Todd Cordell: Grading the Blue Jackets' Off-Season

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- anjello66

Your medal is in the mail!

Todd Cordell: Grading the Blue Jackets' Off-Season
- Todd-Cordell

I was gonna give Jarmo an A for playing it safe and getting Hartnell for RJU (which is mind boggling after publicly stating they will buy him out if not traded).

Buuuuut the Dubinksy deal which could of waited plus the fact he's playing hard ball with RJ warrants a C+.

Much Better? Remind you over the years, Hartnell had the luxery of playing with Richards, Carter, Giroux, Briere, and Gagne at points. Who did Umberger play with? I think you will find halfway through the year a player the Flyers traded is someone who shows up to camp out of shape. Someone who takes dumb pentalties at even worse times. He can't play PK or skate very well, let alone stay on his feet 50% of the time. The only place you will like him is in front of the goalie on the power play, when he's not falling into or interering the goalie to cause a pentalty while he is on the power play!! Oh keep in mind every other year he plays 90% of the game, the next year he gets hurt often and only plays in 20% of them. This year he played 78 games. Good luck next year!!

B+/A-.

You guys didn't jump the gun on FA's that wouldn't add a ton to what you're building and, contrary to some opinions, I love the Umberger/Hartnell trade.

Umberger was probably going to get bought out anyways, and Hartnell had overstayed his welcome in Philly, it's one of those win-win hockey trades where each team gets something their squad needs.

I have no problem with the Dubinsky contract at all. The cap will continue to rise, and in a couple of years, it may even look like a steal.

In summation: calm, purposeful and no jitters... good off season, Jackets!

neat to see the geographical breakdown, but I got stuck on the site. Gets an A for stealing Gibbons out of PA. jerk

Much Better? Remind you over the years, Hartnell had the luxery of playing with Richards, Carter, Giroux, Briere, and Gagne at points. Who did Umberger play with? I think you will find halfway through the year a player the Flyers traded is someone who shows up to camp out of shape. Someone who takes dumb pentalties at even worse times. He can't play PK or skate very well, let alone stay on his feet 50% of the time. The only place you will like him is in front of the goalie on the power play, when he's not falling into or interering the goalie to cause a pentalty while he is on the power play!! Oh keep in mind every other year he plays 90% of the game, the next year he gets hurt often and only plays in 20% of them. This year he played 78 games. Good luck next year!!
- BernieKorch

Umberger was demoted over the season because he can't keep up. He had many chances with top line players. Also he can't shoot. So you have a slow guy who only scores 5 feet from the net. His possesion numbers are close to the worst on the team. But go ahead and ignore this and think he is going to make your team better. Can't wait until 10 games into the season all the Philly fans complaining about him.

Umberger was demoted over the season because he can't keep up. He had many chances with top line players. Also he can't shoot. So you have a slow guy who only scores 5 feet from the net. His possesion numbers are close to the worst on the team. But go ahead and ignore this and think he is going to make your team better. Can't wait until 10 games into the season all the Philly fans complaining about him.
- bjacket

He plays 1 game out of 4.....

As a Flyers fan, I just wanted you guys to know that you may be overrating Hartnell a little bit. He is a below average skater with poor speed. He has only one shot and thats from the slot on the Power Play. Sure he brings grit and he mucks and grinds, but doesn't Umberger do that as well. I don't know, I guess just don't be disappointed when he's not what you think he is.

As a Flyers fan, I just wanted you guys to know that you may be overrating Hartnell a little bit. He is a below average skater with poor speed. He has only one shot and thats from the slot on the Power Play. Sure he brings grit and he mucks and grinds, but doesn't Umberger do that as well. I don't know, I guess just don't be disappointed when he's not what you think he is.
- ILLadelphFlyers

As an Islanders fan, I just wanted to let you know that I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico.

As a Flyers fan, I just wanted you guys to know that you may be overrating Hartnell a little bit. He is a below average skater with poor speed. He has only one shot and thats from the slot on the Power Play. Sure he brings grit and he mucks and grinds, but doesn't Umberger do that as well. I don't know, I guess just don't be disappointed when he's not what you think he is.
- ILLadelphFlyers

At least he has a shot.

It's 5 more years of a sucky player or 3 more years of an even suckier player and a sucky pick.

Pick one

You guys got Slopnell the dumbest mop in the closet. Congrats

I thought they should have gone after one of the mid-tier defensemen, maybe take a shot at Del Zotto. I give them an B+ as of now.

Umberger was demoted over the season because he can't keep up. He had many chances with top line players. Also he can't shoot. So you have a slow guy who only scores 5 feet from the net. His possesion numbers are close to the worst on the team. But go ahead and ignore this and think he is going to make your team better. Can't wait until 10 games into the season all the Philly fans complaining about him.
- bjacket

Who were these top line players you speak of? Columbus NEVER had a guy like Giroux who makes his linemates better. Firstly Hartnell is slower and a much worse skater than Umberger. Hartnell is also worse defensively. Sure Hartnell can shoot but he just throws shots at the net and hopes for the best. Usually he misses. Hartnell's only good uses are in gritty board battles, putting away the garbage and sometimes he is a strong forechecker. Columbus didn't get a better player, they basically got the same guy according to your description of Umberger.

As an Islanders fan, I just wanted to let you know that I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico.
- eichiefs9

Does it make up the damage Dipietro did on Isles Health Insurance

Who were these top line players you speak of? Columbus NEVER had a guy like Giroux who makes his linemates better. Firstly Hartnell is slower and a much worse skater than Umberger. Hartnell is also worse defensively. Sure Hartnell can shoot but he just throws shots at the net and hopes for the best. Usually he misses. Hartnell's only good uses are in gritty board battles, putting away the garbage and sometimes he is a strong forechecker. Columbus didn't get a better player, they basically got the same guy according to your description of Umberger.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Oh he forechecks and goes in the corners, that's great because RJU shies away from that (surprisingly) , so yeah we're pretty much getting something different.

Oh he forechecks and goes in the corners, that's great because RJU shies away from that (surprisingly) , so yeah we're pretty much getting something different.
- Alexzanki

That's not why we wanted umberger. He's not taking over Hartnells spot. He's going to be put on a line with Coots and Reader. Top shut down line!!!

Oh he forechecks and goes in the corners, that's great because RJU shies away from that (surprisingly) , so yeah we're pretty much getting something different.
- Alexzanki

You got a guy that's going put your team down a man very frequently. Hope you got a good PK.

That's not why we wanted umberger. He's not taking over Hartnells spot. He's going to be put on a line with Coots and Reader. Top shut down line!!!
- BernieKorch

I doubt it. Flyers didn't pick up a guy with the 4.6 mill salary to play him low on the depth chart. I am sure he will get the same opportunity Hartnell got, if it doesn't work he will be moved accordingly. Umberger can literally play anywhere. He could be a winger for Schenn, Vinny or Giroux. We still don't know what is going on with the Vinny situation. Will he play 2nd center line, will they put him 4th line center, will they try to play him on the wing again or will he be dealt. He likely stays but it isn't impossible that someone trades for him.

I doubt it. Flyers didn't pick up a guy with the 4.6 mill salary to play him low on the depth chart. I am sure he will get the same opportunity Hartnell got, if it doesn't work he will be moved accordingly. Umberger can literally play anywhere. He could be a winger for Schenn, Vinny or Giroux. We still don't know what is going on with the Vinny situation. Will he play 2nd center line, will they put him 4th line center, will they try to play him on the wing again or will he be dealt. He likely stays but it isn't impossible that someone trades for him.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

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My opinion starting the season

1st line

Schenn - Giroux - Voracek

2nd line

Raffl - LeCavalier - Simmonds

3rd Line

Umberger - Couturier - Read

4th Line

European Dude they signed - Hall - Rinaldo

If Hall doesn't get signed then maybe Vandevelde!!

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My opinion starting the season

1st line

Schenn - Giroux - Voracek

2nd line

Raffl - LeCavalier - Simmonds

3rd Line

Umberger - Couturier - Read

4th Line

European Dude they signed - Hall - Rinaldo

If Hall doesn't get signed then maybe Vandevelde!!
- BernieKorch

Unless Raffl improves offensively, he will be the guy on the 3rd line with Coots and Read

I find it funny Flyer fans making fun of the Jackets, while the Flyers have Andrew Macdonald, Nik Grossman and Luke Schenn on the blueline.

I find it funny Flyer fans making fun of the Jackets, while the Flyers have Andrew Macdonald, Nik Grossman and Luke Schenn on the blueline.
- tomburton99

There still stuck with Vinny now that Nashville got deep at center.