This year we’re doing something a little different for the Trade Deadline. Every blogger out there is going to tell you who’s going to be a buyer, who’s going to be a seller, who needs this, and who needs that. And for the record, I reserve the right to do the same thing later—although it might just be more entertaining to make fun of teams and completely overreact after the fact.

But we wanted to do something a little different around here. This year, we wanted to put these same questions in front of fans who cheer passionately for their teams. Its one thing to hear answers from a blogger who follows the team and has an eye towards objectivity; but it’s something else completely when you ask the question to a diehard fan who cheers with their heart on their sleeve. We’re talking about people who watch their team every game, know what their team needs, and have strong opinions on what needs to do to get better. They’re you and me. Hockey fans.

What better place to look for passionate hockey fans all over North America than checking out Twitter? So that’s where we went—and here’s who we found! For the Central Division, we have Ian representing the Blackhawks, Aaron for the Blue Jackets, Jen for the Red Wings, AJ for the Predators, and Ryan for the Blues.

Hope you enjoy the project as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together. After checking out everyone’s views, we’d love to hear if you agree or disagree with everyone’s answers. We know you have an opinion as well!

1.  Is your team living up to the expectations they had going into the season? Do you think there’s more or less pressure to make moves at the deadline because of those expectations?

Ian (Blackhawks): You get two things when you win the Stanley Cup: You get to skate around with a 35 pound silver chalice, engraved with the names of legends and you get a great big bullseye on your back. What you don’t get? An engraved invitation to next year’s playoffs and a hall pass to skip the regular season. This year’s Blackhawks squad has spent the season like they got gold-letter notes in the mail that said to show up in April and everything would be laid out for them. That have rarely displayed the kind of will, determination and heart that won them the Cup in the first place. They stand 11th in the Western Conference based both on raw points and points percentage. So, underperforming expectations would be putting it mildly.

This absolutely puts more pressure on the front office to make a deal or three before the deadline as having the defending Stanley Cup champions miss the playoffs would be nothing short of embarrassing. In fact, Stan Bowman has already started the process, trading the underwhelming Jack Skille, Hugh Jessiman and something called David Pacan to the Florida Panthers for the slumping Michael Frolik and Czech goaltender Alexander Salak, who’s currently tearing up the Swedish Elite League.

Aaron (Blue Jackets): I think a lot of people expected this to be a pretty interesting year. The new coaching staff was supposed to give the green light to the players to be creative and try and put points up. It was kind of a rough start to the year. While the record was good, there were high scoring affairs in favor of the opponents. Overall though, the Blue Jackets have hung in there and find themselves battling for a playoff spot in the tight Western Conference.

I think a lot of fans put pressure on Howson to make a move. He’s always so quiet with everything he does. He’s not a Brian Burke type GM to go out and make the moves.

Jen (Red Wings): Yes and no. I mean, you definitely can’t complain when your team is sitting at second in the West, but there is room for improvement. Injuries have played a part, just as they did last year, and the team has at times underperformed defensively. They also need to show up on time every game and obviously, there is nothing a trade can do to help that. We as fans are always going to expect our team to live up to their full potential. I don’t think that there is really any pressure to make moves at the deadline. People will speculate that an area that could use help is goaltending because of Ozzie’s injury. There has been chatter about defense as well.

AJ (Predators): Yes and no…and maybe.

The resounding feeling throughout the Nashville Predators organization is that they got knocked out of the playoffs by a great team last season, in the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. But just as strong is the belief that they could, and probably should have won that series and advanced to the second round.

It’s this feeling of ‘unfinished business’ that has driven this team since training camp. A deep playoff run is both possible and expected, not only by the fans, but even more so by the organization itself. Otherwise, General Manager David Poille would have had no reason — and indeed would have been foolish — to have given up a first, and possibly, a second-round pick over the next two NHL entry drafts, to acquire centerman Mike Fisher from Ottawa last week.

The Preds believe the time to win is now and they believe with the addition of Fisher they have the pieces. The obvious question is, however, do they have the scoring?

Nashville is an offensively-challenged group despite the fact that their roster is loaded with guys who can put the biscuit in the basket. A season laced with injuries has played a definite role in the Preds’ offensive chemistry, which Head Coach Barry Trotz has been forced to play around with like a mad scientist since the second game of the campaign.

Nashville’s prized free agent signing from last summer, Matthew Lombardi, coming off of a 19-goal season with the Phoenix Coyotes was touted to be a top-line forward, but has been out with a concussion since way back on October 13th.

Additional long-term injuries to replacement top-line center, Cal O’Reilly (broken leg), his linemate, winger Steve Sullivan (back spasms) and center David Legwand (a pair of nine-game absences), further kept the Preds off-balance, offensively throughout the middle portion of the schedule. And while Sullivan and Legwand are now healthy, and O’Reilly should be ready for the playoffs, there’s no guarantee that the scoring issues will subside.

But there’s no panic at 501 Broadway.

Ryan (Blues): Heading into this season with a new franchise goaltender, I was really hoping to see the Blues rebound after missing the playoffs last season. Perhaps I was caught up in the acquisition of Halak, but the 9-1-2 start was pretty fun, granted only 12 games in. Then the calendar flipped to November which derailed much of that excitement. Injuries to key players, inconsistent goaltending, lack of goal scoring – a little frustrating to say the least.

I would say pressure is starting to mount. Fans want to see results from this youth movement.

2.  Will your team be a buyer or a seller? What are fans hoping to see the team do at the deadline?

Ian (Blackhawks): Oh, the Hawks definitely WANT to be buyers. That said, we are in one HELL of a bind with the salary cap. Winning the Cup hit this team with $4million in bonuses that carried over to this year. Couple that with some highly questionable veteran signings (adding John Scott, retaining Nick Boynton and Tomas Kopecky) means that there’s very little wiggle room. Any additions are going to have to be value-priced.

Aaron (Blue Jackets): If they keep their pace up, they can be buyers for probably the first time in franchise history. For years, fans in Columbus have been calling for a true #1 center and a right-handed powerplay quarterback. I think that is what we’d like to see here to be successful night in and night out.

Jen (Red Wings): I don’t think that the Wings will do anything at the deadline. I am sure some fans are hoping to see some moves. I know some hope to see a trade involving the acquisition of a veteran goaltender or defenseman. I just don’t see that happening. Injured players are either back or on their way back. I can’t see Ken Holland trading away the future in order to solve a temporary problem.

AJ (Predators): Possibly both; they’ve already been a buyer with the acquisition of Fisher, but with a surplus of defensemen in the pipeline (both in Juniors and at their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee), as well as current defenseman Alexander Sultzer’s impending UFA status on July 1st, the strong speculation is that they’ll look to move Sultzer if the injury ninja cooperates.

Despite being yet another talented member of the NHL Entry Draft class of 2003 and a member of Germany’s Olympic squad last year in Vancouver, Sultzer has been a victim of the numbers game and hasn’t seen a lot of playing time in Nashville. As Nashville’s Examiner.com Hockey blogger, Jim Diamond, surmised a few days ago, the sense is that Nashville management would like to at least give Alex an opportunity with a contender as a thank you for being such a good sport during his tenure with the team. A decent, mid-round draft pick in exchange wouldn’t be too bad either.

However, complicating the matter is the still-unclear status of second-line defenseman, Frankie Bouillon, recipient of another of the more nail-biting injuries to hit the team this season. Many believe his status will ultimately be the determining factor in whether or not Sultzer is dealt.

Buillon is trying to come back from a concussion suffered versus Chicago on January 16th. Sultzer has played regularly and admirably in ‘The Cube’s’ stead, but clearly, the Preds would prefer to have Bouillon’s veteran experience and more physical presence in the lineup come playoff time. The rub is that it’s still too early to assume that Bouillon will remain symptom-fee and be cleared to play. He has just recently resumed workouts, and while that’s good news, it’s unlikely the team will know whether or not he’ll be good to go until at least the trade deadline at the end of the month. So I wouldn’t look for David Poille to let Sultzer go at any point prior to that.

Ryan (Blues): I would like to be optimistic and say the Blues remain buyers, but unless a 40-goal scoring Witch Doctor becomes available, I don’t see the organization being aggressive as buyers.

Realistically, a season full of injuries and a tough Western conference may be too much to overcome. I’d like to see them hold tight for a few more games. If the players go out and lay another egg like they did in the back-to-back against MIN, the organization must look to sell off the UFA.

3.  What specifically does your team need if they want to take the next step?  Which players/prospects are on the trading block and could be on the move by Deadline Day?

Ian (Blackhawks): Adding Frolik provides yet another flexible forward for Joel Quenneville to move up and down the lineup. My hope is he becomes the second-line center we’ve been seeking for sometime. Worst case is he fills Jack Skille’s fourth line role, a role he’s even LESS suited for than the departed Skille.

Our other major needs are a crease-crashing top-six forward and a sixth defenseman who can stay home, block shots and not give the puck away. The first of these could be filled internally: Bryan Bickell has done nothing but impress, even in limited playing time. Promoted to the second line, with Frolik and Hossa and told to do nothing but get in goalie’s faces, he could be a force. The defense problem is stickier. The fifth/sixth roles have been mostly filled by a rotation of Jassen Cullimore, Nick Boynton and Jordan Hendry. Recently, Nick Leddy has been called up, replacing Cullimore, who was banished to the AHL and Boynton and Hendry have been filling the 6th role. Boynton is a hot mess, despite his goal in Calgary recently. For every shot he blocks (and he was leading the league early in the season), he commits a God awful turnover, pinches inappropriately or gets turned into a pylon. To say his hockey IQ is low is to presume he has one. I still don’t understand management’s handling of Hendry, other than he’s a prospect from the previous regime (as was Skille). He hasn’t been notable when he’s gotten playing time; which for a bottom-pairing defensemen is a GOOD thing.

The loud noise you hear from outside the window is the riot squad beating down the meathead contingent calling for the return of the Atlanta ExHawks: Byfuglien, Ladd and Sopel. These three (along with Eager) were sent to clear cap space. Big Ugly’s story has been well-chronicled and Ladd’s the captain of that team and clearly thriving. Sopel is EXACTLY the kind of defenseman the Hawks require. However, returning him to the fold at this date would probably entail handing over a prime prospect. These three are probably not returning.

As I alluded to earlier, the Hawks are in a cap mess. The Bowman regime bought last year’s championship on credit and now the bills have come due. Compounded with the signings that WERE made and Bowman, much as he might want to add a significant piece, finds himself in a HUGE pickle. Most of our improvement is going to have to come from within, from players already here.

Who’s on the block? Better ask who isn’t: Kane, Toews, Keith and Turco all have no-movement clauses. Campbell and Hossa have HUGE contracts. Seabrook, Sharp and Brouwer are all players who have been acknowledged as part of the core. Crawford is the goalie of the present. Hjalmarsson CAN’T go anywhere, due to the offer sheet Chicago matched over the summer, courtesy of Doug Wilson’s attempted poaching. Nick Leddy is a future top 4 defenseman.

Outside of that (and possibly Bickell and Jeremy Morin), everyone else SHOULD be on the block. Bolland is the biggest chip in that group, but Bowman said (both in so many words and in his actions) over the summer, that Bolland was a component of the core. The problem is, he’s not much better than the-recently traded Mike Fisher, in that he’s a third-line center who can occasionally pot a goal and fill in on the second line occasionally. IF he cares and IF he’s healthy he can be a dominating shutdown center. Motivation is a question here.

Tomas Kopecky is another interesting case. He’s setting career highs in scoring. However, he spends a TON of time on a line Marian Hossa. A MARSHMALLOW could put up scintillating numbers playing with Marian Hossa (injured or not). He’s never shown anything before this year that would indicate he’s a top-six forward and he clearly doesn’t have the finish to stay up there very long. He’s a guy a I could see being moved. Anyone else with the big club is a bottom-six guy and unlikely to bring anything of use.

As for prospects, I think Morin might be all-but untouchable at this point. He’s also starting to get a reputation as injury-prone, fair or not. The big name here is Kyle Beach. The former first round pick has yet to play a regular-season game in the NHL, despite undeniable buckets of talent. This is mostly because he’s a headcase. His on-ice and off-ice antics continue to undermine his development as a hockey player. The Hawks MIGHT have the luxury on waiting for him to develop, but may not care spend any further time doing it.

Bowman said after acquiring Frolik that the Hawks would continue seek all avenues of upgrading the club. I believe him, but it won’t be easy.

Aaron (Blue Jackets): If they want to make a final push and have any success in the playoffs, he needs to make some kind of move. The big two necessities are a top-line center and a true powerplay quarterback. Up until today I would have said that a defenseman was the bigger need. The loss of Derrick Brassard though makes me perhaps consider otherwise.

As far as who’s on the block, Howson has said anyone but Rick Nash is tradable. Guys like Steve Mason, Jakub Voracek, and Nikita Filatov I think are probably the biggest interests. And then there’s Mike Commodore who wants out of Columbus. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a number of draft picks be up this season too, due to the lack of superstar power in this year’s class.

Jen (Red Wings): To make it to the next step, the team needs to play a full sixty minutes of hockey every game. They need to be defensively responsible. They need to focus on what they do well and execute. I don’t think anyone is on the trading block. Of course I could be totally wrong, but I think this is the same roster you’ll be seeing after the deadline.

AJ (Predators): Unfortunately (I guess), I see the Preds as being kinda stuck. Outside the very real probability of moving Alexander Sultzer, I personally don’t see Nashville making any blockbuster moves at the trade deadline. They would indeed like to have insurance for the possibility of Buillon not being 100% for the playoffs, but anything beyond that would be a complete surprise to those who understand philosophy Poille has espoused from the beginning as the team’s one and only GM.

On the outside, it’s possible you might see the movement of a couple of Milwaukee blueliners, who in the past have played solidly when called upon by the big club, but who also appear to be trapped in numbers limbo within the organization. Guys like Teemu Laakso and Andreas Thuresson could be dealt as depth-adds for another team, but I wouldn’t consider any defensemen on the current NHL roster as deadline fodder, save for Sultzer.

Allow me also to mention that I firmly consider the wild and unfounded speculation within some parts of Preds Nation, surrounding the trade possibilities of both Steve Sullivan and J.P. Dumont, to be woefully misguided in my opinion. Sullivan, who will be a UFA on 7/1, and Dumont, who has a year to go beyond this one on his current $4 million-per-year deal, are not pining to get out of Nashville, or vice-versa.

Clearly Dumont’s offensive production has slowed to an ebb this season, as has his perceived value among a number of apparently pre-senile Preds fans. The fact remains that he has a no-movement clause in that fat contract of his and has shown no intention of rescinding it.

Much of Dumont’s problem, as I and at least one other team observer (Dirk Hoag from OnTheForecheck.com) believe, emanates directly from the doghouse that coach Barry Trotz has housed him in. Playing on a checking line doesn’t bode well for production from a player who has historically drawn much success from complementing the play of other scorers. Dumont has never been a sniper; he has always had his best numbers while playing with those of a more offensively-minded skillset.

His apparent punishment for lack of production has, in my opinion, become a self-fulfilling prophesy by Trotz. Nonetheless, he’s not going anywhere, like it or not.

Sullivan likewise has a NMC in his contract, which expires at the end of this season, and also like Dumont is deeply invested in being a family guy. Both men and their families love being in Nashville and have expressed their intent to remain here after their playing days are over.

It’s not likely that Sully would move his family unless it was to a major contender, and I personally do not see that opportunity surfacing, particularly in view of his own comparative offensive struggles this season. Dumont’s situation is much clearer. His contract is prohibitive given his current numbers, making his tradability nil regardless of the MNC.

And therein lies the frustrating elusiveness of what Nashville really needs to become a solid Cup contender; and it sticks in the craw of every fan who calls this team their own.

The glaring need they’ve had ever since the departure/defection of Alexander Radulov to the KHL back in the summer of 2008 is that of a pure scorer. The miraculous recovery and subsequent comeback of Sullivan from back surgery later in that subsequent 2008-09 season was a huge boost, but since his return, Sully’s goal-scoring touch has yet to sufficiently offset the Radulov void. The Preds believe there’s help on the way in the system, but certainly nothing to make an impact this year.

Only to exacerbate the scoring issue has been the removal of the steady, 20 goals-per-season output of former captain Jason Arnott (who usually played alongside linemates Dumont and Sullivan — hmmm…coincidence? I think not). However, Arnott’s trade to New Jersey last summer was seen as an important step in the team’s evolution; allowing for the smooth transition of Shea Weber to the position of team captain, eliminating the obvious awkwardness of Arnott remaining and being asked to give up the ‘C’ — which no doubt would have been the case.

It was a necessary move, but one whose ripples I doubt the Preds realized would have been felt as strongly as they have. Despite the fact that his goal production diminished last season (and has continued to do so this season), Arnott’s automatic 20 has yet to be replaced within the Preds’ current lineup.

Nashville must win with what they have on the offensive side, which with the stout goaltending of Pekka Rinne, is totally doable. Mike Fisher’s addition to the mix strengthens all of the things a Barry Trotz-coached team does well. Despite being down himself in terms of typical goal scoring this season, Fisher can be the guy to give Nashville the offensive shot in the arm it needs, all while making everyone around him better.

The team can win with the players they have now, but it won’t be without supreme effort, total commitment to the plan, and probably a break or two here and there.

The Nashville Predators are more than good enough to make a deep playoff run — as they believe they were last year — but we’ll save further discussion of that debacle in Chicago for another time. *LOL*

However, that being said, with regard to the deadline, it’s highly unlikely they’d be able to acquire any further serious scoring help without departing with some seriously valuable assets in the process. That, I know, is not a price David Poille is willing to pay.

Predators fans hope it will turn out to be money well-saved.

Ryan (Blues): A Brett Hull-esque goal scorer. Is that asking for too much?

Since I don’t see the organization being very active as buyers, I will say that I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team trade Eric Brewer, Ty Conklin and perhaps Brad Boyes.

If recent history tells us anything, it’s that the cream of crop in the Western Conference has resided in the Central over the last few years. Everyone knows the Red Wings have been one of the best teams in all of sports over the last decade, but it’s the Blackhawks who enter the season as the defending Stanley Cup Champions (not that you’d know it by their roster).

But immediately behind the two known powers are three teams who have a ton of young talent. The Blue Jackets made the playoffs two years ago and looked to be on the cusp of great things. The same could be said for the St. Louis Blues. And the Nashville Predators? They seemingly make the playoffs every season only to continually fly under the radar.

To make sense of the strength and talent in the Central, we brought five bloggers in to represent the five teams. Enjoy!

Ryan Hackett from NHL Hot Stove (Blackhawks)
John from Light The Lamp (Blue Jackets)
Joe Burkel from Red Wings Guy (Red Wings)
Jeremy K. Gover from Section 303 (Predators)
David Rogers from Frozen Notes (Blues)

1. Tell us why your team will be better this season than they were last.

Ryan (Blackhawks): Well, does it get much better than winning the Stanley Cup? (Be warned, there might be a bit of rubbing it in here…) That said, the Blackhawks being better this season is not a widely held position, even among many Hawks fans. It’s common knowledge that many pieces to the championship puzzle will be skating in different colors in the upcoming season, leading to doubts about Chicago’s ability to defend the title. However, they still have their top six forwards, arguably the NHL’s best blue line, and a veteran goalie determined to break his own Cup drought. The team will no doubt have a target on its back, but their young yet experienced leadership will take the reins yet again. Captain Serious is not to be trifled with.

John (Blue Jackets): The one thing the Jackets have going for them this season is they can’t sink much lower in the standings than they did last year when they finished with the 27th worst record in the league. Just about everything that could have gone wrong last year did go wrong. Goaltending collapsed, young players like Derick Brassard struggled, their franchise player in Rick Nash had a disappointing 67 point season and the overall team play was not consistent. The end result was their coach in Ken Hitchcock was fired and the Jackets found themselves drafting yet again in the top 8 – the 10th time they’ve done so in their 11 years of drafting.
There is no question this team took a step backwards from their playoff appearance a year earlier.

This team will be better next year because quite frankly they can’t get much worse. The only way to go is up in the standings. This team has a new coaching staff which will provide at least a short term spark. The key young players like Steve Mason, Derick Brassard, Jakub Voracek, Derek Dorsett, Jared Boll and John Moore among others have spent the majority of the offseason in Columbus training for this upcoming season. Any over confidence they may have had going in to last year has been erased and this team knows that any improvement has to come from within as other than a waiver wire claim in 34-year-old veteran winger Ethan Moreau – the Jackets have not added any significant NHL talent to their roster. They are a year older and wiser and will have an us against the world mentality as nobody will be picking this team for the playoffs.

While they certainly aren’t Stanley Cup contenders or a lock for the playoffs, this team has enough pieces in place to at the very least improve upon a 32-35-15 record from last season.

Joe (Red Wings): Going into the season, the Wings are 100% healthy, something they were not last year. The addition of Mike Modano is being overlooked. I don’t think that he’s going to come in score 30 goals. I do think his presence is going to help the third line and give that little extra something special that the Wings depth hasn’t had called scoring.

Jeremy (Predators): That’s easy. The Nashville Predators will be a better team this season because they’re a home-grown team now. When the hockey gods smiled on Middle Tennessee and allowed General Manager David Poile to unload Jason Arnott and his no-trade clause, his $4.5 million a year contract and his half-ass attitude to New Jersey, they got better. Then, when they went out and signed free agent Matthew Lombardi, they got better. Then, when they named Shea Weber their captain, they got better. In short: Pekka Rinne is the first un-disputed #1 goalie Nashville has had since Tomas Vokoun in 2006-07, they no longer need “proven veterans” to compensate for the inexperience of their youth, and their leaders, both on the blueline and up front, are home-grown kids in Weber, Ryan Suter, Patric Hornqvist and Colin Wilson. 14 of the players on their projected opening night roster were drafted by Nashville and developed in the system. Sure, guys like Steve Sullivan and JP Dumont are still around, but not for long and it’s 100% clear the franchise can start relying on it’s own home-grown players now, something that’s never happened in their 12 year history.

David (Blues): Halak, Halak, Halak. Are you really surprised that’s my answer? The acquisition of Jaroslav Halak was enormous. While I liked Chris Mason and appreciate his time with the team, he did not have the makeup of a true number one in net. For the Blues to take the next step forward, the team needed a reliable starter in net and that hopefully will be Halak.

The 2009-10 season saw many skaters enjoy a slump that seemed to last the duration of the entire season – Brad Boyes and Patrik Berglund to name a couple. One has to imagine that even if these skaters improve just slightly, the team should be improved.

2. What part of your team are you concerned about this season?

Ryan (Blackhawks): There’s not too much that immediately concerns me enough to bust out the sledgehammer on the panic button, but I think it’s fair to say the third and fourth forward lines may not be as strong as last season. Although remember, few people gave credit to the Blackhawks depth up front before the 2009-2010 season. It’s up to the locker room leaders to take the newer guys in and create that Cup-winning chemistry.

John (Blue Jackets): Goaltending continues to be a big concern as well as scoring and the ability to move the puck from the blueline up to the forwards.

Coming off a Calder Trophy performance in 08-09 – goaltender Steve Mason had what many could argue the most spectacular sophomore slumps in the history of sophomore slumps.

08-09:
W-L: 33-20-7
GAA 2.29
Save% .916

09-10:
W-L: 20-26-7
GAA: 3.05
Save%: .901

A goaltender is only as good as the defense around him, but those numbers must improve if the Jackets expect any success this season.

Offensively, the Jackets continue to struggle finishing 20th in the league in average goals per game with 2.61. This despite having 5 players with 50 or more points (Nash, Vermette, Huselius, Umberger and Voracek). A lot of this was due with their inability to move the puck from the blue line up to their forwards.

The new coaching staff would like to play more of an attack puck possession style of game to improve the offense. They would like to activate the defensemen in the rush more often. However, to run in such a race you need the horses to carry you there. Other than a Kris Russell and Anton Stralman, the Jackets just do not have these horses and up to this point in the offseason, GM Scott Howson has been unable to obtain one via trade or free agency.

Joe (Red Wings): Goalie Jimmy Howard. The sophomore slump is real and the Red Wings need him to use what he learned last year when he struggled. The Wings cannot afford to lean on Osgood, even if Chris is playing well. At this time they need a new “number one” goaltender and that needs to be Howard. Sure he earned that spot last year, but he needs to keep it. Chris Osgood is getting old and like it of not, in this NHL you need your home-grown talent to rise up and stay on top of their game.

Jeremy (Predators): Only one area truly worries me. Rinne is “already among the top echelon goalies in the league,” per USA Today’s Kevin Allen on our 303:30 podcast, but what happens if he goes down with an injury? Even if just for two weeks? Do the Predators really want to entrust seven or eight games of their season to a goalie who’s never seen a single minute of NHL action? (And, by the way, I mean “seen” literally. None of the goalies in the system have even been called up to ride the bench during an NHL game, let alone play in one). Four prospects will be fighting for the back-up spot in Nashville: Anders Lindback, Jeremy Smith, Chet Pickard and Mark Dekanich. One would think Dekanich would have the inside track as he was the starter for most of the year in Milwaukee last season, but he did split starting duties with Pickard when his confidence was shaky. The Predators are really high on Lindback but, if he’s anything like what we saw in Development Camp this summer, NHLers will destroy his high glove side. So yeah… the back-up goalie position is the highest area of concern.

David (Blues): The offense. That’s a pretty broad answer, but the Blues really haven’t addressed that area. With concerns over finding a new investor, the Blues clearly are in no position to splash out for an expensive forward and cannot afford to take a risk and not have it pay off. With Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk and the organization’s former top-prospect Lars Eller not in the mix, the crew that struggled last season will have to step up to keep this team competitive.

Too many times did skaters fire the puck just to see their shot sail wide. With no major signing for the offense, this simply cannot happen again.

3. Each year there are players who break onto the scene as all-stars or even superstars. Sometimes it’s a rookie who is already expected to be great, sometimes it’s a rookie who shocks the world, and sometimes it’s a younger player who simply comes into their own. Which player on your team should we expect to have a breakout season?

Ryan (Blackhawks): Is it fair to say defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson? I mean, if Doug Wilson hadn’t tendered that kick to the- I mean offer sheet, chances are his name would be much less recognized. He amped up his game in the postseason, producing almost half as many points as he did during the regular season. He’s also got a new, shiny $3.5MM contract, which demonstrates the faith and incredible expectations the Hawks have for him. It’s a good thing the Hawks won’t have to worry about signing him for a while, he could be highly sought after following the 2010-2011 campaign.

John (Blue Jackets): There are two names to keep an eye on.

The first is Nikita Filatov. His departure from the Blue Jackets back to the KHL last season has been well documented. Nobody involved in this situation – from Hitch to GM Scott Howson to player development coach Tyler Wright to FIlatov himself – escape blame for how things played out for the player The Hockey News ranked at the time as the #1 prospect not in the NHL.

Will the Predators be able to take over teams like the Red Wings and Blackhawks?

Fast forward a year later with a new coaching staff, a year of development for Filatov and a new chance for NHL success. Filatov has reported to Columbus for training a full 6 weeks ahead of camp. It’s a small sign that perhaps the young Russian has matured. He’ll get a fresh start under new coach Scott Arniel but will need to prove to his teammates and most importantly himself, that he belongs on this roster. He’s got a real chance to boom on a team that is desperate for a natural goal scorer but as we’ve seen last year – if things don’t go his way he’s not afraid to bust his butt back to the KHL.

The other player to keep your eye on is Matt Calvert. Calvert is 20-year-old left wing who was a 5th round pick of the Jackets in the 2008 draft. He played so well last year in camp that the Jackets wanted him to turn pro then but he decided to return to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the OHL to have a shot at the Memorial Cup – which his team hosted last season. He went on to score 47g, 52a for 99 points in just 68 games. A whopping 32 point improvement over his previous season. The Jackets are loaded with bottom 6 players as it currently stands, but if injuries start to pile up look for this kid to get a long look at the NHL level – the chances are he may never look back.

Joe (Red Wings): I don’t think the Red Wings have any really strong young players. Their younger players like Helm and Abdelkader are only good at one thing and not really great at anything. For example, Helm’s engine runs at 100%, 100% of the time. Abdelkader is the hitter, but looks uncomfortable doing it. These two will get much more playing time this season, but they need to step up in the points category as these two players combined last year scored only 30 points in 125 total NHL regular season games.

Jeremy (Predators): Colin Wilson. Period. Poile and the Preds have been sky high on Wilson (so much so that Poile lobbied hard – successfully — for Team USA to put him on the World Championship roster fresh off his senior season in college and before a single game of professional hockey) and this is the year he shines. We got to see glimpses of his potential in the 35 games he played in last season and, as the season went on, you could almost see the pro game slowing down for him. He collected 15 points in those 35 games (including 10 in the month of March) and this year, with a full-time role on either the first or second lines, the 20-year old should explode. Especially with Arnott no longer telling him “give me the puck, kid,” Wilson should be able to come into his own. Additionally, with the signing of Lombardi, Wilson won’t have the pressure of a number one center right away. He can grow into the role and then, when he’s ready, it’ll be waiting for him.

David (Blues): Alex Pietrangelo. The enormously talented blueliner will skate in his first full season at the NHL level following a 2009-10 season where he skated in just nine games. He is a naturally gifted offensive-minded defenseman and should see plenty of time on the power-play unit. While it is unclear who will pair with who, the idea of Pietrangelo skating alongside Erik Johnson is enough to make any St. Louis fan salivate.

David Perron. Entering his fourth season in the NHL, Perron has left the youngster and rookie label well behind him. He scored 20 goals and 47 points last season, but I believe the best is yet to come. Perron signed a new two-year deal with the team this summer and has the ability to push well above his current career-high of goals (20) that he set last season. Now is his time to shine.

4. We all know that watching a team for 82 games allows us to appreciate things casual fans won’t necessarily recognize. Which guy on your bench doesn’t get nearly the respect he deserves?

Ryan (Blackhawks): It’s hard to find guys that fly under the radar when the team in question paraded sport’s most elite trophy around all summer, but I have to go with Troy Brouwer. He’ll be a restricted free agent next summer, and a contract year always creates a little extra motivation. Also, he’ll almost definitely be on one of the top lines, and could potentially be a 30-goal scorer.

John (Blue Jackets): For me that player would be Derek Dorsett. This guy will never be a 25 goal scorer or fantasy stud in this league but he is the glue that keeps a team together. He never takes a shift off – better yet, he never takes a STRIDE off, he’ll stand up for any teammate no matter the size no matter the circumstance. He’s one of those players you love to have but other teams love to hate.

Joe (Red Wings): Johan Franzen. Sure hockey fans know him, but he does not get the respect that he deserves. When he’s in the game, the Wings are a different team. He was hurt a bulk of last regular season, but came back flying down the ice hitting, scoring and setting up plays. Let’s not forget May 6th, 2010, when Franzen scored three goals in 3:26. That’s the kind of things that he can do. When he’s on his game, it’s very hard for the opposing team to stop him.

Jeremy (Predators): Marcel Goc is the biggest unsung hero in Nashville. When he was stuck behind a cavalcade of stars in San Jose, he never recorded more than 13 points after his rookie season and was a career minus player. When he signed with the Preds, most thought he’d spend some time in Milwaukee and maybe do some fourth line work with the big club occasionally. Instead, all he did was post career highs in goals (12), assists (18), points (30) and plus/minus (plus-10). When you can play everywhere from the second line to the fourth line, log valuable minutes on special teams and put up numbers like that… Let’s just say he rarely gets his name in the paper but he’s just as important as anyone else. So while he’s proven himself quite valuable, with the logjam at center going into training camp, this blogger hopes Goc isn’t the odd man out.

David (Blues): Cam Janssen. Before you laugh, you must realize that Janssen is not your typical fighter. He is an energy skater that causes havoc for an opponent. He engages, disrupts and dismantles anyone that comes in his path. Despite not classifying as a heavyweight in the league, Janssen’s fights are incredible to watch as he seemingly gets stronger the longer the fight lasts. Truly remarkable.

5. The Moment of Truth: I understand that everyone is an expert BEFORE the season starts; so as bloggers, it’s important to throw up your pre-season predictions so everyone can mock you later. If your credibility was on the line, how would you rank the final standings of the Central Division? More importantly, which teams do you think will make the playoffs from the Central?

Ryan (Blackhawks): I think things in the Norris will look pretty similar to last season, with Chicago, Detroit, and Nashville at the top. It is the Blackhawks’ division to lose, and while St. Louis may make more noise this year, I doubt it will propel them into the playoff race. And honestly, I think Nashville’s losses at the blue line might cost them more than they think, potentially keeping them from the postseason. Replacing Dan Hamhuis with Ryan Parent..? Yikes.

John (Blue Jackets): Unfortunately as it stands I cannot pick my Jackets to make the playoffs. I certainly believe they will finish better than 14th in the conference and 27th overall but I just don’t feel the real holes in this roster have been addressed and that this team can improve enough from within to guarantee them a playoff spot.

That said I expect a few surprise teams to make the playoffs this season like Colorado and Phoenix did last season. I believe that if enough goes right that Jackets can be one of those teams. It will have to start with better team defense and goaltending as well as some young players having breakout seasons.

I think Chicago has enough to hold on. Nashville despite what they lose or gain always seem to find a way and I love their defense and goaltending. I think Detroit is getting older and slower and Howard will experience a sophomore slump of his own. I expect St. Louis and the Jackets to battle it out for the bottom of the division although I can also see either team with their youth, speed and goaltending being a surprise contender.

Final standings:

x- Chicago
x- Nashville
x- Detroit
Columbus
St. Louis

X-playoff teams

Joe (Red Wings): Quite honestly I have to go with the homer pick and pick the Red Wings to top the Central. Nashville will make it back the Second Season in the 6th or 7th spot. Chicago has lost so many players that they will not go deep, but they will still make the post season. But on the other hand (hear comes the rush of Chi-town hate mail), it wouldn’t surprise me if they tanked and did not make the playoffs.

Jeremy (Predators):

1. Detroit
2. Nashville
3. Chicago
4. St. Louis
LAST IN THE WEST: Columbus

Without Jimmy Howard emerging in Detroit, I think the Red Wings would finally see their long reign of dominance come to an end. But, alas, they’ve found yet another gem so they stay atop the Central. Nashville has the chance to make it to the Western Conference Finals this year (you heard it here first) so they take second and Chicago needs to prove they’re still competitive after the Stanley Cup hangover, parting ways with 11 guys from their Cup winning team and, of course, Marty Turco in net. St. Louis will, once again, be on the bubble and may or may not make it in, depending on how Calgary, Colorado and Phoenix fare this year. And then there’s Columbus. Poor poor Columbus. They will be so terrible in 2010-11 that you can go ahead and put them on the clock now for the number one pick in the draft.

David (Blues):

1. Chicago
2. Detroit
3. St. Louis
4. Nashville
5. Columbus

Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis make the playoffs in what is one of the most competitive divisions in the league. This time St. Louis puts some of the pieces together and edges into the playoff picture instead of just falling short.

_____________________

The next division up in our Blogger Roundtable Preview series will be the Northwest on Friday, September 17. If you want to take a look at the entire schedule, you can check it out here—or if you want to make sure you don’t miss anything, you can subscribe to VFMS (via email or RSS) for the next couple of weeks. If there are any writers you found interesting here, I urge you to go check out their sites. Each and every writer who participated has an extremely good site and all pump out great content year-round!

Now Playing: Silversun Pickups – Swoon

Being a Chicago Blackhawks fan used to be simple. It was accepted that we were pretty much personae non gratae in the Chicago sports world (not at all unlike the team in question here). We would bitch and moan that no one paid attention to the once-great franchise that dominated this city’s heralded sports landscape. It was a Stonecutters-esque fraternity of unappreciated sports-loving masochists that made up the paltry (albeit publicly inflated) attendance numbers at the United Center year after year to watch sub-mediocre teams play to, and often below, the level of their opponent.

Fast forward to oh, say, the last two and a half years, when a new regime took control of this blogger’s favorite franchise. They have drafted one future superstar after another, not to mention developing and trading for a handful of fan favorites and assaulting the local and national media with press conferences for things as menial as considering a change in straw suppliers for the soda vendors.

Don’t get me wrong, Rocky Wirtz, John McDonough, and Jay Blunk have done an incredible job of making the Hawks a top-of-mind franchise to not only hockey fans, but all sports fans in Chicago and across the nation. They have re-energized what was a proud hockey contingency in the Windy City, and, on a personal note, validated a tattoo that was once mocked and made the butt of many a joke. But as the adage goes, no good deed goes unpunished.

"Standing Room Only" has a whole new meaning now...

As Blackhawks single-game tickets went on sale at 10:00 AM CT today, I witnessed a torrent of Facebook and Twitter feeds getting downright livid at the proliferation of so-called “bandwagon fans” buying up all the tickets leaving none for the (often self-proclaimed) “true fans”. Many of you who know me are aware of my allegiance to the Indian Head, but I think this kind of reaction is on the wrong side of ridiculous.

It’s absurd to want your favorite team to be the focus of all local sports coverage, have national stars, AND win the most cherished trophy in professional athletics and then expect everyone to say “Oh, my mistake, you’ve been a fan longer than I have, I’ll let you cut in the ticket-buying line for next season”.

The reality is the Blackhawks are the toast of the town, and everybody (right, wrong, or indifferent) wants a piece. Another reality is, the people who haven’t seen a game before 2008 are the ones that will make Rocky & Co. the money to keep doing the things they have done to resurrect an Original Six franchise.

I was in the building in the 2003-2004 season when they won a total of TWENTY GAMES in regulation, when the organization was feeding us the line that the A-B-C line was the second-coming of M-P-H, and using an astounding six (count ‘em SIX) goaltenders (two of which the Hawks faced this year), and the recently re-famed anthem was only accompanied by myself, 4 other knuckleheads, and crickets.

But all these “credentials” do not put put me in front of anyone else with the same currency at the ticket line. I’m happy that the Blackhawks franchise, and just as important, the sport of hockey , have garnered some sports credit once again in this city. I welcome all fans, new, renewed, and old into the United Center, because like I’ve said before, when the building is empty, it’s a LOT less fun. While that may mean less available tickets for many of us, if it means more success and recognition for the team sporting the best logo in professional sports, that’s a bullet I’m willing to take. And now I’m off to get my newest Blackhawks ink. Let the arguments commence.

Car payments are a fact of life for everyone at some point. Cars are transportation, and we need transportation to get to our jobs to make money for other things. And since very few of us have thousands of dollars just sitting around for a car, we usually bring home a car payment along with that first automobile from the dealership. It sucks—but at least you have a new car.

After a few years, you finally pay the car off and get to enjoy the usefulness of your automobile without those interest filled payments on the 20th of every month. At first, you feel like you have all of this extra money because the payments are over; but gradually, over time, we naturally start spending the extra money on other things in our lives. Maybe our DirecTV payment goes up because we can afford Center Ice. Maybe we get a 10-game pack to our favorite team because we can afford it now. Maybe we get that gym membership that we always wanted because, “We’re finally going to get in shape.” Whatever the case may be, all of that extra money seems to get accounted for over time.

See? He can still make saves...

But something happens after a couple of years without payments. We look at that car and realize it isn’t as new as it used to be. We see our neighbors with a new Infinity and we start wondering why we can’t have the same kind. The 1999 Honda Civic was cool when we got it, but we’re in a different place in our lives. We work hard—we should be able to have something flashy and new as well! Who cares if our car hasn’t had any problems in 11 years and we’re done with our payments. It’s not sexy. And it’s all about being sexy.

Well, when you see that Stan Bowman chose Marty Turco over Antti Niemi, you can see that he chose the dependable car without a car payment over the ostentatious new model that would require adjustments to his budget. If fans take emotion out of the equation, this is the right move. It’s not just asking if Antti Niemi is a better goaltender than Marty Turco—which is debatable in itself. The question is—is Niemi so much better that you’d be willing to keep him, trade yet another player, AND potentially have to do the same thing next year? If you say yes, then you’re not giving Turco his due.

Marty Turco has proven his value over a decade. His career stats read like a man who should be beyond reproach at this point in his career. In over 500 games played, he is 108 games over .500. His career goals against average is 2.31 and his career save percentage is .911. People can say that he’s on the backside of his career, but last year his save percentage was actually BETTER than his overall career mark.

Considering the fact that he was behind one of the worst defenses in the league, his numbers look even more impressive. To say that Turco had NO help last year might be overstating the Dallas blueline. Aside from Stephane Robidas, not one of the Stars defensemen would play more than 13 minutes per game for the Blackhawks. Instead of depending on Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook to slow down the oppositions’ best, he would count on Robidas, Nik Grossman, and the like. It’s like comparing apples to foie gras.

But with Turco, it’s a two-way street. Not only will his defense help limit the shots on goal and scoring chances, but Turco and his stick-handling will help keep those valuable defensemen out of harms way. He’s like having a 3rd defenseman to help make sure the other defensemen don’t get killed. Just ask Brent Seabrook, Kim Johansson, and Brian Campbell how it feels to get destroyed and ask if they would like someone help with outlet passes.

We could make your head go dizzy with statistics from the last decade where Turco has been between the pipes in Dallas, but no one needs to hear that. We ALL know that he’s been the man for the Stars for almost a decade. Do you want some perspective? Niemi still hasn’t even been the undisputed starter for an entire season yet.

Don’t take my word for it—take people that would know best. Stars fans:

“Those questions will persist for Marty next season and he will likely be privy to the same skepticism and high standards fans set for him here in Dallas. The difference of course is that his supporting cast will be, excuse me, vastly superior.” –Brad Gardner (Defending Big D)

And what about people in Chicago? How did they feel about their defense and goaltender?

“I personally felt that Niemi was overrated due to the defense in front of him. His even strength save percentage was below replacement level (Replacement level = the level of play of a guy you could pick up on waivers or a marginal NHLer). The cap hit was simply too high to give a guy who hasn’t even played half of a season in the NHL yet and would command another raise next offseason. There isn’t enough of a market to warrant a sign and trade and the Hawks likely needed the cap flexibility to sign Turco.” –Andrew Bernier (Blackhawks DL)

Niemi has been a good goaltender behind a great defense, not the other way around. We’re not here to say that his one season was a aberration and he’s doomed to Andrew Raycroft’s fate—but we are saying that his future success is not a foregone conclusion. His stats were good, but he was also the benefactor of dealing with 24 shots a game. Not exactly the same as facing 30 shots per game. Put those numbers up over a longer period of time when NOT playing behind a Stanley Cup winning roster and we can start comparing him to Patrick Roy.

Antti Niemi’s situation isn’t as unique as it may seem. Over the last few years, many GMs have made the mistake of overpaying a Stanley Cup winning goaltender without thinking of the long-term consequences. Excluding the Red Wings, here’s a quick look at the last 4 goaltenders who have one the Cup:

Nikolai Khabibulin: After winning the Cup (and waiting for the lockout to sort itself out), was signed to a four-year, $27 million deal, making him the highest paid goalie in the league.

Cam Ward: He won the Cup and Conn Smyth in 2006 and helped lead the Hurricanes to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2009. He parlayed those playoff performances into a 6-year, $37.8 million extension.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere: Days after winning the Cup, signed a 4-year, $24 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks.

Marc-Andre Fleury: After going to the Stanley Cup Finals, he signed a 7-year, $35 million contract with the Penguins with a no-movement clause. The next year he won the Cup with the Pens.

It almost seems like the Red Wings’ management is the only group that gets it. You don’t see them going out and signing a guy like Johan Hedberg after a strong playoff run, do you? It looks like Bowman has taken another thing from his dad’s time in Detroit than just the thrill of winning Stanley Cups.

“Watching Niemi walk and bringing on the 35-year old Turco on a short-term deal could also be a clue into Bowman’s philosophy when it comes to goaltending: don’t pay a high premium.” –Sean Leahy (Puck Daddy)

This is already a team that knows plenty about regret when it comes to spending money on goaltenders. Huet is still owed $5.6 million per season for the next two seasons and will be buried in Rockford this year for the sole purpose of hiding his cap hit. Five years ago when they signed Nikolai Khabibulin to a 4-year, $27 million deal, it made the Bulin Wall the most expensive goaltender in the game. He was actually worth that contract for only about the last 4 months—just long enough to make another team foolish enough to sign him to a big contract.

At the end of the day, dropping all that cash on an unproven goaltender is just bad business. But actually, that is beside the point in this case.

Don’t get it twisted: Stan Bowman didn’t choose Marty Turco over Antti Niemi. He chose Niklas Hjalmarsson over Antti Niemi. When San Jose GM Doug Wilson threw down the hammer in the form of an offer sheet addressed to Hjalmarsson, he forced the Blackhawks to choose. Option A) Take the young defenseman at a price slightly higher than the one they intended on paying. Option B) Try to replace a member of the Top 4  defensive corps and place trust in their goaltender who has played a grand total of 64 games at the NHL level (regular season and playoffs combined).

“It hurt Niemi and the Hawks badly when San Jose signed Niklas Hjalmarsson to that four-year, $14 million offer sheet. While the Hawks matched, it cost them probably $1 million or more than they expected to pay Hjalmarsson. That was the money needed to keep Niemi.” –Tim Sassone (Between The Circles)

Here’s the kicker—even if the Blackhawks chose to keep Niemi around, this wouldn’t be over. If they wanted to keep Niemi as their goaltender, they would have had to let go of yet another one of their pieces this year. Then, after next year, they’d have to start this entire process over again. They would go to arbitration yet again, Blackhawks management would hope and pray they could get a lower salary, and if they couldn’t they’d be in the position of choosing between players again.

In this parallel universe, Chicago would be in a no-win situation. If Niemi follows up his Cup-winning performance with another stellar year, he’d get a hefty raise from the $2.75M he was just awarded. If he tanks, then they kept a goalie (and traded another player to keep him) and passed on a proven commodity that would be more likely to sign for another small contract after next season. Here’s a newsflash: this situation sucks for all of Chicago.

I understand that there are fans in Chicago who have the urge to jump off the Sears Tower after watching another piece of their Stanley Cup winning puzzle leave town. People will remember those flashy post-to-post glove saves when Niemi was saying no en route to the Blackhawks first Cup in almost 50 years. But what they don’t remember is that while most good goaltenders watch their numbers get better in the tightly played NHL playoffs, Niemi’s numbers actually were worse across the board. Is that the kind of guy that you mortgage even more of the future against?

Or do you take that dependable guy, who is much cheaper and you know what you’re going to get?

If I asked you what you thought of when I said the word “unknown,” what would you come up with? Would you think of the future? Would you think of insecurities? Would you think of Soundgarden?

The concept of the great unknown can make different people think of different things. How does Patrick Kane get cabs anymore? What’s the meaning of life? What’s going on in Paris Hilton’s mind? Seriously, there are some things that we’ll never figure out.

One of the biggest unknowns in the hockey world is how draft picks and prospects will pan out. Every year there are guys who were picked in the 1st round who disappoint and guys who were picked in the 7th round that surprise. There’ll be guys who receive a courtesy invite to training camp only to earn a spot with the big club—and likewise there will be guys who are depended upon to mature into a better player and fall flat on their face.

This year, two of the highest profile unknowns are property of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Both Ryan Johansen and Nikita Filatov are two of the most highly thought of prospects NOT playing in the NHL. One of them started last year as a Calder Trophy candidate only to end up in Russia, while the other started last season as a mid-level unknown prospect. Fast-forward to today and you have two players who could hold the Blue Jackets short-term future in their exceptionally-skilled hands. If they both develop as GM Scott Howson hopes, Columbus will be one of the most potent young teams in the entire NHL. If their question marks start to overshadow their potential, then that potent NHL lineup could turn impotent faster than you can say, “It’s been 4 hours and I’m calling my doctor.”

Nikita Filatov

Filatov has been all over the map in the last year—literally and figuratively. He started the year in Columbus with huge expectations, pissed off his defensive-minded coach, earned his way into the doghouse, asked to be released to Russia, and finally was almost a point-per-game player in the second best league in the world. All of this was on the heels of a season where he finished almost a point-per-game in the AHL and scored 4 goals in 8 games at the NHL level. Oh, and in addition to all of that, he’s participated in the last THREE World Junior Championships. I don’t care who you are, that’s a busy man.

One look at any prospect listing will show you just what he is capable of. He’s supposed to be one of the best players in the world not yet in the NHL. But then again, he was supposed to be last year, as well. Working in his favor, he’s put on some weight and could potentially enter training camp at 190 lbs. That’s a huge deal for a guy who had some problems with the NHL’s physical play.

The Blue Jackets look like they’re making a renewed commitment to helping the uber-talented sniper back into the NHL. They sent development coach Tyler Wright to Mother Russia to work with Filatov, as well as to get an idea of where the 20-year-old is mentally. Aside from traveling half-way around the world to reach out to a prospect, newly hired head coach Scott Arniel has already gone on record saying that Filatov will have a “clean slate” with the new coaching staff. It sure sounds like they’re banking on him coming over next season and fulfilling all that potential that people see.

At this point, I don’t think anyone knows what to expect from Filatov. He could come over to Columbus and start tearing up the league from game 1. He could once again struggle playing two-way hockey against bigger players. Or he could end up favoring Russia over another potential disappointment in Columbus.

As we stand before the 2010-11 season, all we have with Filatov are unknowns. How does he feel about the organization after the coaching changes? How does the organization feel about him after watching him ask to leave for Russia? Will he be able to step into the Blue Jackets’ line-up and explode with the talent that has only teased us thus far?

All I know is, if there are more problems, we’ll see Filatov drift into that unknown area where players get traded because they “need a change of scenery.”

Ryan Johansen

Let me give you a sentence and you tell me if you’d draft this player: “Late bloomer with slow feet who plays with talented wingers and accumulates a ton of assists.” Well hockey fans, that’s an accurate description of Columbus’ 2010 first round draft pick, Ryan Johansen. He’s a bit of a project—a project who was drafted 4th overall.

Of course, that single statement doesn’t exactly tell the entire story. At the same time, we could call him, “A smart 6’2” playmaking center who is one of the best passers/play-makers in the entire draft and has the ability to play a strong two-way game.” Again, all of that is true—but it doesn’t quite tell the entire story, either. His physical stature will tell you that he’s a big player—but he doesn’t play big. He’s not going to run around and create energy by throwing the body. But he is very smart with the way he uses his frame as he has a knack for shielding the puck from opponents and creating space for his teammates. Think of a poor-man’s Joe Thornton or Blake Wheeler in that respect.

When describing Johansen’s game, the most common comparisons are guys like Thornton, Ryan Getzlaf, and Eric Staal. Unfortunately, there are some questions about his “compete level” on a nightly basis. Hopefully the Blue Jackets are patient with him and he’ll be able to work that out in Portland and the AHL. If he’s able to develop into any of those players, the Blue Jackets would be ecstatic that they finally found the top-flight center they’ve been looking for since they were established 10 years ago.

The truth of the matter is that Scott Howson shocked just about every person in Staples Center when the Blue Jackets called Johansen’s name (except Johansen himself). In passing up the highly rated defensemen who were still on the board (Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley), the Blue Jackets made a statement that they thought Johansen was clearly the best player available. They went with a guy who they can take their time with, let develop, and hopefully watch grow into the player they projected him to be.  There are very few expectations for Johansen this year–but we know that will change in the future.

This year should go a long way towards clearing up some of the unknown surrounding the Blue Jackets and two of their most prized prospects. If Filatov doesn’t start showing signs of the player the Blue Jackets need him to be, this might be the last stop before the organization sends him somewhere else and tries to minimize their loses. If Johansen goes back to the Portland Winterhawks, we’ll see if he can continue on his ridiculous learning curve.

Either way, Blue Jackets fans will have a better idea of what they have. Hopefully it’s a little more than that empty space between Paris Hilton’s ears.