Weighing in on the Columbus Blue Jackets Hiring of Tortorella

Courtesy: NHL.com

Yes, you see that right. John Tortorella is back in the NHL with a new team - the Columbus Blue Jackets. Often taken in critical remarks as a controversial hockey personality, "Torts" will certainly bring about some change in order to salvage the season. A miserable 0-7 start is already starting to erode the fan base that started to gather from the 12-0 finish last season and playoff appearance. This is what I think will most certainly be the key to turning the franchise around into something resembling an NHL franchise for the rest of the 75 games or-so remaining.

The Pros:

1. He's worked with Brandon Dubinsky before in New York. Certainly, he's at least found someone to work with and buy into his coaching system. And with that, he can start to kindle more leadership with Dubinsky and by extension more confidence in the rest of the players.
2. Saad, a newly acquired player, is used to the edgy coaching style as he'd seen in Chicago. His skills are comparable to some of the other greats that Torts has coached in the past. They need production from Saad to grow the team around his future potential.
3. As stated before, Coach Torts is a highly controversial personality with a history of colorful remarks during press conferences. This circus act can serve as a smoke screen, if Torts and the BJ's are up to it, the more the press focuses on Torts in the spotlight, the less lack-of-victories coverage gets talked about in the media.
4. Torts has an ability to build teams up and sometimes gets them to overachieve with gritty defensive style. He's taken two teams to the Cup finals and preparing a third. He works well with what he's given.

Game of the Week - Columbus Blue Jackets vs Detroit Red Wings

This week was a little difficult for me to get this out on time. This weekend was quite rough personally, but as my dedication to my readers and fans, here is the latest Game of the Week episode via twitch and uploaded to youtube.

I didn't really have an idea from the news or feedback from enough fans yet, so, the NHL.com featured the Blue Jackets and I also wanted to see the Red Wings get featured at least once. And here went the match-up.



If you have a match-up possibility that you would like to see played out on NHL 15, then leave a comment below or in the appropriate social media channels.

Cooke Causes Colision and Cacophony of Calous Critics

The NHL's poster-boy for what they think that's all that's wrong with the sport, Pittsburgh Penguin Matt Cooke, has immediately channeled the full ire of many fans who dislike his overly aggressive style of play. During a recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, veteran defensman Fedor Tyutin skated back to his own zone to play the puck. But he was quickly made to feel the force of Cooke's body slam into him at full speed. The result was a catastrophic hit that not only looked monstrous, but something that would be worth a lengthy suspension.

Attempting to back up the latest rhetoric about being tough on players who recklessly pass up the safety for others, the NHL decided to lower the boom on Matt Cooke and suspend him for 4 games.

"It's the league's decision," he said. "They assess every hit and every play. That's their ruling."

It's a ho-hum or been-there-done-that response from one of the most villainous current NHL players. Most times, Cooke brings it on himself, but he's got a reputation now, so can it be possible that other teams can exploit the potential meltdown.

In the FSN Pittsburgh broadcast, the one that has almost made itself into a mini-viral video, it was conveniently cut out that the slow-motion cameras that showed apparent victim Fedor Tyutin had turned his head back before playing the puck, then turns his back to the on-coming Cooke, right in time to be delivered the hit. Did Tyutin position himself to draw the major penalty?

Given that additional information, it is quite easy to get fans' dander up and rabble rouse against Matt Cooke for what he did. But if you get the whole story... then the big picture palette looks more palpable.

[Via: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Alternate Hockey Jersey for the Holiday Wish List

A couple more jersey sweaters have been released to the public in hopes that the hockey world will turn it into retail gold. Basically, that is all the third jersey, or alternate jersey as it is sometimes called, really is to the professional sports leagues these days. The minor hockey teams apply this more often, but the lure of the popularity of it makes a strong case for every team do design one.

First up, is the new jersey for the holiday season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. This team always look good around the holidays in March as the Red-Black-Gold is replaced by the Irish luck. Christmas time, also brings out the sports and holiday cross-themed merchandise and the Penguins also played with the Red-Green traditional colors. But this year, knowing that the powder blue is oh so hot right now, the Penguins instead made a more subtle winter jersey and went with an all-inclusive snowflake design. One internet commenter suggested that the snowflake had resembled a Star of David. It's a clever look! I am sure that the WBS Penguins are going to auction off the game used jerseys to insure the top dollar price for them. Collectors are sure to put this on the high demand list for it's historical value.

The second sweater to be released to the public is controversial in it's very existence. Where is the 10 Year Patch that the Blue Jackets have this year? Is it on the shoulders? Initial knee-jerk reactions to this one is how that the young lifespan of the Columbus Blue Jackets should produce a throwback style. As the team and city are really proud of it's Civil War heritage, the team derives it's very name from the coats that the Union army wore. I like the colors of the jersey and the silver gray to the stripes aren't often seen in uniforms unless it's a black jersey. Again, the choice to go with a light blue stripe is also a nod to the light blue fad. Now to the crest, I am not that impressed with it. It lacks color, but is really detailed in it's design. It resembles the other circular alternate logo with the Union cap, but not on the same stand-out way. The collar is also a different design - inspired by the union uniforms. The draw strings on the jersey tie it in to the old time hockey fad. It's something that I have acclimated myself to now that I own a jersey with it on. I probably wouldn't buy this since it's the dreaded Reebok EDGE cut, but if Santa were to leave it under the tree, I would wear it.

Blue Jackets Release 10th Season Logo

As I scour over some of the new hockey blogs that are popping up everywhere now that blogging has become more popular than ever before - The Blue Jackets have a blog that does a pretty good job covering the development of an NHL hockey franchise. So, here is an honest first impression as I give my own interpretation and criticism like the old blog "Sports Logo Pundit" did years ago.

The Dark Blue Jacket (link found in the blogroll list) helped circulate what is expected to be the 10th anniversary patch of the Columbus Blue Jackets to be worn on the Rebook EDGE jerseys for the 2010-11 NHL season.

I am a big fan of commemorative logos as I study them on my own for graphic arts perspectives. I like this one a lot despite it not employing Roman Numerals - a usual standard when sports entities make commemorative logos. This logo seems to capture both the "10" aspect of the anniversary plus work in the team's logo with the community identity of the Ohio state flag.

[Via: The Dark Blue Jacket]

Millionare Players Are Targets For Scams

While NHL players are debating on the safety on the ice, some players are also speaking out about the ways players have fallen victim to scam artists as well as false investment schemes.

Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch has a great article that highlights budding NHL superstar Rick Nash putting up with as well as some risky business investments.

At least twice a month, Nash estimates, he is asked to invest in projects ranging from real-estate development to restaurants.

I can only imagine that with a sudden windfall of money arriving with a huge athlete contract also rises the people who are in most need of it.

According to the article, the most common way for athletes who suddenly find themselves missing a lot of cash are blaming unscrupulous agents and money managers.

"Somebody is always asking to invest in this and help in that," Nash said. "It's tough to be the bad guy, so it's nice to have someone you can trust, an adviser who can help you with decisions."

And even then, players are still focused on playing hockey and not about the backgrounds of the people they get involved with. Players, according to defenceman Mike Commodore, are not as knowledgeable about financial issues to the point that most advisers can talk over the heads of many NHL players - leading them to even bigger risks.

"It's easy to get in bad habits when you are young," said Commodore, 30. The financial adviser "talks to you, and you have no idea what he's saying. You don't pay attention; you don't check (investments) online. More often than not, things will work out fine, but they could blow up in your face."

With the economy as rough as it is, multi-millionaire players should be on constant guard for those who want to get a piece of their pie.

[Via: Columbus Dispatch]

Columbus Catches Creep Crank Calling

Despite the shaping of the first successful season by conquering a conference leading rival, what should have been Columbus players leaving the Arena as heroes instead they left swiftly under the protection of local police escorts.

Players were escorted to their vehicles by police officers or security guards after the game, even though Stenzel already was in custody.

"Most fans are great fans," [Michael] Peca said. "But some people out there take it a little too far.

In a shocking story from Columbus, OH (proving more fodder for the PA-OH rivalry) a hockey fan was arrested behind the scenes of the recent BJ-Flames game for allegedly making terroristic threats called in from his home. But to distance him from the Blue Jacket fan community, this was also released from the local newspaper.

Stenzel, who is single and has no children, makes a living working on computers. He was born in Toronto and maintains dual citizenship in Canada and the United States, Tanaka said.

So, if he is found guilty, do we only deport him half way? Or send 50% of him back to Ontario?

[Via: The Columbus Dispatch]

BlueJackets Owner Dies

I guess if Doug MacLean is still interested in being an NHL owner, a spot in Columbus just opened up.

COHF would like to extend condolences to the McConnell family and Blue Jackets fans. This guy seemed really nice and contributed a ton to NHL hockey and the Columbus community. However, a glaring quote that popped out of the AOL article profiling the late owner

"I used to tell them: 'You don't have to win all the games. We know that. As long as you do your best out there, why, we're happy with you.' And that's what they did," McConnell said.

This is unfortunately the purveying tone the franchise has taken. This team just doesn't shoot high enough for my liking. Being satisfied with "doing your best" may be what is keeping this team from doing what is necessary for getting into the playoffs.

I expect a patch on next season's Blue Jackets team as the Blackhawks wore a WWW in honor of Mr. Wirtz this past season.

[Via: AOL Sports & BlueJackets Official Website]

Blue Jackets Iclusive Holiday Season

Sometimes I get a little upset at the way tradition is falling by the wayside. I see my own beliefs trashed daily and there is no real escape but to fight back. Christmas is a time for giving, love for fellow humankind, and most importantly, happiness with family. I believe these ideals are universal, not to be monopolized by one religious group.

So when other people get depressed or left out during this holiday season, they make up other holidays that are either a mockery of Christmas or imaginary nonsense, I get very very upset.

The NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets have started a promotional event for their game against Los Angeles as "Festivus Night". Although I don't fault the BJ's for their attempt to get people to the games, but could they do something better than put over a stupid idea from a stupid unfuny sit-com? Did Hitchcock or the BJ's air any of their grievances? Was there any feats of strength by Boll? There must be something in the air in that college town that perpetuates such stupidity.

The team redeemed themselves by featuring their mascot in a Santa suit on their Official team web site, so, I guess the team is not all bad. Perhaps, they aren't fully trending towards the alternate counter-cultures in this country. A 12 Games of Christmas package puts the team back over into the "nice" column on Santa's list, but for how long? I would bet that they will be on their best behavior from now on since a playoff spot is top spot on their Christmas wish list.