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Post by knight on Feb 27, 2013 18:13:43 GMT -5
Columbus Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations John Davidson announced this evening that he has hired veteran GM Knight to become the Blue Jacket's new GM. Knight will become the third GM in franchise history and will have control over all aspects of the team.
The hiring comes as the Jackets are almost guaranteed to finish 29th or 30th in the league for a second year in a row. They have only made the playoffs once in franchise history and have lost money nearly every year, ownership decided Knight was the right man to turn the team around. He will have five first round picks, including the Jackets own, and 2nd, 3rd & 4th round picks as well in a draft many scouts are calling the deepest since 2003.
Aside from the first round picks, the team has some impressive building blocks already in Ryan Murray and Oscar Dansk. Murray was picked 2nd overall last year and had a solid year with 19 points. Dansk was AHL Springfield's number one goalie throughout the season and had a good developmental year.
Here's a statement from Knight: "First I'd like to thank John the opportunity to run this team. I am committed to getting this franchise among the best teams in the league, and I know it wont happen overnight. We have some good core players like Murray and Dubinsky and we are looking to improve our prospect depth with five first round picks and any other future picks we have. As of now I will opening contract talks with some of our pending free agents."
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Post by knight on Mar 3, 2013 13:02:13 GMT -5
JACKETS GET 1ST OVERALL PICKNathan MackInnon will likely be picked by Columbus come JuneGood news out of the NHL head office Sunday as the 2013 NHL draft lottery was held. Blue Jackets fans and management were elated when they heard that they would retain the first overall pick in this years draft after finishing dead last for the second year in a row. Lats year, the Edmonton Oilers won the lottery and moved up from 2nd to 1st overall and selected Nail Yakupov. The Jackets picked stud defenseman and current Calder Candidate Ryan Murray second. Better yet, they still have four other first round picks that will be decided shortly as the playoffs progress. Here's a look at all their picks this year and next: So who will they pick? All fingers point to start QMJHL player Nathan MackInnon of the Halifax Mooseheads. MackInnon had a78 point rookie season last year and looks to surpass that total this year. he had some controversy earlier in the QMJHL draft. On June 4, 2011, MacKinnon was selected first overall by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the 2011 QMJHL Draft. Because MacKinnon does not speak French, there was speculation that MacKinnon would follow through with his option to play in the USHL until he was eligible for the NCAA, unless his rights were traded to a different QMJHL team, which ended up being Halifax. Nevertheless he has been an explosive offensive player since and will likely be picked first. Seth Jones could give him a run for his money but with Murray being picked last year and Rick Nash being traded, the Jackets are in need of a franchise forward.
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Post by knight on Mar 9, 2013 0:18:46 GMT -5
JVR AcquiredColumbus Blue Jackets GM Knight announced Friday he has completed a trade a few days ahead of the annual NHL draft. His first trade at the Blue Jacket's helm sent young, but disappointing winger Ryan Johansen to the Toronto Maple Leafs for two-way forward James "JVR" van Riesmdyk and a second round pick. At first the move looks confusing as Columbus is rebuilding but the former 4th overall pick Johansen has been disappointing, with 21 and 22 points in each of his first two seasons. A highly touted center coming out of the WHL in 2010, the Jackets took Johansen 4th overall after a 69 point season. Many scouts said he reminded them of Steve Yzerman and Jonathan Toews and he spent another year in the Dub, scoring 92 points. Since then he has struggled at the NHL level and finally management had had enough. He was shopped over the last few weeks and according to Bob McKenzie, the Leafs offer was the best GM Knight received. In comes JVR, a 6'3 former second overall pick by the Flyers in 2007. The 24 year old from new Jersey has had a very streaky NHL career thus far. After two solid seasons in the NCAA, JVR made the jump to the NHL after only 7 AHL games. He had a 35 point rookie year and followed that up with a 40 point sophomore year. Then he dipped down to 24 and now 19 points (but he only played 44 games this season). Knight grabbed him because he can easily play an offensive or defensive role and is strong on faceoffs, something the team lacks. A bonus is that he's locked up for the next 5 seasons at a very reasonable $4,250,00 per year.
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Post by knight on Mar 13, 2013 18:21:20 GMT -5
MACKINNON PICKED FIRST OVERALL[/B] Nathan MackInnon is your newest Blue Jacket. The star center was picked first overall by Columbus last night at the 2013 NHL Draft. Once again they were one of the worst teams in the league, but that comes with high draft picks. Many have been wasted but this is one that wont be. MackInnon has played the past two seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. The star pivot was picked 1st overall in his junior draft before being traded to Halifax. Since then he's scored 78 and 92 points respectively and looks to be a top line offensive player. GM Knight is hoping he turns out like the last Blue Jacket 1st overall pick, some guy named Rick Nash. After Nash was sent to Manhattan, Columbus lacked a franchise forward. Ryan Murray is the cornerstone defenseman and now MackInnon will be the cornerstone forward. In all likely hood, MackInnon will be as good or Nash, or even better. he has all the right tools, great offensive skills, some physical play, and leadership. Not only has he elevated Halifax into a top QMJHL team, he has helped line mate Jonathan Drouin become a top 10 pick. Scouts say he has the ability to make others around him better and be "that guy." As for now he will spend most of next season in he AHL rounding out his game and developing some more. Things are looking up in Columbus and MackInnon is the start of good things to come.
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