Hobson's Mailbag: Week 4 - 9/29/15

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to Hobson's mailbag. I apologize for the lack of posts on the topic of this segment, I've been very busy with schoolwork and other distractions, but we're back tonight. Tonight's edition features two questions via twitter and one via facebook. Enjoy.

@PHUHobson What are your thoughts on the media members not being allowed to be on the team charter anymore?

— Anthony Fusco (@FuscoNation16) September 29, 2015

I think it's a good thing for the team and the organization all together. Everybody knows that the Toronto media is among the worst in the entire NHL. Considering this season will likely feature a long run of pain for the Leafs and their fans, the media will have an even bigger reason to attack players any chance they get. In general, I think the media staying off of the plane to road games is a good call. Will be better for the team.

@PHUHobson Which team in the Atlantic will give Toronto the biggest problem in terms of how they match up? Vise versa?

— Cassy (@_MAF29) September 29, 2015

Who will give the Leafs the most trouble this season? I'm gonna go with not neccesarily the best team, but the team that has been known to cause the most trouble for the Leafs over the years. The Buffalo Sabres. The Leafs have always had a ton of trouble against the Sabres dating back to the mid 2000s, mainly at First Niagara Center. Tonight was a good example of that case. Buffalo has a good team heading into this season and with the Leafs likely to be in the Auston Matthes sweepstakes, it's very likely that Buffalo rips on the Buds every chance they get. Now, who will the Leafs give the most trouble? That's hard. If anyone, maybe Ottawa. It's almost the same situation as the Buffalo/Toronto deal, but the other way around. The Leafs have always seemed to have Ottawa's number, so maybe them if anyone? I don't know.

Q: How do you feel about the Zajac rumours? (Jacob Du via Facebook)

A: It really depends who the Leafs send back. I highly doubt that Shanahan and Co. would make a deal revolving around Zajac, despite his relationship with Lou Lamoriello. If anything, he'd be a camp dump in a deal acquiring a 1st round pick or a prospect for JVR, Kadri, or Bozak in return. In general, I'm okay with Zajac becoming a Leaf as long as they're getting something with more value along with him in return.

Thanks for reading.

Follow Hobson on Twitter @PHUHobson

Blue Jackets Games 1 and 2 Preview: The NY Rangers

By William Espy

The Blue Jackets have an interesting start to the season as they will play a home-and-home with the Blue Shirts on October 9^th and the 10^th. The Rangers will be a difficult test for the Jackets, as they are not a slouch in any area. Backstopping them in at least one of the games will be “the King” Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist will likely play in the game at Madison Square Garden, which leaves the question about who will start on the 9^th at Nationwide. While it is not unheard of for a goaltender of Lundqvist’s caliber to play two consecutive nights, it is highly unlikely the Rangers will do this directly at the start of the season. If Antti Raanta gets the start in one of the games, it will not be as much of a given as some may think. The newly acquired Raanta comes from a Blackhawks team that was phenomenal defensively, however the Rangers are not much of a step down. Expect both games to be a goaltending duel.

Goaltending Predictions:
 

10/9/15 – Antti Raanta vs Sergei Bobrovsky

10/10/15 – Henrik Lundqvist vs Curtis McElhinney

The Rangers have a highly impressive defensive corps containing players like their captain Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal, Keith Yandle and an aging Dan Boyle. The Blue Jackets will have to try to capitalize when Yandle and Boyle, who are both more regarded for their offensive game rather than their defensive ability, are on the ice. Kevin Klein and Raphael Diaz are both still a question mark on the blue line this year, however both have been great this preseason. Klein has posted four points in two games while Diaz has four in three. Defensively the Rangers have a lot of talent and will be tough to beat, however they are small compared to the Blue Jackets which is something the Jackets will have to take advantage of.

Offense is just as big of a threat in the Big Apple, they have a mix of power, speed and talent which gives them the ability to overcome almost any obstacle. Last season they finished third in the NHL in goals for, behind only the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Dallas Stars. While they lost players like Martin St. Louis and Carl Hagelin, there are many players on the team who can likely fill those spots fairly well. JT Miller is set to probably play his first full NHL season, Chris Kreider has been exponentially progressing each year, and Emerson Etem is still waiting for his breakout year. Derek Stepan was on pace for a career best year last season, however he finished two points short of his career high in only 68 games.

For the Blue Jackets to do well in this series, they will have to be at their best in every aspect of the game. They cannot afford to have any type of defensive breakdown, nor can they have an offensive slump.

Maple Leafs PTOs: Two Out, One In, and One To Go.

By Alex Hobson

Heading into an already packed 2015 Maple Leafs training camp, the Buds brought in four players on PTOs. These players were Devin Setoguchi, Curtis Glencross, Brad Boyes, and Mark Fraser. Setoguchi would be looking to rejuvenate his career after struggling to find NHL minutes over the past few seasons, while Glencross, Boyes, and Fraser were just looking to prove themselves in hopes of earning an NHL contract. In this article, I'll fill you in on the status of these PTOs, and why they turned out how they did.

OUT
 
 

 Devin Setoguchi
 
Setoguchi, at one point, was a 30 goal scorer and could be relied on for 50 points. However, his last couple of seasons in the NHL have been difficult. He played in 75 games for the Winnipeg Jets in 2013-14 season, recording only 27 points, and then signed with the Calgary Flames for the following season. He only played in 12 games with the big club, recording no points, and then was sent down to the AHL. He agreed to a PTO with the Leafs to once again, revive his career, but to no avail. He recorded no points in the 2 games he appeared in for the Leafs, and didn't show any other flashes in his game, therefore leading to his release from his PTO. Expect Setoguchi to sign somewhere in Europe for the upcoming season.

 

Curtis Glencross

Glencross' case is similar to Setoguchi's, but was more of a "prove-yourself" scenario rather than an attempt to revive his career. He played in the NHL last season, splitting time between the Calgary Flames and the Washington Capitals, where he recorded a total of 35 points in 71 games. Those stats aren't too bad for a 3rd liner, but when the time came that saw him needing a new contract, nobody seemed to want his services. The Leafs finally agreed to a PTO with him, and he didn't impress as much as people thought he might. Glencross also recorded no points in the two games he appeared in, and his play wasn't enough to earn him a deal, so he was ultimately released.

IN
 

 

Brad Boyes
 
Here's a good story. Brad Boyes was originally drafted in the first round of the 2000 NHL Draft as a 24th overall pick by the Maple Leafs. He was a hometown boy, excited to join his childhood team, but then was dealt to the San Jose Sharks along with a 1st round pick and Alyn McCauley in exchange for Owen Nolan. Boyes has been a consistent player his entire career, and has proved he can be a consistent 20 goal scorer. The Leafs were impressed with his play during preseason, so they rewarded him with a one year, $700,000 contract. Boyes could potentially start the NHL season alongside of Peter Holland, given that he previously stated that he developed chemistry with him during the games he appeared in.

STILL IN PROGRESS
 

 
Mark Fraser

Fraser was no stranger to Leafs fans, nor the organization itself when he put on the blue and white jersey. He originally played for the Leafs during the 2012-13 season, and for part of the 2013-14 season before being dealt to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Teemu Hartikainen and Cameron Abney. His most recent tenure was with the New Jersey Devils, and is a favourite of GM Lou Lamoriello's due to his gritty and stay at home presence. Fraser is still on his PTO, but it's uncertain whether he will be offered a contract as a 7th or 8th defenseman, or be released and try to find work elsewhere.

Thanks for reading.

3 Takeaways From First Three Leafs Preseason Games

By Alex Hobson

The Leafs opened preseason on Monday night, and there were several storylines heading into the fresh new set of games to make the month of September a little more tolerable. A few of these storylines include how prospects would play, if Babcock could give Leafs fans something to cheer for whether they lose or win, and how their PTOs shape up. After three games of preseason, I take a look at three takeaways from the opening games of the Leafs preseason.

1. William Nylander Stepping it Up



William Nylander, the 8th overall pick of the Maple Leafs in 2014, was expected to come into camp and make an impact on the team, given that he put on 20 pounds of weight since his draft year and was still carrying his skill set that the Leafs drafted him for. He came into the rookie tournament and put up 5 points in 2 games for the Buds, and then recently recorded 2 points in 2 games for the Leafs. He's been playing centre as of late, and has been working his hardest to prove to management that he's ready for the pressure of playing in the NHL. It was widely believed that Nylander would be sent to the Marlies and centre the first line alongside of Connor Brown, but his production is making it harder for Leafs management to make a decision on how to handle him.

2. P.A Parenteau's Fresh Start



Once upon a time, P.A Parenteau recorded a 67 point season. It's true. Back in 2011, Parenteau recorded 67 points as a member of the New York Islanders. After heading to the Colorado Avalanche, his production slowly dipped, and by the end of the 2014-15 season, he was acquired by the Habs. It sounded like a great potential story, local boy returns home and gives the Habs their much needed offense. Nope. Parenteau only recorded 22 points in 56 games as a member of the Habs, after clashing with head coach Michel Therrien, and being demoted to fourth line minutes. He was signed by the Leafs in the offseason after a long talk with new head coach Mike Babcock, and proved he was ready for a fresh start in his first preseason game, recording two goals in his debut. Making only $1.5 million for one year, he could generate a big return if he performs and the Leafs are looking to sell at the deadline.

3. The Babcock Effect Comes To Life



I was at the Leafs first split squad game against Ottawa on Monday, and let me tell you this: The Leafs looked like an entirely different team. No, not just because Kessel wasn't there, but because they played their hearts out as opposed to floating around. Every shift after players got off, Babcock would be in their faces, giving them new plays and letting them know the mistakes they made and how to correct them. This looked much different than Randy Carlyle and Peter Horachek, who just seemed to sit back on the bench and didn't take notice if their team was underperforming. They will be a far more exciting team to watch this year if they play at this rate.

The Leafs return to action tomorrow night when they face the Buffalo Sabres at 7:30pm eastern time at ACC.

Thanks for reading.

3 Prospects Who Could Make the Leafs Out of Preseason

By Alex Hobson

Leafs training camp has rolled around after a long offseason, and teams are beginning to prepare for the NHL season. The Leafs preseason starts tomorrow with a split squad game against Ottawa, and though the Leafs have a pretty packed group of forwards who have good chances to make the team, preseason is known for surprises.

Last year, for example, players such as Matt Frattin and Petri Kontiola were expected to be mainstays for the roster, but in the end, prospects such as Stuart Percy and Brandon Kozun made the team after an impressive preseason and eliminated Frattin among other players. With that, I present to you the top three prospects most likely to surprise in preseason and make the roster out of camp.

1. William Nylander, C/RW
 


After Dave Nonis, Peter Horachek, and Steve Spott among others were fired, Leafs management preached a new era of patience when dealing with prospects. No more rushing to the NHL. Everybody expects the Leafs to keep players such as Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, and Mitch Marner in minors for a year before calling them up, but Nylander could surprise people in camp. Mike Babcock has stated numerous times that if players play their hardest and show up, they'll have a chance at the NHL. Nylander had an amazing prospect tournament, recording 3 goals and 5 points over two games played, and he's also put on approximately 20 pounds of muscle since being drafted. He's worked hard, and could earn himself a spot if he performs during preseason.

2. Nikita Soshnikov, RW
 


Soshnikov is an interesting prospect. He was not drafted like the other players at the rookie tournament, but he was rather signed to an entry level deal in March after an impressive season in the KHL. He stated after being signed that he chose the Leafs because it would be easier for him to crack the roster. He was good in the rookie tournament, showing that he had the offensive ability for the NHL, and if he steps up in preseason and proves himself, he could see himself to a spot on the Leafs to start the year.

3. Zach Hyman, C/RW
 


Hyman was obtained by the Leafs in a June deal that saw him shipped along with a conditional 7th round pick for Greg McKegg. Hyman was originally drafted by the Panthers in 2010 as a 5th round pick, but chose not to sign with them because he wanted to play in the NHL and the Panthers couldn't give him at oppertunity, hence why he was traded. He is older than the other prospects and had a great season with the U of Michigan this past year, so if he impresses during camp, he could potentially crack the opening night roster.

Thanks for reading.

What Does the Grabner Trade Mean For the Leafs?

By Alex Hobson

The Leafs' forward group just got a whole lot more complicated.

Yesterday, the Leafs announced that they had trade Taylor Beck along with four prospects, including Matt Finn, Carter Verhaeghe, Tom Nilsson, and Christopher Gibson to the New York Islanders in exchange for Michael Grabner. Grabner would join an already packed group of forwards looking to solidify themselves roster spots in the upcoming season.

The main aspect that many Leafs fans questioned was why Grabner was worth four prospects and a good depth forward. Here's why. The Leafs and Isles essentially swapped a contract dump for a cap dump. The Leafs have tons of space to work with and they could afford taking it in to make room for potential signings of PTOs.

So what does this all mean? Well, here's the reality. The Leafs signed four players to PTOs, including Devin Setoguchi, Curtis Glencross, Brad Boyes, and Mark Fraser. Before this trade took place, they had 49/50 contracts signed. Because they dumped five of those contracts, they now have five spots to work with, and potentially sign their PTOs to short term deals, depending on how training camp goes. Grabner's career year came in 2010-11, when he put up 52 points in 76 games for the Islanders. This past season, the Villach, Austria native saw his production dip, and eventually had trouble remaining on the roster due to injuries. This coming season, he could potentially look for more ice time in the blue and white and live up to his $3 million contract. Here's a look at the Leafs depth chart with Grabner in the picture.

JVR - Kadri - Parenteau
Lupul - Bozak - Grabner
Boyes - Holland - Matthias
Glencross - Komarov - Winnik
Arcobello -  Spaling - Panik
Setoguchi

This is already a packed forward group. Not only do they have 16 forwards battling for a 12 player core, but this also excludes the option of prospects such as William Nylander, Nikita Soshnikov, and Casey Bailey cracking the lineup in the following season. Now, that being said, some of these players are on PTOs, and aren't guarenteed to be signed. If they are, however, this will be a very interesting training camp.

So what can we take away from this? The biggest aspect is that the Leafs will have a huge training camp full of hard working players. The thin amount of space for players mixed with the coaching of Mike Babcock will ensure that there are no slackers at camp this season.

Thanks for reading.

World Cup Overview

World Cup Overview

Lucas Tanner

09/16/15

   The World Cup of Hockey is set to return in September 2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. This will be the first time the NHL has put on this event since 2004 and the third since the historical sucessor tournament, the Canada Cup.

   The format as announced jointly by commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive Donald Fehr, will consist of six national teams and two all star teams. The top six teams according to the IIHF rankings will be represented as well as a European all star team for the remaining nations and a under-23 North American all star team. The Teams will be split into two pools.

Pool A

Canada

USA

Czech Republic

Europe

Pool B

Sweden

Russia

Finland

North America

The schedule is an interesting one that guarantees the biggest international rivalries to be put to the test on the biggest stage. Canada plays the US, as well as Finland playing Scandinavian rivals in Sweden. The tournament will finish off with a best-of-three series for the final ensuring that the more deserving team will prevail.

Preliminary Round (round robin)

Saturday, Sept. 17

Team Europe vs. Team USA, 3:30 p.m.

Team Canada vs. Team Czech Republic, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 18

Team Russia vs. Team Sweden, 3 p.m.

Team Finland vs. Team North America, 8 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 19

Team Czech Republic vs. Team Europe, 3 p.m.

Team North America vs. Team Russia, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 20

Team Finland vs. Team Sweden, 3 p.m.

Team Canada vs. Team USA, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 21

Team North America vs. Team Sweden, 3 p.m.

Team Canada vs. Team Europe, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 22

Team Finland vs. Team Russia, 3 p.m.

Team Czech Republic vs. Team USA, 8 p.m.

Semifinals (single elimination; A1 vs. B2, B1 vs. A2)

Saturday, Sept. 24

Semifinal 1, TBD

Sunday, Sept. 25

Semifinal 2, TBD

Final (best-of-three)

Tuesday, Sept. 27

Final Game 1, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 29

Final Game 2, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 1

Final Game 3, 7 p.m. (if necessary)

   Overall, the World Cup is an interesting attempt at making a successful best on best international hockey tournament. In a small tournament which would not have otherwise featured the likes of Anze Kopitar (Slovenia) or Thomas Vanek (Austria). They have successfully created the set-up where any of the eight teams could go home with the trophy. The NHL's top talent will be on display and will also help them gain an enormous amount of revenue for the league. However one ccould also argue that the all star teams hinder the sense of nationalism in the smaller nations in a tournament that feels a little gimmicky compared to other sports world cups. This format could also go against the international development of the sport of ice hockey worldwide. Everyone would love to see a worldwide competition for ice hockey similar to that of Soccer in the distant future, but that is hard to imagine that when they are running such a closed in, 6 national team tournament in the present. If the dont give the smaller hockey nations a chance to compete and develop, they will never reach the competitive level of the top 6 countries.

   Whatever your view may be, the world cup will be worth a good look and it will undoubtedly be an exciting tournament. Best on best hockey can never be a bad thing, and its just one more chance for Canada to prove that they are the superior hockey country in the world.

Hobson's Mailbag: Week 4 - 9/15/15

By Alex Hobson

Welcome to Week 4 of Hobson's mailbag. This week, we discuss topics such as who will lead in points, who's due for a rejuvenated season, and more. Enjoy

@PHUHobson Which Leaf do you think will lead the team in scoring? A returning player or a new addition?

— Anthony Fusco (@FuscoNation16) September 15, 2015

I believe a returning player will lead the Leafs in points this season, and that returning player is Nazem Kadri. Some people either think that he's a bust and needs to be traded, others think he's still young and needs a good coach. He's had some great flashes of offense, but he's also had problems with consistency during his tenure in Toronto. This season, he has arguably the best coach to work for, he has a contract with the money he wanted, and he's expected to take over first line duties, with Tyler Bozak on the second line. He has everything he wanted, and he knows that if he screws up again, then he's gone. I expect Kadri to step up and have a great season under Mike Babcock, and end up leading the Leafs in points with Phil Kessel out of the picture.

@PHUHobson Is there a player you expect to have a rejuvenated season?

— Kevin Connauton (@KevinsComrades) September 14, 2015

If anybody is due for a rejuvenated season, it's Dion Phaneuf. The man who was expected to be the future top pairing defenseman for the Leafs when he was acquired in 2010, but instead took boatloads of criticism from the media amd the fans. He used to be a hard hitting, intimidating defenseman who had a rocket of a slap shot and teams hated to play against. Over the past few years, his game slipped, and many called for the St.Albert, Alberta native to be traded. However, new head coach Mike Babcock insisted that the Leafs keep him around so that he can have an oppertunity to coach him and bring his game back up. Expect a big season from Dion this coming year.

@PHUHobson Who's worth more and who is first to go: Jonathan Bernier or James Reimer?

— Cassy (@_MAF29) September 14, 2015

Ahh, the question that can instantly begin a brawl amongst Leafs fans. Jonathan Bernier or James Reimer? At this point, I believe Jonathan Bernier is worth more as a goaltender. Say what you want, but he's posted better stats all around than Reimer has during his tenure in Toronto. That being said, I think Reimer will be the first to go considering he's making less money and has one year left on his contract, basically ensuring a low risk, potentially high reward for whoever picks him up. In the end, I do think that Bernier is worth more than Reimer.

Thanks for reading.

Follow Hobson on Twitter @PHUHobson

Projected Blue Jackets Lineup

By William Espy

As training camp draws nearer, the question that comes to all hockey fans’ minds is a fairly simple one. Which changes are going to happen in the lineup this year? For the Blue Jackets this question comes with a severely unpredictable answer. Following the various moves through the off-season, the Jackets now have an abundance of forwards but also have an abundance of defenseman. Here’s what I believe the Blue Jackets lines will look like come opening night.

Line 1:

Brandon Saad - Ryan Johansen - Cam Atkinson

Jarmo Kekalainen has made it clear since acquiring Saad that his intentions are for him to play alongside reigning All-Star MVP Ryan Johansen. While the first two positions of the top line are essentially locks, the real question comes at the right wing position. Many people believe that Nick Foligno would play on the right side on this line, however more than likely coach Todd Richards would like to spread out the scoring and allow for scoring from all lines which is seemingly crucial to winning the ultimate prize as the Blackhawks and Kings have shown in recent history. Cam Atkinson is no slouch as Blue Jackets fans know however. Atkinson has begun to prove himself as a perennial twenty goal, forty point player usually on the third line with Brandon Dubinsky and Matt Calvert but that line is likely to be finished for the time being.

Line 2:

Nick Foligno - Brandon Dubinsky - Boone Jenner

Nick Foligno had a career year last season and to many it may appear to be almost criminal to have him on the second line, however I do not expect there to be much of a difference in ice time between the top six. Odds of Foligno posting numbers identical to those from last year seem slim, however it is very possible. The new captain will be playing with two players who have a similar style to one another. Dubinsky and Jenner are both defensive forwards with an above-average offensive contribution, a large physical presence and a reasonable amount of agitator mixed in with it. Dubinsky became recognized for his defensive ability during the playoffs a couple years ago when he was able to shut down Sidney Crosby with ease. A bit of a fun fact, last season when the Blue Jackets had both Dubinsky and Jenner in the locker room the team was 11-0-2. Expect this line to not only lead by example, but also lead vocally on the ice and in the room.

Line 3:

Scott Hartnell – Alexander Wennberg – Rene Bourque

The “kid” line last year featuring Hartnell, Wennberg and Marko Dano was undisputedly the Blue Jackets’ best line at the end of last season. Now that Dano is gone, it would be very unlikely that the line has the same amount of success however Bourque is likely to surprise fans around the league this year. In the eight games he spent in Columbus, Bourque put up four points which were all goals. That may not seem to be amazing, however from a player who was seemingly a cap dump from the Ducks it is well above expectations. Hartnell’s scoring touch which led him to finish the season third on the Jackets in points, mixed with Wennberg’s defensive ability and likely improved offensive ability will allow that duo to be as dynamic as ever. The addition of Bourque could jump-start the career of a desperate player who knows he is likely having his final chance at the NHL level.  Many pessimists may use the argument that Hartnell is getting older; however in that case I will remind you of Jaromir Jagr. While Hartnell may not have had the same success that Jagr has had, and very few people ever have, Jagr proves that age is no more than an excuse.

Line 4:

Matt Calvert – Gregory Campbell – David Clarkson

The fact that a player of Matt Calvert’s magnitude has to play on the fourth line shows the depth of this team. Calvert annually scores over twenty points and usually ends up only playing in fewer than sixty games due to his tendency to play bigger than he actually is. If Calvert stays healthy he will likely be promoted from this line if there is an opening. Gregory Campbell is a player you very rarely hear about, and for a fourth line grinder that is a good thing. Campbell is a new addition to the Blue Jackets and is going to attempt to replace Mark Letestu which will be no easy feat; however he plays a completely different game than Letestu. When Campbell hits the ice, expect him to become the fearless warrior that has caused Boston Bruins fans to love him and when he’s off the ice, expect to see him in the community helping out. Clarkson may end up on the third line at times; however I believe he may even end up going higher than that. The odds of him getting back to the form which he had found in New Jersey is very low, however being out of the Toronto media and in a less pressuring market such as Columbus will more than likely help him regain some kind of form. At the Blue Jackets 3 v 3 prospect tournament where he was a coach, Clarkson mentioned that he is feeling the best he has in years and cannot wait to get back on the ice, which is a very good note for the Blue Jackets faithful.  It is also very possible that we will see Jared Boll on this line following his new training regimen that he started this offseason.

William Espy Q&A Week 1

@PHUEspy who's primed for a breakout season on the jackets?

— Hobson (@Hobson_Alex91) September 13, 2015

There are many good candidates for a breakout season on the Jackets, however GM Jarmo Kekalainen said it best when he said a healthy Ryan Murray will be the Blue Jackets biggest acquisition. Due to his injuries, he has not been able to reach that level that he expects himself to play at and that the team expected when they drafted him second overall. If he can stay fully healthy which it appears he may be able to do, he will finally be able to have that breakout season.

Hey William, do you think this is Marvin Lewis's last year as the Head Coach of the Bengals?@WilliamEspy #Q&AWITHWILL

— Shooter G (@shooterGtak25) September 13, 2015

This is a question I've seen popping up more and more every year. The Bengals need to make a change sooner rather than later if they want to win with the core they have now. The choice comes down to replacing Lewis or replacing Andy Dalton. The only realistic solution would have to be replacing Lewis. With the amount of money Dalton is making over the next few years that removes any possibility of removing him and with Lewis's contract expiring soon it only makes sense to get rid of him. This is all if the Bengals cannot get past the first round of the playoffs again. If they miss the playoffs or get eliminated in the first round, I'd expect him to be gone next season. It may even take a Super Bowl for him to keep his job at this point.

@PHUEspy Question for your Q And A. In your Opinion who could be The CBJ Player that surprises us / breakout season? #MarchWithUS

— Union Blue Soldiers (@TheUBSoldiers) September 13, 2015

I think there will be quite a few players who will surprise most fans this year. One of them being Boone Jenner, I believe he will continue to progress the way he has been the past few years and will be able to add more offensive production than ever before. Another one would be Alexander Wennberg. Wennberg played very well defensively last season, however he lacked offensively for the most part. Now that he has time to focus on offense, expect him to put up much better numbers this year. Finally on the blue line, I see Kevin Connauton earning a regular role on the team, he put up some good numbers last year and I expect him to only grow on that and show some talent that fans didn't even know he had.

@PHUEspy Question for your Q And A. Take a guess. Who scores The First Goal this Season for The Blue Jackets? #MarchWithUS

— Union Blue Soldiers (@TheUBSoldiers) September 13, 2015

This is a difficult question, and there are many players that would fit perfectly with this scenario for example; imagine Brandon Saad scoring a quick goal in order to give the Jackets an early lead in his first game in the union blue. Nick Foligno scoring first as the newly named captain of the team would be phenomenal or even Jared Boll showing his new workout results and proving his critics wrong. However I'm going to go a bit of the unconventional route, I expect the first goal to be from Brandon Dubinsky on a deflection that goes five hole.

Weekly Five: Impactful Rookies

By William Espy

In this new series, we will look at various Blue Jackets topics which will be a prediction of the upcoming season. Today we look at the top 5 rookies who will likely be able to provide the biggest impact if called upon.

In the 2014-2015 season, the Blue Jackets faithful got their first tastes of a couple rookies who provided a substantial impact and seemingly earned a long term role on the team. Their names were Alexander Wennberg and current Chicago Blackhawk Marko Dano. While Dano was traded in the off-season, his success last season greatly increased his value in trade negotiations and Alexander Wennberg looks primed for a good season. Let’s find out who I predict to possibly have the same success this coming year:

5. TJ Tynan

 

TJ Tynan will be a stretch of a call-up, however he is a very underrated prospect in the Blue Jackets deep farm system. After making the jump from the NCAA as a member of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, Tynan has not missed a beat. As a former point per game player in college, in his first full season of pro hockey; Tynan finished with .64 PPG. Last season in Springfield; the Orland Park, Illinois native center posted a team leading forty-eight points which consisted of thirteen goals and thirty-five assists. While the likely hood of Tynan getting the call this season seems slim, it would not surprise me if he ends up playing some bottom six time with the Jackets at some point this season.

4. Austin Madaisky

Madaisky played a majority of the season with the Springfield Falcons last year was recently resigned by the Blue Jackets to a one year two-way contract. With the amount of blue liners currently on the Jackets roster, it would take a large amount of injuries or a trade to make room for Madaisky’s NHL debut however it is possible. The 2014-2015 AHL all-star had a massive breakout year posting twelve goals, and twenty-three assists for a total of thirty-five points in fifty-three games while also racking up only twenty-eight penalty minutes. The Falcons would miss out on the post-season by only a lone point however without Madaisky, it is very likely that the gap would be considerably larger. With Frédéric St-Denis off the books, it has become a question who the first call up for the Jackets will be if there is a need for a defenseman at the NHL level leaving a fairly sized opportunity for Madaisky to get the call.

3. Michael Paliotta

 

Michael Paliotta is still a mystery to many Jackets fans, the former University of Vermont captain, and alternate captain before that, was pegged by many as one of the Blackhawks’ top prospects before he was sent to Columbus in the blockbuster Brandon Saad trade. Jarmo Kekalainen has said in the past that he had attempted to acquire Paliotta from Chicago numerous times however Stan Bowman was hesitant to trade him, for good reason. The former third round pick has continued to grow at an exponential pace and will likely be the first name called if a defensive call up is necessary. Following his last season at Vermont, Paliotta played a single game with the Blackhawks in which he posted one assist. Paliotta is categorized as a physical, but fast player with good size and ability and is considered to now be a top prospect for the Blue Jackets.

2. Oliver Bjorkstrand

Oliver Bjorkstrand has quickly become the Blue Jackets undisputed #1 prospect after becoming a superstar in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks. Bjorkstrand is a speedy skater with a strong shot and tremendous vision when it comes to finding holes to the net. Some Winterhawks fans say that his speed currently mimics that of Brendan Gallagher, but he has to potential to get it to Kessel level. Many of them say he has a shot that is potentially reminiscent of Ovechkin’s however that is obviously a very lofty comparison and if he did fulfill that potential, it would likely be years from now and many believe that his shot currently mirrors that of Kessel. Simply, he is a raw goal scorer. He will be making his professional debut this season with the Lake Erie Monsters in Cleveland and may very well be the first name that comes up for a late season call up.  Bjorkstrand may possibly be the next Blue Jackets superstar within a few years.

1.    Kerby Rychel

Rychel made his NHL debut last season with the Blue Jackets and played a few games with the team. As of the Traverse City tournament, he has been a large discussion top between Blue Jackets officials who are wondering if it is time for him to be called up. While players like Bjorkstrand could possibly make a large impact at the NHL level their rookie year, the odds of them getting called up are much lower than Rychel’s. The only concern the Blue Jackets have about Rychel is his history of concussions which unfortunately have the potential to become a large part of his career at some point. Rychel can use his size to his advantage which caused his skating to be a bit of a liability in his junior years, however he has since improved and become a more well-rounded player. He also brings an agitator or “pest” style to his game which is sometimes a large part of the Blue Jackets game with Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinsky almost defining that role when they want to. It is possible, however not probable that Kerby Rychel may be on the opening night roster in Columbus.