SB Nation Cleveland - Ryan Murray Comes To Terms On Entry-Level Contract With Columbus Blue Jackets

Ryan Murray Agrees To Terms On Entry-Level Contract With Columbus Blue Jackets

2012-07-24T18:48:43Z

On Tuesday afternoon, the Columbus Blue Jackets announced via the team's official website that the club has come to terms with defenseman Ryan Murray on a three-year, entry-level contract. Murray was the team's top pick in June's Entry Draft when he was taken with the No. 2 overall selection.

Via press release from the Blue Jackets:

A native of White City, Saskatchewan, Murray recorded 6-40-46, 45 penalty minutes and was +18 in 70 games with Everett in 2010-11. He led the team in assists and plus/minus rating and was third in points, while leading club defensemen in goals (tied) and points. He notched 5-22-27 with 31 penalty minutes and was +33 in 52 games in 2009-10 for Everett and was named the team's Rookie of the Year.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL Draft 2012: Why Blue Jackets' Scott Howson Turned Down Trade With Islanders

2012-06-25T21:58:24Z

When it was reported on Monday morning by Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch that Scott Howson and the Columbus Blue Jackets turned down a trade proposal from the New York Islanders that would have sent the No. 2 overall draft pick to the Isles in exchange for the team's entire draft class, every one was left dumbfounded as to why the club wouldn't jump at the offer.

However, Elliot Friedman of CBC has come up with a rational as to why it made more sense to turn down the offer and keep the No. 2 overall pick.

Via cbc.ca:

But what else do you get with those picks? Not much, if history is any indication. From 1990-2008, there were 114 players selected in spots numbered 34, 65, 103, 125, 155 and 185. Do you know how many played 400 NHL games?

Seven.

What Friedman is getting at is that the Blue Jackets wanted Ryan Murray and now they have him. Had they taken the picks maybe they get a player or two out of it that can play a few years, where as Murray potentially could be a franchise defender for the next 15 years.

Will that stop the criticism of Howson? Probably not.

However, if Murray reaches his potential it certainly will. If he doesn't, well, Howson will be forever linked to this proposed deal and the 'what ifs' that will come along with it.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

Islanders Offered Blue Jackets Entire Draft For Ryan Murray; Columbus Fires Four Scouts Post-Draft

2012-06-25T19:11:36Z

The Columbus Blue Jackets wrapped up their draft along with everyone else and most feel as though they're in a very good position. Of course, that's not necessarily due to the draft as a whole, but more so due to the fact that they grabbed Ryan Murray with the No. 2 overall pick.

Murray is an excellent defenseman and will likely be playing at the top level sooner rather than later. But Murray almost didn't go to the Blue Jackets. According to the Columbus Dispatch, with a H/T to the SB Nation mothership, the Blue Jackets were almost involved in a terrible trade with the New York Islanders.

It's terrible due to how ludicrous the whole thing was. The Islanders were going to send their entire draft to Columbus for the right to draft Murray at No. 2. It's absolutely insane that New York felt that Murray was worth picks No. 4, 34, 65, 103, 125, 155 and 185, but do you know what's even more insane?

The fact that the Blue Jackets felt that Murray was worth more. Many had Nail Yakupov as the top pick in the draft. Rather - everybody had Yakupov as the top pick in the draft. Except for, apparently, the Blue Jackets, who reportedly would have taken Murray over Yakupov, and apparently over seven other draft picks.

It really is crazy to think that Columbus wouldn't be willing to drop two spots to get all those other picks, but at the very least, they walked away with their guy. Or did they? As The Columbus Dispatch reports that the Blue Jackets fired four scouts immediately following the draft. Brian Bates, Andrew Shaw, Artem Telepin and John Williams were let go.

Needless to say, nobody really has any idea what the Blue Jackets are doing.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

2012 NHL Draft Grades: Columbus Given High Marks For Ryan Murray Pick By SB Nation

2012-06-25T12:49:24Z

There were really only two things that people expected the Columbus Blue Jackets to do on Friday with their second overall pick in the NHL Draft. There was a lot of speculation that the pick would be traded, but most people expected them to select either defenseman Ryan Murray or forward Nail Yakupov, depending which one fell to them after Edmonton's first selection.

Murray ended up falling to them and they apparently couldn't find a trade partner, so the big defenseman ended up being the cornerstone of Columbus' draft. SB Nation's 2012 NHL Draft Grades give the Jackets high marks for that pick, but question the lack of ability by Columbus to deal Rick Nash for anything of substance on draft day:

Columbus Blue Jackets: Though GM Scott Howson made a solid selection in Ryan Murray, the lack of action on a Rick Nash trade is likely to haunt him through the draft and into July 1. Addressing their need for a goaltender by trading for Sergei Bobrovsky, his next target is expected to be additional scoring depth. B-

No matter what they did on draft day, the Jackets were going to be left lacking a bit. They're a team in need of a lot of pieces and it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect a very, very busy off season in Columbus.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, head over to The Cannon. For more NHL coverage, head over to SB Nation's NHL hub.

NHL Draft 2012 Results: Blue Jackets Select Right Winger, Defenseman With Final 2 Picks

2012-06-23T18:04:12Z

With their final two picks in the 2012 draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets selected right winger Daniel Zaar from Sweden and Candian defenseman Gianluca Curcuruto. The team focused heavily on rebuilding its defense this year, with Zaar and fourth-round pick Josh Anderson the only offensive players taken in the draft. That's probably not a bad strategy, as the team ranked 28th in goals against per game last season, with 3.13.

The 5-foot-11, 167-pound Zaar spent last year on Rogle BK's junior squad, where he recorded 14 goals and 24 assists in 44 games. He was the team's sixth-round selection, 152nd overall.

Curcuruto played the last two seasons with the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he scored four goals and 38 assists over the course of 119 games. He previously won a gold medal as part of Team Ontario at the 2011 U17 World Hockey Challenge. He was taken in the seventh round, 182nd overall.

For more on the Blue Jackets, head over to The Cannon. For more NHL coverage, head over to SB Nation's NHL hub.

NHL Draft Results: Blue Jackets Pick Left Winger Josh Anderson In 4th Round

2012-06-23T15:31:53Z

The Columbus Blue Jackets turned their attention to the offense in the fourth round of the NHL Draft, selecting Canadian left winger Josh Anderson with the 95th overall pick.

After using their first three round to select a defenseman and a pair of goaltenders, the Blue Jackets added the 18-year old Anderson who played for the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League this past season. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Anderson scored 12 goals and added 10 assists in 64 games with London.

Here is what The Hockey Writers had to say about Anderson's season with the Knights.

He may have struggled with issues of consistent point production but his defensive play remained intact. He had a positive plus-minus or was even in many games; he finished the season with a +17. One of his best months came in February of 2012, when he recorded six points - including five goals - in 11 games. Anderson finished the season with 22 points (12 goals, ten assists) and 34 penalty minutes in 64 games. With many of the Knights' top players graduating or on the cusp of graduation, Anderson will be counted upon to have a bigger role in 2012-13.

For more on the Blue Jackets, head over to The Cannon. For more NHL coverage, head over to SB Nation's NHL hub.

NHL Draft Results: Columbus Takes Goalie Joonas Korpisalo In 3rd Round

2012-06-23T14:52:38Z

The Columbus Blue Jackets are suddenly stocking up on goaltenders as they selected Joonas Korpisalo from Finland in the third round of the NHL Draft after taking Swedish goalie Oscar Dansk in the second round.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Korpisalo has been playing junior hockey in his native Finland where he played for Jokerit Jr. in Helsinki this past season. In 38 games, the 18-year old Korpisalo had a .920 save percentage and a 2.04 goals against average.

Here is what The Hockey Writers had to report about Korpisalo as a goaltender prospect.

Korpisalo has been lauded for his athleticism, speed and professional build. He is also highly thought of his ability to make highlight reel saves, especially one he made on a Brendan Gaunce penalty shot in the bronze medal final of the World Under-18s. Korpisalo is also highly lauded based on his personality. His happy-go-lucky nature and his good sense of humour have made him very popular with his coaches and with members of the media.

For more on the Blue Jackets, head over to The Cannon. For more NHL coverage, head over to SB Nation's NHL hub.

NHL Draft Results: Blue Jackets Select Goalie Oscar Dansk In 2nd Round

2012-06-23T14:20:55Z

With the No. 1 pick in the second round of the 2012 NHL Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets filled a need by selecting Swedish goalie Oscar Dansk, the third overall goaltender selected in the draft.

The 6-foot-2, 186-pound net minder has been playing junior hockey in Sweden with Brynas Junior but plans to begin playing in North America on his way to eventually joining the Blue Jackets in the NHL. Dansk is familiar with North American hockey having also played three years at the Shattuck St. Mary's High School in Minnesota. Here is what The Hockey Writers had to say about Dansk.

Dansk employs the butterfly style and is a very quick goalie that possesses good lateral movements. The goalie's quickness helps him to stay in many plays and allows him to make saves that other goalies might not be too adept at making or even attempting. Some of the knocks against Dansk's style of play might be that he wanders out of his net a bit too much and might not have great rebound control, but both of the aforementioned weaknesses can be improved upon with some solid mentoring. While Dansk's ability to stay in a lot of plays can be attributed to the goalie's solid technique and calm demeanor, the netminder's movements seem to be very well calculated and extremely efficient. Dansk might not be the tallest or biggest goalie, but his reflexes and hockey IQ make him very difficult to beat, even when the opposition has a legitimate scoring chance.

For more on the Blue Jackets, head over to The Cannon. For more NHL coverage, head over to SB Nation's NHL hub.