The Dispatch hockey writers talk about the new Blue Jackets coach and other CBJ and playoff news.

In the seven-game preliminary round, Johnson had 3-1-4, 16 penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating. His 24:20 average ice time is tops on the U.S. Meanwhile, Atkinson has 1-2-3 and a plus-3 rating. He had four PIMs.

Stats for other CBJ players in the Worlds:

Marc Methot, D, Canada: Has no goals, 2 assists, 25 penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating in six games. He's averaged 15:24 in ice time after missing the first game of the tournament with a groin injury.

Nikita Nikitin, D, Russia: Has no goals, one assist and a plus-2 rating. He's averaged 16:47 in ice time.

Thomas Larkin, D, Italy: Had no goals, one assist, four PIMs and minus-4 rating. He's averaged 16:23.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

The feeling-out process of coach Todd Richards ended this afternoon in feel-good fashion in Nationwide Arena, where the Blue Jackets officially removed the ‘interim’ tag from Richards’ title during a press conference on the arena concourse.

Richards said he it was a “very happy, proud and exciting” moment for him. The former Minnesota Wild coach is ready to begin his second stint as an NHL head coach. He agreed to a two-year contract that runs through the 2013-14 season.
 
“I’ve compared the interim tag to being a substitute teacher,” Richards said. “You’re kind of holding down the fort that day, and sometimes the children of the class will try to take some liberties. Credit to the players, I don’t think they tried to take liberties. But there is great excitement knowing that this is my team now.”
 
The Blue Jackets did not formally interview any external candidates. General manager Scott Howson said he was contacted by “8-10” coaches who expressed an interest in the position. The club considered candidates currently available and those expected to soon be available and decided there was no need to pursue any external candidates.

His two-year run in St. Paul was steeped in mediocrity, however. The Wild went 77-71-16 and missed the playoffs both seasons. Including his half-season with the Blue Jackets, Richards’ NHL coaching record is 95-92-18.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

After a lackluster performance vs. Kazakhstan late last week, the United States rebounded with perhaps its most impressive performance of the IIHF World Championships, riding five different goal-scorers to a 5-0 win today over Finland.

Blue Jackets right winger Cam Atkinson had two assists for the U.S., while Max Pacioretty, Bobby Ryan, Justin Faulk, Chris Butler and Kyle Palmieri each had goals. Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson had a plus-2 rating and played a team-high 23:48.

The win allowed the U.S., which needed overtime on Friday to beat Kazakhstan, to leapfrog Finland into second place on their side of the bracket behind Canada (5-0-1),

The United States, now 5-1 (13 points), plays Switerzland on Tuesday, their final match in preliminary play. The medal round begins on Thursday.

Side dishes:

-- Happy Mother's Day.

-- Blue Jackets defenseman Nikita Nikitin logged 19:55 for Russia today in a 2-0 win over Czech Republic. The Russians lead their side of the tournament with a 6-0 record, allowing only eight goals in the six games.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

Blue Jackets right winger Cam Atkinson broke through with his first goal of the World Championships today in Finland, scoring for Team USA early in the first period of an eventual 5-3 win over Belarus.

Atkinson's goal made it 2-0 only six minutes into the game. His line also was on the ice when Team USA took a 1-0 lead only 99 seconds into the game, thanks to a goal by Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader. It was a well-timed goal for Atkinson, who had a rough third period in a 3-2 loss to Slovakia earlier in the week. He finished today with two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in 8:38 of ice time.

His Blue Jackets teammate, defenseman Jack Johnson, had an assist and a plus-2 rating in 20:51 of ice time. He piled up 14 minutes in penalties, 10 of which came in the first period for a hit targeting the head/neck area.

The U.S. (3-1) plays Kazakhstan on Friday before a rousing match with host Finland on Sunday.

Side dishes:

-- Former Blue Jackets defenseman Kris Russell, now playing for the St. Louis Blues, joined Team Canada today, a few days after the Blues were bounced from the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

-- Blue Jackets defenseman Nikita Nikitin played only 12:13 and had no stat line in Russia's 3-1 win over Denmark today.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

The Dispatch reported this morning that Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman has informed NBA commissioner David Stern of his wishes to bring an NBA franchise to the city, either by relocation or expansion. The franchise would play in Nationwide Arena, along with the Blue Jackets.

Let's be clear: very few people think an NBA franchise will land in Columbus, for myriad reasons. Expansion will not happen, Stern has said. That leaves relocation, and only one franchise -- Sacramento -- seems on the verge of moving. The strong belief by many in NBA circles is that the Kings will land in Seattle, which has an investor ready to build a building and a strong desire to re-enter the league that once included SuperSonics.

So what's the mayor thinking? Only he truly knows, but there is much to consider:

-- Coleman dreams big. We try not to dabble in politics on this blog, so this is neither an endorsement nor a complaint of his terms in office. But most agree that Coleman is a visionary, that he deserves credit for elevating Columbus' status around the country and making the downtown a more vibrant, liveable space. When he's done with one lofty aspiration -- Scioto Mile, Columbus Commons, making the Scioto River flow again -- he moves on to another. The man now wants a pro basketball team.

-- Would Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert ever allow an NBA franchise to land so close to Cleveland? Not a chance, and you can put that in 23-point, Comic Sans-font type. It's likely the NBA's competition boundaries would prevent this from even being an issue.

-- Told Gilbert took to the radio today in Cleveland and, at one point, joked that he was seeking an NHL franchise for Cleveland.

-- Would residents of Columbus prefer an NBA team or the current NHL club? That's a fairer question than many on this blog would care to believe, and I honestly don't know what the results would be. The Blue Jackets' struggles have taken a toll on the fan base. Many of the Jackets' hardcore fans remain in place (thanks for reading, by the way), but others have lost interest and drifted away. The novelty fans are long gone. It's not a failure of fans in Columbus, it's a failure of the club. And it's a reality everywhere. Pro sports teams MUST win to draw fans these days. They ask for a huge commitment, both in time and money. Once they stop entertaining, once they fail to put a competent product on the ice, it's easy for fans to find another hobby.

-- It's likely the NBA franchise would experience a one- or two-year honeymoon, just as the Blue Jackets did. But, outside of Chicago, take a look at the NBA's attendance figures for clubs in the Midwest. Some farmer's markets draw bigger crowds.

-- If anybody thought the Blue Jackets' day-to-day operations would remain status quo after the sale of the building, this is a wake-up call. The Blue Jackets gave up control of the building when they got the deal they wanted, with public assistance being used to rework their lease agreement. Now the city/county own the building, and they can invite whomever they want for dinner. They might even ask them to stay a while. It's not just the Blue Jackets' house anymore. Further, the general sense that the city is lucky to have a major-league team is now a bygone sentiment. The prevailing sentiment now is that the Blue Jackets are lucky to call Columbus home.

-- Furthering the previous point ... it only behooves the city and the county if their arena is a busier space. The NHL gives them 45 nights including the preseason. On those nights, the bars and restaurants thrive, especially on the weekends. On the other nights, not so much. The Triple-A Clippers help in the summer, but the arrival of an NBA team would create a schedule from October to April (and beyond, for playoffs) where the Arena District has a game -- either hoops or pucks -- about four nights per week on average. Currently, eight other arenas in North America are home to both NBA and NHL franchises. It can work. It must be noted, though, that all eight of them are cities with bigger metro populations than Columbus.

-- One can safely assume that Coleman -- like may fans -- is more than a little dismayed at how long its taken the Blue Jackets to become a consistently legitimate NHL franchise. Clearly, he wants an NBA team here, and if the short-term benefit is a stoking to the Blue Jackets' sense of urgency, so be it.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

After a day of rest on Sunday, the United States returned to action today in the IIHF World Championships in Finland. Team USA looked slumbery, especially early, trailing the entire game an losing 4-2 to Slovakia.

Blue Jackets winger Cam Atkinson was in the middle of the action, though not always in the best way. With the U.S. trailing 3-2, he took a four-minute highsticking minor on Slovakia's Zdeno Chara. Yes, the 5-6 Atkinson highsticked the 6-8 Chara.

The United States kill that penalty, then went on its own power play when Atkinson drew a tripping penalty midway through the period. With 5:00 to play, Atkinson had his best scoring chance so far in the tournament, getting a clean look at Slovakia goaltender Jan Laco. Atkinson pulled the puck back to his backhand and tried to flip it past Laco. But Laco did not bite on the fake, managing to brush the puck wide with his right pad.

The lead remained 3-2. With less than a minute to play, Atkinson coughed up the puck under pressure in the neutral zone, leading to an empty-net goal by Slovakia's Miroslav Satan to push the lead to 4-2.

Atkinson finished with two shots on goal and a minus-1 rating in 12:15 of ice time.

Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson had one shot, a minus-2 rating and 26:36 of ice time.

The United States (2-1) plays Belarus on Thursday at 9:15 a.m. (NBCSportsNetwork)

Side dishes:

-- Blue Jackets defenseman Marc Methot had one assist, two shots on goal and 16:50 of ice time in Canada's 7-2 win over France. Canada is 3-0 heading into Wednesday's games vs. Switzerland.

-- On Sunday, Blue Jackets defenseman Nikita Nikitin had two shots, a plus-1 rating, two PIMs and 19:55 of ice time in Russia's 4-2 win over Norway. Also that day, Blue Jackets prospect defenseman Thomas Larkin played 14:30 in a 4-3 win over Denmark.

-- Former Blue Jackets defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen is captain of Norge, by the way.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson scored at 1:47 of overtime, his second goal of the game, to lead the United States to a rare victory over Canada in the World Championships today in Helsinki, Finland.

"We had the lead three times and couldn't hold it," Johnson said. "That was kind of frustrating, but I think we deserved to win this game. I think we were the better team for the majority of the game,

"This is a good starting point. We have a lot of first-year players who are trying to leave their mark in this tournament, and that's a recipe for success. It's a great win, but we're probably going to have to face them again (here) to get the medal we want."

That would be gold, of course.

Johnson had two goals -- giving him three for the tournament -- and finished with a club-high 25:44. He played 9:59 in the second period.

Of his winning goal, he said he was simply trying to get the puck down low, where teammate Bobby Ryan had pitched a tent in the vacinity of Canada goaltender Cam Ward.

"I walked the puck toward the middle of the ice, and I kept looking over to (teammate Paul) Stastny, trying to get their high penalty killer to commit and give me a path to the net," Johnson said. "It was a seeing-eye puck all they way. I was trying to get the puck to (Ryan) off a rebound, but instead it went right through (Ward's) pads. That's OK, though, we'll take it,."

It marked only the fourth time in 42 World Championship meetings that the United States has beaten Canada. The U.S., which next plays on Monday, is 2-0 after beating France 7-2 on Friday. Team USA plays Slovakia on Monday.

Around the World:

-- RW Cam Atkinson played 11:52 and had a minus-1 rating in Saturday's game for the USA.

-- D Marc Methot played 12:33 and one shot for Canada. Methot, who missed Friday's opener for Canada with a groin injury, had his ice time limited to keep the injury from worsening. Canada plays France on Monday.

-- D Nikita Nikitin had three shots, a minus-1 rating and 20:15 of ice time in a 5-2 win over Latvia.

-- D Thomas Larkin and Italy are dark today. They play Denmark on Sunday.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

The 2012 World Championships got underway this morning, the puck dropping at 5:15 a.m. eastern on two games. Don't know about you, but having a live coffee game to devour between sips of coffee is pretty sweet.

The USA earned an easy 7-2 win over France. Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson, the U.S. captain, had a goal, took two shots and had an even rating. He played 22:52, which must have seemed like a morning skate compared to the ice time he logged down the stretch in Columbus. Me thinks U.S. coach Scott Gordon is saving Johnson and others for Saturday high-noon showdown with Canada.

Blue Jackets winger Cam Atkinson, making his Worlds debut, had one shot on goal and drew 13 minutes, 24 seconds of ice time.

Canada beat Slovakia 3-2 without the services of Blue Jackets defenseman Marc Methot, who's nursing a lower-body injury. It's likely Methot will dress for Canada against the U.S. on Saturday.

Blue Jackets prospect defenseman Thomas Larkin, playing for Italy, had one shot on goal and played 16:40 in a 3-0 loss to Germany.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson has been named captain of Team USA in the IIHF World Championship, which gets underway on Friday in Finland.

This tournament will mark the 13th time Johnson has played in an international tournament for Team USA. He also was captain of the 2010 World Championship club.

"I'm always careful how I characterize guys," said Team USA director of hockey operations Jim Johannson. "But he has the same DNA of (former NHL and international star) Chis Chelios. 'There's a hockey game? Great. I'm in.' That's literally how he approaches it.

"For us, and for what we do putting the team together, he's a guy who always answers the call."

Johnson will be playing in his fifth World Championship -- '07, '09, '10, '11 and this year. In 2010, he was the only Team USA player -- and one of a handful of players from the world's so-called hockey powers -- to play in both the Olympics in Vancouver and the World Championships in Germany.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

If you've grown tired of watching former Blue Jackets' excel for other clubs in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the IIHF World Championships might come to your emotional rescue.

Jack Johnson and Cam Atkinson (Team USA), Marc Methot (Team Canada) and Nikita Nikitin (Team Russia) will enjoy a second season, beginning Thursday in Finland. The championship game is set for May 20.

Lots of players find lots of excuses to avoid this tournament. The travel isn't easy. Nor is gearing the engine back up following an 82-game season and a one-month lull. In Europe, this tournament is second only to the Olympics, but it's an afterthought in North America because the Stanley Cup playoffs are in full bloom.

Why go if you're a player?

"Well, for one, I want to win the tournament," Johnson said. "It's a huge tournament. It might not be big in the States, but to all of us who play hockey, it's a big-time tournament.

"The other reason is it's a chance to play for your country. I will always say yes to that, if it's humanly possible for me to play. Every time I get asked to represent the United States, I say yes, because it could be my last time. I don't want to turn it down. I don't have children or other commitments like some of the other guys, but as long as I'm healthy, I'll do it."

Atkinson was, to many, a surprise choice by Team USA. The NHL rookie said he was thrilled when, with about two weeks left in the season, he started to hear whispers that he might get an invite.

"I tried not to think about it, and I tried to just finish strong, to do everything I could to make it happen," Atkinson said. "When I got that call (from USA director of hockey operations Jim Johannson) the day after the season ended, I was so excited.

"It's a chance to keep playing. It's a chance to become a better player. But, like everybody says, the biggest thing is it's a chance to put on your country's sweater and represent it. That's an honor."

This isn't Atkinson first taste of international play. He played in the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament for Under-18s before heading off for a three-year run at Boston College.

Methot is playing for Team Canada for a second straight year. Last year was especially meaningful for Methot. It was his first big shot to play for his country on the world stage, and it revealed his status as an up-and-coming player in a hockey-mad country.

This opportunity is not without meaning, either. Methot missed the final two months of the season after suffering a broken jaw. He lost a ton of weight going a month without solid food, only pureed foodstuffs. Yum.

Now he has a chance to play again before the hockey world closes the books on 2012.

"It's an honor to play for Canada, absolutely," Methot said. "But for me, it's a chance to get back into games again. I'll need those two exhibition games before the tournament starts probably more than the other guys. But it's great. The last thing I wanted to do is show up at training camp (next fall) without having played a game for six months. That's too long a break. This will help soften the blow a little bit."

We'll have more on the Worlds in The Dispatch later this week.

Side dishes:

-- Mentioned in this spot on Saturday how the Blue Jackets signed center Michael Chaput to a three-year, entry-level contract. Failed to mention that he'll play in the Memorial Cup, as his junior club -- Shawinigan -- is the host city. The Memorial Cup is the four-team tournament to decide the champion of the Canadian Hockey League, the governing body of the Ontario, Western and Quebec Major Junior hockey leagues. The winners of each of those leagues make the final field, along with the host city. Often, the host city isn't the hostest with the mostest. In this case, though, Shawinigan is pretty good. The Cataractes (look up that logo) were 45-16-3-4 (97 points) in the Q this year, trailing only Saint John.

-- Beginning this week, Puck-rakers will go player-by-player on the Blue Jackets roster and breakdown their season -- the good, the bad, the ugly, the future, etc. -- and provide player grades. We stole this idea from the Denver Post's Adrian Dater, who became weakened one night over a pot roast sandwich at the TIp Top. Looking forward to hearing what grades you loyal Puck-rakers readers would give the players. We'll keep a pretty good flow of it.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

Twitter: @aportzline

The Blue Jackets have agreed to terms with center Michael Chaput on a three-year entry-level deal.

Chaput, who turned 20 earlier this month, had an impressive minor career with Lewiston and Shawinigan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. This season, playing 57 games for Shawinigan, he had 21 goals, 42 assists and a plus-39 rating. The assists, points (63) and plus-minus are all career highs. He also had 4-8-12 in 11 playoff games.

The Blue Jackets acquired Chaput from Philadelphia on Feb. 28, 2011, along with Greg Moore, for winger/roughhouser Tom Sestito. Chaput was a third-round pick (No. 89 overall) of the Flyers in the 2010 draft.

Had Chaput not signed by June 1, he would have gone back into the pool of draftable players for this year's entry draft.

The Blue Jackets have yet to sign winger Petr Straka, defensemen Brandon Archibald and Austin Madaisky, and goaltender Mathieu Corbeil from the 2010 draft, and it's unclear if they want to sign any of them. Corbeil, playing for Saint John, was named goaltender of the year for the QMJHL.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

The Blue Jackets unveiled the 2013 NHL All-Star Game logo on Friday, but only after a long line of dignitaries -- including NHL commissioner Gary Bettman -- addressed a crowd of several hundred on the plaza outside Nationwide Arena. Jackets TV play-by-play voice Jeff Rimer, a dignitary in his own right, was the dapper host for the occassion. The cannon was fired three times as the logo was unfurled.

The All-Star Game is set for Jan. 27, 2013. Will it include a Blue Jacket?

Whenever Bettman comes to town, it's news. He met with reporters after the event and handled a flurry of questions from across the spectrum of the sport. A sampling:

On the Blue Jackets poor luck in the NHL draft lottery ...

"Too much can be made of luck, or not having luck. Ultimately, it comes down to whom you select and how you develop your talent."

On the new scoreboard coming to Nationwide Arena ...

On the job NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan has done this season ...

"He’s done an extraordinarily good job under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Part of what he’s attempted to do is change the culture of the game as it relates to head hits, and he’s done a remarkable job taking us a long way in that regard."

On the wild unpredictability of the Stanley Cup playoffs first round ...

"We’ve had a first round with 16 overtime games out of 48. What it really boils down to, and we’ve talked about this for years, but not only do we have the greatest competitive balance we’ve had in years, but it’s probably the best competitive balance in the sports world."

On the Nationwide Arena cannon that appeared to startle him and others at Friday's logo unveiling ...

"I love the cannon. Not as much as I did a few minutes ago (feigns a loss of hearing in his right ear), but I do love the cannon. It's an identifiable icon. It's a tradition here now. Every team needs traditions."

Side dishes:

-- Blue Jackets majority owner John P. McConnell addressed the crowd before Bettman. While Bettman got a smattering of boos among the cheers -- at this point, such a welcome for the commish is almost cliche -- McConnell got only cheers. As he took the mic, McConnell said: "That's probably a better reception than I deserve." He did not want to speak with reporters after the event.

-- Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson met with interim coach Todd Richards earlier this week, but no determination has been made regarding his future with the club. Many must be wondering: what is Howson waiting for? The better question is, who is he waiting for? There are whispers around the league that the coaching carousel may soon churn into high gear. Craig MacTavish is a name to keep in mind, not just for the Blue Jackets but for a handful of destination. Could be an interesting few weeks here as club's begin getting their house in order heading into the off-season.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

The 2013 NHL All-Star game logo was unveiled today at an event outside Nationwide Arena.

 The Blue Jackets will host next year's all-star game in January.

Nationwide Arena's new tenants aren't wasting much time making upgrades to the 12-year-old building, and Blue Jackets fans will be the main benefactor.

The Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority is accepting bids for a new scoreboard in Nationwide, part of a $5.5 million upgrade that should be in place before the start of the 2012-13 season. At the latest, it will be ready to go by the time the Blue Jackets host the NHL All-Star Game in January.

The story first was reported by Columbus Business First.

Bill Jennison, executive director of the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, which took over management of the venue last month after the county and city of Columbus purchased it in part with promised casino revenue, said the board will be bigger and better than the outdated one fans have lived with since the Jackets began play in 2000.

“It’s the same difference between the TV you had in your home 10 years ago and the high-definition screens of today,” he said. “It will blow away what’s there now.”

It's unclear if the new scoreboard was a demand made by the NHL before it awarded the gamy to Columbus. Last season, when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman came to Columbus after the All-Star Game announcement was made, he said no implicit agreements existed, but that upgrades to the building would be made in advance of the game, as per usual.

However, it marks the second straight year an NHL club has added a scoreboard in advance of the All-Star Game. The Ottawa Senators welcomed a new behemoth at Scotiabank Place in the weeks before it hosted the 2012 game.

The Blue Jackets new scoreboard is expected to be similar to the one installed in Ottawa. It will not be as audacious as the scoreboards in Chicago, Montreal, Tampa Bay and Vancouver, however.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: aportzline

Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson has been back in Los Angeles for a couple of weeks now, soaking up the sun in his Manhattan Beach home. He plans to keep the place -- well, yeah! -- and spend a month or so near the Pacific Ocean after every NHL season, remaining a temporary resident of California.

His divorce from the Los Angeles Kings, though, is final.

While chatting with Johnson tonight before he leaves to play for Team USA in the World Championships, I asked him if it was easy or difficult to watch his former club excel in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Kings took out top-seeded Vancouver in the first round and will face the St. Louis Blues in the second round later this week.

"It's funny," Johnson said. "I've been asked that by a few people. I don't feel any emotional connection to the Kings at all. To me, it's just another hockey game. I've completely turned the page like that. If I'm out and I happen to see it on TV, it's really not a big deal.

"To be honest with you, I could care less if they win or lose. Some guys on that team I played with, I'll always consider friends. But whether they win or not, it means nothing to me."

Johnson came to the Blue Jackets, along with a conditional first round draft pick, in the Feb. 23 trade that sent center Jeff Carter to the Kings.

Asked if such a disconnect with his former club surprised him, Johnson said: "Yes, and no. It tells me I’m happy where I am. That’s all I need to know.

"I don't have any animosity. If I had a chance, I'd probably thank them for trading me, because I feel like I'm in a better spot now. I'm where I belong."

"It's just making sure we're having good summers, staying in touch," Johnson said. "More than anything, we're making sure everybody's in tip-top shape and ready to go when training camp starts."

Johnson and right winger Cam Atkinson will meet with other Team USA members in Newark, N.J., on Saturday, then fly to Stockholm, Sweden, for a weeklong training camp in advance of the World Championships. This year's tournament runs May 4-20 in Finland.

When he returns from the Worlds, Johnson will spend most of his summer in his native Michigan, but he'll also make a few trips to Columbus. One of the trips will be to find a permanent home in Columbus, he said, something he didn't have time to settle on after he arrived late in the season.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

The Blue Jackets are facing a summer of big decisions as they try to climb the ladder of NHL respectability. The first mammoth decision to be made -- ahead of where to trade Rich Nash, how to get a goaltender, whom to take with the No. 2 overall pick -- will likely be deciding on a coach.

Todd Richards still holds the interim tag and still has office space near the dressing room in Nationwide Arena. But Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson has not yet decided if Richards will get the full-time gig, or if there will be a ninth head coach as the Blue Jackets head into their 12th season. (Here's a story published in today's editions of The Dispatch: http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/content/stories/2012/04/22/is-richards-right-man-for-future.html )

Here's the boiled-down dilemma that Howson mulled in the back of his mind late last week as Tyler Wright, director of amateur scouting and amateur European tour guide, motored himself, Howson and senior adviser Craig Patrick through the small villages of the Czech Republic on their way to the Under-18 World Championships:

Clearly, Richards deserves some credit for the coaching job he did in the final 41 games of the season. The Blue Jackets still weren't good enough in the second half of the season -- they went 18-21-2 under Richards after an 11-25-5 start under previous coach Scott Arniel -- but Richards deserves some credit for lifting a season out of the depths of despair and creating an atmosphere in which the games were treated by the players as if they had some meaning. (If they'd played like that in the first 41 ... )

The finish under Richards only matters to a point, though. What Howson must consider is if Richards is the right guy for what lies ahead. The Blue Jackets have failed miserably when it comes to building a team and creating a winning culture. They have achieved the most distasteful trait in pro sports, which is that their sum is lesser than their parts. It has been like that for more than a few seasons now. The Jackets need a Krakatoa-like event to change their world.

Richards gets full marks for running the clean-up crew. But can he build? This is Howson's dilemma.

-- Dispatch columnist Michael Arace has penned a piece of Monday's sheet about all the former Blue Jackets taking part, in one way or another, in the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's always been a running Spring-time theme for Blue Jackets fans, but it's abundant this season.

-- Hitchcock can help his former franchise heading into the Blues' second-round matchup with the LA Kings, who knocked off No. 1 seed Vancouver. The Kings' first-round draft pick is currently No. 17. If they advance to the conference finals with a win over the Blues, the pick will fall to the Nos. 27-30 range depending on how the Final Four plays out. The Blue Jackets, who can take the Kings' first-round pick either this season or next season, would dearly love for it to remain at No. 17. Nothing guaranteed, but if the pick tumbles into the high 20s, there's a very good chance the Blue Jackets pass on it this season and bank on a much better pick next summer. However, the decision won't be known until June 22, when the first round of the draft takes place. The Blue Jackets do not need to inform the Kings of their desires with the pick until two picks before the Kings would be on the clock.

-- The 2013 NHL All-Star Game logo will be revealed on Friday at Nationwide Arena. Hearing Boomer is prominent.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

Is it too early to talk about the 2012-13 Blue Jackets' schedule? For many fans, we're guessing, the 2011-12 campaign can't fade in the rear view mirror quick enough.

Two exhibition dates have been revealed for next fall, and both of them have the Blue Jackets heading off to new locales.

On Sept. 26, the Blue Jackets will play the Washington Capitals in Baltimore's 1st Mariner Arena, a game dubbed the Baltimore Hockey Classic. Puck drops at 7 p.m. Last year, the Capitals hosted the Nashville Predators in the BHC, a game memorable for almost being canceled for poor ice conditions.

On Oct. 3, the Blue Jackets will play the Toronto Maple Leafs in Stirling-Rawdon, Ontario, a town of 4,700 people selected to be this year's Kraft Hockeytown. There's a very strong chance this is final exhibition game before the regular season for both clubs, so the rosters should be pretty good.

The full exhibition schedule will be released later this summer.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

Former Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel isn't double-dipping, but he's working for the Vancouver Canucks during the Stanley Cup playoffs, even though he's still under contract with the Jackets.

Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson confirmed this morning from the Czech Republic that he gave permission recently to Vancouver GM Mike Gillis to bring Arniel on board as an "advance" scout during the playoffs. Arniel has been making the tour of Western Conference playoff teams, in the event that the Canucks come back from 3-1 down against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.

"I think it's great that he's working and back with people and an organization he knows," Howson said.

Arniel, signed to a three-year contract before the 2010-11 season, is under contract with the Blue Jackets through the 2012-13 season. He is not being paid by the Canucks, only reimbursed for his travel expenses.

The Blue Jackets fired Arniel in the wee hours of Jan. 9 with the club off to an 11-25-5 start.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

The Blue Jackets could be looking for head coaches at the top two levels of the organization this off-season.

Rob Riley, 57, was fired today as coach of the Springfield Falcons, the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate. He was 71-74-5-6 in two seasons with the Falcons, failing to reach the AHL playoffs in either season.

Riley was not immediately available for comment.

The Falcons were beset by injuries at the NHL level this season. They used seven different goaltenders, relying on 39-year-old veteran Manny Legace to carry much of the load. The Falcons finished five points out of the last playoff spot in the AHL's Eastern Conference, suffering their last breath before the weekend's game were finished.

It marked the fourth straight year the Blue Jackets' top affiliate has missed the playoffs.

RIley was hired on Aug. 3, 2010. He spent 18 years as coach of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point and was a part-time scout of the Blue Jackets when he was promoted. It was his first taste of coaching pro hockey, and his top assistant, Brad Larsen, was a first-time coach, too. The Blue Jackets added another first-time assistant, Nolan Pratt, to work on the staff this season.

So, add "Hire AHL Coach" to the off-season to-do list of GM Scott Howson and assistant GM Chris MacFarland.

The Blue Jackets have yet to indicate their plans for interim coach Todd Richards, opting to see what happens (re: who's available) in the early rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline

The Blue Jackets off-season is a little more than a week old. It will be a tumultuous summer for the boys in capital blue, but right now all is quiet ... at the surface. But just below the surface is the low rumble of activity.

-- One of the first-round (so far) shockers in the Stanley Cup playoffs is the Los Angeles Kings' 3-0 lead over Vancouver. That's an No. 8 seed on the verge of sweeping the No. 1 Canucks, who represented the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final last season. This is bad news for the Canucks, of course, but it could also lead to horrible news for the Blue Jackets. If the Kings advance to the conference finals -- and if goaltender Jonathan Quick keeps playing like this, that cannot be ruled out -- the entry draft order could be dramatically altered. The Blue Jackets, per the Jeff Carter for Jack Johnson trade, have the right to take Los Angeles' first-round pick either this year or next year. As of today, the Kings pick would be No. 17. But if the Kings advance to the NHL's Final Four, they'd pick in the 27-30 range. As reported in The Dispatch, the Blue Jackets would be highly likely to trade that No. 17 pick, perhaps for a much-needed goaltender. But drafting that low in the first round would, obviously, negatively affect the possible return on such a trade. In fact, it would increases the likelihood that the Blue Jackets opt to take the Kings' first-round pick in 2013. We're getting a few weeks (Kings, playoff) and two months (draft floor action) ahead of ourselves. Just something to keep in mind while you're plowing through root beer and Cheetos. Crunchy, of course,

-- GM Scott Howson and amateur scouting director Tyler Wright will depart later today for the Czech Republic, where the Under-18 World Championships are playing out in Brno, Znojmo and Breclav, Czech Republic. There are five or six players with first-round talent said to be participating in the tournament. Safe travels and good scouting, boys.

-- Told that no decision on interim coach Todd Richards is forthcoming for at least a week. Howson, it seems, is waiting to see what happens after the early rounds of the playoffs, if a candidate of interest might become available. The debate internally can't be as simple as "did Richards do a good job considering the circumstances?" Of course he did. The Blue Jackets went 18-21-2 under Richards after he took over for Scott Arniel on Jan. 9. The question, though, must be ... is Richards the right guy for what lies ahead? Is he the right guy to help change the losing culture that has beset this franchise? He oversaw a pretty respectable salvage operation. But is he the best guy to build something special? Those are questions the Blue Jackets must consider.

-- Many have asked for a list of former Blue Jackets playing in the playoffs. Yes, it's come to this. Here goes:

Chicago: Sami Lepisto, D.

Florida: Scottie Upshall, RW.

Los Angeles: Jeff Carter, C.

NY Rangers: Anton Stralman, D, Mike Rupp, RW.

Ottawa: Zenon Konopka, C.

Philadelphia: Jake Voracek, RW.

Phoenix: Ray Whitney, LW; Antoine Vermette, C; Raffi Torres, RW; Rostislav Klesla, D; Gilbert Brule, C.

St. Louis: Kris Russell, D.

Vancouver: Sammy Pahlsson, C; Manny Malhotra, C; Aaron Rome, D.

Washington: Jason Chimera, LW.

-- Much was expected of the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate in Springfield, Mass., this season after an off-season of reeling in some proven AHL vets, but it was pretty much a blah season. The Falcons finished 36-34-3-3, five points out of the playoffs. The goaltending and injury woes at the NHL level had to be filled by call-ups, which of course negatively affected the Falcons. Bad sign #1: The Falcons played seven different goaltenders. Bad sign No. #2: None of them played more than 39-year-old Manny Legace. Nothing against Legace. Fine guy. But this is a development league. He's 39. Right winger Cam Atkinson, despite spending 27 games in Columbus, led the Falcons with 29 goals. Martin St.-Pierre led the club with 53 assists and 64 points. The Falcons dressed 53 players. Among the more disappointing seasons: RW Tomas Kubalik (11-12-23, -16), LW Maksim Mayorov (10-13-23, -4), D Theo Ruth (1-5-6, -20).

-- Aaron Portzline

aportzline@dispatch.com

twitter: @aportzline