With more rumors of the Blue Jackets being very interested in signing another player from Sweden, left winger Martin Thornberg, after they already signed goalie Gustaf Wesslau there is little doubt that GM Scott Howson is using the Red Wings recipe for success.
For years the Detroit Red Army has invaded Sweden and plucked highly talented players from Sweden. Like Henrik Zetterberg who every team dreams of drafting another similar player in the 7th round. Or a player like "The Mule" as the 97th overall selection and now Johan Franzen just had one of the greatest games in playoff history with his 4 goal and 6 point outburst. Or another player they selected 257th overall from the land where people eat raw fish and elk, when the Wings drafted Tomas Holmstrom. They also picked up Nicklas Lidstrom 57th overall in the 1989 draft, or Niklas Kronwall 29th overall in the 2000 draft, or Jonathan Ericsson 291st overall in the 2002 draft. Detroit did let one slip by in Andreas Lilja who was selected by Los Angeles 54th overall in the 2000 draft but you can't draft them all.
It is no secret that the Red Wings have made one of the most consistent NHL teams by harvesting talent out of the Scandinavian country of 9.2 million people and mostly through the draft.
If you are General Manager Scott Howson, there is no way that you can ignore both the success of the Red Wings and how they got there. Swedish players have had a lot to do with it but unfortunately Howson has neither Håkan Andersson, Red Wings Uber Scout who found most of these players, or the time to draft and wait for them to develop. Next best thing is to go pluck players out of the Swedish Elite league.
The reason for the Swedish focus is the Blue Jackets and Howson want to move away from a chip and chase team to a possession team like the Wings are today. You have to have more skill and the players that are able to play this style of play. As Columbus is built right now, they are neither skilled enough or built to be able to play this type of style.
To move to this style it has to start with the coach, which Howson is currently focusing on right now. Kevin Dineen is a favorite by the media to get the job but don't be surprised if another candidate such as Scott Arneil or how about Red Wings assistant coach Paul MacLean. Adding MacLean would certainly get you farther down the road quicker on your transformation of an Ohio version of the Red Wings.
Once the coach is in place then Howson has to put full effort on the defense. To play a puck possession style of play it starts with your defensemen. This summer promises to be a summer of wheeling and dealing for Howson to get the blueline help he needs to move the team in the direction he wants. Don't expect big time free agent signings and look more for Howson to move pieces that don't fit in the style he wants and bring in ones that do. In my eyes, that would mean moving everyone out on the defense except Kris Russell but that is highly unlikely. Camp will also be more interesting as John Moore will get a long look as well as Grant Clitsome who opened some eyes at the end of the year.
Howson has a tough task in trying to duplicate what Detroit has done. Detroit will have a tough time duplicating what they have done once Lidstrom retires for that matter. Will Howson find his Nicklas Lidstrom to anchor the blueline whether they are Swedish or Martian? Can John Moore be that player? Or will it be Cody Goloubef or a David Savard? Or will Howson find this player by trading away assets to get the key to the whole transformation?
What I do know is if he can't find at least a player that can play that roll, his plan has very little chance of success.
Russell Scores Game Winner For Canada
On the score board it looked like a snoozer as Canada beat Italy 5-1 today in the 2010 World Championships in Germany but Italy gave the Canadians all they could handle until late into the 1st period when former CBJ center Ray Whitney flew down the right side, faked a shot to lock up the Italian goalie Adam Russo, and passes the puck right to the tape of current Blue Jacket Kris Russell where he was pinching in back side to score the goal which ended up being the game winner.
Whitney was also celebrating his 38th birthday today.
Matt Duchene, Corey Perry, Rene Bourque and Steven Stamkos were the other goal scorers for Canada.
Jakub Voracek and the Czech team takes on France tomorrow to start their World Championship play.
Fire The Cannon!
Eric Smith
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