Compiled by Phanatic staff
Eventually, the effects of the perpetual motion machine known as the goaltending carousel and Paul Holmgren's plan to deal with such was going to come back and haunt him, and it managed to do so in the worst way.
Sergei Bobrovsky took home the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best netminder when the league announced its four biggest awards on Saturday night.
Bobrovsky, only 24 and capping his third NHL season, beat out last year's winner Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers and Antti Niemi of the San Jose Sharks. His ascension marks another victory for European-trained goalies, as he became the first Russian-born crease guardian to be so honored in North America.
"It is a great honor. You dream about some day winning the Vezina Trophy
but there are a lot of great goaltenders, like Henrik and Antti, so it
is hard but I am very proud," Bobrovsky said. "It also means we had a good team in
Columbus and I could not have won this award without my teammates and
coaches."
In his third NHL campaign and first away from Philadelphia, Bobrovsky took the starting job from an ineffective Steve Mason, going for a 21-11-6 record, 2.00 goals-against average and .932 save percentage along with his first four career shutouts. He finished with 17 first-place votes and appeared on 26 of the 30 ballots cast, accumulating 110 points.
What's more, is that the English-challenged crease guardian finished fifth in league MVP voting, after leading the Jackets to the verge of a playoff berth before just falling short.
When the Flyers plucked Bobrovsky from Novokuznetsk of the Kontinental Hockey League back in 2010, there was no inkling of the true ceiling of his potential.
At 22 years and 17 days old, he became the youngest goaltender to win a season-opening game for the Flyers in a 3-2 victory at Pittsburgh in October of 2010, eclipsing Ron Hextall's mark which stood from October of 1986, then added NHL Rookie of the Month honors in November.
He was eventually given the reins full time during the regular season, going 28-13-8 with a 2.59 goals against, but faltered with the rest of the team down the stretch and didn't engender confidence in head coach Peter Laviolette during a drama-filled 11-game playoff course two Springs ago.
That earned him a spot behind the never-ending circus known as Ilya Bryzgalov in 2011, and the demotion behind the $51 million dollar man acquired under certain orders from those higher than Holmgren certainly hurt his confidence and it showed in his play.
But even with the fresh start -- so often offered by the Flyers' front office when a player whose talents outstrip his opportunity to play -- that came last Summer upon his trade to Columbus, didn't hint at the greatness to come.
That start, of course, was delayed three-and-a-half-months by the third lockout in 18 years, and by Columbus' own slow beginning with Mason in the crease at the outset.
It all began with a March that stands tall in franchise lore. Bobrovsky was finally raised to starter, and quickly warmed to the task, being named to the NHL's player of the week ledger twice and clocking in as the league's third star for the month after compiling a 9-2-3 record with a 1.49 GAA, .950 save
percentage and three whitewashes in 14 games.
As the Blue Jackets ended up with their most successful month in the entire history of the team (10-2-4), he
allowed only 20 goals on 404 shots in 807 minutes played, surrendering one
goal or fewer in 10 of his 14 appearances and making 30-or-more saves
seven times.
"I don’t know. I am still going to work hard to improve every day and
help my team to win," Bobrovsky said when asked if there was anything
special which contributed to his sudden hot streak. "The goal of every
team and player is to win the
Stanley Cup and I haven’t done that yet."
Meanwhile, it was a thrill a minute in the never-ending soap opera between Bryzgalov and the mainstream media in Philadelphia, which produced more storm clouds in the locker room than the Flyers conjured up through their on-ice performance.
That drama has spilled over to this offseason, beset with equal and opposite rumors of Bryzgalov's status as locker-room martyr or buyout casualty.
With the new divisional alignments on tap for next season, Columbus and Philadelphia will be seeing a lot more of each other. That's an unforeseen consequence of a front office whose modus operandi is to find trading partners in the opposite conference where backlash can be felt least.
Now Holmgren and goalie coach Jeff Reese will both have their feet held to the fire over this decision, which has made Jackets goaltender coach Ian Clark look as good as ever.
"He was a big part of my game this year. We changed some small details in how I was playing and that really helped me a lot," said Bobrovsky of Clark.
And while it remains to be seen what kind of path this Vezina victory so early in his career will forge, it's good to know Bobrovsky's not looking too far down the road.
"When I was traded to Columbus, I didn't think of what people said or
people think. The most important thing for me was to concentrate how I
can help this team, what can I do better, how could I prepare myself to
make this team even better."
Step one is already accomplished. Step two, an unintended consequence, was making his old team which couldn't get out of its own way to try and continue his development look foolish in the process.
Showing posts with label Blue Jackets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blue Jackets. Show all posts
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Flyers hoping Mason can start rebuilding career as backup
Phanatic Hockey Editor
Paulie Paulie Paulie has done it again!
On Wednesday, just ahead of the 3 PM trade deadline, Paul Holmgren decided to make the goaltending situation a little bit more drama-tinged by acquiring Steve Mason from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The same Mason who lost his starting job this season to...wait for it...ex-Flyer Sergei Bobrovsky, who has become a sensation in Columbus for seemingly coming out of nowhere to lead the club to the cusp of respectability and a playoff berth.
The price was sending little-used backup/organizational yo-yo Michael Leighton plus a third-round pick in 2015 to Ohio's capital.
Leighton, you may recall (and even if you don't, nobody would blame you) had just one start this season, a disastrous 5-1 loss at Tampa Bay on January 27 which promptly sent Ilya Bryzgalov back into the crease until Peter Laviolette tired of seeing him there.
But back to Mason for a second. He's a reclamation project who the organization, I presume, hopes to kick into gear with a little more pressure as Bryzgalov's backup for as long as he's in Orange and Black.
"I'm extremely excited, really looking forward to a fresh opportunity," Mason said in an interview with TSN of Canada upon announcement of the transaction. "I'm going to a great organization with some players I have some history with them from World Juniors. Just really looking forward to meeting the new guys and starting off fresh."
To put it another way: All in all, he's just another brick in the wall and not The Man anymore. That may be what the 24-year-old needs at this point in his career.
Mason came on like a house afire four seasons ago, earning the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie after going for a 33-20-7 record, 2.29 goals-against average and franchise-record 10 shutouts for a Jackets club that reached the postseason for the first time.
That was under Ken Hitchcock, whose leaning on veterans to impart his message and meticulous attention to the defensive zone aided Mason's gaudy numbers. He won 20, 24 and 16 games, respectively, in the last three full NHL seasons, then only could muster a 3-6-1 mark with a 2.95 GAA and .899 save percentage in 13 appearances with Columbus this year.
Meanwhile, Bobrovsky has become a folk hero going 12-8-6 with a 2.13 GAA and a trio of shutouts -- his first in North America -- all coming in his Herculean month of March that gained him the NHL's Third Star.
Whereas Bobrovsky's lightning-quick adaptation to the NHL two seasons ago forced the club to accelerate his ascension to the spotlight, Mason's lights have long since faded, and that's OK.
Out of fear of losing valuable points in a truncated schedule, Laviolette has had to do everything but glue Bryzgalov to the posts in order for the Flyers to have chance to make the postseason in a down year.
Mason's acquisition alleviates some of that fear, but perhaps only as far as using next season as a starting point. With the Eastern Conference playoff picture still hazy, and with the Flyers teetering precariously between the final playoff berth and dead last in the conference, it may not be wise to toss Mason into the fire and see what he can do with so much pressure on the team as a whole to make it work.
Still, with Mason being a restricted free agent, how the organization feels about the playoff chase will go a long way towards determining his use. If there's postseason in the offing late into the schedule, he'll most likely get spot duty. If no late Spring hockey is in the cards, easier for him to be showcased for potential offseason deals.
"We like Steve as a young goalie," Holmgren said to a media assemblage this afternoon. "We still think there's tremendous upside there. We'll bring him in and work with him and try to help him achieve his goals of becoming a better goalie, as well."
Each game where he's the man in goal is a brick by which Mason can continue to rebuild his technical skills and his confidence. And even that's up in the air, with the sudden change from Ian Clark's influence to that of Jeff Reese, who has not exactly engendered confidence since he assumed control.
Nonetheless, professional pride and a little positive encouragement from a successful outfit like the Flyers can go a long way.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Carter gets wish, reunited with Richards
Jeff Carter would never be and will never have become part of the Columbus Blue Jackets turn towards respectability, as much for the franchise's total inability to find success as much as for Carter's own dislike of the situation following the trade last Summer from Philadelphia for Jake Voracek and the pick which became Sean Couturier.
On Thursday night, the Kings pulled the trigger on a deal which sent defenseman Jack Johnson and a conditional first-round pick either 2012 or 2013 to the LA in exchange for the 27-year-old scorer, who was languishing in his first pro year away from the club which drafted him in 2003.
“Jeff is a proven goal scorer in our league. He brings goal-scoring abilities, speed and at his age he is entering the prime of his career. We also like his versatility as he can play both center and wing,” said Kings GM Dean Lombardi shortly after the deal was struck. “We also want to wish Jack Johnson the best going forward.”
Thus, exactly eight months to the day both men were liberated from Dry Island and shipped their separate ways, a reunion will take place in the shadow of Hollywood.
The sum total of Carter's production in Ohio's capital is 15 goals -- including two hat tricks -- and 25 points in 39 games.
Carter brings 500 games of NHL experience and 196 goals to a Kings team which has totaled a league-low 129 goals.
Both Carter and Richards bring to Southern California a two-man wrecking crew not seen since the Glimmer Twins were in their prime.
On Thursday night, the Kings pulled the trigger on a deal which sent defenseman Jack Johnson and a conditional first-round pick either 2012 or 2013 to the LA in exchange for the 27-year-old scorer, who was languishing in his first pro year away from the club which drafted him in 2003.
“Jeff is a proven goal scorer in our league. He brings goal-scoring abilities, speed and at his age he is entering the prime of his career. We also like his versatility as he can play both center and wing,” said Kings GM Dean Lombardi shortly after the deal was struck. “We also want to wish Jack Johnson the best going forward.”
Thus, exactly eight months to the day both men were liberated from Dry Island and shipped their separate ways, a reunion will take place in the shadow of Hollywood.
The sum total of Carter's production in Ohio's capital is 15 goals -- including two hat tricks -- and 25 points in 39 games.
Carter brings 500 games of NHL experience and 196 goals to a Kings team which has totaled a league-low 129 goals.
Both Carter and Richards bring to Southern California a two-man wrecking crew not seen since the Glimmer Twins were in their prime.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Carter talks to Blue Jackets media
Three days after his acquisition in a blockbuster deal from Philadelphia to Columbus, forward Jeff Carter was finally able to sit down on a conference call and explain a little bit of how he felt and what went down over the past 72 hours.
From the Blue Jackets website:
QUESTION: Can you just talk about the excitement about the opportunity about coming to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
JEFF CARTER: I'm definitely excited. You know I've spent the past six years playing in Philadelphia and I had a great six years. Sometimes a new fresh start is always good. I just had the pleasure of meeting with Scott Howson, Scott Arniel and Rick Nash down at my place here. After talking with them it made me real excited. I think they have a good group of young players that are up and coming in the league, and the chance to get to play with a guy like Rick Nash is obviously exciting. (I’m) definitely looking forward to it and I can't wait to get things going.
Q: Thanks for doing this today. Can you describe what the last couple of days have been like for you and why it took you so long to say the words that you just said?
JC: It's been a tough couple of days. You know, like I said, I spent six years playing in Philly, but I have been with organization for awhile now. I think so highly of the organization that it was a real a shock to me. I know there were a lot of rumors going around, but I never really expected it to happen. Like I said, sometimes a fresh start and new faces are good for everybody. I can’t wait to get there and get things going and I’m super excited.
Q: Your agent said, and could you reiterate, that your disappointment and your silence the last four days was about you’re being upset that you were being moved from Philadelphia or did it not have anything to do with your destination, not wanting to come to a different conference, a different city or a team that hasn’t won practically…
JC: My decision not to talk the last couple of days had absolutely nothing to do with being traded to Columbus. I know they're a team that has struggled in the past, but they have a bright future with a lot of young guys coming up and with Rick Nash, it can't be that bad, right? So, it obviously has nothing to do with Columbus. It was all about the way things were handled and whatnot in Philadelphia. (That) is what I was upset about.
Q: Do you think that this is helpful that this is happening in the offseason? Obviously you are going through a tough period right now having to adjust, would it have been much tougher had this deal gone down at the trade deadline and you would have come and start at it blind?
JC: I definitely think it would have. I've had a couple of days here to get things settled and figure out what I am going to do in Columbus. I think it gives the coaches some time to figure out what they are going to do. I can sit down with them and see what my role is going to be and what they expect of me and all of that kind of stuff team-wise. Personally, it gives me some time to digest everything and move on and get settled in Columbus and get ready for the year.
Q: How helpful was today's visit in helping you maybe shift gears and look ahead?
JC: It was great. I was really appreciative of them making the trip to come down here to see me. That shows a lot on their part. Obviously they are real excited to have me. We just talked for awhile about the team and their direction, what their sights are on for the future, my role on the team and all that kind of stuff. We talked about the city for awhile. After talking with them it definitely got me real excited and I wish the season was starting a little earlier.
Q: And you've gotten good feedback from Nash in that visit?
JC: Yeah, definitely. I've known Nasher a little bit for a while here through All-Star Games and Olympic camps and he actually played in my hometown in juniors, so I know him a little bit and he's obviously a great guy, a world-class player. So, I'm definitely looking forward to being with him.
Q: We know you reached out and spoke a little bit with Rick, were you able to talk with (former Flyers teammate) R.J. (Umberger) or anyone else? Was it just a matter of taking a couple of days to compose yourself?
JC: On the day that I got traded, Thursday, I got a few calls from, well obviously Rick called me, R.J. called me and Antoine Vermette gave me a shout. I’ve actually been playing phone tag with R.J. the last day or so. I haven’t gotten a hold of him yet, but I’ll definitely be talking to him in the near future.
Q: Your emotions have had to have run the gamut just all over the place. Can you pinpoint one? Anger? Betrayal? Excitement? Can you talk about that?
JC: It's been a tough couple of days. I think I've had a little bit of everything going through my mind right now. But, like I said, after I sat down with Scott, Scott and Rick it's been a lot of excitement and I look forward to coming in there and being a piece of the puzzle there and building something pretty good in Columbus.
Q: Can you tell everybody in Columbus what you love about playing the sport of hockey?
JC: I mean, it's the best sport there is. For us, we're going out there and doing something that we love to do. You know, they've told me that Columbus is a big college town and they're really behind their Buckeyes, but they've seen in the past that when the Blue Jackets start winning and putting a good team on the ice the fans are really into it and it turns into a real big hockey town. I'm real excited to help them build a winning team and get everybody excited again.
Q: Playing on the ice with Rick (Nash), how excited are you to play on that line with him? This is something that this organization has never had, a player of your caliber. How do you see you guys fitting together?
JC: I'm real excited. Anytime you get a chance to play with a guy like Rick, it definitely puts a smile on your face. I'm excited to get out there and see what we can do together. I think we're two big guys. Rick's had a lot of people keying on him the last eight years that he's been there, so it's not easy doing a lot by yourself. Hopefully I can take some of the weight off his shoulders and try to help him out and help this team out.
Q: If you this to do over again, would you reach out to Scott Howson earlier, reach out to the fans? Any regrets with how this went down and the anxiety that was created with the fan base here?
JC: No, I traded text messages with Scott (Howson) and my agent spoke with Scott and we told them that I was going to take weekend to think things over. I think sometimes when you are caught off guard, you feel a little bit of anger and betrayal, and all the emotions that go with being traded. Sometimes it’s a little better to sit back and kind of think about what you are going to say rather than get out there and say something you are going to regret down the road. Scott and the organization have been real welcoming. They understand the situation and they were fine with me waiting a few days to come out and talk and I really appreciate that from them.
Q: When do you think you are going to come to Columbus for the first time to sort of figure out where you are going to live, to get the lay of the land, that sort of thing?
JC: You know, I am not sure. We talked briefly about that. I’d like to do it sooner rather than later. I want to get settled in, so I don't have to worry about that when I get to town full time. I have a few things going on here, but I would assume sometime within the next month here.
Q: What is it that Howson shared with you about his vision of the Columbus Blue Jackets that excited you so much?
JC: We talked a little bit about what he's looking to do here in the next couple weeks and adding players and whatnot. There really isn’t that much that they need to add. There's a few holes they need to work on, but you look at the lineup and they got a lot of young players that are going to be real good players in this league; guys coming out of junior now and guys on the roster right now. It's a work in progress, but hopefully I can be a big part of that.
Q: Obviously the Columbus fan base wants to see this organization turn around and be more successful and they are putting a lot of hope in you coming in and bringing your caliber and working with Nash to get that to happen. How are you handling dealing with the high expectations from this fan base at this point?
JC: It's exciting. I think that playing in Philly the last few years, you know, every time you step on the ice there are high expectations, so I am pretty much used to that. It’s real exciting. It's a little bit nerve wracking, but I can’t wait to get things going.
Q: You're the guy who shoots the puck a lot. Rick Nash is a guy that shoots the puck a lot. Can you just discuss how that line might work, what the two of you need to work together on that would allow you to click? Also, what sort of winger would be best on your right side?
JC: I think it's something we're going to have to work at. I think that the both of us, all that we want is to win hockey games. I want to come there and I don't want to be done in April. We're both unselfish hockey players. We're both going to have to make a couple of sacrifices, but I think it will work out well. Obviously with what you said with us both being shooters, more scorers than playmakers, we’ll see if we can find someone that's more of a disher and can find the holes and I think it will work out really well.
Q: Do you get the sense that perhaps Rick Nash’s game can be elevated to a whole other level now with a capable No. 1 center next to him who is going to give him the space on the ice that he has not had before?
JC: I definitely think it will. Like I said for the last eight or nine years, he's been really the focal point of that team and other teams, all they’ve been doing is keying on him. Hopefully I can take some of the pressure off of him and really let him evolve into an even better player than he is now and help him out anyway that I can.
Q: Something that has come out the last couple of days, especially in the press conferences in Philadelphia was that one of the reasons they made the moves that they did was to maybe change the culture a little bit in that locker room. What is your response when you hear something like that given as much as you have invested into the team?
JC: I haven't read or listened to any of that from Philly. I've moved on to Columbus here and I'm not worried about what is going on there.
Q: What is the perspective of the Columbus Blue Jackets from outside of the state of Ohio?
JC: I think it's a Columbus team that a lot of people don't know too much about. I know they've had some up and down years and I think they've made the playoffs in their stay in Columbus. It's definitely a work in progress there. Like I said they've got a lot of young guys coming up and I think if we can add a few more pieces to the puzzle here, I don't see why we won’t be in the playoffs next year.
Q: Scott Arniel is one of the bright young coaches in the National Hockey League. I am sure you are familiar with Scott. You met with him this morning. (What are) your impressions of Scott and what do you expect from him?
JC: Scott was great. It was the first time I met him. He was real professional coming in here. We didn't get too much into the hockey specific stuff, but just talking to a few other guys he seems like a real players coach. He's played the game, so he knows what it takes travel-wise and how much you put into this, so you know, I am real excited to work with him.
Q: Can you just give us some specifics as to where you met, what time you met. I assume it was this morning. Where you met, how the conversation started… that sort of thing.
JC: They actually came down to my place in (Sea Isle City, New Jersey) here and met with myself and my agent. I think they flew in from Columbus this morning and got here around noon. We had a good hour, hour and a half talk about pretty much everything. Scott started off kind of filling me in on the organization and how it began. It was real good for me to hear all that stuff.
From the Blue Jackets website:
QUESTION: Can you just talk about the excitement about the opportunity about coming to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
JEFF CARTER: I'm definitely excited. You know I've spent the past six years playing in Philadelphia and I had a great six years. Sometimes a new fresh start is always good. I just had the pleasure of meeting with Scott Howson, Scott Arniel and Rick Nash down at my place here. After talking with them it made me real excited. I think they have a good group of young players that are up and coming in the league, and the chance to get to play with a guy like Rick Nash is obviously exciting. (I’m) definitely looking forward to it and I can't wait to get things going.
Q: Thanks for doing this today. Can you describe what the last couple of days have been like for you and why it took you so long to say the words that you just said?
JC: It's been a tough couple of days. You know, like I said, I spent six years playing in Philly, but I have been with organization for awhile now. I think so highly of the organization that it was a real a shock to me. I know there were a lot of rumors going around, but I never really expected it to happen. Like I said, sometimes a fresh start and new faces are good for everybody. I can’t wait to get there and get things going and I’m super excited.
Q: Your agent said, and could you reiterate, that your disappointment and your silence the last four days was about you’re being upset that you were being moved from Philadelphia or did it not have anything to do with your destination, not wanting to come to a different conference, a different city or a team that hasn’t won practically…
JC: My decision not to talk the last couple of days had absolutely nothing to do with being traded to Columbus. I know they're a team that has struggled in the past, but they have a bright future with a lot of young guys coming up and with Rick Nash, it can't be that bad, right? So, it obviously has nothing to do with Columbus. It was all about the way things were handled and whatnot in Philadelphia. (That) is what I was upset about.
Q: Do you think that this is helpful that this is happening in the offseason? Obviously you are going through a tough period right now having to adjust, would it have been much tougher had this deal gone down at the trade deadline and you would have come and start at it blind?
JC: I definitely think it would have. I've had a couple of days here to get things settled and figure out what I am going to do in Columbus. I think it gives the coaches some time to figure out what they are going to do. I can sit down with them and see what my role is going to be and what they expect of me and all of that kind of stuff team-wise. Personally, it gives me some time to digest everything and move on and get settled in Columbus and get ready for the year.
Q: How helpful was today's visit in helping you maybe shift gears and look ahead?
JC: It was great. I was really appreciative of them making the trip to come down here to see me. That shows a lot on their part. Obviously they are real excited to have me. We just talked for awhile about the team and their direction, what their sights are on for the future, my role on the team and all that kind of stuff. We talked about the city for awhile. After talking with them it definitely got me real excited and I wish the season was starting a little earlier.
Q: And you've gotten good feedback from Nash in that visit?
JC: Yeah, definitely. I've known Nasher a little bit for a while here through All-Star Games and Olympic camps and he actually played in my hometown in juniors, so I know him a little bit and he's obviously a great guy, a world-class player. So, I'm definitely looking forward to being with him.
Q: We know you reached out and spoke a little bit with Rick, were you able to talk with (former Flyers teammate) R.J. (Umberger) or anyone else? Was it just a matter of taking a couple of days to compose yourself?
JC: On the day that I got traded, Thursday, I got a few calls from, well obviously Rick called me, R.J. called me and Antoine Vermette gave me a shout. I’ve actually been playing phone tag with R.J. the last day or so. I haven’t gotten a hold of him yet, but I’ll definitely be talking to him in the near future.
Q: Your emotions have had to have run the gamut just all over the place. Can you pinpoint one? Anger? Betrayal? Excitement? Can you talk about that?
JC: It's been a tough couple of days. I think I've had a little bit of everything going through my mind right now. But, like I said, after I sat down with Scott, Scott and Rick it's been a lot of excitement and I look forward to coming in there and being a piece of the puzzle there and building something pretty good in Columbus.
Q: Can you tell everybody in Columbus what you love about playing the sport of hockey?
JC: I mean, it's the best sport there is. For us, we're going out there and doing something that we love to do. You know, they've told me that Columbus is a big college town and they're really behind their Buckeyes, but they've seen in the past that when the Blue Jackets start winning and putting a good team on the ice the fans are really into it and it turns into a real big hockey town. I'm real excited to help them build a winning team and get everybody excited again.
Q: Playing on the ice with Rick (Nash), how excited are you to play on that line with him? This is something that this organization has never had, a player of your caliber. How do you see you guys fitting together?
JC: I'm real excited. Anytime you get a chance to play with a guy like Rick, it definitely puts a smile on your face. I'm excited to get out there and see what we can do together. I think we're two big guys. Rick's had a lot of people keying on him the last eight years that he's been there, so it's not easy doing a lot by yourself. Hopefully I can take some of the weight off his shoulders and try to help him out and help this team out.
Q: If you this to do over again, would you reach out to Scott Howson earlier, reach out to the fans? Any regrets with how this went down and the anxiety that was created with the fan base here?
JC: No, I traded text messages with Scott (Howson) and my agent spoke with Scott and we told them that I was going to take weekend to think things over. I think sometimes when you are caught off guard, you feel a little bit of anger and betrayal, and all the emotions that go with being traded. Sometimes it’s a little better to sit back and kind of think about what you are going to say rather than get out there and say something you are going to regret down the road. Scott and the organization have been real welcoming. They understand the situation and they were fine with me waiting a few days to come out and talk and I really appreciate that from them.
Q: When do you think you are going to come to Columbus for the first time to sort of figure out where you are going to live, to get the lay of the land, that sort of thing?
JC: You know, I am not sure. We talked briefly about that. I’d like to do it sooner rather than later. I want to get settled in, so I don't have to worry about that when I get to town full time. I have a few things going on here, but I would assume sometime within the next month here.
Q: What is it that Howson shared with you about his vision of the Columbus Blue Jackets that excited you so much?
JC: We talked a little bit about what he's looking to do here in the next couple weeks and adding players and whatnot. There really isn’t that much that they need to add. There's a few holes they need to work on, but you look at the lineup and they got a lot of young players that are going to be real good players in this league; guys coming out of junior now and guys on the roster right now. It's a work in progress, but hopefully I can be a big part of that.
Q: Obviously the Columbus fan base wants to see this organization turn around and be more successful and they are putting a lot of hope in you coming in and bringing your caliber and working with Nash to get that to happen. How are you handling dealing with the high expectations from this fan base at this point?
JC: It's exciting. I think that playing in Philly the last few years, you know, every time you step on the ice there are high expectations, so I am pretty much used to that. It’s real exciting. It's a little bit nerve wracking, but I can’t wait to get things going.
Q: You're the guy who shoots the puck a lot. Rick Nash is a guy that shoots the puck a lot. Can you just discuss how that line might work, what the two of you need to work together on that would allow you to click? Also, what sort of winger would be best on your right side?
JC: I think it's something we're going to have to work at. I think that the both of us, all that we want is to win hockey games. I want to come there and I don't want to be done in April. We're both unselfish hockey players. We're both going to have to make a couple of sacrifices, but I think it will work out well. Obviously with what you said with us both being shooters, more scorers than playmakers, we’ll see if we can find someone that's more of a disher and can find the holes and I think it will work out really well.
Q: Do you get the sense that perhaps Rick Nash’s game can be elevated to a whole other level now with a capable No. 1 center next to him who is going to give him the space on the ice that he has not had before?
JC: I definitely think it will. Like I said for the last eight or nine years, he's been really the focal point of that team and other teams, all they’ve been doing is keying on him. Hopefully I can take some of the pressure off of him and really let him evolve into an even better player than he is now and help him out anyway that I can.
Q: Something that has come out the last couple of days, especially in the press conferences in Philadelphia was that one of the reasons they made the moves that they did was to maybe change the culture a little bit in that locker room. What is your response when you hear something like that given as much as you have invested into the team?
JC: I haven't read or listened to any of that from Philly. I've moved on to Columbus here and I'm not worried about what is going on there.
Q: What is the perspective of the Columbus Blue Jackets from outside of the state of Ohio?
JC: I think it's a Columbus team that a lot of people don't know too much about. I know they've had some up and down years and I think they've made the playoffs in their stay in Columbus. It's definitely a work in progress there. Like I said they've got a lot of young guys coming up and I think if we can add a few more pieces to the puzzle here, I don't see why we won’t be in the playoffs next year.
Q: Scott Arniel is one of the bright young coaches in the National Hockey League. I am sure you are familiar with Scott. You met with him this morning. (What are) your impressions of Scott and what do you expect from him?
JC: Scott was great. It was the first time I met him. He was real professional coming in here. We didn't get too much into the hockey specific stuff, but just talking to a few other guys he seems like a real players coach. He's played the game, so he knows what it takes travel-wise and how much you put into this, so you know, I am real excited to work with him.
Q: Can you just give us some specifics as to where you met, what time you met. I assume it was this morning. Where you met, how the conversation started… that sort of thing.
JC: They actually came down to my place in (Sea Isle City, New Jersey) here and met with myself and my agent. I think they flew in from Columbus this morning and got here around noon. We had a good hour, hour and a half talk about pretty much everything. Scott started off kind of filling me in on the organization and how it began. It was real good for me to hear all that stuff.
Roster shaping continues for Flyers
On Monday morning, the Philadelphia Flyers signed restricted free agent forwards Andreas Nodl and Tom Sestito to contracts.
While terms of both were not disclosed by the club, multiple sources quote Nodl's deal as being two years and worth $845,000 per year.
Nodl, the 24-year-old Austrian, notched 11 goals and 22 points over 67 games last season, his first true full NHL campaign. A hand injury sustained early in the first round prevented him from playing in all but two playoff contests.
He made $850,000 in the final season of his first professional contract in 2010-11.
Since breaking in with Philly back in 2008, the former second-round pick in the 2006 draft has posted 12 goals and 27 points in 115 NHL games.
Sestito, a 23-year-old native of upstate New York, has only logged 13 games of NHL experience, all with Columbus, before his acquisition on February 28 from the Blue Jackets. He played in 11 games with the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms before the end of the regular season.
On a two-way contract, he was making $585,000 at the NHL level and $62,500 in the minors.
Then, on Monday afternoon, the club dealt fourth-line forward and Princeton product Darroll Powe to the Minnesota Wild for Minny's third-round choice in the 2013 draft. The 26-year-old Saskatchewan native played here for three years, contributing 22 goals and 43 points over 204 games.
While terms of both were not disclosed by the club, multiple sources quote Nodl's deal as being two years and worth $845,000 per year.
Nodl, the 24-year-old Austrian, notched 11 goals and 22 points over 67 games last season, his first true full NHL campaign. A hand injury sustained early in the first round prevented him from playing in all but two playoff contests.
He made $850,000 in the final season of his first professional contract in 2010-11.
Since breaking in with Philly back in 2008, the former second-round pick in the 2006 draft has posted 12 goals and 27 points in 115 NHL games.
Sestito, a 23-year-old native of upstate New York, has only logged 13 games of NHL experience, all with Columbus, before his acquisition on February 28 from the Blue Jackets. He played in 11 games with the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms before the end of the regular season.
On a two-way contract, he was making $585,000 at the NHL level and $62,500 in the minors.
Then, on Monday afternoon, the club dealt fourth-line forward and Princeton product Darroll Powe to the Minnesota Wild for Minny's third-round choice in the 2013 draft. The 26-year-old Saskatchewan native played here for three years, contributing 22 goals and 43 points over 204 games.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Carter given the heave, shipped to Columbus
by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Hockey Editor
The Philadelphia Flyers have dealt high-scoring forward Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The deal, announced Thursday afternoon, will see forward Jakub Voracek as well as Columbus' first-round (eighth overall) and third-round pick (68th overall) in Friday's entry draft head to Philly.
Carter, 26, completed his sixth NHL season with 36 goals and 66 points in 80 regular-season games. For a second consecutive season, he was slowed by injury in the playoffs, collecting just one goal and one assist in six appearances.
He was in the early stages of an 11-year deal worth $58 million, to which the club signed him last November.
The former first-round choice of Philadelphia in 2003 leaves the Quaker City with 181 goals and 343 points over 461 NHL games, all with the Flyers. He's added 13 goals and 21 points over 47 postseason tilts.
Voracek posted 14 goals and 46 points in 80 games last season for the Jackets, his third NHL campaign.
A native of the Czech Republic, the 21-year-old winger has notched 39 goals and 134 points in 241 contests since breaking in with Columbus in 2008.
Phanatic Hockey Editor
The Philadelphia Flyers have dealt high-scoring forward Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The deal, announced Thursday afternoon, will see forward Jakub Voracek as well as Columbus' first-round (eighth overall) and third-round pick (68th overall) in Friday's entry draft head to Philly.
Carter, 26, completed his sixth NHL season with 36 goals and 66 points in 80 regular-season games. For a second consecutive season, he was slowed by injury in the playoffs, collecting just one goal and one assist in six appearances.
He was in the early stages of an 11-year deal worth $58 million, to which the club signed him last November.
The former first-round choice of Philadelphia in 2003 leaves the Quaker City with 181 goals and 343 points over 461 NHL games, all with the Flyers. He's added 13 goals and 21 points over 47 postseason tilts.
Voracek posted 14 goals and 46 points in 80 games last season for the Jackets, his third NHL campaign.
A native of the Czech Republic, the 21-year-old winger has notched 39 goals and 134 points in 241 contests since breaking in with Columbus in 2008.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)