BOOM and Gloom

Welcome back to CBJ hockey for the 2025-2026 season!  This is my season preview episode.  I'll give you my thoughts about the Blue Jackets roster as currently constructed as well as my playoff prediction.  Enjoy!

Summer is over, hockey is back, so therefore so am I.  In this episode I will drop my thoughts about everything Blue Jackets that has occurred between July 1st and now.  Included: 1. Provorov signing 2. Chinakhov's trade request 3. Ivan Fedotov 4. CBJ current cap situation and upcoming free agents 5. Training camp expectations 6. A few other things, maybe even about pizza

A rare summer episode of Boom and Gloom!  I have a very pessimistic take on the start of the offseason for the Blue Jackets.  I was hoping for a better trade and different draft decisions.  In this episode I will explain why I am currently frustrated with Blue Jackets General Manager Don Waddell.  

Episode 38: The Blue Jackets 2024-2025 season is over.  They were a hair away from making the playoffs.  In this episode I'll talk about what we saw this season and what we can expect in the future.  Also: - The 3 best and 3 worst decisions Don Waddell made this season. - The 3 best and 3 worst decisions Dean Evason made this season. - The 3 things we learned from watching the Blue Jackets this season. Hope you enjoy.  See you again this summer.

Episode 37:  Jackets are still, somehow, alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race.  In this episode I'll discuss: 1. The Jackets current situation (no regulation wins in 9 straight). 2. What needs to be done to sneak into the playoffs. 3. The future of the Jackets' forwards, defense, and goaltenders. 4. An aspect of the Blue Jackets' system I have noticed. 5. My journey to get a Stadium Series jersey. ...and more!  

Yes, this episode is entitled "Pain."  Because that is often what it feels like to be a Blue Jackets fan.  It has certainly been a frustrating month for the Blue Jackets and their fans.  In this episode I'll talk about their recent downfall, what has caused it, and we can learn about the Blue Jackets' future because of it.  It is amazing how much things have changed in just a few weeks.  Fair warning: I usually try to be bubbly and upbeat in my podcasts... I won't come across that way in this episode as I discuss the current frustrating situation of my favorite hockey team.  

Episode 35.  My thoughts on the 2025 trade deadline.  In this episode I will talk about what the Blue Jackets did and did not do at the 2025 trade deadline.  I'll explain how I was disappointed but then, thanks to a certain Reddit post, my tune changed.      

Episode 34: In this episode I talk about, what else...the Stadium Series game that took place on March 1st at Ohio Stadium.  It was a hockey experience unlike any other in my life.  So I'll tell you all about the boom and gloom associated with that and then move on to some other Jackets notes.  Enjoy!

Are we a wagon?  Exciting times for Blue Jackets fans.  Lots to be excited about.  In this episode I will discuss: 1. Do we finally have average goaltending?  2. What will the lineup look like when Jenner, Monahan, and Chinakhov return from injury? 3. After the Christiansen extension, what will the Jackets' defense look like next season?  Who stays?  Who goes? 4. The Utah Hockey Club is down to three choice on which fans are voting.  I explain what my vote would be.

Despite all the adversity.  Despite all the tragedy.  With new players, new coaches, and a new general manager...the Blue Jackets are still hanging in there.  They are in the thick of the playoff race at the time of recording this episode.  They continue to surprise and continue to impress. In this episode I give my thoughts about what I believe the Jackets do at the trade deadline this year.  I also give my predictions for what the Blue Jackets' defense will look like NEXT season.  I make some bold predictions.  And I discuss the newly released Stadium Series jersey!     UPDATE: Literally less than an hour after publishing this, Jake Christianson signed an extension.  That may totally screw up my predictions I stated in this episode!  

The Jackets are hovering around .500.  They are playing meaningful games in January.  While I am happy with this improved version of the Columbus Blue Jackets, I find myself thinking they could be even better.  In this episode I talk about: 1. Goaltending woes 2. Damon Severson's inconsistency and the future of the Jackets' defense 3. Patrik Laine's comments

Episode 30: In this episode I'll talk about the current Blue Jackets' goaltending situation.  Jet Greaves was called up, raising lots of questions about the Jackets' near future in net!    

Episode 29.  All right, maybe I spoke too soon last episode when the Jackets were mired in a slump.  But they have emerged and have cranked out 3 straight wins for the first time since 2022.  It has seemed since I started this podcast I have talked mostly about the "gloom" and not enough about the "boom."  There just hadn't been much reason to do so.  But I am pleased to say that in this episode I have plenty of positive things to say.  This season has been very entertaining so far!  I'll talk about the Jackets' recent "success,"  the return and emergence of Kent Johnson, and the status of prospect Cayden Lindstrom...amongst other things.  

When the Jackets started the season with moderate success, I (along with other fans) said that something felt different about this team.  New coach, new GM, new system, new direction.  But now, mired in a 4-game losing streak, it kind of feels like the Blue Jackets of old.  In this episode I'll talk about this feeling as well as some observations and notes about our beloved CBJ.  

Warning: I recorded this while recovering from strep throat.  I sound a little groggy!  We are 6 games into the 2024-2025 Blue Jackets season and the injuries have hit hard...again.  In this episode, I talk about the injuries and why I the only word I can think of to describe the Blue Jackets' penchant for bad luck is "unfair."  I'll talk about some of the things that have impressed me so far this season as well as some of things that haven't.  

The 2024-2025 season is upon us!  It has been an interesting summer to say the least.  Glad Blue Jackets hockey is back.  In this episode I'll discuss the current CBJ roster and what I expect this season.  

Another rare summer episode!  I wanted to record and post this episode yesterday but Spectrum had to fix an Internet outage in my neighborhood.  No Internet all evening.  Patrik Laine was traded to the Montreal Canadiens along with a second round pick for Jordan Harris.  I'll talk about why I think this is a significant win for the franchise.  

After waiting...and waiting...and waiting for the Jackets to hire a new coach, they have finally done so which means I can finally publish another episode.  Lots of nuggets to discuss from the past three weeks... - Jackets hire Dean Evason as head coach *Note: I had no idea he had coached Minnesota for so long.  So in this episode I reference him being their coach for a very short amount of time.  Sorry for the inaccuracy! - NWA needs repairs and upgrades -Boqvist signs with Florida -Jack Johnson is back - Jackets projected to only be 7 points better than last season and finish with the 3rd worst record -Marchenko still not signed -Pascal Vincent gets AHL head coaching gig

Lots of CBJ news to talk about in this summer episode: -Draft results -Signing of Sean Monahan -Search for a head coach continues -Goodbye to some favorite Blue Jackets -Welcome Steve Mears -2024-2025 schedule -Plus some commentary on Utah/Arizona

Episode 22. A bunch of CBJ and non CBJ Topics on the agenda today: 1. Utah's jersey release 2. Utah's possible names 3. The firing of Pascal Vincent 4. Candidates for head coach 5. The looming trade of Patrik Laine 6. Fantilli's new jersey number 7. The Jacket's first round pick in this year's entry draft