Nine Things to Do During the Columbus Blue Jackets Nine Day Break

With a nine day break in action for the Columbus Blue Jackets, here are nine things you can do to pass the time.

The NHL All-Star break and NHLPA mandatory five day break run together for the Columbus Blue Jackets giving them a whopping nine consecutive days off in late January. Everyone except for Seth Jones and Cam Atkinson who of course are participating in the festivities in San Jose.

The time off will be welcomed with open arms by the Jackets and their staff who have been grinding away at the 82 game long wood chipper of a season. But for fans, it leaves us wanting and waiting for the return of our hockey team.

Although in the midst of the season it doesn’t seem so, there are other things in life though besides hockey. Plenty of merriment and joy to be had outside of watching the CBJ.

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Here are nine things you can do on your nine day break to pass the time before the Jackets return to action against Buffalo on January 31st.

9. Watch the All-Star Game Skills Competition, but not the All-Star Game

All-Star festivities kick off with the skills competition on Friday, January 25th in San Jose. The skills competition is a great time from the fastest skater challenge to hardest shot. It’s about as laid back as any event the NHL puts on and the All-Stars even let a tiny modicum of personality shine. A true rarity in the sport.

It’s worth watching the Friday night showcase of skill unlike the actual All-Star game. Even though it is more entertaining in it’s 3-on-3 format, the game still is not appointment viewing.

Nor will it ever be.

Much like football, hockey is a sport that you can’t play at half speed. With players not willing to risk injury during an exhibition (nor should they) the game is lifeless. Sure, there’s a $1,000,000 prize to the winning division and some of the players on rookie contracts would enjoy the extra cash. But for most, the game is about getting out without hurting yourself and getting ready for the second half of the year.

8. Catch Up with the Cleveland Monsters

So about that not watching hockey for nine days……

There is still plenty of hockey to watch around the world including keeping up with the Columbus Blue Jackets farm system.

The Cleveland Monsters have three home games during the Jackets nine day break starting on Wednesday against the Toronto Marlies. They then play on Thursday and Saturday night. The Q is a great place to watch a game and is for sure worth the trip to see AHL All-Star Zac Dalpe and the rookie Vitali Abramov who is heating up with four points in his last seven games.

If you can’t make it up to Cleveland, the AHL just dropped their rates for their streaming service for the rest of the year.

7. And watch the other Columbus Blue Jackets Prospects

The rest of the Jackets prospect pool will be hard at work over the nine day break as well. Liam Foudy and the London Knights play three games over the break. The Jackets 2018 first round pick is riding a seven game point streak in which he has totaled 10 points.

The second leading scorer in the WHL is the Jacket’s 7th round pick from this summer, Trey Fix-Wolansky. TFW and his Edmonton Oil Kings also play three times between now and when the Jackets return to action.

Of course there is fantastic SM-Liiga action to watch with the Jackets 2017 top pick, Alexandre Texier, playing on the top line for KalPa. League leading Karpat boast the top goaltender, and Jackets prospect, in Veini Vehviläinen. Veini is dominating the league and if you crave a shutout performance, try to watch one of Karpat’s upcoming game.

There are too many future Jackets to watch around the world to list out but you resourceful fans can surely find a way to check them out.

6. Check out the Big Time Matchup in Columbus

If you can’t wait nine days to watch hockey in Columbus, you don’t have to. The Ohio State woman, led by Emma Maltais (pictured above), host the #2 ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers this weekend. The sophomore Maltais leads the Buckeyes with 30 points in 24 games this season.

The Ohio State women are coming off a rough weekend where they were swept by Minnesota-Duluth. They need to get back on track after the tough losses that dropped the lady Bucks to 15-8.

Games at the Ice Rink on OSU’s campus are free so there’s no excuse to miss the high level action if you need to scratch the itch while the Jackets are away.

5. Root for the Chicago Blackhawks

Hear me out folks. It’s all about the CBJ making the playoffs and possibly winning the Metropolitan Division. While the Jackets are away, the former Western Conference rival Blackhawks will take on the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders.

Bot the Caps and Islanders are ahead of the Jackets in the standings and after two straight losses, the Jackets could use some help from the Hawks.

Jackets fans will also be pulling for San Jose and Toronto who also take on the Caps before the All-Star break. The Caps rough finish before the break could be made even more difficult as Alex Ovechkin will have to decide whether or not he sits out the Toronto game before the break or the Calgary game after the break. This, of course, is because he decided to skip the All-Star game.

4. Speculate on Artemi Panarin’s Future in Columbus

It’s not like you haven’t been doing this for the last eight months but hey, continue on. Guessing on what will happen with Artemi Panarin could take up the entire nine day break, but please limit yourself to just seven hours a day for your own well being.

Panarin’s agent will reportedly meet with Blue Jacket’s GM Jarmo Kekalainen over the break and discuss the star winger’s future. If there isn’t a signed contract coming out of the break, Jarmo has to look to move the Breadman before the February 25th trade deadline.

Or, keep him and roll the dice on what happens in the playoffs and risk losing him for nothing this offseason.

This is a definition “Rock and a Hard Place” situation for Jarmo who has been one of the better general managers in the NHL over the last five years. Sometimes you play your cards exactly right and still can’t catch a break.

Will he stay or will he go? Your speculation is welcomed in the comments.

3. Read a book. Or some of our great articles.

Books are great. But they’re long and you only have nine days. What can you really accomplish over that 216 hour period? Maybe get through the introduction? Better play it safe and check out some of the great work the UnionAndBlue.com team has been working on.

Jason Greenberg has started his Flashback Friday series with a look at the Original Kucherov Move that former Columbus Blue Jacket Jason Williams pulled in a 2009 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.  A great look back at an often forgot about moment.

As we look ahead to the trade deadline, Will Espy has pinned down trade targets in both the Atlantic and Metro Division. The Jackets will certainly be active at the deadline and Will has been active targeting some players who could be on their way to Columbus.

Will is going to tackle the Central and Pacific division over the next nine days as well so be sure to tune back in for those great reads.