Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

The Blue Jackets Now Have Some Offense

04/03/2013 at 8:51pm EDT

from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal.

On Wednesday, the New York Rangers sent right-winger Gaborik — who had to shift to left wing this season because Nash arrived on the scene on the No. 1 line — to the Blue Jackets.

OK, Rangers GM Glen Sather got tough winger Derek Dorsett (a possible captain to replace Nash), out for the season with a busted collarbone, defenceman John Moore (a former first-round draftpick ) and centre Derick Brassard (another suspect first-round pick from the past) for the unhappy Gaborik.

Gaborik didn’t like playing left wing. In Columbus, he’ll play wherever and with whomever he wants. He had to waive his no-trade clause to go to the Jackets, with the clock ticking on the deal. Maybe if the Jackets were as bad as last year (30th in points), he might have declined. But, the Jackets are the feel-good story of the season, in the playoff hunt, with virtually no offence. “Gaborik’s an explosive player,” said Jackets’ GM Jarmo Kekalainen, who had said that one of his three first-round picks in June (LA’s for Jeff Carter) was in play for a big trade. In the end, he’s kept all three first-rounders. His own, LA and the Rangers (Nash).

This is a coup for the Blue Jackets, who have been bottom-feeders for so long but suddenly find themselves in a playoff race, actually playing better than Nash’s Rangers.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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