Sunday, June 27, 2004

Draft 2004

The Blue Jackets began the draft as we would have hoped - they drafted offense with their first two picks.
Left winger Aleaxandre Picard was taken eight overall and is a solid 6'2" and 190 pounds. With the 46th choice Columbus selected RW Adam Pineault from Boston College. The American born (Holyoke, Massachusetts) winger is 6'1" and 193 pounds. Defenseman Kyle Wharton was their third choice, 59th overall. The 6'2" 185 pound defenseman played last year in the OHL for Ottawa. Picks four and five were goalie Daniel Lacosta and defenseman Andrei Plehanov. Lacosta is 6'1" and 185 pounds; he played for Owen Sound in the OHL last season. Russian Plehanov is 6'1" and 187 pounds and he played in Russia last year for Nizhnekamsk.

Thursday, June 17, 2004

Columbus Signs Irbe

Goalie Arturs Irbe was acquired the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes for "future considerations.". Irbe spent six years in Carolina and though he helped lead the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002 (a loss to Detroit), he was no longer starting in Carolina. Kevin Weekes has taken over the starting goalie role.

Whether this move marks a challenge to Mark Denis' starting spot or simply is an attempt to upgrade the back-up spot, previously held by Fred Brathwaite, remains to be seen. Irbe has been a solid goalie, so the move should improve the team.

Friday, June 11, 2004

Klesla Signs A One Year Contract

Defenseman and first draft pick in the Blue Jackets history, defenseman Rostislav Klesla signed a new contract this week. Injured for much of last season, the Blue Jackets are confident that the young blue-liner will become the solid defenseman that they expected when they drafted him #1.