Paul Berthelot: Blue Jackets Sign Jacob Graves to an ELC Blue Jackets sign Jacob Graves to an ELC.

I think I prefer my defensemen to be good at defense. He was +38 overall last year with the two teams he was with. He may just be there to push along prospects like Heatherington. He also may have been a Basil McRae player that he wanted here, being his general manager in London and all that.

Another stellar signing! Wtf going on with Columbus?

Paul Berthelot: Blue Jackets Sign Jacob Graves to an ELC
Blue Jackets sign Jacob Graves to an ELC.
- Paul Berthelot

Assuming they didn't sign this guy for the sake of signing people, Jarmo has said that his staff values players that have a good sense of the game and high hockey IQ , assuming the rest of the skills can be thought or improved. One can only assume that they see something in this kid that we don't see nor the stats don't see.

Personnally I'm done believing in Jarmo and his moves, this off season has been stale and lackluster of imagination, Jarmo is a scout at heart and it shows , he seems to be signing these players based on his own beliefs (see that interview justifying why he drafted Dubois, he basically throws caution out the window) , right now the cbj need the box , they need to do things by convention, because their record overall is nothing short of a mess. If they were a team vying for a cup and they finished on top of the division fine , experiment .Deep down someone needs to remind Jarmo that he's getting paid to fix this
....not conduct developmental experiments.

Have to wonder just how long it is going to be before sweeping changes and a set plan and direction are put in place to get things turned around with the franchise. Just seems at this point like they don't really know what to do or how to even get a plan going to get out of the mess they find themselves in.

I disagree with most of what is posted in these threads, but I will make one comment that I think everyone can agree on. Jarmo is betting his job on this group this year. Without dramatic improvement, either from players on the roster last year or from kids from Lake Erie claiming spots, this will be his last year.

Columbus has has the least inspired and most boring offseason of any team I can think of in recent memory. I feel bad for their fans, what a difficult franchise to root for, perpetually in quicksand.

Columbus has has the least inspired and most boring offseason of any team I can think of in recent memory. I feel bad for their fans, what a difficult franchise to root for, perpetually in quicksand.


And I say, 'So what?' The CBJ did what they had to do; clear cap space, get ready for new players to join the team, sign their big RFA defenseman to a long-term deal, and serve notioce that veterans will lose their jobs if they do not play better.

The GM has already said that this is his team, the parts are there to compete in the East. There were no #1 centers in free agency which is the biggest need the CBJ has. What else should they have done? Yes, they could have traded Scott Hartnall, but he is still a productive plaer and can be traded at the deadline if necessary.

The players have to play up to their potential, unlike they did last season. If they do, and some of the LEM players add their skills to the core, then we are a good team. If not, then the GM and HC are fired, and maybe John Davidson as well. If they win this season, then it is not a boring summer after all.

Columbus has has the least inspired and most boring offseason of any team I can think of in recent memory. I feel bad for their fans, what a difficult franchise to root for, perpetually in quicksand.


And I say, 'So what?' The CBJ did what they had to do; clear cap space, get ready for new players to join the team, sign their big RFA defenseman to a long-term deal, and serve notioce that veterans will lose their jobs if they do not play better.

The GM has already said that this is his team, the parts are there to compete in the East. There were no #1 centers in free agency which is the biggest need the CBJ has. What else should they have done? Yes, they could have traded Scott Hartnall, but he is still a productive plaer and can be traded at the deadline if necessary.

The players have to play up to their potential, unlike they did last season. If they do, and some of the LEM players add their skills to the core, then we are a good team. If not, then the GM and HC are fired, and maybe John Davidson as well. If they win this season, then it is not a boring summer after all.
- jkumpire

They've done nothing to say they're going to be better, that trade of Rychel was a joke, bought out Boll and Tuitin, signed Jones, drafted the wrong player at 3rd. Only a matter of time before heads roll! Could be worse you could have Kevin Lowe sitting at the head of the table!

They've done nothing to say they're going to be better, that trade of Rychel was a joke, bought out Boll and Tuitin, signed Jones, drafted the wrong player at 3rd. Only a matter of time before heads roll! Could be worse you could have Kevin Lowe sitting at the head of the table!
- K-man25

Maybe the wrong guy was drafted, we will know the answer in what, 4 or 5 years?

Today many believe he was not worthy of being the #3 pick, we will see what tomorrow brings. Obviously GMJK is willing to risk his job on the pick, since he is betting he will still be around for DuBois (sp?) to be on the ice for the CBJ.

The other point to be made is that the CBJ has lots of people to play the wing, and there is a need for a top notch center. The GM decided he was the best center in the draft and took him, and it won't be the first time in the history of pro sports that a GM drafted for need over raw ability. The old saw is that you draft the best player on your board regardless of position, but there are times good GM's violate the rule because of their team's need. That is what the CBJ did.

You are right about Mr. Lowe, thankfully our GM is not as bad as he, or possibly your current one, was.

Maybe the wrong guy was drafted, we will know the answer in what, 4 or 5 years?

Today many believe he was not worthy of being the #3 pick, we will see what tomorrow brings. Obviously GMJK is willing to risk his job on the pick, since he is betting he will still be around for DuBois (sp?) to be on the ice for the CBJ.

The other point to be made is that the CBJ has lots of people to play the wing, and there is a need for a top notch center. The GM decided he was the best center in the draft and took him, and it won't be the first time in the history of pro sports that a GM drafted for need over raw ability. The old saw is that you draft the best player on your board regardless of position, but there are times good GM's violate the rule because of their team's need. That is what the CBJ did.

You are right about Mr. Lowe, thankfully our GM is not as bad as he, or possibly your current one, was.
- jkumpire

Dubois might turn out to be better only time will tell, but a Finn GM not taking a Finn that is ranked higher by everyone else, that early in the draft? Trade for a centre, you guys have lots of talented youth.Dubois was the 2nd best centre, Mathews.
Worked out for us, we got Tkachuk!

Columbus has has the least inspired and most boring offseason of any team I can think of in recent memory. I feel bad for their fans, what a difficult franchise to root for, perpetually in quicksand.


And I say, 'So what?' The CBJ did what they had to do; clear cap space, get ready for new players to join the team, sign their big RFA defenseman to a long-term deal, and serve notioce that veterans will lose their jobs if they do not play better.

The GM has already said that this is his team, the parts are there to compete in the East. There were no #1 centers in free agency which is the biggest need the CBJ has. What else should they have done? Yes, they could have traded Scott Hartnall, but he is still a productive plaer and can be traded at the deadline if necessary.

The players have to play up to their potential, unlike they did last season. If they do, and some of the LEM players add their skills to the core, then we are a good team. If not, then the GM and HC are fired, and maybe John Davidson as well. If they win this season, then it is not a boring summer after all.
- jkumpire

jk , I agree , no one had to force Jarmo to do moves, actually that is wrong because he actually did some moves by buying out two players that could and can be replaced (addition by subtraction but that's a debate for another time) . On my part and to do a follow up on my post, I feel all this could of been done in more productive matter , meaning drafting down and getting rid of a bad contract in the process.

As for Dubois , I was and am still fuming that Jarmo pasted over Puuljarvi because of ''his beliefs'' , that being said , I think the risk that Dubois busts is greater then Puuljarvi and like I mentionned , right now is not the time for this management team to experiment and say what is orthodox or not in a draft . I commend Jarmo for his outside the box thinking but right now the cbj need the box.

They are starting the season with the same team , but i'm guessing he's gambling on the youngsters from Cleveland.