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A message from Scott Howson…
By Bethany | March 11, 2008
I subscribe to the Jackets E-Magazine, and every month Howson writes a note to everyone. I thought I would post it on here, because of the Trade Deadline and whatever. We still have no answers to what actually happened, just speculation from the Dispatch, and they don’t answer questions when you e-mail so whatever. Here is the link and the note from Scottie H:
It is hard to believe, but March has arrived and we have entered into the final month of the 2007-08 regular season. With just 14 games remaining on our schedule, we continue to be within striking distance of a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is extremely important for our organization
To be playing meaningful games in March for the first time will be very beneficial to all of our players, especially the younger guys who are going through it for the first time. The intensity of games during this time of year is unlike any other. We are going to do everything we can to push hard to advance to the postseason and along the way our players will be gaining invaluable experience.
As I mentioned here last month, February is a significant time of year for NHL franchises. Playing eight of our 13 games on the road, the team posted a 5-5-3 record and was 5-2-1 in those road games. Our road play over the past two months has been much improved, which is a very positive sign for our hockey club.
As you know, the NHL’s trade deadline was February 26th. Because of our position in the playoff race, our top priority heading into that period was to find the right piece or pieces to add to our team to help push us into the playoffs. To accomplish that, we made a concerted effort to trade for Tampa Bay Lightning center Brad Richards. Unfortunately, we did not have a specific piece that the Lightning needed to complete the deal. We then looked at other options we thought could help us, but ultimately were not able to add a player at that time.
The two trades we did make were sending Sergei Fedorov to Washington for University of Notre Dame defenseman Theo Ruth, a 2007 second round draft pick; and trading Adam Foote to Colorado for a first round draft pick and a conditional fourth round pick. We had determined prior to the deadline that it was time to move in a different direction at the center position and move Sergei. We were unable to re-sign Adam prior to February 26th, so his preference was to move to Colorado.
The trade deadline is only one day in which a team has the chance to strengthen itself. It is not, however, the only time of year to do so. It has been said that general managers make more mistakes on that one day than they do the other 365 days of the year combined. With the assets we have, the Blue Jackets have tremendous flexibility moving forward to add the pieces we need during the off-season. Our commitment to building a championship team is strong. Our future is now and the coming months are going to be very exciting for all of us. I look forward to seeing you at Nationwide Arena in the coming weeks. Go Blue Jackets!
Regards,
Scott Howson,
General Manager
Topics: Trade Deadline, Scott Howson |
March 12th, 2008 at 2:41 am
Sorry, Mr. Howson…you HAD the piece you needed to land Richards.
His name is Steve Mason. He’s never played an NHL game. He’s, at best, a backup for the next five years. And now Brad Richards in in Dallas because you wouldn’t move him.
Truth hurts.
March 12th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Hmmm I thought Tampa wanted a goalie that they could use NOW, not 2 years from now.
March 12th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Sill, Tampa wanted a goalie now. Mason wouldn’t be good until at least two years, like Elisa said. We need to keep Mason until we know Leclaire is for real. It’s the safest thing.