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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)

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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

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 major minutes and will likely be on the top pairing in Columbus. Backman was a disaster in his short time on Broadway after being acquired from St. Louis at the trade deadline, but has played well in the past, so Columbus offers him a fresh start.

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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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COMMENTS (22)

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Jackets Time Posted
(2009-04-30 06:42:00)



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.
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anonymous coward Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:45)



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.
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help for nash please Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:41)



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.
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Chris Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:23)



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.
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JohnCase Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:23)



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.
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Chris Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:22)



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.
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help for nash please Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:20)



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.
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Jackets Fan sextion 112 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:10)



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.
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kaspar Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:08)



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
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fleetwood94 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:04)



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!
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