The team is more or less a mess on several levels. But we saw last night hints that they have some hope. I believe they will move AA. They would be lucky to get a 2nd round pick. If they moved Keith they would get a 1 round pick, but he would probably go to a contender, so it could be at the end of the 1st round. They probably will be bad in 2019/20 also, so they will have their own pick very early in the draft this year and next.

So look at this team with cap space, a 1st round pick at the beginning of the 1st round, a 1st round pick at the end of the first round, two 2nd round picks, plus a really good 1st round pick in 2020. You can see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Top 6 - Toews, Kane, ADB, Strome, Free agent signing (Panarin?), 1st round pick
Bottom 6 - Kampf, Sikura, Kahun, Perlini, Hayden, Entwistle
Dmen (pick your favorite 6, then add Seabs out of necessity) - Free agent, Murphy, Joki, Gus, Boqvist, Mitchell, Forsling, Beaudin, Hillman, Dahlstrom, and Seabs (who is unmovable)
Goalies - Delia, Forsberg, Lankinen

I am willing to give Stan and Colliton a little time.

And a player - skating by a defender with his skates out into his path - trips over them - not a penalty?

Seems to me you get the space around your body - but if your elbow is sticking out - and moving into a skater's path - even if not intentional - should be a penalty.
- StLBravesFan

https://twitter.com/twitt...tuses/1075225321165742081

there is absolutely nothing in this vid that shows Hartman did anything wrong. He had control of the puck, was turning away from where he had just peeked at Kruger coming at him, and if anything, was tucking the elbow (as a result of the stickhandle move) as Kruger buried his face into it.

If you think they are gonna call elbows because someone runs into an elbow you have sticking out youre fooling yourself. They have enough trouble calling the real infractions. What you do to yourself while initiating contact will never be called a penalty on the opposing player

Ahhh I love riding waves of the boards reaction game to game

Been saying for awhile now that JC needed to get some more of his players on the roster and that they team needed more time to under his system for you to really start to see the fruits of what he can do. As guys understand the system more and more the overall play of the team should improve (as we all have seen it has since the beginning of November) and the bad mistakes that have been made should become less and less. I'm not saying by any means that the team will turn it around, but what I am saying is that it isn't as completely doom and gloom as many people make it out to be night in and night out
- Savetheembers33

I know it's crazy isn't it? Some posters are posting in Real Time and are bringing on self induced Schizophrenia.

Not yet. but Murphy and Dahl are also much younger... they could be there for the 20-21 season...
- gnosox1986

I was gonna say, it took Hammer and even Oduya awhile before the became the shutdown pair they eventually became. Neither was a very highly regarded prospect either and were able to grow into those roles.

...hmm...there's that word again

And a player - skating by a defender with his skates out into his path - trips over them - not a penalty?

Seems to me you get the space around your body - but if your elbow is sticking out - and moving into a skater's path - even if not intentional - should be a penalty.
- StLBravesFan

kunitz got a game and 5 min major for the chicken wing elbow...no different than hartman's

I know it's crazy isn't it? Some posters are posting in Real Time and are bringing on self induced Schizophrenia.
- paulr

Therapy and staying consistent with our meds may help.

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1075225321165742081

there is absolutely nothing in this vid that shows Hartman did anything wrong. He had control of the puck, was turning away from where he had just peeked at Kruger coming at him, and if anything, was tucking the elbow (as a result of the stickhandle move) as Kruger buried his face into it.

If you think they are gonna call elbows because someone runs into an elbow you have sticking out youre fooling yourself. They have enough trouble calling the real infractions. What you do to yourself while initiating contact will never be called a penalty on the opposing player
- TheTrob

I mean I don't think it was intentional in the sense he raised it but the guy is an NHL player he knew what he was doing. He keeps the elbow up and turns as he knows Kruger cant check him without getting an elbow to the face. That isn't a normal stick handle move.

I'd call it the intentional unintentional elbow. Put it as another sports analogy, if I'm playing basketball and have my elbows up and see a guy running toward me I can't just turn into him with my elbow still up.

If that is a completely clean play then every d-men should just keep his elbows up at all times along the boards to avoid checks.

The team is more or less a mess on several levels. But we saw last night hints that they have some hope. I believe they will move AA. They would be lucky to get a 2nd round pick. If they moved Keith they would get a 1 round pick, but he would probably go to a contender, so it could be at the end of the 1st round. They probably will be bad in 2019/20 also, so they will have their own ick very early in the draft this year and next.

So look at this team with cap space, a 1st round pick at the beginning of the 1st round, a 1st round pick at the end of the first round, two 2nd round picks, plus a really good 1st round pick in 2020. You can see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Top 6 - Toews, Kane, ADB, Strome, Free agent signing (Panarin?), 1st round pick
Bottom 6 - Kampf, Sikura, Kahun, Perlini, Hayden, Entwistle
Dmen (pick your favorite 6, then add Seabs out of necessity) - Free agent, Murphy, Joki, Gus, Boqvist, Mitchell, Forsling, Beaudin, Hillman, Dahlstrom, and Seabs (who is unmovable)
Goalies - Delia, Forsberg, Lankinen

I am willing to give Stan and Colliton a little time.
- -Doh-

HA! So you're saying there's a chance!

kunitz got a game and 5 min major for the chicken wing elbow...no different than hartman's
- bogiedoc

Yep. Can't just go around with your elbow up the entire time. Unintentional high sticks get called all the time. There is nothing that says the elbowing has to be intentional.

I know it's crazy isn't it? Some posters are posting in Real Time and are bringing on self induced Schizophrenia.
- paulr

for real. Gotta take a dramamine most times before I jump on here lmao

Also once Joki comes back from the tourney what are the D pairings with Murphy, Forsling and Dalhstrom factoring in now? Keith or Seabrook traded? JC seems to think the WORLD of Gustafsson and that he can be a top player in this league
- SoftServe

I’d try:

Keith - Forsling
Dahlstrom - Murphy
Gustafsson/Manning - Seabrook

My guess is Manning is the 7th man in favor of playing the two Guses.

that was a very good 60 min game...HOWEVER they have about 2-3 of those a month...they were due...last 60 min solid effort was vs the wild over a month ago...

once again needed their goalie to make at least a dozen grade A saves...he was excellent in the 3rd...

I know it's crazy isn't it? Some posters are posting in Real Time and are bringing on self induced Schizophrenia.
- paulr

On that band theme - it is the 21st Century man.

I’d try:

Keith - Forsling
Dahlstrom - Murphy
Gustafsson/Manning - Seabrook

My guess is Manning is the 7th man in favor of playing the two Guses.
- AEL_Fox

He mentioned when Joki comes back what they pairings would be so my guess would be...

Keith-Joki
Dahlstrom-Murphy
Forsling-Seabrook
Manning/Gus (or one or the other; my guess is that we might see both for a little while)

I think Kampf is Krugs replacement.
- I Am The Breadman

That’s what I’m thinking as well. While I don’t mind Kampf playing 3C short term now, I think he’d be a stellar 4C. While his defense is solid, his offense isn’t 3rd line caliber. With Kruger injured, though, Anisimov slots back in as 3C bumping Kampf down to 4th line.

Anyone know what the deal with Alexander Wennberg? Kid had a 40 and then 59 point season back to back years and then has steadily fallen off since then. Could it be a Tortorella killing a guys career kinda thing? Or is it his own play? Haven't seen much Blue Jackets hockey this year so idk what the deal is.

He's got a cap hit of 4.9M for the next five years I believe, but he's only 24, 6'2, 195 Center who probably needs a change a scenery to get his game back up again.

Kruger to IR. Luke Johnson recalled.

So once AA is traded Reunite the Cat Strome Kane line and Move Sikura to the Toews line Perlini Kampf Kahun as the third line
- SoftServe

I’m also down with that top 9. It’s good to start Sikura on the 3rd line so he can get his bearings again at the NHL level, but he has higher upside than Kahun so I would like him swapping lines with him eventually.

Sikura won’t likely drive a line offensively yet he’s a playmaker and could do some damage playing with offensive talent in Toews and Saad. He’s not going to generate a whole lot with Perlini and Kampf.

Anyone know what the deal with Alexander Wennberg? Kid had a 40 and then 59 point season back to back years and then has steadily fallen off since then. Could it be a Tortorella killing a guys career kinda thing? Or is it his own play? Haven't seen much Blue Jackets hockey this year so idk what the deal is.

He's got a cap hit of 4.9M for the next five years I believe, but he's only 24, 6'2, 195 Center who probably needs a change a scenery to get his game back up again.
- Savetheembers33

Was he playing with Panarin last season? Guy knows how to cushion numbers, haha! Wouldn't mind Wennberg.

Kruger to IR. Luke Johnson recalled.
- Savetheembers33

You get that, DK? Your boy is back in town!

On that band theme - it is the 21st Century man.
- EbonyRaptor

April Wine ( A good Canada band)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4W7TVaFc6c

Was he playing with Panarin last season? Guy knows how to cushion numbers, haha! Wouldn't mind Wennberg.
- I Am The Breadman

There's alot of issues with the young guys meshing with Torts system. Wennberg, Anderson, Duclair has been in and out of the lineup in the last 10 then is thrown on the first line with Panarin day to day. He just seems like a guy that has unrealistic expectations.

He mentioned when Joki comes back what they pairings would be so my guess would be...

Keith-Joki
Dahlstrom-Murphy
Forsling-Seabrook
Manning/Gus (or one or the other; my guess is that we might see both for a little while)
- Savetheembers33

My pairings were based in Jokiharju playing in the WJC. I like the pairs you shared once he returns.

That’s what I’m thinking as well. While I don’t mind Kampf playing 3C short term now, I think he’d be a stellar 4C. While his defense is solid, his offense isn’t 3rd line caliber. With Kruger injured, though, Anisimov slots back in as 3C bumping Kampf down to 4th line.
- AEL_Fox

I think that is a possibility. I guess maybe the recently recalled Luke Johnson might slide into 4C or alternatively, if they like they could keep the current 3rd line intact and just move AA to 4C. (I think he spent a game or two there recently). I guess depends on what on Kane's other wing. My guess for next game.

Saad - Toews - Kahun
AA - Strome - Kane
DeBrincat - Kampf - Sikura
Hayden - Johnson - Perlini

On that band theme - it is the 21st Century man.
- EbonyRaptor

Funny, I was thinking just that when I typed the post.