Blue Jackets helped immensely by realignment plan

The Blue Jackets did not get their wish to finally move into the NHL's Eastern Conference. But they were more than pleased by the NHL realignment plan laid out by the league's Board of Governors on Monday."This is a fantastic night for the Blue Jackets," general manager Scott Howson told The Columbus Dispatch.The NHL proposed a switch, pending NHLPA approval, from a two-conference, six-division format to a format that will include four conferences -- two with eight clubs and two with seven.The Blue Jackets, who beat Montreal 3-2 in a shootout Tuesday and next face Nashville at home Thursday, will join an as-yet-unnamed conference that will also include Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis and Winnipeg.But the big gift to Columbus -- the easternmost Western Conference club -- is the home-and-home schedule matrix that includes all 30 clubs playing against each other both home and on the road each season.The Blue Jackets will play 74 of their 82 games in the Eastern or Central time zones, including 57 or 58 in the Eastern. That leaves only eight games in the Mountain and Pacific time zones, down from 16 in the first 10 years of the franchise.NOTES, QUOTES--The Columbus Dispatch reported on Tuesday that Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson rejected a trade offer last month that would have sent Blue Jackets center Derick Brassard to Carolina for defenseman Tomas Kaberle and a second-round draft pick. Kaberle's play has dropped sharply in recent seasons, and he's due to make more than 1 million more per season than Brassard through 2015-16.--The Blue Jackets could still realize their ultimate realignment wish -- to join the Eastern Conference. As it stands now, following the NHL Board of Governors' adoption of a realignment plan on Monday, the Blue Jackets will play in a conference with six Central Time Zone clubs. But if Phoenix finds an owner to keep the club in Glendale, Ariz., or if the Coyotes move to a Western city, the Blue Jackets could move East to help balance the league within the next couple of seasons. QUOTE TO NOTE: "Our travel is no longer going to be the challenge it was in years past. Now, everybody in the league shares the same burden, or, at least in some cases, a similar burden." -- Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson, expressing approval for the NHL's new home-and-home schedule matrix adopted at Monday's Board of Governor's meetings.ROSTER REPORTPLAYER NOTES:--LW Kristian Huselius wasn't healthy very long. Huselius made his season debut on Friday in Edmonton after suffering a torn pectoral muscle over the offseason. Then, Tuesday, in his second game back, Huselius left with a lower-body injury in the second period and did not return. He's missed 68 of his club's last 92 games because of injury.--C Derick Brassard might not be a Blue Jacket much longer. He was scratched for the eighth time in 12 games on Tuesday, and this time it was personal. Brassard, who is from Hull, Quebec, had several fans on hand in Montreal to watch him play Tuesday. Instead, he was able to watch the game with them from the stands.--LW Rick Nash had his second shootout game-winner in five days, leading the Blue Jackets to a 3-2 shootout win in Montreal on Tuesday. Nash also had the shootout game-winner last Thursday when the Blue Jackets came back to shock Calgary in the final minute of regulation.--C Jeff Carter returned to the lineup on Tuesday in Montreal after suffering an ankle injury last Thursday against Calgary. Carter missed Friday's loss in Edmonton, the 11th game he's missed with injury already this season.MEDICAL WATCH:--LW Kristian Huselius (lower body) is day-to-day.--G Mark Dekanich (groin) came up lame during warm-ups of a minor-league game on Nov. 11 and is out indefinitely.--D Radek Martinek (concussion) is out indefinitely.GOALTENDERS:--Curtis Sanford--Steve MasonDEFENSE PAIRINGS:--Fedor Tyutin, Nikita Nikitin--Marc Methot, James Wisniewski--Aaron Johnson, Grant ClitsomeFIRST LINE:--LW Kristian Huselius, C Jeff Carter, RW Rick NashSECOND LINE:--LW Vinny Prospal, C Antoine Vermette, RW Ryan JohansenTHIRD LINE:--LW R.J. Umberger, C Sammy Pahlsson, RW Derek Dorsett FOURTH LINE:--LW Derek MacKenzie, C Mark Letestu, RW Jared Boll