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e Schultz has chosen to initiate this process to free agency, theres no lo
Topic Started: Oct 9 2013, 08:55 AM (10 Views)
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Unlike many people in hockey, John Davidson wasnt afraid of the losing tradition of the Columbus Blue Jackets. "I like the idea of the challenge. I mean, its possible. In fact, its something were going to do," Davidson said Wednesday after being hired as the Blue Jackets new president of hockey operations. The former player, Hall of Fame broadcaster and St. Louis Blues president believes he can transform a franchise with just one, brief trip to the post-season into a Stanley Cup contender. "The hardest part is to go through the ups and downs of getting a club to get back on its feet and going in the right direction," he said. "But if you have the right mentality, where your players understand how hard they have to work, well do well. "Well win our share. As we move along here, well win more than our share." Davidson will take over a new position. The former president, Mike Priest, will now concentrate only on the business side of a team that had the worst record in the NHL last season (29-46-7, 65 points). The 59-year-old Davidson served as president of the Blues for the past seven years. He left the Blues when new owner Tom Stillman bought out his contract in an effort to cut costs in the front office. He will report directly to Blue Jackets majority owner John P. McConnell and will oversee general manager Scott Howson, who has come under fire for the teams disastrous play and dwindling attendance in recent years. Priest said Davidson would have "full authority and autonomy over the competitive side" of the franchise. Howson could not say precisely how the two would work together but figured that would all work itself out. "This is all about the Columbus Blue Jackets getting better," Howson said. "Thats what I want to do and John makes us better." McConnell liked Davidsons track record. "He took over an organization that was losing," he said, "and turned it into one that is winning." The Blue Jackets have had losing records in 10 of their 11 seasons. Their only respite was a short, four-game playoff sweep by Detroit in 2009. Their coach at the time was Ken Hitchcock, later hired by Davidson and the Blues after he was fired by Columbus. Hitchcock now is in charge of a Blues team that a year ago finished second in the Western Conference with 109 points. During his time in St. Louis, Davidson helped the club acquire standouts such as forwards Andy McDonald, Alex Steen and Chris Stewart, defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk and goaltender Jaroslav Halak. "You build it one brick at a time," Davidson said, drawing a parallel between building a team and the brick facade of Nationwide Arena. "Thats the only way to go. Thats whats going to happen here." Davidson said he is intrigued by the Blue Jackets, who traded the clubs most recognizable and dependable commodity this summer, Rick Nash. The Blue Jackets are young with a promising list of defencemen but big questions in net and when it comes to scoring. Whenever the current lockout ends, Davidson likely will build around blue-liners Jack Johnson, James Wisniewski and Fedor Tyutin and forwards Derick Brassard, R.J. Umberger and Ryan Johansen. The goalies are Steve Mason and Sergei Bobrovsky. Columbus traded Nash, the franchises scoring, goals and games leader in addition to being captain, to the New York Rangers in July for forwards Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov and defenceman Tim Erixon and a first-round draft pick. The Blue Jackets have three first-round draft picks next summer. "The draft is huge for this club this year," Davidson said. "Just huge." The problems that Davidson will face in Columbus are not unlike what he encountered when he first arrived in St. Louis. The Blues were last in the NHL in 2005-06 with 56 points but have gradually become one of the leagues top teams. This past season, they lost in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs to eventual champion Los Angeles. Davidson first met with the Blue Jackets in May because his Blues contract permitted him to look elsewhere when it became clear that St. Louis management would undergo a shakeup. A week after his buyout was finalized in October, Davidson met with the Blue Jackets and reportedly came away impressed. A native of Ottawa, Ontario, raised in Calgary, Alberta, Davidson spent 10 years in the NHL with the Blues and Rangers. He had a career mark of 123-124-39, leading the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1979. After his playing days came to an end, Davidson became a popular NHL television analyst on several networks and stations. He received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster and was officially inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009. He said he had a message for the fans. The club drew 14,660 per game last season, although there are signs due to the teams losing ways and, now, the lockout that some have reached the end of their patience with the team and the league. "I know the fans, as in St. Louis, you get frustrated. Thats totally understandable," Davidson said. "But if they see how were going to work our way through this and be a very hard-working, honest, no-shortcut team -- stay with us and well bring you something youre going to be very proud of." nfl Jerseys wholesale . The Minnesota Timberwolves were eager to help him clarify his status. "After a few months of sitting out, I decided, Hey, I dont want to stop playing basketball," Roy said Tuesday at a news conference at Target Center after signing a two-year, $10. wholesale nfl jerseys . The Pittsburgh Penguins sent one with their fists. Message received on both sides. http://www.nflcheapwholesalejerseyschina.com/ . -- Eastern Washington receiver Brandon Kaufman has decided to skip his senior season and make himself eligible for the NFL draft. cheap nfl jerseys from china . James Andrews following inflammation that landed him on the disabled list in August. An MRI showed a bone spur in the left elbow and the Yankees believe it has existed since he pitched for the Cleveland Indians from 2001-08. cheap jerseys . -- Rory McIlroy faced the strongest collection of contenders at any golf tournament this year Sunday at the BMW Championship.Justin Schultz, the Anaheim Ducks second-round pick and blue-chip defenceman prospect, has officially "de-registered" from the University of Wisconsin. That triggers a process that will likely make him an unrestricted free agent, perhaps as early as the NHL Draft on June 22. According to league rules, from the time Anaheim was given notice of the de-registration from school -- believed to be Tuesday of this week -- the Ducks have a 30-day exclusive window where they still own his rights and can either try to sign him or trade him. Because Schultz has chosen to initiate this process to free agency, theres no logical reason to believe theres any chance of Anaheim signing him now when they could not get it done through most of April and May. It is believed Anaheim will try to recoup something for Schultz in trade but that option only works if Schultz is prepared to negotiate with the team(s) Anaheim would trade him to. A trade could lead to Schultz signing with the team of his choicce and the Ducks getting something in return.dddddddddddd Or Schultz could simply wait for the 30-day window to expire -- presumably on June 21 -- and begin entertaining free-agent offers from any team. Schultz would not, however, be able to actually sign an NHL contract until July 1. No reason has been given as to why Schultz has opted to explore this route rather than sign with the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2008 Draft. Next to New Jerseys Zach Parise and Nashvilles Ryan Suter, the soon-to-be 22-year-old from West Kelowna, B.C., may be the most sought after NHL free agent. Schultz was drafted 43rd overall by Anaheim while playing in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. He played another year in the BCJHL after he was drafted, which gave him the ability to pursue free-agency if he de-registered from school. He had just completed his junior season at Wisconsin and was one of the premier players in all of U.S. college hockey last season. ' ' '
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