Locked Out: Columbus Blue Jackets’ State of Affairs
By Tim Lucarelli (@tlucarelli)
With the NHL lockout just hours away, each team is taking every action possible to keep their players active. After all, once the players and owners finally reach an agreement on a new CBA, there will be a mad scramble of personnel work assuring that each player is back in town and physically ready to begin the season.
In Columbus, step one is to load up as many bodies as possible in Springfield. Just today, Scott Howson announced that five players – Cody Bass, Nick Drazenovic, Andrew Joudrey, Ryan Russell, and Nick Holden cleared waivers and will join Springfield. Joining those five will be forwards Cam Atkinson, Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, Matt Calvert, Michael Chaput, Sean Collins, Oliver Gabriel, Jake Hansen, Ryan Johansen, Tomas Kulabik and Dalton Smith; defensemen Tim Erixon, Anton Blomqvist, Cody Goloubef, Austin Madaisky, John Moore, Dalton Prout, Theo Ruth, David Savard, and Will Weber; and goaltender Allen York.
Of these, Atkinson, Calvert, Johansen, Erixon, and Moore will likely benefit most, as they have either seen regular NHL duty or have proven to be right on the cusp of a full-time NHL job. This time in the American league will be an opportunity to regain confidence and momentum.
Then there was the matter of goaltender Curtis McElhinney. The Blue Jackets wanted McElhinney in Springfield so badly, they chose not to expose him to waivers, worried that someone may pluck him if exposed.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, they will instead sign McElhinney to an AHL-only contract once the lockout is underway, which is a loophole for any players on the AHL ‘clear’ list (they were eligible for the AHL playoffs) at the end of last season.
Players who were scheduled to play for the Blue Jackets that are not joining Springfield are now forced to make their own plans. They can either find a home to continue skating, or choose not to play and hope for a quick resolution. Players meeting these criteria include: Artem Anisimov, Adrian Aucoin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Jared Boll, Derick Brassard, Brandon Dubinsky, Nick Foligno, Colton Gillies, Jack Johnson, Mark Letestu, Derek MacKenzie, Steve Mason, Nikita Nikitin, Vinny Prospal, Fedor Tyutin, R.J. Umberger, and James Wisniewski.
Typically, if a player is sent to juniors at the beginning of the season, they cannot be recalled for the duration of that year, except for on an emergency recall basis. This season, however is a bit different. While there are no specifics available, there has reportedly been an agreement between the NHL and the CHL which should allow junior players to be recalled by NHL organizations once the lockout is over. It sounds as though without specifics though, a lengthy lockout could mean the players are forced to remain with their junior clubs for the duration of the 2012-13 season.
From McKenzie:
“CHL Prez Dave Branch says no specifics worked out yet but CHL acknowledges NHL will have access to drafted CHL talent if NHL starts late.”
“Obviously details of any arrangement would depend on how late NHL season starts but key point now is there will be access to drafted jrs.”
“Also, underagers who played NHL last season as 18 year olds, and still eligible this season for jr (i.e. Nugent-Hopkins), COULD play in AHL.”
Columbus is willing to roll the dice on second-overall selection Ryan Murray, as they assigned him to Everett just last week. The Blue Jackets fully expect Murray to be available for NHL action once the season begins.
Also heading to juniors is Boone Jenner, Columbus’ 37th pick from the 2011 draft, Josh Anderson, Gianluca Curcurutu, Oscar Dansk, and Lukas Sedlak. Prospects scheduled to play in college this year include Seth Ambroz (Minnesota), Thomas Larkin (Colgate), Kevin Lynch (Michigan), Mike Reilly (Minnesota), T.J. Tynan (Notre Dame), Drew Olson (Minnesota-Duluth), and Martin Oullette (Maine). Prospects scheduled to play in Europe include Anton Forsberg, Joonas Korpisalo, Maksim Mayorov, and Daniel Zaar.
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Preparing for the NHL All Star game, scheduled to be hosted in Columbus this season, Nationwide Arena is undergoing some renovations. The most significant upgrade is the high definition scoreboard, complete with energy efficient LED lights. While the previous display may have been satisfactory enough, it was built upon technology that was 12 years old. Needless to say, the new scoreboard has some new features. Read more here.
