Updates from the last two weeks...

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:47:13 -0500

Sorry I have been so out of the loop these past couple of weeks. I could give you excuse after excuse, but really, I just didn't have time to blog due to prior commitments. So, lets get caught back up on everything, and then I can get back into the swing of things, and blog every day like I am supposed to.

I will start with the most important news of this off season, Nikita Filatov. Filatov is expected to get his visa by the end of this week. He will come to Columbus and train, and get prepared for the season. There IS a chance that Filatov is ready for the NHL, so I am anxious to see him in training camp. I would link to the Puck-Rakers blog post that says all this, but it comes up a blank space…I think they need someone to help them. Nikita Filatov means Inconquerable God Guard…a great find by Aaron Portzline.

Richard Matvichuk will likely come to training camp as a non-roster tryout. The Columbus Blue Jackets also are inviting Jon Mirasty, Dan Smith, Trevor Frischmon, and Brian McGuirk. For more information on all of these fellows, be sure to check out this post, by Puck-Rakers.

Now, for the fun part. Aaron Portzline also posted all the numbers that our new Jackets will be sporting this season, so here it goes:

Kristian Huselius ~ #20

RJ Umberger ~ #18

Jakub Voracek ~ #93

Fedor Tyutin ~ #51

Andrew Murray ~ #15

Raffi Torres ~ #14

Mike Commodore ~ #22

Christian Backman ~ #5

Nikita Filatov ~ #28

Interesting group of numbers there. I am getting so anxious about hockey season, it is getting a bit ridiculous. Also, I am proud to say that I will be writing for my University's paper, doing sports. Not a clue what sports I will be writing about yet, but it is going to be a ton of fun to get the experience.

Scott Howson answered some questions from Dispatch readers, and it is a really great read, so be sure to check it out. He addresses issues like Russell would have been better off in the AHL last season, right? And, when will playoff tickets go on sale?

Adam Pineault, one of the Blue Jackets prospects, is volunteering at a fire station. The Dispatch boys have an entire article up on it, and it is really an interesting read.

So there are my updates for the last two weeks. I will continue working on my looks at the teams, and I will hopefully have the Jackets defense post up at some point this evening.

Yardbarker: Richard Matvichuk

Updates from the last two weeks...