no, in fact I HATE the blue jackets...

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2009-2010 runner up in Dobber Elite League
2009-2010 runner up in TTH league
2010-2011 runner up in Dobber Elite League
2010-2011 3d place finish in TTH league

12 TM keeper: goals/assists 1, wins 2, shutouts 3

C: Backstrom B. Richards Roy Sharp Plekanec McDonald (IR)
LW D. Sedin Filppula Lucic Eriksson Prospal
RW: Perry St-Louis Franzen Selanne
D: Weber Pietrangelo White Bergeron Kaberle Carle
G: Price Quick Elliot Giguere

Hard to hate. What have they ever done to you? or anybody haha.

All the same I think they're interesting from a fantasy perspective now.

I'm a preds fan

I dislike having blue jackets on my fantasy team, and I don't like really anyone on that team. especially nash I think is overrated

yuck

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2009-2010 runner up in Dobber Elite League
2009-2010 runner up in TTH league
2010-2011 runner up in Dobber Elite League
2010-2011 3d place finish in TTH league

12 TM keeper: goals/assists 1, wins 2, shutouts 3

C: Backstrom B. Richards Roy Sharp Plekanec McDonald (IR)
LW D. Sedin Filppula Lucic Eriksson Prospal
RW: Perry St-Louis Franzen Selanne
D: Weber Pietrangelo White Bergeron Kaberle Carle
G: Price Quick Elliot Giguere

that's fine. even if you think they're overrated and doubtlessly some people do overrate them than there are ways to capitalize on that through trades for some people. I am hoping to give people insights into the team and if you don't own them or don't care that is fine. Some people do care about them as fans or fantasy GMs that is who this thread was intended for.

Don't feel discouraged guthey, your efforts are greatly appreciated trust me. Just because there are no replies doesn't mean people aren't reading. I read your blurb on Mason and Dekanich last night with extreme interest as I own Mason in one of my leagues. Here's to hoping he can turn it around...but I'm not holding my breath either

Thanks for your great efforts so far and keep it up! Looking forward to reading more!

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@B0ndon

Goalies: If I'm pickin em you best be sittin em!

you asked so I thought I would answer...Nothing more nothing less

I hope you guys keep missing the playoffs that's all

lol

__________________


2009-2010 runner up in Dobber Elite League
2009-2010 runner up in TTH league
2010-2011 runner up in Dobber Elite League
2010-2011 3d place finish in TTH league

12 TM keeper: goals/assists 1, wins 2, shutouts 3

C: Backstrom B. Richards Roy Sharp Plekanec McDonald (IR)
LW D. Sedin Filppula Lucic Eriksson Prospal
RW: Perry St-Louis Franzen Selanne
D: Weber Pietrangelo White Bergeron Kaberle Carle
G: Price Quick Elliot Giguere

Exactly! Look, your post is nearly ready to pass my Calgary board for number of views... but that's because Columbus has some young blood and made some major changes and trades. The Calgary system's excitement is how we are bringing back the same 13 forwards as last year, adding in Scott Hannan, and hoping that will be enough to make the playoffs!! I'll need to be somewhat more creative, haha...

And I like your last two posts as well, I have both Dekanich and Kubalik on my roster with a rookie component to fill, so I'm hoping they can contribute in some way!

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XGL Commissioner - 16 Team, Points Only
$108M cap, 54+ Players
2x Reigning Champion

F: Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Kessel, Benn, Couture, Heatley, Steen, Landeskog, Brouwer, Doan, Peverley, Bonino
D: Subban, Yandle, Edler, Goligoski, Brodie, A MacDonald, Cowen, Tanev
G: Lundqvist, Smith, Allen
- - - -
Prospects:
F: Etem, Bennett, Killorn, Spooner, Hartikainen, Gaunce, Mk. Granlund
D: Clendening, Donovan, Lindell, Schmaltz, Forbort, Burlon

Thanks for the help Guthey, you da man!

Brassard. Thoughts?

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G,A,+/-,PPP,SHP,GWG,W,SV%,SO
12 Man H2H Keeper League
C - E.Malkin(rw)/B.Boyes(rw)/B. Sutter
LW - B.Ryan/M.Duchene(c)/R.Nash/T.Fleischmann/M.Paajarvi
RW - T.Selanne/C.Giroux(c)/J.Iginla/D.Alfredsson/C.Atkinson
D - M.Green/D.Byfuglien(rw)/R.Suter/O.Ekman-Larsson/J.Carlson/J.Brodin/C.Fowler
G - J.Hiller/J.Halak/J.Howard/J.Markstrom


Farm - A.York/J.Gibson/P.Grubauer/R.Murphy

Introduction

The path to professional hockey is not linear and different approaches can be taken-- this is illustrated best by these two Blue Jacket forward prospects.

Atkinson

Cam Atkinson a year ago was a rarely thought of under-sized forward playing at Boston College. He had a great sophomore season with 53 points in 42 games but it wasn't until he pretty much repeated those numbers his junior season that people's heads turned (He posted 52 points in 39 games last NCAA season). On top of that he had a point-per-game pace with the Springfield Falcons through five games with the AHL team.

Some things to note about Atkinson is that despite his size he plays an active style where he battles for pucks and works hard. However, he is much more than an under-sized grinder, Atkinson's shot is his greatest strength both with how strong it is but especially in how quickly he can unload it. His puck skills and speed are also strengths to his game.

His style of play definitely is a major reason why the 5'8'' or 5'9'' forward (depending on who you ask) can succeed. Sure many promising under-sized players play this style since if they didn't we likely wouldn't hear much about them. However, Atkinson does fit the skilled fearless undersized guy mold better and more effectively than most.

Atkinson has Kubalik and Petr Straka to contend with on RW (he is usually listed there). Kubalik is the more serious competitor for Atkinson since Kubalik has put up a very fine AHL career thus far. This can go either of two ways Kubalik wins a job this year or Atkinson wins one this year. I think the two could be traveling back and forth from Columbus to Springfield depending on who is hot. If it comes down to who can play a more skilled game in the initial decision expect Atkinson to start in Columbus on a lower scoring line. If they are looking for a complete game with a nice touch of size and physicality than Kubalik will be in Columbus. Knowing Columbus they are not afraid to put out smaller players (see Calvert, Matt) and those players have done well as of late. Atkinson also could have an advantage out of the gate since no one is sure that they will score enough goals even with Carter, Nash, etc. so since Atkinson has the higher pure goal-scoring potential he could get the nod. For Kubalik some size might help the lower scoring lines and his energy will help there. It is unlikely that he sticks primarily as a checker or an energy player with some skill right now with the Blue Jackets having plenty of that in the likes of Derek Dorsett and Jared Boll.

It is also not out of the question that an injury or two could open spots for both of them on the NHL squad as the year goes along. I would be surprised if neither Atkinson nor Kubalik made it but it is possible assuming Matt Calvert's holds on to his winger spot from the left side and other players shine.

It is amazing to think that as a 2006 1st round pick that Derick Brassard has not been ruled a bust or fully panned out product yet. His slow development has a lot to do with the team he has played on and his own injury issues early in his career. Under Hitchcock, the team favored veteran players and it didn't help young Brassard that he only played 31 games in what should've been a full rookie season. Lost on many is the fact that Brassard has played 79 games (09-10) and 74 games (10-11) which is not that bad. It doesn't mean he is in the clear for injury issues but it is reassuring to see two pretty healthy years in a row.

A major knock on his play offensively has been that he doesn't shoot enough to make teams respect his shot. However, Brassard increased his shooting totals by 58 shots last season so this issue is being addressed and it is reflected in his 11-point tally increase last season. He likely will play left wing this year with the addition of Carter and his face-off winning percentage trailing all other centers on his team last season. The injury to Huselius helped bring in Vinny Prospal who isn't exactly an iron man either so just because Brassard is projected to play the 2nd line left wing that might not be a bad thing. It is funny how his inability to win face-offs could open up more opportunities for him by changing positions. Even if he doesn't play left wing he should have a good chance to make the 2nd line and certainly won't end up lower than a 3rd scoring line.

Something that is generally underrated about the Blue Jackets is the impact that incoming players from their prospect system like Johansen, Kubalik and Atkinson can help boost established players on this team's production. The reason why is not that any one of these guys are locks be superstars or even 2nd line performers for a long time but regardless of where they land this season the increased quality depth is something that Columbus has not had the luxury of having before. One of the players that should benefit is Brassard on either the wing or under center. Vermette and Umberger will also likely see an improvement in their point totals because of this new found depth.

It is hard to completely predict Brassard's numbers since he could end up on the projected Nash-Carter line, 2nd or 3rd scoring lines. If he stays with Nash and Carter for a long stretch with the whole line producing expect 60 something points give or take. If he stays on the 2nd line expect numbers solidly in the mid to high 50 point range. If he is on the 3rd line he might still reach 50 but not get a lot more if that.

Next I will be returning to preview prospects like Maksim Mayorov, Matt Calvert (who might bump Brassard down if Brassard plays left wing) and Petr Straka.