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• Corey Masisak previewed all 30 teams in the NHL, he did a great job, so here is his preview for the Jackets.
• Puck-Daddy’s Preview for the Jackets is here.  Definitely worth the read.
• Bruce Garrioch has the Jackets ranked at 30, because we didn’t do enough.  Well, Bruce, honey, we had to keep at least some of our team.  Here is who we lost, Gilbert Brule, Nikolai Zherdev, Dan Fritsche, Ron Hainsey, Stefan Legein (retired), and then we gained RJ Umberger, Fedor Tyutin, Christian Backman, Mike Commodore, Kristian Huselius, and Raffi Torres.  It seems like an improvement to me, and it seems like we did a lot.  Not to mention the fact that we still have an abundance of d-men and that we will likely be trading some of them away.
• Training Camp opens up on September 19th.  You can download the training camp roster by clicking here.
• Is it hockey season yet?

Stefan Legein might be making a comeback.  I guess he didn’t like the pizza place?  Anyway, I hope it’s true.  If not, well, I am not getting my hopes up.  Stefan if/when he comes back has a lot to prove like the fans like me, who were absolutely heartbroken when they heard the news.  Of course we will welcome him back with open arms, but just forgetting is not so easy.

– Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock revealed his “leadership group”: Rick Nash, Fredrik Modin, Rostislav Klesla, Michael Peca, Mike Commodore and Manny Malhotra.

Nash is to be expected.  He’s our Captain, and well, that sort of goes along with that whole thing.

Fredrik Modin is also one that I expected to be in there.  If he is healthy, he will do a great job.  He has Stanley Cup experience and is one of our veterans.

Rostislav Klesla really stepped up last season when Foote left.  Klesla was also the teams first ever draft pick.  It’s time he stepped up, and lead the team.

Michael Peca, well who didn’t see that coming?  It was well documented that when Peca was on the bench we played better last season.  He will have a better season this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get another contract at the end of the season.

Mike Commodore, a new Blue Jacket.  I thought that he would be involved in the leadership group somehow someway.

Manny Malhotra doesn’t surprise me.  He’s always sort of been a leader, if you have watched him carefully on the ice, and sitting on the bench.  He is always talking to his teammates which is a great thing to have in a leader.

Do you think there was anyone that should be on that wasn’t?  My good friend at Light the Lamp seems to think Chimera was left off.   I agree, but that doesn’t mean he won’t step up in the room, or during practice, or during games.

– I’ve been told by two people in Canada now that right winger Stefan Legein is working at a pizza parlor. Wow. His agent has not called back. Legein, keeping his word, did not report to camp today. He was suspended indefinitely by the Blue Jackets.

Okay, he’s working at a pizza parlor.  There is no confirmation, so who knows if it’s true or not.  My guess is it is.   I suppose good for him for sticking with his guns, and going out and being a normal kid.  I don’t know how long it will last, or if it’s forever.  But, I really and truthfully want nothing but the best for him.

The suspension was expected.

Filatov will be sidelined for 10-14 days, he will miss the tournament in Traverse City with a lower leg injury.  Get well soon!!

“Nikita has an old injury that is bothering him, so he will not accompany our rookie team to Traverse City for the NHL Prospects Tournament,” said Howson. “He’ll rehab the injury here and be re-evaluated in the next 10 days to two weeks.”

Thanks to Lindsay Kramer at Crunch Hockey Blog for the heads up.

– Rick Nash has a “go” with former captain Adam Foote on Jan. 13 when Colorado plays in Nationwide Arena

– Tollefsen gives Nash two shifts to take on Foote, then does it himself if need be

– Jason Chimera scores 20 goals, a career high

– Michael Peca is better this year than he was last season

– Pascal Leclaire makes the All-Star Game in 2008-09

So, those are just some of my favorites, now to get my list going.

• Voracek is rookie of the year.
• Pascal Leclaire has a better GAA and save % than some of the ‘elite’ goaltenders
• Mason proves himself in the minors, and is called up after we trade Freddy at the deadline
• Filatov has an outstanding season in Juniors, and we bring him up for  our first playoff run.
• Nash has four fights this season.
• Michael Peca gets signed for another year.
• Nikolai Zherdev scores a hat trick against us.
• Adam Foote gets used and abused every shift he is on the ice.
• Freddy Modin is healthy the entire season.
• We open the season with a win versus Dallas.
• We stay healthy, for once.

Anything else you guys?