Late Night With LTL

Written by LTL

Nice break down of the Jackets schedule on their web site this year.

Some things that stand out to me:

This is the least excited I've been about seeing the Jackets schedule.  Perhaps it's because the draft is right around the corner and then free agency.  Perhaps it's just the fact of -- does it really even matter?

Get ready for Buffalo fans to invade Nationwide again for the Jackets last game of the season at home on Saturday April 9th.  I really wish the CBJ bean counters who love to see Nationwide packed with opposing teams fans would sit in the upper bowl and listen to them run their mouths for 3 periods.  Great fun for you know, the actual home town fans who buy the season tickets.  Perhaps if they concentrated on icing a winning team they could then concentrate on packing the house with home town fans!

Who else is taking a full or half day on Friday October 8th to get home to watch the Jackets take on the Sharks over in Stockholm at 3 P.M. ET.?

Another New Years Eve game at home versus the Senators.  Can't miss that one.

Only 3 home games in the month of January.  That will be the make or break month.

An absolutely horrible schedule for road trips.  No @Nashville Saturday games?  That blows.

18 back to backs... not great but not the end of the world.  The year we made the playoffs I think we had 22 of those - the most in the league.  We missed last year with only 12.

Longest road trip is 5 games.  Pretty reasonable.

Want a wake up call as to where the Jackets stand in this league?  Just wait for the national TV schedule to come out.  I'm guessing the Jackets get a game on Versus (probably against Wings @ Detroit) and then whatever channel the Stockholm games are on -- probably the NHL Network.

Been thinkin about this whole Spezza non-deal a lot today.  The salary is one thing but if what Lebron of ESPN says is true - that Howson hasn't even talked to Murray - then there is a lot more to this than just the salary.  Must be some serious character flaws with the Spez.

In case you missed it Boston made a trade today and unfortunately it wasn't with us.  They moved Wideman, their 15th overall plus a 3rd in 2011 to Florida for Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell.

Why do I care?

Boston has some nice center depth and they did hold that 15th pick.  They could have made nice trading partners.  Something could still be worked out if they were looking to unload a center (Kreci, Bergeron) but I'd say the chances are greatly reduced after this move.

Howson has got to make a move this week right?  I'm starting to think the move he makes will be of the low risk low reward variety.  You know, basically the same crap he's done since he arrived.

I'm all for building through the draft as that is the right way to build a consistent contender.  I get that.  The problem is you have to be able to build through the draft.  That 10th anniversary logo says a lot including the fact that we've have 10 years to build through the draft and one 4 game playoff sweep to show for it.

Please excuse me while I don't get excited if we hold onto the #4 pick.

Take this to the bank on Hitch. Look for him to get a job in-season.  He'll be a juicy target for a club that struggles out of the gate and will make a bold move to save their season by hiring him.

Received an email from Fox Sports Ohio with the following:

CLEVELAND, OHIO – FOX Sports Ohio and the Columbus Blue Jackets are excited to announce a new summer program, Blue Jackets Live – Summer Special, presented by Toyota Direct, premiering Thursday, July 1 at 7:30pm.

This 30-minute show with FOX Sports Ohio Blue Jackets broadcasters Ray Crawford, Bill Davidge, John Michael and Jeff Rimer will bring Blue Jackets fans up to speed on their team’s off-season news.

The show features interviews with the Jackets’ new Head Coach Scott Arniel and General Manager Scott Howsen. Rimer will also talk to the Blue Jackets first round pick at the site of the NHL Draft, which will be held June 25-26 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

The show will additionally break down the Blue Jackets’ 10^th Anniversary season schedule for 2010-11, including the team’s opening games vs. the San Jose Sharks in Stockholm, Sweden as part of the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere™ and NHL Face-Off™.

Following the 7:30pm premiere on July 1, the show will re-air the following dates and times:

-LTL