Analysis: Huselius signing, Zherdev trade has future looking brighter in Columbus
Former Flames winger Kristian Huselius will ply his trade with the Blue Jackets next season. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
Ryan Kennedy
2008-07-03 10:56:04
With two big moves yesterday, the Blue Jackets got rid of a big millstone and bolstered a thin backend while actually increasing their offense as well.
Columbus traded maddeningly inconsistent yet talented right winger Nikolai Zherdev and center Dan Fritsche to the Rangers in exchange for defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman. The Jackets also signed free agent left winger Kristian Huselius, who last suited up for the Flames.
In moving Zherdev, the Jackets rid themselves of a player whose numbers ping-ponged from good to bad every season and was a consistent threat to go home and play for a bigger Russian contract.
The right winger compiled a career-high 61 points this season, but his trend of scoring has been dizzying: He had just 32 points the year prior after notching 54 as a sophomore and 34 as a rookie.
With Gilbert Brule having been traded a couple of days ago, GM Scott Howson has now moved two of ex-GM Doug MacLean’s first round picks, both of whom have had troubling and disappointing careers to date.
In return for Zherdev and Fritsche, a solid third-liner, the Jackets beefed up their blueline with Tyutin and Backman. Tyutin can play maj
The Jackets defense corps is now huge. Six of their top blueliners average 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds while the seventh, Kris Russell (5-foot-10, 177 pounds), is the puck-mover and power play specialist. Other than Russell, the ‘D’ isn’t going to win a lot of footraces, but they can sure put the hurt on opponents.
In Huselius, the Jackets get a player who comes with fewer headaches (assuming Mike Keenan isn’t around) and whose offensive numbers surpass Zherdev’s. Columbus is still without a first-line center right now, but with talent such as Huselius, Rick Nash, R.J. Umberger and Fredrik Modin on the wings and youngsters Jakub Voracek, Derrick Brassard and Nikita Filatov on the horizon, things are looking up in Ohio.
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Jackets Time (Posted 2008-07-31 11:04:06)
Bill Oates-If you think that OSU is the only thing that matters in columbus you obviously dont know much about the city. Yes OSU is the big dawg here, of course, they have been a football powerhouse for over 100 years! But this is a sports loving city, and we love our hockey, the minor-league Columbus Chill had a rabid fan base, and when the CBJ make the playoffs this city is gonna go nuts. Bringing in the wrong people was the fault of Doug "what do you know about hockey" Mclean who thank god is gone. The Jackets overpaid for their free agents because they had to pay what the market demanded. Their salary was so low because they dumped a ton at the end of last year just getting rid of two players - Sergei Federov and Adam Foote, those movies alone dropped their salary over 10M. So before you go spouting off crap like "who cares about the CBJ," there are a million people in Columbus that would beg to differ.
anonymous coward (Posted 2008-07-11 12:01:41)
Huselius is a CONSISTENT second-liner? You needed a search warrant to find him for LLLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGG stretches of time in Calgary. However, I could be wrong, now that he doesn't have Keenan to deal with, and could turn the tables in Columbus. I hope I am right however, as I'm a Hawks' fan.
help for nash please (Posted 2008-07-05 08:56:32)
I gotta agree with Chris and John. I think the Jackets are better in the long run and picked up players more suited for Hitch's style of play. Don't think they can win a cup but playoffs are a good chance.I sure do look forward to the banging style that is going to be there this year.Now if we could just get a center to sign to man the top line! Since Morrison doesn't want to come here and I know Sundin not even considering it who is left out there? Demitra? whats your guys take on that. I think maybe save money go with Brassard or Voracek.
JohnCase (Posted 2008-07-04 12:11:10)
Well, my BlueJackets have reworked one of the most effective defenses in the west (4th fewest goals allowed, 6th fewest shots on goals) hopefully for the better although it is hard to get much better than top five. They still have a goaltender who was top 5 in every stat but wins for most of the season. They moved a couple of young kids who hadn't contributed much and brought in one of Phillys playoff heroes, a consistent 2nd line scorer in Huselius and a crash and bang power forward with a scoring touch. There are some solid prospects coming up through the system.
Now for the love of Bettman, find a 1st line center and do it soon this team can compete and the prospects won't have to come through a losing culture if we put a legitimate first line center in a bluejacket.
Chris (Posted 2008-07-04 11:49:11)
I really like that the Jackets are starting to look like a much tougher team. They've got guys like Boll, Commodore, Tollefsen, and Torres that will be in your face all night and drop their gloves regularly. They've also got Chimera, Nash, and Malhotra that play with an edge and will fight if need be. If Sestito makes the team this year, look out. He's tough and really big. Regardless of how well they do this year, it will be fun to watch them punish the opposition.
Chris (Posted 2008-07-04 11:39:11)
All you Jackets bashers need to just keep your ignorant mouths shut. You say things like "who cares about the Blue Jackets?" Apparently you do since you read the article. You keep saying that Zherdev is so great and Columbus got hosed in the deal. If you have ever watched Zherdev for any length of time you'd know that getting rid of him is great. One game he's brilliant and the next you never even notice he's playing. He's a malcontent prima donna and I say good riddance. He makes about one amazing, awe inspiring move a year that actually results in a goal yet he tries to do it countless other times and ends up turning over the puck. Zherdev plays a very selfish game and he will have Rangers staff and fans pulling their hair out next season.
help for nash please (Posted 2008-07-04 10:30:34)
I think the Rangers made a little better. Zherdev while talented was like Federov not happy in Columbus. For every slick move that Z pulled there was one or two give aways that followed. Maybe with some maturing he will be better. Tutin is solid but like most of the Jackets D not a first pairing. Backman I always saw as a 3rd pairing more of offense then a checker type . Fristche is the one I will miss the most if not more than anything than his Dome hockey commercials that ran during the games.I think he will be a decent second liner but more suited for the third line career. All players with the exception of backman are young and still learning. I hope Z signs in Russia and the jackets look brillant but probly won't happen. Also think Brule trade might haunt us but he is fragile. Federov good riddance and I hope you go to Russia. Footer I liked you up until you played the punk move to force a trade but atleast we turn the pick in to Umberger (OSU Alum Nice fit). um oh sorry i started to rant...By the way can Norenna and bring up Mason and sign Morrison please.
Jackets Fan sextion 112 (Posted 2008-07-03 20:36:00)
We saw quite a bit of Backman when he played for da Blues, he is just another Timmander, big hulking but soft, I did like his tape to tape passes and anything is a whole lot better than Tollefson's chunk jobs. All I can say is I hope Renne doesn't over coach Zheredev, he doesn't respond well to anything other then his own program.........the Rangers did well and you will love watching Zherdev from time to time....or in between the turnovers.....the real thing the CBJ will miss with Z.....he can skate the puck through the neutral zone every time......he was his own transition game.
kaspar (Posted 2008-07-03 19:48:23)
I dont care how wacky Zherdev could be....wait till you see $3.1 M per year Backman!! 6ft 2, never takes the body NEVER! and is good for 1 or 2 gut wrenching penalties per game...the rest of the traded players could cancle each other out (Toots is solid, Zherdev experimental, Fritche ok) but Backman? taking the salary alone of NYR gives them the deal
fleetwood94 (Posted 2008-07-03 18:07:50)
I still think the CBJ should have put on the full-court press for Ryan Malone, but Huselius isn't a bad consolation prize. Zherdev, we hardly knew ye! See you in Russia come September! Tyutin is a nice upgrade-then again, anyone pretty much is-for the defence. Looks like there just might be playoff hockey at Nationwide next April!
JW Cole (Posted 2008-07-03 16:47:52)
I like what the Bluejackets have done this summer. Signing Huselius will help counter the loss of Zheredev but the Jackets have improved their defence tremendously. Tyutin will be a pleasant surprise and Backman can play better. They also bring in Commodore from Ottawa. Looks like these moves have Hitchcocks name written all over them. With the coming improvement in Phoenix the Western Conference just got a lot tougher.
Jackets Fan section 112 (Posted 2008-07-03 16:07:54)
Brian.....Zheredev was turned loose for an entire season....Hitch about bit his tounge in half more than a dozen times...they quit riding him and improved his trade value by letting discipline slide...stop kidding yourself if you think Howson will regret this move...Zheredev wasen't even worth two bags of practice pucks before last season began.....It was like putting a Macco paint job on a sports car that was wrecked....big ole THAT A BOY to Hitch and Howson for extracting some value outta the kid............There was a reason that Scotty wouldn't trade Zherdev to his friend in Edmonton for Stoll.....because he wants a trade partner in the future...........Maybe if you had watched the kids every game played here in Columbus...you might have a different take...I'll leave it at that and let his future stats speak for themselves.........One other thing to consider...the CBJ had worries that Zherdev could be lured to play in Russia...very easily...as Svitov was....at least we saw some return.
Bill Oates (Posted 2008-07-03 15:17:20)
Who cares about the yellow jackets, only OSU means anything in Columbus. This sorry organization always brings in the wrong people. Paid way too much just to reach floor of salary cap
Max Benson (Posted 2008-07-03 15:07:03)
Huselius is a bust. They overpaid just as one team was expected to do at some point and if Columbus does ever make it near the playoffs don't count on much from the Juice.
andrew (Posted 2008-07-03 14:01:23)
i think signing huselius was good but the trade was not fantastic zherdev and frishte for backman and tyutin in mean the both d-men are good but not really good zherdev is super tallented and frishte is average i think rangers win this trade
Brian P (Posted 2008-07-03 13:46:41)
I saw the reports of this trade and thought that surely the Jackets must be getting a high draft pick or a prospect as well. They did the Rangers a favour by taking Backman, and Tyutin is ok but might be out of his depth on the first pair, while Fritsche is still only 22 and could still develop into a second-liner, but at worst is an above-average third-liner, and Zherdev has point-per-game potential. I think he'll really come out of his shell in New York, the larger Russian population in the area will do him good and some of the veterans will help him get on track. I think this is a deal that Columbus will be looking back on as a very bad one in fairly short order.
Mike Holloway (Posted 2008-07-03 13:41:14)
Zherdev is definitely a gamble for the Ranger's however there is no way Tyutin is a top 2 NHL defenseman.
RedToronto (Posted 2008-07-03 12:44:49)
I think Columbus sold low with Zherdev.
Jim Eudaily (Posted 2008-07-03 12:11:46)
The key is not Pascal, he had to stand on his head last year because we had no defence, Adam Foote could not get ourt of here quick enough, it is the denfence. The addition of the new broader look to the defence will help and the additon of Steve Mason in the goalie position will help out alot. I am still looking for the CBJ to get a top rated Centerman to feed Nash.
John Hakes (Posted 2008-07-03 11:55:15)
Sure, the Jackets have improved themselves nicely and are certainly a better team than they were in April. But it's important to remember that the key is still Pascal Leclaire. If he takes a step back this season after finally emerging in '07-'08, the signings will be all for naught -- there's only so much room for playoff teams in the Wild West.
Jackets Fan section 112 (Posted 2008-07-03 11:35:57)
Hitch's philosphy: checking produces turnovers and creates scoring chances......those that don't take the body need not apply. That my friends is Old School Hockey and now the Jackets have the pieces in place to pummle their opponents along the boards. I like what I see, no soft-serve ice cream here, just that good old fashioned kind...with a couple sprinkles of Euro on top just for looks. They should play "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Bodies" during every warm-up just to prepare the opposition for what lies ahead. I just love bangers and board smashing hockey......Now we don't have to watch our guys trying to play Hitch's system and merely bouncing off of guys.
matt (Posted 2008-07-03 11:23:36)
give me a break...columbus has nash on offense and that's it. if columbus "has" to make the playoffs this year like everyone's saying, they're not making the moves to get there.
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