them, I've come to the realization that this is the best thing for the players when it comes to what they wear on the ice. So far, responses from players seem to be generally positive when it comes to the new jerseys and other parts of the ensemble, though remember to take some comments with a grain of salt (such as Sidney Crosby's), as they might just be shilling for RBK.
Remember to keep a sense of tentative acceptance with the jerseys though, folks. Right now, there isn't a fan out there who knows what the jerseys are going to look like when they're redone accordingly for all 30 teams in the NHL. What looks great as an All-Star jersey might turn out to be the coming of the hockey apocalypse if it doesn't work well with certain logos or colors.
The not-so-good:
-The rail cam was ... well, "cute", to say the least. But it just didn't work for me after the first or second time of the coverage dropping down to it. Keep in mind that the NHL's version of the rail cam, unlike the cameras you'll see when watching speed skating, had a limited degree of freedom when it came to moving around and catching the action. Speed skating rail cams get a lot of track to move around on, giving viewers the opportunity to watch a skater do full laps around the rink without having to stop. The NHL's rail cam, meanwhile, stopped at the blue line, and would have to zoom in (and with a grainy camera) on action in an offensive zone.
There's really two solutions to this. One, start working on an efficient way to get the rail cam to be authentic, in the sense that it has as much freedom as the speed skater cameras, or scrap it and start moving towards the Skycam, that many people know from the NFL.
-The Skills Competition was like eating a bowl of lukewarm chicken soup. It wasn't anything horrible to swallow, but it also wasn't exactly the most tasty meal. Like it'd just been sitting out for about an hour before even being served to the customer.
Food analogies aside, the fact that they held a shootout event three times was just plain boring. The big problem is that the shootout is no longer a novelty, or unique. We see it on a daily basis, and while it's definitely exciting, it also means that if it is going to happen in the Skills Competition, that it has to have the ante upped, to give the fans something interesting to watch.
Someone suggested at Kukla's Korner in a post's comments, I believe, the idea of integrating judging for creativity and trick shots in to the shootout. And that's really not a bad idea, either. Everyone wants to see more shots like Marek Malik's through-the-legs stunner last year, especially if this is going to be a staple of the All-Star festivities.
The league should also consider trying to add in some different events for a bit of variety. Why not try 2-on-1 drills, where two players start at their own blue line, and need to score on an odd-man rush while one defenseman tries to stop them. Or how about cooking up some sort of event for the goalies, who spend the whole time pretty much just eating pucks throughout the two day event? It certainly wouldn't hurt to give them something to do that might be fun for them, and interesting to watch as a fan.
The "It burns us, precious!! Burns usssss!!":
-The Young Stars game was atrocious. Oh my God, there's just no other way to sum it up. It was like watching crap with a side of crap, with additional crap for seconds.
I completely understand that the NHL is trying to shine a bit of a spotlight on the younger generation of players, and with good reason! The league needs to show fans the up and coming rookies of the league, introduce them to us, and show us that we're going to continue to have an influx of young quality forwards, defensemen, and goalies for as long as possible. But this isn't how you do it. This was a total farce, and it either needs to be scrapped altogether, or they need to overhaul the Young Stars game.
It probably didn't help that they treated the kids like second rate players. There was an article I read yesterday about how the players were pretty much thrown in to the workout rooms and meeting rooms to get ready for their game. Talk about disrespectful. If someone out there happens to find the article, please link me to it and I'll slide a link up here for it, too.
-The Canadian Anthem singer made my ears bleed with that twilling voice in the final verse of "O' Canada". The end.
-Rock/Country Singers between periods. DAMN YOU, DALLAS!
And that's it from me for today. I filled my weekly post quota just by posting three entries yesterday!
Labels: All-Star Game, jerseys, railcam, Risk Nash, skills competition
I'm dreaming of a white ... home jersey?
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
While the major hubub recently concerning jerseys has involved the "form fitting" jerseys that no one has seen yet just about everyone hates (seriously, I'm getting this mental image of form fitting and I imagine the new referee jerseys the refs in the NFL are using ... God, it makes me shudder), some news comes from Uni Watch, which certainly sounds quite interesting."Big News out of St. Looie, where several readers report that the Blues’ radio team spilled the beans on the NHL’s plan to go back to home whites next season."
Well, then! That certainly comes out of left field, doesn't it? But to be honest, I'm not sure I like this.
I guess I'm in the minority, too; from what I've seen and read, a lot of people much prefer the home whites over the home darks, for a variety of reasons ranging from "It's traditional" to "The away team wants to be intimidating in its darks", and a variety of other crazy legitimacies.
Yet I like using the darks at home. I don't really have any logical explanation for why I do outside of, simply, "I like to see my home team in dark when I see them in person." It also seems that, preferred jerseys at home or away aside, that a majority of fans who I see at the arenas buy darks more often than whites; this coming from someone who has been selling those very jerseys for the past couple months, at that.
But maybe whites sold better back when they were still being used at home, so it's hard to compare when I don't really know for sure. Either way, it'll be interesting to see if the league confirms this any time soon; most likely at the All-Star Game at the earliest, and if not then, then definitely at the end of the season.
Well, then! That certainly comes out of left field, doesn't it? But to be honest, I'm not sure I like this.
I guess I'm in the minority, too; from what I've seen and read, a lot of people much prefer the home whites over the home darks, for a variety of reasons ranging from "It's traditional" to "The away team wants to be intimidating in its darks", and a variety of other crazy legitimacies.
Yet I like using the darks at home. I don't really have any logical explanation for why I do outside of, simply, "I like to see my home team in dark when I see them in person." It also seems that, preferred jerseys at home or away aside, that a majority of fans who I see at the arenas buy darks more often than whites; this coming from someone who has been selling those very jerseys for the past couple months, at that.
But maybe whites sold better back when they were still being used at home, so it's hard to compare when I don't really know for sure. Either way, it'll be interesting to see if the league confirms this any time soon; most likely at the All-Star Game at the earliest, and if not then, then definitely at the end of the season.
Labels: jerseys, league news
