Written by LTL

It's been a while since I've done one of these. Unfortunately, unlike malls this time of year, not a whole lot of buyin goin on.

BUY

Vinny Prospal

I'm buyin me some Vinny Prospal. In fact, I'd love to buy me 22 VPs on this squad. The 36 year old leads the team with 20p in 26 games and has been one of the very few surprises of the season. He's shown more leadership/accountability than any top line player in recent memory. At 1.75 mil he's been a helluva bargain.

Derek Dorsett

Derek Dorsett is playing his best hockey as a Blue Jacket. We already knew the guy came to play every night and always does a good job filling that agitator role. But now he's starting to make a difference on the score board. He's got 5g (yes, more goals than Carter, Umberger, Vermette) and 2 assists for 7 points and is responsible in his own zone as his even +/- might tell you. At 575k he is the lowest paid Jackets which gives them their highest return on the dollar.

Marc Methot

Methot is another guy that I think is doing a good job given his role - especially over the past 6 or 7 games. As a defensive defensemen he has been very strong on the puck, doesn't loose many board battles, I like his lateral mobility and with 1g, 3a is contributing a little bit offensively. Not counting Martinek, he leads this team in avg short handed time on ice with 2:21 per gameso he's playing a lot of the hard minutes.

Curtis Sanford

For a 3rd string guy making $600k it's impossible to complain about what Curtis Sanford has done this year. Even after getting lit up in Edmonton the Sandman has a respectable .926 Save% (12th overall) and 2.10 GAA (7th overall). Not sure he can keep it up but for now he has finally provided some stability in net and the team has grown more confident because of it.

James Wisniewski

Don't think anyone will ever say Wiz will live up to his contract but thus far he, for the most part, is delivering for what he was signed for. He's tied for 3rd on the team in points with 1g, 11a for 12p in just 18g. That -13 is not pretty and is 2nd worst on the team. Despite missing the first 8 games he's already 4th in total ice time with 481:06 played. He's playing in every situation. I do worry about burn out. I also want to see him be more effective on the PP as I don't think he's getting nearly enough shots from the point. Heck, for a shooter, he's only 10th in shots on the team with 38.

Ownership

Ownership is the only one to make this list twice. According to capgeek.com the Jackets are now 11th in overall spending (down from 6th earlier this year). That is a lofty financial commitment from ownership which as a fan I applaud.

Nashville Road Trip

3 buses of Jacket Backers and the Jackets finally delivered their first road win of the season. The win also included first goals in CBJ sweaters by Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski. Of course, we all know it has been forever (2006) since the Jackets won a game in that building. This trip was by faaaaaaaaar the highlight of my season thus far.

Arena District

It it weren't for the AD we probably would be talking relocation instead of how to fix this effing team.

Game Ops / Replays

I've really enjoyed the game ops experience this season, even if the games themselves haven't given us a lot to cheer about. The replays have been fantastic. Haven't seen much of the goofy Will Ferrell videos sideshows. The music has been better. Seems like a NHL presentation versus an AHL one. Now we just need an NHL team. Great job game ops!

Into Song

Love the Kick Ass intro song. Now about that kicking some ass part...

Face Offs

Columbus is decent in the dot ranked 11th winning 51% of them.

Pro Scouts

Wasn't much of a fan of either the Nikitin or Letestu moves when they happened but to Howson and the pro scouts credit - they have helped this lineup, at least so far in the short term. Nikitin has been a HUGE surprise as I personally didn't know a thing about him. He's big, positionally sound, and certainly has some offensive instincts. Letestu has very soft hands and just seems to make the right plays all the time. He's got 4g 1a in 12 games in a Jackets sweater but is a -3.  These guys going from healthy scratches to playing major roles on this team is concerning.

Hits

The Jackets aren't afraid to take the body.  They rank 4th overall in the league in hits with 636.

Nail Yakupov

If nothing else, it is a good year to fail if you believe the hype that is Nail Yakupov. In fact there are a couple blue chippers at the top of this draft class that could provide immediate returns as early as next season. In short, I'm buying that it's a good year to really suck.

Fights

According to hockeyfights.com the Jackets are tied for first in the league in fighting majors.  Most of that dirty work has been done by Dorsett, Boll and Bass.  Credit to those guys for doing what they can to try to spark this squad.  I'd like to see some of the other more high profile guys get their hands dirty however.

Conference Reallignment

In case you haven't heard the Jackets will be in a new conference next season with Min, Chi, Dal, Wpg, Det, Stl and Nash.  I'm buying it as it cuts down on travel and of all the teams, I'm glad we are still in a division with Nashville.  The part I'm selling is that since the CBJ will be in a 8 team conference and only 4 teams make it per conference -- it will be even more difficult for them to get into the dance.

Bottom Of The Lineup

The role players are doing a pretty good job filling their roles. MacKenzie, Boll, Dorsett, Bass, AJ and even Pahlsson of late. You won't get many gripes from me about that group.

SELL

Umberger

What a MASSIVE disappointment RJ has been. Probably the biggest single surprise for me given his previous seasons and just overall style of play. 3g, 4a for just 7 damn points and a -7. I really hope it's not that new contract that has got him complacent. This season has been a nightmare and his play is the boogeyman. I'm not gonna panic on him just yet as I don't believe he is a contract player but if this continues through next season then he really becomes an anchor --- in a bad way.

Vermette

Similar to RJ, if it was two seasons of this kind of performance I'd definitely be panicking. He's looked much better of late on the wing on the 3rd line and has upped his points total to 3g 8a for 11p in 26g. That's a far cry from the 1st line center roll he was holding down for us the last few seasons but he's finally contributing something this year.

Goal Song

Don't mind the song as much as the fact that it's being played in a gazillion places (including commercials) right now. It's the new Rock N' Roll Part II by Gary Glitter. I personally prefer something more original.

Home

The Jackets are just 5-7-1 at home. Not nearly good enough.

OT/Shootout

The Jackets are 2-3 in OT/Shootout games. Won in OT versus Nashville. Won in a shootout versus Calgary. I guess they could be worse right?

Score First

The Jackets are 6-4-1 when scoring first. Got to be better after getting that first one and build on it.

PANIC

2011 - 2012 Season

The panic button should have sounded 10 games into the season and perhaps it was. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. No risks have panned out from Mason, Dekanich to Martinek.

Rick Nash

Yeah he's 2nd on the team in points with 19 in 26 games. He's also a team worse -14. Here's my problem with 61, when are we gonnna win with this guy as our focal point? Here's my answer - never. It's not really a panic on Rick Nash per se -- but a panic on Rick Nash being capable of carrying this team anywhere other than the basement.

Jeff Carter

It started with his silence after the trade and has snowballed into a terrible season. But LTL, give him some time dude!! Fair argument but I'm just not buying that he's buying into what this team/market is selling. He's had multiple injuries. Only 3g, 5a in 15g with a -1. We are already hearing the rumbles of trade demands. I hope I'm not over-reacting on the panic button with him but as the great Han Solo would say "I got a bad feeling".

Derick Brassard

One of my personal favorites on the team so it pains me to say this, but he just hasn't been good from the word go this year. I mean there are a bunch of Jackets that haven't been good, but he's right down there with Mason. The biggest thing I've noticed with him is there is no speed to his game both in terms of sheer north/south skating and in terms of decisions. He is getting caught regularly from behind and he is taking way to long to make decisions with the puck. Change of scenery looks to be needed here as his confidence is absolutely shot.

Mason

Another year for Mason, another disaster between the pipes. He's currently 40th in the league in Save% (.875) and GAA (3.63). He also hasn't done any favors to the +/- numbers of his teammates. I don't think the team likes him and vice versa. It's past the time to cut the cord on this guy.

Special Teams

PP has shown a little life over the past 10 games but is still 25th at 12.9%. The PK is terrible ranking 28th at 75.3%.  I would have to say the PP is the bigger dissapointment given the firepower they added this offseason.

Up Tempo Team

I'll be the first to admit I thought this team would score a lot more goals. Even with Carter and Wiz in the lineup that has just not happened. Honestly, I don't get it as it seems no matter who is subtracted/added - this offense continues to sputter on an annual basis. Currently it's ranked 25th in the NHL in average goals scored.

Goals Against

Not that they are any better in their own end as they have given up the 28th worst average goal per game at 3.27. Alot of that is goaltending and the team defense, while I don't think its as bad as most, has definitely had their share of rough nights.

Road

The Jackets are just 2-9-2 on the road. Not nealrly good enough.

Scott Howson

I liked his offseason outside of the goaltending and, to me, not addressing this position will ultimately cost him his job. You know I was okay with rolling into the season with Mason/Dekanich assuming Howson would address this position if they struggled. But his failure to bring in another goaltender after Dekanich went down is absolutely inexcusable and has cost this team this season IMO. A career AHLer in Sanford has shown me that we are at least a .500 team if there was another option in net over those first 10 games.

Arniel

The stats don't lie and Arniel has an overall record of 41-51-16 as the main man behind the Jackets bench. Unfortunately many of those wins came at the beginning of last season (new coach bump). I like Arniel, I really do, but he's a man that looks beaten and out of ideas of what to do with this group. Hey, he isn't he first or the last to have that deer in a headlights look when it comes the Columbus Blue Jackets. But if we ever hope to turn this things around that just cannot happen.

Compete Level

This team just does not seem to have the will to win. There is no pride in this jersey. Certainly that comes with over a decade of losing. The question is how to exorcise it?  I have my theories (keep your eye on the Florida Panthers) but won't get into that here.

Priest

He may be fine as a bean counter but I have a very hard time believing this guy holds anything or anyone accountable. I mean, how can he? One must comprehend the game before one can critique it.

Ownership

I"m puttin them in panic as well b/c although they have spent the cash where is the accountability? Perhaps there is a longer term plan behind closed doors (there has to be IMO) but by this inaction, the only message being sent to the fans is that this kind of performance is acceptable. That it's tolerated. One can only hope that the inaction is b/c they can't interview the folks they want until after the season.

Trailing After First Goal

The Jackets are just 1-12-2 when they give up the first goal. 29th in the league. Gawd almighty is that bad.

Attendance

The Jackets rank 27th in NHL attendance this season with an average of 13,457 butts per game.  After a decade of losing the only ones to blame for this eroding fanbase is this franchise.  Win and I still believe they will come.

-LTL