Hockey free agency period

[GameMisconduct29]

So Alex, are you happy with what the Devs have been doing so far?

I honestly don't have a clue what they've done, there's a disturbing lack of Eastern conference team coverage over here.

I'm somewhere between royally pissed off and thrilled with the Jackets. They traded Brule (^%$^ YOU HOWSON! You made my new jersey completely f-cking worthless!) to Edmonton for Raffi Torres and Nik Zherdev (I'm sort of somewhere in between on this one... He has ungodly skills, but my god, the man has an attitude problem) and Dan Fritsche (yeah, let's trade away the decent guys, too) to the Rangers, but signed Mike Commodore and Kristian Huselius (I'm happy about Huselius; I like him) to long-term contracts.

You've seen Commodore play more than I have... He any good? I know he's one huge mofo, but that's about it.

[Aurora On Aurion]

I actually haven't really payed any attention to the draft yet. (It's already starting?!) Haha.

As for Commodore. No. He actually isn't good. AT ALL. He had a season with like 20 assist points, but that's his highlight. He hasn't even gotten 10+ goals in a season. >_>

[GameMisconduct29]

I knew that much from what I've read... That's not that much different from 95% of the defensemen in the history of our club, so I'm not too worried about that. xD

But how is he defensively? I've heard he's a big hitter and a reasonably talented stay-at-home defenseman, but I'm not sure if that's just our newspaper's hockey guys kissing ass or what.

[Aurora On Aurion]

From what I've seen that's pretty much it.

[GameMisconduct29]

Meh, he still sounds better than Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre. xD

[Aurora On Aurion]

Yeah, the pick could have been much better though.

[GameMisconduct29]

True.

Totally random, but rumors are flying around that the Jackets are going to resign Michael Peca.

My feelings on that:

NO. NO. AND MORE NO.

Screw Peca, concentrate on resigning Pascal Leclaire. We can't win without him since our backup (Freddy Norrena) sucks and our best goalie prospect (Steve Mason) is probably going to play next year in Syracuse. In other words, WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS FOR GOALIE.

[Aurora On Aurion]

Well what do you think are the chances that they'll resign him?

[GameMisconduct29]

F-ck. Wait, no. F-ckity f-ck.

They just did.

They had the time to resign Pecker (yes, that was intentional), who's a second-line center at best but they still haven't resigned Leclaire.

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS CRAP?!

[Aurora On Aurion]

Is there still time at least?

[GameMisconduct29]

... I hope so.

I've been checking the Jackets' website and the Columbus Dispatch hockey blog every day for the past week hoping to hear they resigned Pazzy.

So far, nothing.

But we did sign R.J. Umberger for 4 years. I know you hate Philly, Alex, but would you say he'd be a good second line center for us?

We also signed Kristian Huselius, who I like quite a bit. I think so far, that's our best signing this year...

[Aurora On Aurion]

Yes, I do hate Philly, and Ottowa ... but honestly, I've never heard of the guy. >_>

Maybe I'll look him up sometime. Do you think he's good?

[GameMisconduct29]

Um, I don't know much about him. All I know for certain is that he played college hockey at OSU. xD

From what I've heard, though, he's a Ryan Malone-type player, only without the exposure Malone got and the resulting massive price tag.

I know absolutely nothing apart from that...

[Aurora On Aurion]

Hm ... any other alright signs to the Jackets?

[GameMisconduct29]

A couple of minor-league guys were signed last week and a potential future defenseman who we got from Anaheim last year named Clay Wilson, but apart from Wilson nobody I've ever even heard of. xD

But I just saw they gave Hitchcock a contract extension. Which is good, because he's without a doubt the best coach we've ever had.