NHL Trade Deadline 2011: Scouting the Blue Jackets

If we had someone there to deal with Subban in the first game, there wouldn’t have been a distraction in the second game. I agree that you don’t want Dubi chipping at Subban, cause he’s not focused on his game. As I said in the post game thread, I think Torts should have acted like he’s the coach of a hockey and game let the guys go out and settle the score early on, then play some hockey. I think Dubi’s chipping had more to do with him being forced to quietly escalate a situation, in hope’s of getting a chance to settle things up, because Torts doesn’t approve of fighting. Torts has got to realize it’s part of the game, and his players deserve the chance to stand up to opponents who put his players health and well being on the line.

There’s always going to be a give-and-take regarding what a player can and can’t do, especially with 4th line guys – if those guys had more going for them, they probably wouldn’t be on the 4th line to begin with. In the case of Boogy, I was never felt he was a huge detriment to our team as a player. As 4th line players go, he held his own, he might not have been the BEST guy with the puck on his stick, but he knew to bomb it towards the net. The opposition definatly knew when he was on the ice, and I think he made them a bit anxious to move the puck, rather then get blasted by a body check. When Boogy Even if he was caught in a situation where he was defending a mismatch and looking like he’d get beat, he knew enough to take the penatly and make it count. Too many of our bottom players seem to have to the idea that THEY can MAKE plays like that, and leave us watching replays and asking “WTF!!!”

I understand your arguement for using our role players to rest our top players, but with Torts line shuffling, benchings, and otherwise erratic coaching methods the 4th line guys can be the top 6 guys in a matter a minutes. If we wanna give some guys some time off, I’d rather see us our glut of middle of the road talent to give some guys a night off as a healthy scratch. The pile of injuries has made that tough, but players come back, I think we’ve seen we’ve got plenty of options to step in and give a guy a night off.

I think the idea that would should “roll 4 lines with some skill that can force teams to play defense for a full 60” isn’t as much of a testament to our depth, as it is a statement of our need for top line talent. We are full of 2nd and 3rd liners (Dubi has shown ALOT of promise this season, but I’d still say he’s a complimentary player on a top line more then a legit, gamechanger and Gabby’s disapearing act has him playing like a 2nd liner this year). If we had a legit first line I don’t think the calls for rolling 4 lines would be as loud, we’d all want that top line out there all the time. Not trying to pick on you personally for suggesting the 4 line idea, I’ve heard other say the same from otherwise. Just seemed like a place to throw my opinion on the matter out there.

I’m not suggesting that Boogy would take a Bertuzzi-esque approach. What I meant was Boogy can get to guys. If you don’t want to throw with him, he’ll drive you into the third row with his shoulder until you do. Boogy’s size is a huge advantage though, if you do drop the mitts, you can’t really hide. If you hide behind he visor and try to turtle, he’ll swing though the helmet to get to you. He’s a tough guy and it would have been nice to have someone like that to take care of Subban. We’ve got some guys who can hold their own, but they’re also a bit more worried about being able to handle a stick when they’re done.

Regarding your second paragraph, I think you’re undervaluing Boogaard’s ability to hold his own as a player. I pretty much outlined my thoughts above, so I won’t repeat them here, but I certainly don’t think Boogaard (or Shelley at the end of last season) as guys who have such a lack of ability, they hurt the team when they step on the ice.

he’s in the ahl right now. obviously has talent, still is young enough where his ‘issues’ will be worth the risk. hes nearing the point where the CBJ might want to consider moving him for say a second round pick (similar to the rangers and bob sanguinetti). not a trade deadline guy but certainly worth discussing at the draft.

He’s interesting alright…looks like a girl, pouts worse than Zherdev. They can keep him. We don’t want him. Seriously, he looks like a girl.

lets say glen gets a call from columbus offering nash for lets say Gaborik, Grachev and a pick or something along those lines…do u make that deal