Columbus Blue Jackets | CollegeHockeyPlayers

26Feb

Cam Atkinson(13) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ rookie right wing Cam Atkinson(13) is currently on his 3rd NHL call-up. In 7 games he has one goal and one assist but is a shaky -7 plus/minus.

He was originally a 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#157 overall) and signed to a 2-year entry level contract.

In 50 AHL games with Springfield Falcons he dominates with 29 goals and 15 assists while going a +4.

He’s another small player entry to pro hockey at 5’8″ 175 lbs. but fully engulfs himself into the action and as far as prospects go, big things are expected of the compact but mighty 22-year old forward.

14Feb

Andrew Murray(44) Worcester Sharks

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Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 8th round pick in the 2001 draft (#242 overall), 30-year old center Andrew Murray(44) hasn’t played in an AHL game in almost four seasons. Recently he was reassigned by San Jose Sharks to Worcester to pick up some increased playing time as the parent club shifts some of their younger guys in the system through the lineup to see where they stand with them before the NHL trade deadline at the end of the month.

He’s been rightfully given the assistant captain nod on the Worcester team and got his first goal (an empty-netter) in the league since the 2007/2008 season where he split time with the Blue Jackets and Syracuse Crunch. He did it while wearing this pink jersey the whole team donned for “Pink In The Rink” to benefit the Cup Crusaders.

He has 220 NHL games to his credit, scoring 24 goals and 16 assists as mostly a fourth line contributor.

San Jose management says they fully intend to recall him but that won’t likely happen until around March 1.

21Jan

Colton Gillies(18) Columbus Blue Jackets

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Former 1st round pick, center Colton Gillies(18) was handed a new two-year, one-way deal with Minnesota Wild and played 37 games with the team this season. The downside was he only recorded 2 assists.

With little point production for the slumping team, he was put on the waivers to be reassigned to their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros.

That was all the motivation last place Columbus Blue Jackets needed, as they claimed him to hopefully bolster their offense with his sizable 6’4″ frame.

In his first game with the team he was initially credited for a goal but was later changed to an assist. Either way, it was a good way for him to start a new phase in his career with the Blue Jackets.

20Jan

Brett Lebda(21) Columbus Blue Jackets

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30-year old Stanley Cup winning defenseman Brett Lebda(21) signed a one-year deal with Columbus Blue Jackets after starting the season with their AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons.

Without a contract for the 2011/2012 season, he agreed to a pto in November with Springfield in hopes of making back to the NHL.

He makes that happen with an injury to the big club and good play in the minors. In 26 games he got a goal and had 9 assists, while playing at an even plus/minus. No doubt, he’s also helped the younger guys in the system, bringing 8 years of pro experience to the locker room.

As a defenseman who’s played in 367 NHL games and played for 5 years for Detroit Red Wings, he was the natural choice to fill-in.

Rumor has it the Blue Jackets had something to do with him getting signed to his tryout agreement with the Falcons.

He was undrafted and played his first season the year of the NHL lockout, signed by Detroit and playing with their minor league affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins.

09Jan

Ryan Russell(20) Columbus Blue Jackets

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5th year New York Rangers 2005 7th round pick (#211 overall) center Ryan Russell(20) played his 1st NHL regular season games over the weekend on call-up from Springfield Falcons by his new team Columbus Blue Jackets.

When he couldn’t come to terms with the Rangers on a contract he signed to a two-year entry deal and then another one year, two-way deal with Montreal Canadiens but spent time only with their AHL affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs before he was traded in the offseason to start 2011/2012.

In 2 games with the Blue Jackets (a win and a loss), he’s skated an average of 12 minutes of ice time including a good amount on the pk. He’s played 30 games in the AHL and has 9 goals and 6 assists while maintaining an even plus/minus.

His twin brother Kris Russell plays defense for St. Louis Blues. He was a Blue Jackets‘ player up until mid-November, when he was traded. They did play in the preseason together though.

31Dec

Nikita Filatov(24) CSKA Moscow

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Instead of accepting his reassignment back to the AHL to play with Binghamton Senators (15 games, 7 goals, 5 assists), Ottawa Senators‘ recent acquisition, 1st round pick in 2008 by Columbus (#6 overall) winger Nikita Filatov(24) has once again asked to be returned to his Russian team CSKA Moscow to play instead of going to the lower league in North America.

He was granted his request and in 2 games he’s scored 0 points, has 2 penalty minutes and is a -3 plus/minus.

We think the move is foolish for 21-year old and he just needs to put on more muscle to help him with all that skill he has and staying close to the big club would have done him much better. But we’ll see…

27Dec

Cody Bass(26) Springfield Falcons

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Tough break for Columbus Blue Jackets‘ offseason signing, forward Cody Bass(26), who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury that will require surgery in practice with the team’s AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons.

He was signed to a one-year, two-way deal and skated in 14 NHL games this season before being reassigned. In 10 games with the Falcons, he had a pair of goals and 4 assists.

In 2010/2011 he won the Calder Cup with Binghamton Senators and was always a feisty team leader. It’s the 2nd time an injury has caused him to opt out of a season.

He was originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in the 2005 draft (#95 overall).

26Dec

Tom Sestito(21) Philadelphia Flyers

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Left wing Tom Sestito(21) was originally chosen by Columbus Blue Jackets in the 3rd round of the 2006 draft (#85 overall) and played in their system for almost 4 seasons. Appearing in 13 NHL games he put up 2 goals and 2 assists before getting traded to Philadelphia Flyers and was assigned to their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms where he finished off the year.

In the offseason he signed a one-year, two-way deal. He received his first call-up to the Flyers and skated in three games with no points but 15 penalty minutes.

He’s not exactly known for his scoring touch but at 6’5″ 228 lbs. it would be nice to utilize him as a power forward in front of the net to go along with his fighting skills. In 24 AHL games he has 8 goals and 6 assists.

15Dec

Dane Byers(34) Columbus Blue Jackets

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6th year wing Dane Byers(34) received his first call-up to his new team Columbus Blue Jackets and played in his first NHL game in a couple of seasons.

He was originally a 2nd round pick in the 2004 draft (#48 overall) by New York Rangers. He played over 250 games in their system with their AHL affiliate, Hartford Wolf Pack and appeared in 6 games of two seasons with the Blueshirts scoring one goal.

Last season was an interesting one for him as he was involved in three minor league deals that had him go first to Springfield Falcons, then San Antonio Rampage to finish the year.

In the offseason, the Blue Jackets signed the unrestricted free agent to a one-year, tw0-way contract. He is the current team captain for Springfield and shows great leadership on the ice.

11Dec

Jason Williams(18) Pittsburgh Penguins

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Since 2000, undrafted center Jason Williams(18) has played games in the NHL and he played his first of the 2011/2012 season with Pittsburgh Penguins in their win over New York Islanders. He skated for 11:28 minutes, took a tripping penalty and had a shot on net.

In 448 NHL games he has 93 goals and 132 assists with Detroit (7 seasons, including a Stanley Cup with them in 2002), Chicago, Atlanta, Columbus, Dallas and now with the Pens.

He has far less career games in the AHL numbering 210 at last check (77 goals, 113 assists = a point per game) and this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins has 3 goals and 14 assists in 20 games.