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After getting turned down by Guy Boucher, who took the head coaching job at Tampa Bay, GM Scott Howson immediately went to his second choice, Manitoba Moose coach Scott Arniel, who accepted the job.
It’s a good move for Howson and the franchise. Arniel has shown success at the AHL level, he was coach of the year in 2009 and is skilled at motivating young talent. Arniel is an NHL veteran and can be called a ‘player’s coach.’ [Read More]
More athletic-department news from OSU today as Business First reports that OSU and the Columbus Blue Jackets have signed a deal that would have the University managing the operations at Nationwide Arena. The move would save the Jackets $1 million annually and assist with easing their $12 million budget woes.
The full Business First article can be read here: (”OSU seals deal to manage Nationwide Arena“)
For the past year, there have been ongoing discussions about the future of Nationwide Arena and the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team is losing money, and discussion between The Jackets, Nationwide Realty Investors, The City of Columbus and Franklin County have not yet provided a plan for addressing the issue of retaining the team.
Several months ago, the Forward Together Columbus committee was launched as a citizen-led effort seeking to rally community support for fixing the funding issues and keeping the Blue Jackets in Columbus. We recently sat down with John Bentine, Co-Chair of Forward Together Columbus, to find out more about this initiative. [Read More]
From NBC4i.com:
By Denise YostThe struggling Columbus Blue Jackets have fired defensive-minded Ken Hitchcock, a year after the club made the postseason for the first time in history. Assistant coach Claude Noel was elevated Wednesday to lead the team on an interim basis.
Tonight the Columbus Blue Jackets (9-5-2) welcome division rival Detroit Red Wings (7-5-3) to the confines of Nationwide Arena. This is the first meeting between the two clubs since the Jackets were swept three games to none in the opening round of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Columbus, currently tied for the best record in the Central Division with Chicago, are 3-1 in the month of November, with the soul loss coming in a shootout against the San Jose Sharks. The 2008 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings haven’t quite managed to achieve success, with their most recent game resulting in a loss to the much maligned Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-1. [Read More]
On Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets unveiled their preseason schedule, which includes four home games and four away games, and starts on September 18th.
They also announced the restructuring of some of the seating-areas inside Nationwide Arena that will make an additional 1,400 seats available for lower priced tickets, to help accommodate fans on a budget. [Read More]
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Team Captain Rick Nash have just signed a new eight-year $62-million dollar contract deal that will keep him playing in Columbus through the 2017-2018 season. The 25-year-old leads the team in both goals and assists, and scored the fifth highest number of goals in the entire league last season.
Nash led the Jackets to their first ever playoff season, was named 2007 MVP of the World Hockey Championships, and also was selected to appear on the cover for the video game NHL 2K9.
Any predictions on what year Nash will lead the Jackets to the Stanley Cup?
From Business First of Columbus:
Nationwide Arena sale under discussion
by Jeff BellThe Columbus Blue Jackets are leading discussions about the possible sale of Nationwide Arena to Franklin County, using higher taxes on alcohol and cigarettes to help fund the deal.
Preliminary talks have been held between Blue Jackets and Franklin County officials, state legislators and Nationwide Insurance executives over helping the National Hockey League club solve its economic problems, Columbus Business First has learned. One option under discussion calls for the county to buy the 18,000-seat arena from Nationwide so the team can work toward getting a better lease.
From bluejackets.nhl.com:
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Nationwide Arena have driven an economic impact in excess of $2 billion since 2000, according to a new study released April 22. Economic impact studies conducted by the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University also reveal the significance of the National Hockey League franchise and arena as a catalyst for development of downtown Columbus and the Arena District, where 7,000 people are now employed.
From BlueJackets.NHL.com:
Jackets Clinch First Ever Playoff Berth
Defenseman Fedor Tyutin scored the lone goal in the shootout and the Columbus Blue Jackets earned their first playoff berth in franchise history Wednesday night, beating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3.
Columbus’ Rick Nash scored his 39th goal with 5:30 left in regulation to tie it at 3 and set up overtime. The Blue Jackets’ Antoine Vermette also scored and assisted on Jason Williams’ goal in regulation.
