So Much for Patience; Nash Spurns Offer #1, Jackets Ink ‘Tender and Centerman

Well, two steps forward, one giant step back. While the Jackets intimated “patience” as other teams (looking at you, Blackhawks) spent money like drunken sailors (really? a 12 year contract for Hossa?), the Jackets’ brass told us they had a few irons in the fire, but that they were first focusing on resigning Rick Nash. Ahh, the smokescreens of professional sports GMs!

As we noted yesterday, the Jackets did send an offer Nash’s way. It was reported to be a five year deal, though no monetary terms were known. Nash and agent Joe Resnick summarily rejected it. It wasn’t so much that he turned it down (that’s how these things happen; the team comes in low, the player/agent come back high, and they meet in the middle and get it done) as what he said in turning it down.

“There were tons of teams throwing some pretty big money around,” Nash said. “If this doesn’t get done, I’m sure I won’t have a problem getting signed by somebody next summer. Things didn’t line up the way I anticipated them lining up. I thought we had a solid chance of getting (a contract) done, especially with all the interest they said they had going into this. If they want me that bad, they’ll get it done.”

Rick, you know just what to say to hurt me.

It probably didn’t help the Jackets that guys like Marian Hossa got a 12 year, $62.8MM deal, or more closely appropriate to Nash’s situation, that the Rangers gave Marian Gaborik 5 years and $37.5MM. It’s going to take north of that last one to get Nash signed to a five-year deal, which is what Columbus offered.

Resnick (Nash’s agent) is expected to counter sometime on Thursday, though no terms are known there, either. “The Blue Jackets have a blueprint for the organization, and what they want to do with it,” Nash said. “If the numbers don’t work out, if they don’t match, that’s just the way the business side works. We’ll come back with something and see what they have to say. It would be nicer to be closer, but I have another year either way. I’m in no rush. I can play out the season.”

Were this not a family-friendly blog, the stream of obscenities I would be typing at this point would make the most grizzled truck driver blush. Thank goodness for the eternal optimists over at The Dispatch: “Nash is not a bad guy; Howson is not a poor negotiator. But this process can make both sides look as such. The guess here – and it’s only a guess – is that the two sides are $1 million to $1.5 million apart per season on a five year deal. That’s substantial, yes, but not unachievable.”

However, as one team hole potentially began to open, the Jackets were able to get some things done relative to a couple of other holes on their roster. At the outset of the season, their “needs” list went like this:
1. Sign Nash
2. Sign at least one centerman (checking line)
3. Sign a backup goaltender
4. Sign/trade for an offensive-minded defenseman, preferably to play the Power Play (and, though he’s a few years out, early returns on #1 pick John Moore are positive)

Well, #4 on that list is a perpetual need, and sadly those guys don’t really grow on trees. And, as we noted above, #1 is on the precipice of a giant abyss. But hey! They got a centerman and a backup goalie! Woot! [end sarcasm]

In all seriousness, the Jackets were able to strike early and address two of their bigger needs. With Manny Malhotra now testing the free agent market, the need for a defensive centerman who could win some faceoffs and play on the checking line became pretty large. Well, Columbus might have overspent to get him, but bringing in Sami Pahlsson (who is considered to be one of the top defensive forwards in the NHL) is definitely an upgrade over Malhotra. I love Manny for his willingness to play multiple lines last season to help Columbus, but despite being a bit better in the faceoff circle than Pahlsson, it’s not a stretch to say that Pahlsson is a MUCH better third-line center than Malhotra. He’s physical, has some playoff experience that Manny just doesn’t have, and plays tremendous defense.

“(Pahlsson) brings experience winning experience,” general manager Scott Howson said. “He can play against the top players in the league. He’ll probably play between 16 and 18 minutes a night and against all the top players in the league. Our checking line is going to be strong. Whoever’s on it, with Pahlsson in the middle, it’s going to be a very strong line.”

Pahlsson is 31 years old, but has his name on Lord Stanley (with Anaheim, 2007). He was also a finalist for the Selke Trophy that same season, which is the award given to the “top defensive forward”. If the lineup was filled in today, Pahlsson would most likely play with Raffi Torres on one wing and Jakub Voracek on the other. That’s a pretty solid #3 line for the Jackets on paper, especially with the way Torres finished last year and the way that Voracek stepped up his intensity in the playoffs. “It’s exciting,” coach Ken Hitchcock said. “He can kill penalties. He does lots of things that can help a team win. Late in games, when we have the lead, he’s going to be on the ice.” This signing, while a bit on the pricier side, not only addresses the need, but shows that Scott Howson knows that it’s time to fill out the roster with guys that know how to win in the playoffs. The four game sweep at the hands of Detroit illuminated the roster a bit in terms of guys who could step up in the post-season versus the shrinking violets.

Finally, the Jackets added their backup goaltender, though probably spending a bit too much to do so. Goalies were going fast and furious on the open market, so the Jackets made their move to pick up Mathieu Garon from Pittsburgh. He’s another guy with his name on the Cup, though he only played 24+ minutes the entire post-season (as Marc-Andre Fleury got yanked in a Stanley Cup Finals game after giving up five goals). His numbers aren’t stellar, but he’s a veteran presence that can spell Steve Mason for 20 games a season (Howson says, “20 to 25”, but I see Hitch, uhh, hitching his wagon to Mason again a little more often next season).

Garon says he knows his role, but has a little competitive fire that you like to see: “I know the situation, obviously,” Garon said. “My job is to push (Mason). The more I push the kid, the more ice time I’ll get.” Uhh, sure, Mathieu. “The Kid” just brought home “the hardware” this offseason, so don’t get too excited. If this is what you need to play well as the backup, though, go for it! “We all know Mason is the starter,” Hitchcock said. “But players have to push each other to be great, and we think Mathieu can push Steve.” There seems to be a lot of pushing. Whatever works.

Garon’s best overall season was 2007-2008 in Edmonton (which is the team from which Scott Howson was hired…  Hmmm…) when he posted a 26-18-1 record with a 2.66 GAA and a .913 sv%. Not mind-blowing, but just remember: he’s the backup. And he’s certainly better than the likes of Fredrik Norrena and Wade Dubielewicz. And, his contract serves as a bridge until the team can groom someone like Dan LaCosta or Kevin Lalande as a longer-term backup to Mason.

So, now, all eyes are on the Nash situation. It’s not outside the realm of possibility that a trade emerges—much like the Nikolai Zherdev for Fedor Tyutin deal last year—as other teams look to unload salary and get under the cap, but the Jackets should be largely done other than trying to get Nash signed. And, looking at it rationally, I know this is how the game is played, and I’m sure this is only Rick using his leverage, but still… UGH!