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Photo by David Gainer/The Hockey Writers
Ahh.. nothin like a good ole Einstein quote to grab one's attention.
A few nuggets to toss out in Al Gore's Internet mixer this mornin....
News just broke that defensemen Anton Stralman and the Jackets have reached a one year agreement worth 1.95 mil.
As I speculated a couple of days ago, once that gap closed to within 1 million I was confident that the remaining gap would be closed.
This deal is reasonable for both sides.
Stralman may have gotten more in arbitration but then the Jackets would have walked and he would have been forced to try to find something similar on the market from another team. The problem for him is most teams have already blown their wads and don't have any more dough left to spend. On top of that would another team give him the role (i.e. playing times) the Jackets are prepared to give? His options overall would have been severely limited.
Even though Stralman isn't close to perfect - especially in his own end - the Jackets certainly couldn't afford to lose their only right handed shot and leading point producer on the blueline. He is also an above average skater at at 23 should only improve. Remember it takes defenseman on average longer develop than forwards. Losing Stralman would only make a weak defensive corps weaker.
Now with Stralman back in the fold Howson is falling back into his usual routine that they are still exploring trade options but that he is happy with this group... "he really is"..
Uh huh. Right.
He isn't happy folks nor should he be. This team still needs a top pairing dman and a top 6 center. No matter how this organization spins it with new coaching staff, conditioning, internal improvement, what-have-you --- the team still needs upgrades in key skill positions.
Those both won't get filled but it doesn't change the fact that going into this offseason those were the team's biggest holes and still remain so.
A trade idea that just occurred to me was swapping Nikita Filatov for LA defensemen Jack Johnson.
Why?
I just saw this little nugget from Kings GM Dean Lombardi:
Speaking of moving on, Lombardi said he’s not keen on waiting to see how the Kovalchuk drama plays out, and that he is mulling one trade option in his mind. For obvious reasons, he didn’t disclose the player.
Johnson is a 23 year old 6-1 225 lb left shooting defenseman who finished last year with 8g 28g for 36p and a -15.
ASSETS: Is an incredible skater. Possesses good size, excellent all-around instincts, physical prowess and offensive upside. Is never shy about laying on the body. Is better than average for a defenseman when in alone against the goaltender.
FLAWS: Needs to avoid getting caught out of position in order to land the big hit. Could stand to simplify his game a little more so as to maximize his physical tools.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Skilled all-around defenseman.
Here's the best part -- he's got one year left on his deal at 1.425 million before he'll become a restricted free agent.
LA is in a similar situation to the Jackets - any move they make will be with an eye on keeping their young core together. Their problem is also the opposite of ours - they need more scorers while the Jackets need a strong all around puckmover on the blueline.
A Filatov for Johnson swap would accomplish goals for both teams. Both players could slot into the young cores for both squads. Both bring a lot of potential to be stars in their respective positions. Both players line up well in terms of salaries trading hands (with bonuses Filatov could take home 2mil+ next season).
Both also come with risks.
Filatov's is Russian (i..e flight risk) and is not proven at the NHL level. Johnson still has some maturing to do, especially in his own end. With one year left on his deal any team that trades for him would have to factor in a hefty raise (Filatov has 2 years remaining on his entry level deal) for next year which brings uncertainty.
You may may be asking yourself - why does LTL always use Forecaster when referring to players? Well, I'll tell you.....
Nobody can be familiar every player in this league but the players I am VERY familiar with - like the entire Columbus Blue Jackets team - Forecaster absolutely nails in their breadowns.
I figure if they are that bang on with the Jackets players then why wouldn't they be with others?
Speaking of Filatov - I see his style of play being similar to a Phil Kessel or Paul Kariya type player. Of course, he has a long way to go to produce like those two.
The part I'm very torn on with Filatov is this team needs another natural goal scorer. Filatov scores goals much differently than say a Rick Nash or RJ Umberger. He is a sniper. He finds the soft spots of the ice and uses his quick release and goal scoring instincts to beat goaltenders. Sure he can use his speed to drive the net but his game is to be a dangerous shooter anywhere in the offensive zone - not a guy who sets up in the paint to get deflections or dirty goals.
Think about this for a second - how often have you seen Rick Nash take a one-timer? Or even wind up for slap shot off the rush or in the slot? That just isn't his game. He likes to receive the puck off the rush and drive the net, make a move to buy him time to take quick wrist shots or clean up loose pucks around the net. That's how he gets the majority of his goals.
Filatov has the potential to bring a different goal scoring element to this lineup.
This team can use that element *but* I think this team needs a complete all around dman more and right now all Filatov is is potential. If Howson can turn that potential into a young all around dman like Johnson I'd pull the trigger.
With Stralman back in the mix it brings the Jackets overall payroll up to $51,893,500 for 22 players.
Again, as much as I have dogged ownership for not stepping up and spending that is a respectable number and certainly should be enough to ice a competitive squad. If this team fails the blame falls squarely on Howson's shoulders and how he is spending his $$ (i.e. 1.75 on Moreau, 2.5 on Clark, 2.65 on Pahlsson).
No pressure.
-LTL
