- Error
I've read from CBJ fans who speculate on where a guy like Aaron Portzline get's his facts or "sources". Take this statement from his chat via the Dispatch the other day:
There is absolutely no agenda. I like Filatov, personally. He's always been good to me and The Dispatch. I only pass along what we learn through reporting, that he's a name that has been mentioned in trade rumors. We know this as a fact..Doesn't mean we want him to be traded; doesn't mean we don't. Our job is to report the facts, which we've done. We've been very fair to the kid, and he's been fair to us. I'd ask you for examples of us devaluing him.
Maybe I'm playing captain obvious here but lets fill in the blanks from where these "facts" come from.
First let's eliminate some options.
The Dispatch are paid journalists who put food on their tables by reporting from legit sources. Legit sources do not mean the Zamboni drivers, equipment managers or ice girls. Sure some of those folks may get talk to some players and dig up some dirt but Portzline and co certainly won't take that to print.
I also don't see Portzline goin casino royale and planting a bug under Howson's desk.
Ask yourself this question - who stands to gain the most from feeding the Dispatch info?
Pretty easy to connect the dots here --- agents and CBJ management.
Agents, particularly if they are in a tough negotiation with a CBJ player, can use the Dispatch to get their side of the story out concerning their player's situation. Think about Rick Nash's "comments" (i.e. coaching from agent) that he fired out a day into his negotiation last summer for example. There are many agents however and tough negotiations are few and far between. Their situations are mostly one-offs and I don't see a lot of consistent interaction between agents and the Dispatch.
Jackets management on the other hand have a lot to gain and lose by feeding the Dispatch info. The Dispatch is really the only traditional media in town that covers the Jackets on a daily basis. A big part of that may be the fact that they are part owners but regardless of the motivation -- they certainly don't want to lose that coverage. In return for that coverage the Dispatch will want to be the first to "break" CBJ stories. Signings, trades, hires/fires, etc. That is only going to come from one place and that is Scott Howson and to a lesser extent his assistant in John MacFarland.
There are exceptions, especially on the business side, where most of the story will break from President Mike Priest but when it comes to hockey operations the "source" has to be Scott Howson.
Keep this in mind as well for those that think the Dispatch is not critical enough on the Jackets - would you be if Scott Howson and the Jackets were essentially putting food on your table? Portzline certainly isn't going to bite the hand the feeds him and I don't blame him. He walks the line a bit more in the blog but he knows where the line is. The opinion columns need to come from Mike Arace and Bob Hunter -- unfortunately those two mostly lob softballs the Jackets way instead of bringin the heat.
So the next time you read the Dispatch has learned from "sources" just fill in that blank with Scott Howson because 90% of the time I believe that is where the information is coming from.
Speaking of Hunter, here is an interesting nugget from Bob Hunter that former Jackets assistant coach Gary Agnew turned down the AHL job in Springfield. Really can't blame him considering his reasoning:
Agnew mulled the Springfield opportunity over the weekend before deciding that after 10 years with the Blue Jackets that it was time to move on.
I mentioned on Twitter in a response to a tweet that speculated the Brian Burke was interested in, among others, Antoine Vermette in a return for Tomas Kaberle.
I responded that if that was the return he was looking for then "good night and good luck".
I think some took that as I would do that trade.
Looking at that again I can see how I could be lost in translation here.
The message I was trying to get across was "good night" (as in hangs up the phone) and "good luck" (as in good luck finding a return like that).
As much as I think we can use Kaberle there is no way Howson would move his only proven center for a one year rental. You fill one hole but create an even bigger one elsewhere in your lineup for years to come.
Nikita Filatov is in Columbus Ohio - a full 6 weeks before training camp.
There is no other way to look at this other than a positive. He'll get his opportunity to rebuild some bridges with some of the other young players in town and most importantly it shows a renewed commitment towards playing in the NHL this season.
There have been some rumblings that Filatov was late to practice a few times last year and had some late nights on the town. I'm not one to criticize young players for hitting the town (hey, I've certainly been there/done that) but as pro athletes these guys have to pick their spots and stay out of the spotlight while doin it.
It may not be fair but it's part of the package.
I do think the chances of Filatov getting dealt at this stage are next to nothing. I also think, as Portlzine alluded to with this "facts", that Filatov was indeed on the block but b/c A. the return wasn't there and/or B. his renewed commitment towards the NHL that we'll see him in a CBJ jersey this season.
Let's hope things go a little better for Filatov the second time around (well technically his 3rd time) as the Jackets can desperately use his scoring. In fact they really don't have anyone in the lineup with his goal scoring skill set (i.e. sniper).
I'm watching a replay of this year's draft -- still can't believe Fowler and Gormley slipped to #12 and #13. I shudder to think about Fowler's numbers in a few years and what could have been.
I have warmed up to Johansen some but still think we could have done more with this pick.
The more highlights I watch of Johansen the more he reminds me of Jordan Staal. I'd certainly be okay with that. Speaking of Staal I've always wondered what kind of numbers he'd put up if not playing behind Crosby and Malkin.
Still think Howson makes some kind of a move for a dman.
I starting to expect more of a Stralman type move versus bringing in a legit top pairing guy - or even top 4 guy.
I'm tellin you now though, we've never seen a guy who could move the puck in a CBJ sweater on the blueline like a Kaberle could. Does it piss you off watching Lidstrom and Rafalski consistently chop us up and spit us out on Wings powerplays with their puck movement? Well Kaberle could help us do the same to them.
Burke is gonna have to lower his price before that can happen.
Anyone else taking the day off October 8th for the Jackets season opener in Sweden? Let's just say the party plans at the LTL household are full speed ahead.
I know our favorite hockey home away from home, the R Bar, will also be running some opening day specials.
For all those thinking about attending CannonFest - I got a sneak peek at Skraut's new video and let me say it is by far his best work yet. If you don't get goosebumps watching this thing then check your hockey pulse!
It's worth making the trip just to see it. The Jackets should hire this guy stat!
Have a great weekend CBJ fans!
-LTL
