# 4 pick rumors

[puckhogg]

from espn.....

• There's been speculation here and there about the Columbus Blue Jackets shopping their fourth overall pick, the theory being they want to get back into the playoffs picture ASAP and acquire a player to help them now. But Jackets GM Scott Howson squashed the theory Tuesday.



"That's not a goal of mine. I want to keep the pick," Howson told ESPN.com. "I'm not actively calling teams about the pick. But obviously, like anything, we're always open to discussion."



The Jackets are hoping to beef up at center this offseason, so if they were offered a decent player for the pick, I would think they might look at it. But I believe Howson when he says he's not shopping the pick just for the sake of it.

[puckhogg]

more from espn....

Now, LeBrun adds that, if a team offers a solid center for the pick, the Jackets might spring for it. Interestingly, the Boston Bruins are also looking to move into the top five again to draft a defenseman, possibly Brandon Gormley. And, if they land Tyler Seguin at No. 2, they'll have an overload at center with Marc Savard, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci.

[dasnut]

I think I would be ecstatic if they kept their pick and got Fowler or Gudbranson.  Then again, if Boston really wants to get a defenseman, maybe Howson could work a trade with Boston to get Seguin and guarantee them getting one of the top three defenseman.  I don't see this happening, but it could be a long shot if Edmonton takes Hall first (which they should). 

The only two things I foresee happening is either they get a defenseman at the 4th spot or they trade down.  As much I would LOVE to see they go after Seguin, I just don't see us being able to make the trade to do so. 

Now maybe if they worked some deal with one of their 2nd round picks (which would probably have to be their first of the two) and maybe some players and/or prospects, maybe, just maybe, there's a chance they could get a center to play on the first line for next year.  Then keep Brassard on the second line and move Vermette to the wing on the second line.  Getting a center that is just a step above Brassard and Vermette (meaning not a seriously top tier #1, since we are most likely not getting one) would seriously help the coaches to play with our lines...it would help make the lines more flexible with moving players around a bit. 

1st line- Voracek, Center to be named, Nash
2nd line- Vermette, Brassard, Huselius
3rd line- Umberger, Pahlsson, Dorsett
4th line- Clark, Murray, Boll


Add in the possiblities of Filatov, Kana, Blunden, Calvert and a few others and we just might be able to have something worthy of going up against most teams.

[Tuskin]

i still think once they all mature a little more specifically filatov the line of brassard voracek and filatov would be one of the best in the nhl

[dasnut]

i still think once they all mature a little more specifically filatov the line of brassard voracek and filatov would be one of the best in the nhl

Only problem is, we need them to "mature a little" like yesterday! 

[Tuskin]

we really do .. but voracek is becoming quite an asset .. he is maturing at a great rate

[puckhogg]

more from espn today...i know that a.p.@ the dispatch shoots this down but i just thought it might be good reading...enjoy....


The Boston Bruins could trade Marc Savard and Blake Wheeler to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the No. 4 overall pick, Pro Hockey Talk reports. The NBC website warns that this is only a rumor. And when you hear the "proposed" trade, you'll think it's an uneven swap. But this trade does fill needs -- and wants -- for both teams.

The Jackets would get Savard, Wheeler and the No. 15 overall pick from the Bruins for the No. 4 pick. An unfair swap? You be the judge.

But here's why this trade makes sense for Boston: 1) They want another top-five pick because there are reports they want to draft one of the three top defensemen in the draft: Erik Gudbranson, Cam Fowler or Brandon Gormley. 2) Wheeler, a restricted free agent, has been the subject of trade rumors for a while. 3) The Bruins have a lot of depth at center and that depth will only get deeper if they end up with Tyler Seguin with the No. 2 overall pick.

Meanwhile, the Jackets would be interested because 1) they've been looking for a top center, so much so that they were linked to a Jason Spezza trade, 2) they don't seem to be in love with any of the prospects available at No. 4 and 3) they are under pressure to win immediately.

Now, as Pro Hockey Talk points out, "I also think that the Bruins would be giving up a ton for that 4th pick, but if they use that cap space to make a big free agency signing it will all even out."

While we don't know if the Bruins would shop big in the free agent market, they could look to extend Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron.

[alxzanki]

I still cant believe where stuck in this hole center position debate, I hope we give Brassard another chance , remember there in his rookie season, Nash was almost a point per game player with Brassard as his center until Hitch told him to go a suicide mission against Neal.

[dasnut]

I agree that I too hope Brassard can take over the position this team has never had.  Since it's been 9 seasons without a true #1, we will continue to debate on what to do UNTIL we finally get someone to fill that void, whether it's Brassard or someone else, at this point I really don't care, I just want a true #1 center to help play on our first line.  Obviously, Brassard would be the best choice, especially when it comes to salary cap issues.  I really do hope he takes a HUGE leap forward with Arniel and his staff/system.  For the sake of the team, the players and the fans we ALL have waited long enough for SOMEONE to play with Nash and help him produce the way we all know he can.

[alxzanki]

I agree that I too hope Brassard can take over the position this team has never had.  Since it's been 9 seasons without a true #1, we will continue to debate on what to do UNTIL we finally get someone to fill that void, whether it's Brassard or someone else, at this point I really don't care, I just want a true #1 center to help play on our first line.  Obviously, Brassard would be the best choice, especially when it comes to salary cap issues.  I really do hope he takes a HUGE leap forward with Arniel and his staff/system.  For the sake of the team, the players and the fans we ALL have waited long enough for SOMEONE to play with Nash and help him produce the way we all know he can.

Anyways like I said the real problem with this team is the defense. Teams like Pheonix made the playoffs with a mixed line up all because of a good syteme.

[CanadianJacketsFan]

filatov-brassard-voracek

sounds great, would be horrific

[puckhogg]

today from espn.....

Some people are telling TSN's Darren Dreger that Marc Savard is available in a trade, and the New York Post's Larry Brooks adds that they've been "aggressively shopping Savard since the end of their season."

This explains why there have been several trade rumors regard Savard. The most prominent one was from Pro Hockey Talk, which reported that Savard, Blake Wheeler and the No. 15 pick could be sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the No. 4 overall pick. But we later heard this rumor was false, and the No. 15 picks was sent to Florida in the Nathan Horton deal.

Still, the Bruins want to acquire another top draft pick because they covet a defenseman in the draft -- either Erik Gudrbanson, Cam Fowler or Brandon Gormley. So it's possible Savard is a key cog in this deal -- and it's possible this deal is still with the Blue Jackets, since the two teams still appear to be talking.

Also, since they traded Dennis Wideman, they might want to add a veteran blueliner. So Savard could be part of a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs to bring in Tomas Kaberle, whom the Bruins have had interest in for a while.

[dasnut]

today from espn.....

Some people are telling TSN's Darren Dreger that Marc Savard is available in a trade, and the New York Post's Larry Brooks adds that they've been "aggressively shopping Savard since the end of their season."

This explains why there have been several trade rumors regard Savard. The most prominent one was from Pro Hockey Talk, which reported that Savard, Blake Wheeler and the No. 15 pick could be sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the No. 4 overall pick. But we later heard this rumor was false, and the No. 15 picks was sent to Florida in the Nathan Horton deal.

Still, the Bruins want to acquire another top draft pick because they covet a defenseman in the draft -- either Erik Gudrbanson, Cam Fowler or Brandon Gormley. So it's possible Savard is a key cog in this deal -- and it's possible this deal is still with the Blue Jackets, since the two teams still appear to be talking.

Also, since they traded Dennis Wideman, they might want to add a veteran blueliner. So Savard could be part of a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs to bring in Tomas Kaberle, whom the Bruins have had interest in for a while.

Would love to think that they are talking about swapping #2 & #4 picks should Edmonton take Hall and the Bruins feel they need a blueliner more than a center and that they can't get real value in return with trading Savard.  Pipe dreaming you ask? ABSOLUTELY!

Now that the 15th pick is gone, I don't see them working out a trade with Boston.

I think Howson would be foolish to trade themselves completely out of the first round.  They still need to at least get one first round pick this year. Unless of course, he received a trade worthy of giving up the #4 overall pick, you know like getting a possible #1 center and #1 or #2 blueliner for this team in some mega deal, which we all know will NOT happen.
 

[hidden_gem]

I would have to agree that our biggest need is defense and we need to address that in a big way, but really, are we saying that we want to move forward with Brassard as opposed to a Spezza or Marleau?  Are we saying that we would not want to get a Spezza or Savard and roll the dice with a drafted defenceman (that could very well be awesome, but you never know)?

If we have an opportunity to get a proven productive player who upgrades our team, i.e Savard, Spezza, etc.  that would be crazy not to do it!  We can still get a FA defenceman if we want!

Unfortunately for us, it boils down to one thing...$$   We would rather draft a player and pay entry level $$ and hope we get better!  We have the largest cap space, we have the ability to pay $$ for a Marleau, Gonchar, etc......but we won't! 

[puckhogg]

from espn today......

ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun tweets that the Columbus Blue Jackets haven't received any "tangible offers" for the No. 4 overall pick.

This is significant because there are several rumors involving this pick, including ones that would bring Marc Savard or Jason Spezza to Ohio. But both might just be unfounded speculation.

But, more interestingly, the Columbus Dispatch reports the Jackets are trying to move down in the draft -- somewhere in the 7-8-9 range. The newspaper writes, "Clearly there's a player who will be available in the 7-8-9 range that the Blue Jackets like as much as the defenseman they could grab at No. 4. So why not trade down, add a player or a draft pick, and get the guy you want?"

If they stay at No. 4, they would likely take a defenseman -- probably Cam Fowler. But a blueliner might take longer to contribute, and the Jackets want more immediate help; also, it appears they would prefer to draft a forward. So, a few spots down, they could draft guys like Jeff Skinner, Mikael Granlund, Nino Niedederreiter, Ryan Johansen or Alexander Burmistrov without feeling like they are reaching.