RealGM

http://hockey.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/10632/20111120/blue_jackets_trying_to_deal_brassard_mason_and_vermette/

Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson is working hard to unload salary rather than fire coach Scott Arniel.

Howson is still trying to move centers Derick Brassard and Antoine Vermette and goalie Steve Mason for whatever the organization can get.

There is significant interest in Vermette.

I'm not suprised they're trying to move guys, but i'm still shocked they haven't canned Arniel yet.

I get Mason and Brassard, they both have to go. But I really don't see why they'd want to move Vermette.

The Blue Jackets drafting history in the first round is insanely bad. I don't know if it's bad scouting, bad player development or a combination (my guess), but that right there is the problem. Here are their first round picks since they joined in 2000, pick number in ()

Klesla (4), LeClaire (8), Nash (1), Zherdev (4), Picard (8), Brule (6), Brassard(6), Voracek (7), Filatov (6), Moore (21), Johansen (4)

Seriously, look at that ****ing list. 10 top-8 picks and you have 1 star to show for it, and a possible one in Johansen. Some of those guys could still be decent, but they have done such a successfully bad job of player development that only Nash, Moore and Johansen are still there

unreal. it's like they are trying to blow picks

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Their draft history is disgusting. Nash was a can't miss pick so I wouldn't even really count him. It seems to me that they just suck at drafting and developing talent.

Howson will get canned before Christmas, Arniel will get to play out the year to see how the new GM feels about him, and they will explore trading Nash. They need to re-stock and re-tool everything. I think they should trade everyone they can for youth and picks except Johansen. They should really be racing to do this ASAP before Calgary tries to do it, so they could get the best of the returns out there.

I'd take a good look at Brassard if I'm a GM in the league. I think he's due for a change of scenery. He had a relatively decent season last year with 17 goals, a good (but shortened) year in 08, but had a horrible 09 season.

If they're having a firesale, I wonder what they'll do about Nash and Carter. Let the Nash for Schenn, Kulemin and Kadri rumours fly (and you know they'll be ALL over the internet).

For the record, John Moore is a heck of a talent, and will be a key component with that team for a long time. I watched him with the Kitchener Rangers a bunch of times a few years ago, and he was always the smartest and calmest puck handler on the ice.

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I'm not as high on Brassard but I'd take a hard look at Mason. Kid was amazing in his first season, but the Blue Jackets just put way too much pressure on him at young age and he fell apart. I think Mason's situation is similar to Kari Lethonen's situation in Atlanta a few years ago.

Tampa Bay might be a good place for Mason, he'd spend the rest of the year learning from/backing up Roloson which could do him a lot of good.

Also, I hope Tambellini asking about Vermette. He'd be a perfect fit for us, great penalty killer, good face off guy and just a solid all around player. He's basically does everything Gagne doesn't and Vermette would be perfect for our 3rd line. In fact lets just offer them Gagne for Vermette.

ajaX82 wrote:The Blue Jackets drafting history in the first round is insanely bad. I don't know if it's bad scouting, bad player development or a combination (my guess), but that right there is the problem. Here are their first round picks since they joined in 2000, pick number in ()

Klesla (4), LeClaire (8), Nash (1), Zherdev (4), Picard (8), Brule (6), Brassard(6), Voracek (7), Filatov (6), Moore (21), Johansen (4)

Seriously, look at that ****ing list. 10 top-8 picks and you have 1 star to show for it, and a possible one in Johansen. Some of those guys could still be decent, but they have done such a successfully bad job of player development that only Nash, Moore and Johansen are still there

unreal. it's like they are trying to blow picks

So bad.

Why look to trade Mason? He's young and the defense in front of him is crap.

trwi7 wrote:Why look to trade Mason? He's young and the defense in front of him is crap.

The defense in front of him is bad, but he's been awful this year (3.63 GAA and a 0.875 SV%).