In case you haven't heard yet the Jackets have claimed 34 year old left winger Ethan Moreau off of waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.
Moreau has 14 seasons of NHL experience and is slated to make 1.75 million in the final year of his contract this year. He notched 9g, 9a for 18p last season.
Right now I feel like the Tom Hanks character in BIG when he's sitting in the conference room watching a presentation of a new toy where a robot changes into a building and he raises his hand and says:
"I don't get it".
"A robot turns into a building?"... "Why not a bug or something?"..
Well that dude you see with his arm up right now wearing a CBJ jersey -- well that's me stating"
"I don't get it".
"Another aging oft-injured winger?"... "We just spent 1.75 million on that!?"...
Let's start with this -- what does this team need most?
#1 center and top pairing puck moving dman right?
What does this team need the least?
Wings.
Especially aging bottom line checking wings.
What do we add -- an aging 34 year oft-injured former captain checking line winger.
I'm sure we'll hear he's a great leader and will bring stability to the locker room... and Howson will state how he's got experience with this player.. yada yada.. blabber blabber.
My response is why in the wide wide world of sports did we trade for Chris Clark?
ASSETS: Always displays solid leadership qualities. Uses speed, grit and tenacity to play a sound checking game. Is also versatile enough to occasionally play on a scoring line.
FLAWS: Is somewhat limited in the creativity department, and is miscast when used on a scoring line for long stretches. Has become more injury-prone over time.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Veteran checking winger with leadership qualities.
ASSETS: Has natural leadership skills. Boasts good size and loads of checking acumen. Works extremely hard night in, night out. Is effective on the penalty kill.
FLAWS: Injuries have played a major part in his career and curtailed offensive expectations. Hasn't been able to show the anticipation or timing needed to score goals consistently.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Veteran checking winger.
As if one Clark wasn't enough -- now we need version 2.0? Hell Clark is even 34 and a fromer captain!!
I don't get it.
This is a move I would have instantly blamed on Hitch. Well Hitch ain't here no more and perhaps Hitch wasn't really pulling the string afterall eh?
I think the only ones jumping for joy with this move are the Oilers and their fans. They were gonna buy Moreau out and now get that cap space back.
At this stage I have absolutely no clue what Howson and co. are doing. I didn't like the Clark trade the moment it happened, I certainly didn't like the draft and in no way/shape/form does this move thrill me
Maybe we should be asking ourselves is if leadership is needed this much what does that say about Rick Nash?
..and what happened to puck possession up-tempo style of game? How does Moreau help what-so-ever with that? He is a dump/chase kind of player.
Right now we have 4.25 million tied up in two former captain 34 year oft-injured wingers who scored a total of 38 points last year. This for a budget team that must spend every penny wisely.
Just imagine the kind of d-man/center we could have gotten for that?
Perhaps I'm jumping the gun. Perhaps Howson has some more moves up his sleeves (I certainly hope so). Perhaps Clark is going to be moved.
..or perhaps this is it?
Huselius Vermette Nash
Filatov Brassard Voracek
Moreau Pahlsson Umberger
Boll Murray Dorsett
Extra: Clark
Hejda Tyutin
Klesla Russell
Commodore Stralman
Extra: Methot
Mason
Garon
Better damn well hope Filatov can score and that both Brassard and Voracek take major steps or we are screwed offensively. Nash better play every game like he's got that maple leaf on his chest. I have no idea where Howson expects improvemen to come from the backend. I see Russell getting better but enough to carry that group offensively?
A lot of hoping in the mix right now.
The one positive I will say is that this move shows that ownership has opened their wallet a bit as the payroll has jumped up to, according to capgeek.com, 49.5 million with guys like Boll and Stralman still to sign. I would like them to spend to the cap as much as the next guy but this team should be able to compete with a 50 million dollar payroll in a capped league.
Right now if I were to grade the offseason I would give Howson an F-. If I could go lower I would. The good news is that the offseason is not over so there is still time for improvement.
Just please stop looking in trash cans for players.
Some of you will continue to give this organization the benefit of the doubt but for me this franchise is kind of a like a player trying to make the team -- they have to earn that spot.
But hey, we've got a new coach!
Fire away - thoughts on this move?
-LTL
