After the first twelve hours of free agency 2011, Scott Howson has seen more action than the Varsity Quarterback on your local High School squad would see in two Senior seasons.

As I write this, in the wee morning hours, Mssr. Howson is likely seated at a desk, a regular gladiator match playing out in his mind. Whether that desk is at home or within the walls of the greatest Arena in the league (now that the Igloo is defunct), is of little consequence. At this moment Scott Howson’s brow has loosened, but his lips are still undecided; unsure whether to smile, or purse in uneasy concentration.

To quickly rehash the big news, The Boss traded our good friend Jakub Voracek and a couple of picks for the services of Jeff Carter. Carter is the kind of player who can match many of Rick Nash’s talents and help push Nasher to the next level that he should’ve reached around the time he split the "Rocket" trophy with two bonified superstars.

Scotty H. then traded a conditional 2012 seventh round draft pick to Les Habitants for the negotiating rights to RFA James Wisniewski. It was the first time in CBJ history that a trade had been made for negotiating rights. It seemed risky, but it worked out. As of this writing, Wisniewski’s contract is the largest handed out to a free agent.

The Wiz will give something that that the BJ’s have always lacked… a D-man to quarterback the power play.

The term "Power Play" may be foreign to many Blue Jacket fans; In essence, the team on a power play has (at least) a one man advantage on the opposing team, and that team tries to work the puck to a defenseman to rip a good shot on net, resulting in either a goal or a juicy rebound. The Jackets have never had a serious threat on the blue line… until now.

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Brendan Shanahan, enjoy your ride. I ain't gonna be easy. Hits like these will haunt you.

As the new Dean of Discipline, Shanahan seems supremely suited to handle Rule 48 and any others to come. He played the game the way every hockey fan wishes every player would. He scored, he passed, he hit.

Oh, boy, did he hit! Shanny rocked a good few guys in his day, back when the game was played the proper way... in the '90's. Guys named Probert, Domi, Fleury (Theo, not Marc Andre), and Stevens (Kevin, not Scott) policed the game, just by stepping on the ice. Some were deft with the puck, others not, but all capable of inflicting pain upon their opponents, both physically and mentally.

Columbus used to have this guy named Jody Shelley, who had a bit of that spirit in him. You may not have noticed him, because his name was rarely on the "good" part of the scoresheet. His simple presence kept the game honest and clean. His face (mostly scar tissue), frame (big), and stride (thundering towards an unsuspecting opponent) kept his squad's swift skaters and skilled scorers safe. Shanahan played with several comparable guys.

Let's hope that when his reign starts, Mr. Shanahan remembers his playing days. Let us pray that he remembers the difference between a good blindside hit, and a malicious shot to the head with intent to injure. The hit in question was more of the former than the latter.

Aaron Rome was a Blue Jacket for a bit, alternating between C-Bus and Springfield. Aaron Rome is a solid NHL Defenseman. Aaron Rome missed out on having his name on the Stanley Cup as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. Aaron Rome has a wife and son.

Aaron Rome is not a dirty player.

Aaron Rome's hit on Nathan Horton did not deserve a four game suspension.

The NHL is becoming soft. I'm not one to take concussions lightly, throughout my youth and beer-league hockey days, I've experienced many concussions. Some result in minor headaches, others can leave you in loopy-ville for a long while. Nathan Horton will be in loopy-ville for a while, but not because of any part of Aaron Rome's anatomy. Horton was hurt when his head struck the ice.

Rome deserved a one game suspension. Not because he blind-sided a player, but because he left his feet to blind-side a player. Rule one in checking is: keep your hands down. Rule two is: keep your feet on the ice. Breaking rule two earns you a game.

Rule 48 says that you can't hit another player in the head. Violate Rule 48 and earn yourself a few games in the press box. Aaron Rome is going to be in the press box for a few games. Aaron Rome will be in that box for the rest of the finals... a finals that could very well see Vancouver hoisting the Stanley Cup on their home ice.

Aaron Rome will not be on skates to do a lap with the cup, because of an overactive attack on concussions.Aaron Rome did not violate Rule 48.

Aaron Rome did leave his feet. Aaron Rome did throw a blind side hit. Aaron Rome did hit Nathan Horton in the mid-section.

Nathan Horton was knocked cold when his head hit the ice. It's a hazard of the job. Every Hockey player wears a helmet for a reason.

The situation is oddly reminiscent of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green's concussion at the hands of Cincinnati Benagls defensive end Robert Geathers on September 10, 2006. Green was sliding and, unable to hold up on his momentum, Geathers hit Green in the chest on the way down. Green's helmeted head hit the ground and his season and, eventually, career came to an end. Geathers was cleared because he did not intentionally cause the concussion, he was merely playing the game.

Aaron Rome was playing the game. He was throwing a hit on an opposing player who had the puck on his stick less than two seconds prior.

The Bottom Line is: Aaron Rome should be back for game five. After the loss of Dan Hamhuis, Vancouver needs Rome. The Bruins need Nathan Horton, but injuries happen (see Hamhuis).

The NHL robbed the Canucks of a Defenseman, and robbed Aaron Rome of a chance to fulfill every hockey player's dream... hoisting the cup, in uniform, and skating around the ice with it.

(As part of our Depth Check series, we went a little outside the box and asked for a few guest pieces - here is the first, from regular commentor Dan Johns. Thank you, Dan! -Matt W.)

With the season winding down and the trade deadline in the rear-view, it’s time to take a look at what this team has on the outside for this desperation playoff push and into the future. We’ve already looked into the Net-minders and Pivots, so now on to the most populous position on the club, the Wingers.

Let’s start with what is already up at the Big League level, line by line…

Line 1: Rick Nash, Jakub Voracek

 Nash is here to stay thanks to his recent contract extension. I’ll not waste too many words on him, because I can sum him up in three words. Elite. Scorer. Leader.

Voracek is improving bit by bit. His game has been on the uptick every year. He’s starting to look more like the guy the BJ brass saw when they drafted him. A tough playmaker with deft stick-handling and a nose for the net. If he could just improve his shot accuracy and continue to play tough in the corners, we’re looking at Jaromir Jagr Light.

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A couple of months ago, a fantastic hookup was made. It was a subtle match made in heaven. And it was all facilitated by the new guy in town playing wingman.

That wingman was Scott Arniel. While it was one of the quieter introductions he’s made upon his arrival to Columbus, it was one that has paid dividends. Until Derick Brassard hit the IR, it was barely noticeable, though it had been transforming a team, and city, since that night when Coach said, in not so many words…

"Derek MacKenzie, I’d like you to meet my friend, Chance. She’s looking for more than just a few dates."

While now hidden beneath the shadow of line-mate Matt Calvert’s hat-trick, Derek MacKenzie continues to thrive. Even late in Calvert’s big game, MacKenzie could be seen flying into the corners like a cannon ball and moving the puck around. Derek MacKenzie’s boosters seem to never run out of juice.

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Don’t lie. The teenager inside of you laughed at his last name when the Jackets drafted him. Your immature self continued to laugh every time Porty or any other Jackets pundit updated you on his progress.

Who’s laughing now?

I’ll tell you who is laughing now. Grant Clitsome and Scott Arniel.

Oh, and John Moore. And Matt Calvert, for that matter.

This Blue Jackets team is in the midst of a phenomenal transition, and Grant Clitsome is the best example of the movement. His offensive contributions have been a sight for our decade-sore eyes. While other teams have thrived with the contributions of Lidstroms, Gonchars, and Greens, the Nationwide natives have received their best blue-line numbers from Jaroslav Spacek.

Jaroslav Spacek.

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Flash back to June 30th, 2006, Free Agency Eve, The Blue Jackets made a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning, sending Marc Denis to the Sunshine State to pave the way for Pascal Leclaire, the goalie of the future, to take the reins.

Incoming would be relatively unknown goaltender Fredrik Norrena and Fredrik Modin, a proven goal-scorer to help Rick Nash and Nikolai Zherdev lead Columbus to its first ever berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Blue Jackets fans were salivating at the thought Modin's thirty-one goals from the previous season and twenty-nine  from the year before the lockout, believing that he was the missing piece.

Now, three seasons later, Marc Denis is struggling to find a job, even as an AHL net-minder. LeClaire and Zherdev have been shipped off to Ottawa and New York, respectively, and Fredrik Norrena got lost last season and somehow wound up in the KHL. But Modin is still here, and was a part of the Blue Jackets first ever playoff crew... a nigh invisible part. What happened?

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Pittsburgh has a rich history of athletics... no question about it. Unfortunately, two of the Steel City's brightest stars never got the chance to live up to their full potential on the playing surface.

Roberto Clemente died in a tragic plane crash on his way to provide charity. Mario Lemieux's career was plagued, and ultimately cut short, by Hodgkin's and the resulting frailty from his battle with the disease. Both could have been the all-time best in their respective sports, but neither played enough games to fulfill their destiny.

I pose to you this question... Which player would have been the top athlete in Pittsburgh, and possibly sport, history had they been able to effectively play out their careers?

My somewhat biased vote has to go to Mario because I actually saw him play and believe that he was better than Gretzky ever was as an all around hockey player. Let's face it, I grew up idolizng the guy. It's a close effing call, though.

Who gets your vote?

As a huge Bengals fan, I've suffered through many tough situations. What makes me happy now, is that the current toughest situations have to deal with the defense and a surplus of talent.

First off; The Linebacking battles. Anyone who doesn't see Rey Maualuga taking a starting spot from Rashad Jeanty by week 8 (at the latest) is a serious pessimist. Enough said on that issue.

The big battles come in the secondary. Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph have locked their spots at the corners. Hall is a ball-hog and J.J. is a beast at covering the deep threat. That said, the Georgetown throw-down will be at the safety positions.

Chindeum Ndukwe and Chris Crocker are battling it out to be the starting Strong Safety. Crocker is a proven veteran and will give you all that you ask for. Ndukwe is... well, let me put it this way: David Fulcher for the new millenium. Ndukwe is also a lot younger and provides a larger chance for future production. That's why Chinny is my pick for the Bengals starting SS.

Free Safety is just a little different. Roy WIlliams was brought in this summer after an injury-plagued 2008 season with Dallas. Williams is (or maybe was) a perennial pro-bowler with serious head-hunting proficiencies. Pretty much, he's like Kelsey Grammar in X-Men 3... the Beast, but getting on in years.

Call me a youth-homer, but I like Marvin White to be the starter by season's end. Why season's end rather than game one, you ask? I think that Marvin White has played relatively well for the Bengals thus far. He's played well... not extraordinarily well. My view of the WIlliams signing was as a boost to White. I believe he was brought in to start and mentor the young safety so that, when his time comes, he's the best.

In summation, my game 1 starters at safety are Chinedum Ndukwe and Roy Williams.

My ideal pairing for the future is Ndukwe / White.

Now I want to know what your ideal pairing is. Sorry in advance, Corey Lynch fans.

First off, I've been working on an in-depth article on Fredrik Modin that I should have finished and posted here on the Cannon late this week, or this weekend, whenever work allows. So, check back.

Now, to the poll...

The Center position is solidfied through line three, thanks to the signing of Samuel Pahlsson, but the fourth line position is still up for grabs. There's been talk of landing a FA, moving Derek Dorsett to Center so that he and Boll can skate together, or going with a young guy like Andrew Murray or Michael Blunden, who was just re-signed.

Who do you think it will be?

Per the Dispatch, John "Nasty" Mirasty has signed a one year deal with the Blue Jackets, but will (more than) likely spend the season in Syracuse.

I seriously doubt that he will ever crack an NHL roster, but this is still exciting. Why? Because he's likey to see some pre-season action, whch means we fans could have a chance to see the kind of beatdown not seen in Nationwide since #45 was shipped off to the left coast.

That's just one more reason to go watch a pre-season game.

 
The Blue Jackets are set to release their Preseason Schedule on Monday, but the Penguins have released theirs already. It features a home and home matchup with Columbus as two of their last three Preseason warmups.

From PensBurgh:

Thursday, Sept. 24, Pittsburgh at Columbus, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 25, COLUMBUS AT PITTSBURGH, 7:30 p.m.

 I grew up a Penguins fan before we were blessed with an NHL franchise here in Ohio and I still show them loyalty (except against the Jackets) so matchups between the two are very exciting for me. You better believe I'll be doing my best to be at those games should work allow it.

As a side question, is there anyone else who is still loyal to their pre-Jackets team? If so, who is it? Who do you pick in matchups between the two?

As you all likely know, the Blue Jackets entered Free Agency looking to fill the following needs:

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  • A reliable backup for star goaltender Steve Mason
  • Two checking centers to anchor third and fourth lines.
  • One or two puck-moving defenders.

The first need was fulfilled with the signing of Mathieu Garon who, most recently, backed up Marc-Andre Fleury of the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

The second need has been half-solved with the signing of elite checking center Samuel Pahlsson who left Anaheim at the trade deadline last year to move to the windy city. I've said before that, unlike many, I expect Manny Malhotra to re-sign closer to the start of camp at around $1.5M which is a raise from last year, but not as much as Manny wanted. He'll see that no team will throw that kind of money at him and return to C-bus.

So what about a Free Agent defender to help out the power play and... score? Wait, defensemen can score? As crazy as it sound in Columbus, it's true. Kris Russell will be there in two years, and Fedor Tyutin is decent enough, but this team needs a nice shot from the point on the PP now that Jason Williams is unlikely to return.

After the jump are a few remaining defensive FAs who could fit the bill for the Blue Jackets with last year's team and cap hit.

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Dany Heatley will (better) not become a Blue Jacket.

Why?

For one, the price will be high... too high. You've got to think that the young guns (Voracek, Brassard, Filatov) are untouchable. Those guys will not be moved. So who would Ottawa look for in return for Dany? Third and fourth line guys are safe, because they'll want scorers.

Here's a list of guys and why they should not be moved:

Antoine Vermettewas expendable enough to be traded by Ottawa to the Jackets for Pazzy because he didn't fit into their top six. Not to mention, the Sens would need a winger, not a center, if they gave up Heatley.

Kristian Huseliushas developed a chemistry with Rick Nash and allows Rick to play his game. I think Heatley would keep the puck off of Nash's stick and become a bit of a distraction were he to replace Juice on Nash's opposite wing. This team needs Nash to be its leader in the locker room and on the stat sheet.

R.J. Umberger is grit, heart, and skill. This is the kind of guy that every team needs, and his playoff contributions were incredible. While he may or may not wear an "A" on his chest this year, he is one of this team's leaders.

Fedor Tyutin is the best offensive blue-liner the Jackets have at the moment. Let's leave it that.

Kris Russellwill be one of the top defense-men in the West in about two years. The guy can flat-out skate. Work on his puck movement and shot, and he's a big asset. With tutelage from Tyutin and hopefully another Veteran coming via free agency or trade, he will make some major strides.

Freddy Modin... well, Modin might as well have never come here. He's always hurt, and under-productive when he's not.

As it is, I like the balance that this team will have at forward next year. I expect Manny Malhotra to return at a lower price once he realizes that no one will pay him second line money for third/fourth LINE production. He and Pahlsson will compete and probably alternate, head-manning the 3 and 4 lines for Hitch.

As for the veteran Blue-liner, it may be wishful thinking or even delusion, but I expect Sergei Zubov to don the Navy for the next season or two. Zubov will likely have to settle for less money after missing the majority of last year with injuries and due to this age. I can see him coming in at a cap hit of about 4mil. He's a guy that Hitch has worked with (and loved) before and brings a hefty offensive resume with him. He'll help the Blue Jackets move out of the power play cellar and teach Kris Russell some invaluable lessons on being a top-flight NHL defense-man.

I also think that Dany Heatley will be a distraction. His trade situation has been dominating NHL headlines for the past month, and will surely bring a media circus with it when he finally lands elsewhere. The Blue Jackets don't need the drama of bringing in a player who has essentially forced his way out of two cities. They definitely do not want to be #3.

Also, let's not forget the tragic car accident in which Heatley's friend and teammate Dan Snyder was killed because Heatley was speeding. While that's in the past, it's still a bit of bad juju. I just think the team doesn't need anything to pull their focus away from Coach Hitchcock's plans. Heatley's really starting to play out as a Diva.

Nash and Heatley have worked well together in the past, but that was essentially in an all-star capacity. Neither player wore a letter or was counted on to carry the team. I just don't think they'll mesh in a Hitchcock, 82-game situation.

So, forget about Heatley fellow Flag Carriers. He's too expensive and will come with drama that will distract from what the Jackets need: A cool-headed approach to two way hockey.

May Nash and Mason be with you.

- Daniel Johns