The CBJ Writer

It's really fun watching Rick Nash announce that the 4th Pick in the 2024 NHL Draft is Caydon Lindstrom. Who doesn't love the idea of a 6'3 Center with 210 pounds of firepower behind him? I certainly do, especially with his numbers last season! He spent it with the Medicine Hat Tigers and ensured he'd be picked early in this draft with 27 goals and 19 assists in just 32 games. The man is talented and ready to learn and play with the best in the National Hockey League.  Congratulations, Lindstrom, and welcome to Columbus!    

Trades are common around and on Draft Night, and I knew today would be no different. That said, I didn't expect to be talking about this player. Alexander Texier (number 42) has been through and achieved a lot recently. He spent the 2022-23 season away from the Columbus Blue Jackets, playing in France to stay close to family after an unexpected death in his family. In the 2023-24 NHL Season, Alexander Texier returned, much to the delight of fans. The Center played in 78 of the 82 regular season games last season. In that time, he had 12 goals and 18 assists for a 30-point regular season. In addition, he gave the team multiple short-handed goals last seas, too. He has only ever been a Columbus Blue Jacket in the NHL. He appeared in 201 games and gave us 34 goals and 45 assists for a grand total of 79 points. The St. Louis Blues have a fantastic player coming their way for a 4th Round Pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and based on social media reaction, their fans are well aware. I'm s...

Yes, 5th Line, you read that right; The Columbus Blue Jackets announced this evening via X through Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) that the team has once again relieved another Head Coach of their position within the team. After a 27-43-12 2023-24 NHL Season, the decision by new General Manager Don Waddell is not surprising. Personally, his lack of excitement at seeing his team win or even score a goal was confusing; also, comments made about players to the media, which, in my mind, should've been private conversations, was where I lost belief in him being our long-term solution at Head Coach. That said, taking over right before training camp after the selected Head Coach, Mike Babcock, stepped down before coaching a game wasn't easy; I always give him credit for that.  Via Jeff Svoboda on X (@JacketsInsider) at 5:04 p.m. on June 17, 2024- “As I spent time with Pascal over the past few weeks, I found him to be an outstanding person and smart hockey coach who worked very hard las...

It's been an interesting 2024 NHL Playoffs already. This was captivating by watching the divide among the 5th Line fans who chose to watch the playoffs and cheer on former Blue Jackets. As the Eastern Conference Final was set, we saw Sergei Bobrovsky on one end of the ice as a Florida Panther. On the other end of the ice, representing the New York Rangers, stood three former Jackets, Artemi Panarin, Alexander Wennberg, and Jack Roslovic. Due to the final player I listed with the New York Rangers end of the ice, this playoff series had implications for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Trade the organization did, sending Jack Roslovic to the New York Rangers, was for a conditional Fourth Round Draft Pick in the future 2026 NHL Draft. The condition to this pick was that if the Rangers advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Final 2024, the Draft pick would increase to the third round. With the Florida Panthers eliminating the New York Rangers tonight in Game 6 (the final was 2-1), The B...

If you're reading this now and are a loyal fan of mine, thank you for your patience. What I write today is independent of the influence of others. I have avoided reading any articles about the Columbus Blue Jackets hiring of Dan Waddell and only listened to his words so I could give my thoughts without plagiarizing another journalist or blogger. This news also broke while I was working, so that's why you'll see I reposted Columbus Blue Jackets official posts for you all to read but not myself. So, without further delay, here are my thoughts on the organization's hiring of Dan Waddell.  First and foremost, the accomplishments this man has alone speak volumes. How he built and transformed the Carolina Hurricanes into a team with multiple NHL Playoff appearances and Division Championships is enough to sell his worth. That said, his thought process on Columbus is something I'm encouraged by as well. He stated that he would work within the organization and get to know it...

As the offseason gets underway, we all know the first step in missing the postseason is the NHL Draft Lottery, and it didn't disappoint for Columbus this evening. We will be fourth up in Round 1, which gives us a great opportunity to either pick another young player to mold and shape for this franchise or trade the pick for a player we need. Being this high in any draft gives a General Manager multiple directions to go, and I say 'a General Manager' because the franchise still needs one. Currently, John Davidson, the Columbus Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations, is doing his position and that of a General Manager until one is found. Personally, I hope the news of one being hired comes soon, as I'd like them to be settled into the organization before this Draft takes place.  In addition, we now know that the 2024 NHL Draft will take place in Las Vegas's brand-new technological thriller, The Sphere. Having seen videos of U2 playing within it, I can only imagin...

 Last night was a very big night in Columbus, Ohio. Personally, I went to watch the game with friends, and that's why I'm writing this post later than normal. I hope you understand, readers. I'm so happy I got to watch the game because we had Jeff Rimer's final broadcast as the Columbus Blue Jackets play-by-play announcer. That concept alone brought many tears to my eyes multiple times throughout the evening. Hearing the 5th Line chant 'Rimer' is something I'll never forget. This goes double for watching him announce the lineup in the locker room pregame, a classy move by Head Coach Pascal Vincent. I could go on and on, but we have a Blue Jackets WIN to recap, and I know Jeff would want me to move on from dating over him (even if it's easier said than done!) This night would start with some Michigan magic in the air as yet another player from the University joins the ranks. The accolades for Gavin Brindley are long, and I, for one, can't wait to watc...