There has been a lot of talk about GM Scott Howson, both pro and con. I’d like to take you back to the 2010 draft. In the 1st round, Columbus had the 4th pick. It had been a typical year for the Blue Jackets, and it was obvious to everyone that a defense man was needed. All year long there had been talk among the Jacket fans of obtaining Cam Fowler as a premier defense man who should be available when the blue Jackets picked. It came the Blue Jackets turn to draft, and it was announced that the Jackets had selected — Ryan Johansen!! Wait WAIT–who?
Quick research by literally dozens of bloggers and contributors as well as the press, reveled That Johansen was in fact a legitimate 1st round choice who was expected to go about in the middle of the first round. As it turned out Fowler was also drafted in the 1st round as ts the #12 pick, by the Anaheim Ducks. Fast forward to the 2010-2011 season. Ryan Johansen went to the Portland Red Hawks and had a monster year. Cam Folwer made the Ducks roster. Several times when the Ducks played the Blue Jackets that year as the Jackets proceeded to have their typical lack of success, it was pointed out the Cam Fowler was playing well for the Ducks and had XXXX# of points etc. .
While I was doing research on exactly where James Wisniewski ranked in his +/-, I noted that Cam Fowler was ranked 786th at a -18. He has 3 goals and 12 assists for the Ducks in 37 games. Quickly looking at his statistics from last year I saw he was at a -25 for the year. http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8475764 . I also saw that Cam had 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points. That’s a lot of points for a new NHL defense man. But it also means he was on the ice when 65 goals were scored. That’s also a lot of goals scored against.
Ryan Johansen this year to date is at 7 goals and 7 assists with a +2 rating. He has been in 32 of the Blue Jackets 37 games, and is improving and learning as the season goes along. Projecting a first year player is pretty tough, but my guess is he should end up around 16-18 goals and 18-22 assists if he continues to play on the top 6 lines. That would be about 36 points and I’m thinking the +/- sh0uld about hold. http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8475793
Getting to the point– Maybe Cam Fowler was rushed a bit last year and maybe he has not learned all he could as a defense man. Maybe going a bit slower on
Ryan Johansen was not such a bad idea.
And maybe Scott Howson knows a bit more about what he is doing then the general public sometimes thinks.