Columbus Blue Jackets at Chicago Blackhawks
8:30PM Eastern
TV: WGN, Fox Sports OH, NBC Sports
As many of my readers know, I have unique visibility into the Columbus hockey media market, as well as Chicago's.
This morning, as both teams prepare to faceoff tonight at the United Center, it's fair to say fans of both teams feel their GM pulled off a steal in the late June trade that sent Brandon Saad back to Chicago for Artemi Panarin..
My take, having seen (on tv and in person) both teams in the preseason and on their respective opening nights, today I'd say Stan Bowman got the better of the deal. But that's today. Ask me again in a year,and I might have a different take after events unfold between now and then.
Artemi Panarin is a nice player, and as I suggested here on the message board a week or two before the actual trade, i could see Jarmo Kekalainen salivating at the thought of Alexander Wennberg setting up Panarin. and then that happened.
Conversely, Joel Quenneville knows how to use Brandon Saad—and that is to let him use his speed to help tilt the ice toward the Hawks' offensive zone. Both theories seem to be working thus far. And as I said when the trade went down, it was value for value, but the difference in the deal may end up being the secondary pieces, goalie Anton Forsberg and LW Tyler Motte. Motte may well eventually pan out, but right now, he's in the AHL and Forsberg looked every bit an NHL "1B" goaltender in the preseason. And there he is.
Both are good teams, and both kicked off their season with resounding home wins. The Jackets come into the UC the day after a big home game—the same slog the Penguins had on Thursday. Regardless, this should be a very good, high-paced game.
My broad take on the Hawks' 10-1 opening night blowout was the Penguins got so overrun in the first period, they just never found their footing and back to back fatigue set in early. In all likelihood, Sergei Bobrovsky won't pull an Antti Niemi, and CBJ will prove a tougher solve tonight.
I'll have a recap tomorrow.
JJ
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
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