Eric Smith: Blue Jackets Become Aucoin Dealer With the uncertainty hanging over the Blue Jackets organization due to the lack of a deal for Rick Nash, most knew the Columbus general manager Scott Howson would be tip toeing through free agency and selecting his targets carefully. It's exactly what he did.

The defence is definitely shaping up, but they could still stand to get more scoring. They rely too heavily on "internal growth" every year.

Foligno is 24 and from what i see has tremendous upside. The defense is actually starting to look like a NHL hockey team. We still need scoring.

Lets say Nash is moved and we pick up a goalie & or several forwards and a draft pick. There are only so many spots on the roster, so i'm curious about the Boll signing. Don't we have enough 4th liners?

Foligno is likely to drive you guys nuts. There are stretches where he can look like a first line winger who bangs and has 35 goal potential. Then he can disappear for weeks and look like a 3rd line checker at best. He's a great guy who works hard and has a great attitude so hopefully one day he puts it all together.

What is your scouting report on Methot?

Foligno is likely to drive you guys nuts. There are stretches where he can look like a first line winger who bangs and has 35 goal potential. Then he can disappear for weeks and look like a 3rd line checker at best. He's a great guy who works hard and has a great attitude so hopefully one day he puts it all together.

What is your scouting report on Methot?
- maaddmike

Methot has pretty good size & he can skate, but doesn't he have a lot offensive upside & never could really take an opponent out of the play, either by a slick move or a big hit. I personally think he played his best hockey when Hitchcock was behind the bench.

Eric Smith: Blue Jackets Become Aucoin Dealer
With the uncertainty hanging over the Blue Jackets organization due to the lack of a deal for Rick Nash, most knew the Columbus general manager Scott Howson would be tip toeing through free agency and selecting his targets carefully. It's exactly what he did.
- Jackets Attack

I understand Methot was a salary dump , but here is hoping Howson can get Foligno to sign to a reasonable price .

As for Aucoin...... I just find him to be another Martinek, he will present but a non factor that will be replaced during the season , I feel this clean track record with the Coyotes is due to the fact he played in a defense first system under Tippet ,so it will be interesting to see how he will handle an offensive style of play with Richards.

I understand Methot was a salary dump , but here is hoping Howson can get Foligno to sign to a reasonable price .

As for Aucoin...... I just find him to be another Martinek, he will present but a non factor that will be replaced during the season , I feel this clean track record with the Coyotes is due to the fact he played in a defense first system under Tippet ,so it will be interesting to see how he will handle an offensive style of play with Richards.
- Alexzanki

To say Methot was a salary dump is absolutely ridiculous. If the Jackets were looking to shed salary, they could've moved Wiz, Tyutin, or Johnson & cut a lot more salary. As it is now, they are nowhere close to the cap & Methot probably wouldn't have been moved if Murray wasn't taken in the draft. Methot can play. Sure he's hurt a lot & he played his best hockey under Hitchcock, but he can play. With the addition of Murray, plus Moore & Savard looking at more ice time, Methot was expendable.

Furthermore, Aucion is miles ahead of Martinek if for no other reason than he hasn't missed the last couple of seasons from concussions.

To say Methot was a salary dump is absolutely ridiculous. If the Jackets were looking to shed salary, they could've moved Wiz, Tyutin, or Johnson & cut a lot more salary. As it is now, they are nowhere close to the cap & Methot probably wouldn't have been moved if Murray wasn't taken in the draft. Methot can play. Sure he's hurt a lot & he played his best hockey under Hitchcock, but he can play. With the addition of Murray, plus Moore & Savard looking at more ice time, Methot was expendable.

Furthermore, Aucion is miles ahead of Martinek if for no other reason than he hasn't missed the last couple of seasons from concussions.
- Mullett

Well that's really what it is , no team would ever pay a 3rd pairing defensman 12 million for 4 years, it was a horrible contrat we were looking to dump,what Howson just did was recycle that money and hope to sign Foligno(again no guarantee he resigns with us).

To say Methot was a salary dump is absolutely ridiculous. If the Jackets were looking to shed salary, they could've moved Wiz, Tyutin, or Johnson & cut a lot more salary. As it is now, they are nowhere close to the cap & Methot probably wouldn't have been moved if Murray wasn't taken in the draft. Methot can play. Sure he's hurt a lot & he played his best hockey under Hitchcock, but he can play. With the addition of Murray, plus Moore & Savard looking at more ice time, Methot was expendable.

Furthermore, Aucion is miles ahead of Martinek if for no other reason than he hasn't missed the last couple of seasons from concussions.
- Mullett

or broken legs/ankles/fingers... Loved Martinek, great Dman just couldn't stay healthy.

Outside looking in (Huge wings fan) gotta say some smart moves by the jackets this summer. Bob the goalie has to be an improvement over sanford doesnt he??? And Methot for Foligno, then replacing Methot with Accoin, good deals. Foligno has upside and grit, good petigree can score and isnt afraid to muck it up. Accoin is of course a veteran one year rental but solid, he is a stop gap til the talented kids on the blue line are ready and will serve as a good mentor.
Now the offseason comes down to one thing only, what will you guys get for Nash. The longer this goes the more absurd it gets, but hey its columbus, the whole offseason cannot go without a hitch. I hope they didnt really turn down Pavelski, Clowe and Demers, if so and they are waiting for a better offer it likely isnt coming unless someone fell down and bumped their head. But a safe d-man Murray in the draft, the other acquisitions so far, as long as Howson pulls off a deal for Nash that nets him solid return this is a good offseason for the Jackets. I know they thought last year was getting Carter and Wiz, but this year should show genuine improvement.

I actually like what CBJ has done so far.

Personally, I would have rather traded moore than methot. I think methot will be a #2 guy in a few years, if he can stay away from freak injuries.

We now have too many ~6'1 "offensive" wimps who cant play the body.

Hopefully tyutz and nikky stay together for some stability.

We still need pure nose-for-the-net offensive forwards preferably to fit together with johan well.

Foligno is likely to drive you guys nuts. There are stretches where he can look like a first line winger who bangs and has 35 goal potential. Then he can disappear for weeks and look like a 3rd line checker at best. He's a great guy who works hard and has a great attitude so hopefully one day he puts it all together.

What is your scouting report on Methot?
- maaddmike

Replace foligno with nash in this paragraph.

Nash has been super streaky his entire career (granted he's never had talent to play with)

Methot is the quintessential stay at home d man. Will have potential to be a lock down d man down the road. Lots of weird injuries.