Blue Jackets Thoughts for the Early New Year

Steve Mason is a savior.  It is as simple as that.

Let us take a moment and consider what the Jackets would be like if Leclaire (and his massive/pathetic implosion this year) remained the number one goalie, with the ever shaky Norrena still backing him up.

How about, no.  I do not want to think about another season in dismay, and another potential opportunity for the Jackets wasted by awful play and ignorance from veteran players (yeah, I am looking directly at Fedorov and Foote).  How about instead, we celebrate the fact that Columbus is sitting a point out of 8^th in the West?  Anything see that coming this year?

I’ll be the first one to admit I thought they would be better, but frankly, at this juncture of the year, I will take what I can get.  Brassard has given way to Mason in the chase for the Calder on account of shoulder surgery, and while this is a massive blow to the Jackets offensive structure, it could potentially open doors to a lingering potential trade with Ottawa which could not only make them better, make me and even bigger fan of them.

The two names on this trade rumour are Mike Fisher and Antoine Vermette.  Now, I do not want to go all school girl on everyone, but these two players make up fifty percent of my favourite players in the league.  While they are both struggling offensively this year, I believe that a change in scenery will not only propel them to the level of play they are comfortable with, it will also give Columbus the boost at center they have been desperately needing all season long.

Potential players heading to Ottawa would be Jason Chimera, Manny Malhotra, and Clay Wilson.  Yes, this would affect the players in the locker room, considering both Malhotra and Chimera have been long standing Jackets players, but it also goes one step further in assuring that extremely talented players are well divided within the team structure, and while Clay is considered a solid prospect, the Jackets already have some very promising young players on the blueline, waiting for their opportunity.

While I do not truly see this trade happening, I know the management in Ottawa is desperate, and I would not be surprised if something LIKE this going down, as in maybe just Vermette. 

Consider this an excited and biased opinion, but I am prepared to suggest that having a guy like Vermette on that team could easily be one of the major solutions the Jackets are looking for.