Pec-ing Order

The Jackets signed Michael Peca yesterday to an alleged base salary of $1.25 million. His spot on the roster replaces the defecting Alexander Svitov who bolted back to Russia last week.

Peca, like Fedorov, is a defensive forward. Having him in the lineup will bring some additional physical play and some additional defensive skill to the back end of the ice. The centerman could be the spark fans have been looking for during this quiet offseason.

Peca's resume spans 11 seasons and 728 NHL games. His reputation is for tough play, "work ethic, and competitiveness", according to this morning's Dispatch. His stats in the Dispatch also state that he has 12 playoff appearances in those 11 sesaons. I'm guessing an injury or other debilitation kept him out of play til April one season.

I'm excited to see a new face in the Jackets' lineup, though the signing of another aged veteran gives me some cause for concern. Fedorov, Foote, and Berard have all been overpaid busts for the Jackets. Let's hope our new GM is taking this a calculated risk.

Photo from www.playoffbeard.com

Fritsche's Out, Modin is In, and Berard in limbo

Jackets winger Dan Fritsche is in rough shape following an incident on Sunday night. Just a few minutes into the second period, #49 took a slash- and not the kind that yields two minutes. While digging for the puck in a corner, a skate slashed Fritsche's wrist, which immediately bled profusely. Fritsche quickly made his way off the ice, into the locker room, then to Grant Medical Center.

Aaron Portzline's report in today's Dispatch tells of Fritche's tendon-severing cut and his two hours of surgery. The wrist and hand is expected to recover fully, but it will be some three weeks or longer before Fritsche returns to the ice.

In other news, Modin has been officially re-signed to a three year deal. #33 will be paid $2.75 mil for next season, then $3.25 million for the next two seasons plus a $250,000 bonus for each of those seasons. The contract does include a no-trade clause, so Modin is pretty much assured to be around for a while, whether you think the Jackets are overpaying or not. Modin has 15 goals for 30 points this season, a -2 rating (+9 career) and 42 penalty minutes.

Brian Berard is being shopped around for anything the Jackets can get. According to a Dispatch article, MacLean is putting Berard up for sale via fax machine- just like those lunch specials we used to get everyday at my old job. There's less than three hours left until the deadline, and the CBJ front office will take anything for him. Wouldn't surprise me if they sent MacLean an Applebees gift card or a pair of socks for the defenseman... But wouldn't that be better than 'future considerations'? After all, they make pretty good quesadillas at Applebees.

Jackets acquire D Ryan Caldwell

Yesterday the Jackets acquired Ryan Caldwell (pictured) from the New York Islanders in exchange for Eric Boguniecki. This prompts the question: "We had Eric Boguniecki?"

I only remember Bogunieki for playing on the lesser lines of the St. Louis Blues and for being a 58 overall rated player in one of my NHL playstation games. Nonetheless he played 38 games for Pittsburgh last season, scoring 11 points and a -2 rating. Not too bad for a 05-06 Penguin.

More importantly, Caldwell is a young guy who is only two seasons removed from the University of Denver. He played both at Bridgeport (AHL) and played two games this season for the Islanders with no points, no penalties, and a -2 rating.
Maybe Caldwell will breathe some new life into the Columbus defense.

Is that the guy from Cool Runnings? The one with the lucky egg?

Like every professional sports team, the Jackets' off season is spent signing new players and evaluating prospects already in the Columbus system. Perhaps the most notable signing for the 06-07 season was right winger, #77, Anson Carter.

The 6'1" 210 lbs Carter has spent his ten year career bouncing between clubs all around the league, following four years of play at Michigan State. Last season was spent in Vancouver where he scored a career high 33 goals. Blue Jackets management hopes he can repeat that success and anticipate a 50-60 point season for Carter, which would match seasons earlier in his career.

Carter will make a solid addition to our current forwards, bringing more of the much needed veteran leadership that the club has lacked. Like Foote, Berard, and Fedorov before him, Carter brings not only a physical ice presence, but also an NHL noteworthy presence to the Columbus team.

Carter is currently battling a case of plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the ligaments under the arch of ones' foot. One of the causes of this condition is wearing shoes (or skates) that have too little arch support. Sounds like he should have called Dr. Scholls.

(UPDATE: Carter's alter-ego who appears in Cool Runnings is Doug E. Doug)