NHL Trade Report » Columbus Blue Jackets

Henrik Lundqvist, Sergei Bobrovsky, Antti Niemi Finalists For Vezina Trophy

Dan Fraysure — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:56:40 +0000

Reigning champion Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers, Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Antti Niemi of the San Jose Sharks have been named finalists for the Vezina Trophy, given to the NHL’s best goalie, the league announced Wednesday.

Lundqvist tied for the NHL lead in wins (24-16-3) and had a 2.05 goals-against average (seventh best in league) and a .926 save percentage (fifth best) during the regular season. This is the fifth time he’s been named a Vezina finalist, having finished first in 2012 and third from 2006-08.

Bobrovsky, a first-time finalist for the award, went 21-11-6 during the regular season, with a 2.00 GAA (sixth best in the league), a .932 save percentage (second best) and four shutouts.

Niemi was tied for the NHL lead in starts (43) and saw more ice time than any other goalie (2,580 minutes, 46 seconds). A first-time Vezina finalist, he ranked third in shots faced (1,220) and saves (1,127) and had a 2.16 GAA, a .924 save percentage and four shutouts.

Voting for the Vezina was done by all 30 general managers at the end of the regular season. The winner will be announced during the Stanley Cup finals.

Quick Hits: Keith Ballard, Vancouver Canucks, Cody Bass, Alain Vigneault

Dan Fraysure — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:08:44 +0000

ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun suggests Keith Ballard of the Vancouver Canucks is a prime candidate for one of two compliance buyouts this summer. Ballard is due $4.2 million annually through the next two season. “Lebrun says “T
he defense is set, which is either a good thing if you like this group or a bad thing if you’re a Canucks fan who wants change. But Kevin Bieksa, Jason Garrison, Dan Hamhuis and Alexander Edler all have contracts that run at least through 2015-16. Unless they trade some of these big contracts, that’s the Canucks’ core blue line for a while.”
Look for forward to be a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets again next season. According to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch, the Blue Jackets “appear interested” in inking another deal with unrestricted free agent-to-be Cody Bass. And the feeling seems mutual. In the meanwhile, the 26-year-old is finally healthy and helping the Springfield Falcons progress through the AHL postseason.
Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun reports that the overall sentiment from those close to the hockey club suggests Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis might soon show head coach Alain Vigneault the door. Assuming Gillis doesn’t get the boot first. ”The jobs of head coach Alain Vigneault and his staff are most certainly on the line and general manager Mike Gillis is going to face some uncomfortable questions from ownership over the team’s second straight playoff collapse.”

NHL Signing: Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Cam Atkinson Two-Year Contract Extension

Dan Fraysure — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 01:25:25 +0000

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced Friday that Cam Atkinson has also signed a two-year extension with the club. Financial terms of the contract we’re not revealed by the team.

In his second season with the Blue Jackets, the 23-year-old set career highs with eight goals and 16 points in 34 games. Columbus plays their last game of the regular season Saturday against the Nashville Predators and are still fighting to clinch the team’s first playoff appearance since 2009.

“I’m so excited to be part of this group for the next two years and build on the good things we’ve done so far,” Atkinson told BlueJackets.com. “I know it sounds cliche and everyone keeps saying it, but it’s so true. The camaraderie and trust that we’ve built with each other is amazing.”

Quick Hits: Matt Calvert, Miikka Salomaki, Seth Jones, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports

Dan Fraysure — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:23:27 +0000

Matt Calvert, a valuable forechecker with the Columbus Blue Jackets, has signed a two-year contract extension that will pay him almost $1 million a season through 2014-15. The 23-year-old left wing is currently out with a broken index finger on his right hand and is expected to miss the club’s final two regular-season games. He is one of the reasons the Blue Jackets are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, entering Tuesday’s play in eighth place.
The Nashville Predators signed 2011 second-round draft pick Miikka Salomaki to a three-year, entry-level contract Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Salomaki was the 52nd selection overall and Nashville’s second choice. The 2009-10 Finnish Junior League rookie of the year, Salomaki has spent three seasons with Karpat Oulu of the Finnish Elite League. The left wing had 25 goals, 25 assists and 153 penalty minutes in 122 games.
The next target for Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports banner is potential No. 1 NHL draft pick Seth Jones, according to sources. The son of Nets assistant coach and former Nuggets player Popeye Jones is already repped by CAA, Roc Nation’s partner. But sources said Jay-Z’s organization wants to strike a deal to be involved in the star’s marketing and branding, reports The Post’s Kirsten Fleming.

Edmonton Oilers Fire Steve Tambellini, Promote Craig MacTavish

Dan Fraysure — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:33:03 +0000

The Edmonton Oilers fired general manager Steve Tambellini and replaced him with former Oilers player and head coach Craig MacTavish on Monday.

The Oilers made the announcement at a news conference Rexall Place in Edmonton.

“We are not where we want to be right now, or where we should be. We feel strongly we make changes right now,” said Oilers’ president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe. ”We need to get better immediately. That starts today with this announcement.”

The Oilers are currently eight points out of a playoff spot with seven games remaining and a record of 16-18-7.

MacTavish, who stepped down as head coach of the Oilers four years ago to the day, was named the new general manager while former Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson will take over MacTavish’s role as senior vice president of hockey operations.

“I’m an impatient guy. We have to do some bold things to move this team forward in a rapid fashion,” said MacTavish. “We have to a better job arming our coaches and our core players with a group to get us to a highly-competitive level.”

Tambellini was named the team’s fourth general manager in 2008, succeeding Lowe.

The Oilers did not make the playoffs over Tambellini’s four-plus seasons with the organization.

Over the last three seasons, the Oilers have had the first overall pick in the NHL Draft, selecting Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov.

“We’re poised for greatness and our fans understand that,” said Lowe.

Tambellini joined the Oilers after 17 seasons as a member of the Vancouver Canucks management team, including three years as the team’s vice president and assistant general manager.

“Steve is a very good man who worked hard for the Oilers. I want to thank him for all his contributions,” said Lowe about Tambellini.

The Oilers host the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday at Rexall Place.

Philadelphia Flyers And Steve Mason Reportedly Close To Contract Extension

Dan Fraysure — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:11:02 +0000

New Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Steve Mason, acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets at Wednesday’s trade deadline for fellow backstop Michael Leighton, is reportedly close to inking a contact extension with the club.

According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, Mason “is likely to sign a one-year deal” with the Flyers, for less than his current average annual salary cap hit of $2.9 million.

If Mason does re-up, it will only fuel speculation that Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren is at least considering buying out high-earning starter Ilya Bryzgalov after the season.

Quick Hits: Marian Gaborik, Wade Redden, Curtis Glencross, Mark Giordano

Dan Fraysure — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:16:15 +0000

The 2013 NHL TradeDeadlines is behind us but there is still plenty of NHL rumors and news to stay up on. Here are some quick hits from around the league:

Following one of the more surprising trade-deadline deals, a fresh start awaits Marian Gaborik with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch proposes Gaborik will play on the Blue Jackets top line alongside center Ryan Johansen and left winger R.J. Umberger starting Thursday against the Nashville Predators. It’s a role GM Jarmo Kekalainen hopes the 31-year-old fills for a good long while.
The Boston Bruins aren’t asking Wade Redden snagged in a deal with the St. Louis Blues to play each and every game. Or even most games. As discussed by Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe, the Bruins hope the veteran defenseman is able to satisfactorily fill in as injury relief, or if one of the kids hits a rough patch.
Even a fire sale can have its limitations. Turns out forward Curtis Glencross and defenseman Mark Giordano weren’t available after all. According to the Calgary Sun, Glencross and Giordano topped a very short list of Calgary Flames ‘untouchables’ ahead of Wednesday’s trade deadline.

NHL Trade: Blake Comeau Traded To Columbus Blue Jackets

Dan Fraysure — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:59:49 +0000

The Calgary Flames have traded Blake Comeau to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 5th round pick, according to Columbus Blue Jackets on Twitter.

NHL Trade: Marian Gaborik Traded To Columbus Blue Jackets

Dan Fraysure — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:40:58 +0000

Darren Dreger is reporting on Twitter that Marian Gaborik has been traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The New York Rangers will receive Derick Brassard, John Moore, Derek Dorsett and a 6th round pick.

NHL Trade: Philadelphia Flyers Acquire Steve Mason From Columbus Blue Jackets

Dan Fraysure — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:30:44 +0000

Renaud Lavoie is reporting via Twitter that the Philadelphia Flyers have acquired Steve Mason from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Flyers will send Michael Leighton, 2013 3rd round pick to Columbus.