Each Wednesday at noon during the NHL season, Dispatch.com and BlueJacketsXtra.com readers can chat online with either Aaron Portzline or Tom Reed, The Dispatch's Blue Jackets beat writers.

Here's a transcript of today's chat with Aaron:

[Rob_(moderator)] Hi, everyone. Feel free to start sending your questions for Aaron.
 
[Aaron Portzline] Bring it!
 
[Rob_(moderator)] Hi, AP. Go ahead and finish shoveling. We'll start in about 5 minutes.
 
[Aaron Portzline] It's but a skiff!
 
[Rob_(moderator)] <googling "skiff">
 
[Aaron Portzline] small measure of snow. if you search a canadian web site, you'll have better luck.
 
[Rob_(moderator)] you're a wannabe canuck, aren't you?
 
[Aaron Portzline] i'm waiting to be adopted.
 
[Rob_(moderator)] Although I will acknowledge that the best version of "12 Days of Christmas" is the one done by the MacKenzie Brothers.
 
[Aaron Portzline] Try the Trailer Park Boys some time. The best.
 
[Rob_(moderator)] OK, let's roll ...
 
[let_it_snow] What do you see for the future of Pascal Leclaire with the CBJ?

[Aaron Portzline] The immediate future is to get his ankle figured out. If it's a long-term injury, say surgery, they'll have to get a No. 2 goaltender to play behind Mason. Then the whole situation resets itself next season. If Leclaire plays very well behind Mason next season, perhaps they could move him in a trade. Right now, it would be hard to deal him.
 
[Dan] AP - It's clear the CBJ needs to give Mason more rest. We've got 18 games in the next 6 weeks, including two Western Canada trips and four back-to-backs. We'll be leaning on Mase hard over the next 3 months plus. I've heard we're on the lookout for an experienced back-up goalie (Curtis Sanford?) and could definitely need one. Any other names floating around?

[Aaron Portzline] That's the only one I know about. I've heard Dallas would be interested in him, too, as neither Turco nor his back-up Tobias Stephan has fared very well. Look for something to shake down in Vancouver either today or Thursday, when Luongo is activated.
 
[Reed knows hockey ..lol] Nash goes down and the CBJ wins 3 in a row. What do you take away from that?

[Aaron Portzline] Depth. Competitiveness. I sound like Ken Hitchcock, I know, but they've developed a fabric in the dressing room -- in the organization, really -- that allows them to sustain ... in the short term. They'll miss Nash if he's not back soon, don't doubt it.
 
[ljj] What did Hitch mean by "Mason is under the weather." Is he ill. Or does he have ligering injury related to last weeks upper body "stiffness."

[Aaron Portzline] No, he was mildly sick. A flu bug or something.
 
[Aaron Portzline] Those were muscle spasms, by the way.
 
[Brandon M] Has our recent success increased the speed that Howson is looking to make a deal or slowed it down? I would think it buys us time to see how things develop in the trade market.

[Aaron Portzline] I think he wants to make a deal, but the market is too rich right now. He's not going to trade a No. 1 pick unless it's a stud, and they don't have players/prospects they're willing to move. Filatov's staying.
 
[coozdog] will #61 play friday or hold him out for the roadie?

[Aaron Portzline] I'd say he's probable. That's what we've heard. He's skating today and Thursday. A decision will be made then if he plays Friday vs. New Jersey.
 
[TerryFreiIsAnIdiot] Frankly, I think the reporting of Terry Frei in the Denver Post the other day was truly poor journalism. I would love for him to prove that he has never used "sources" in his career. That said, do you have anything to add to his so-called story?

[Aaron Portzline] No. People want to read about hockey, not hockey writers. I know Terry. I like Terry. He felt the need to defend the Avs without doing any of his own reporting. That's his choice. We're still cool.
 
[puckbuck] Is there concern that the guys returning from injury (whenever that is) will disrupt the chemistry of the last week or two?

[Aaron Portzline] No. They're worked hard to build an organizational tier that respects players at certain positions. If you listen to Hitchcock and Howson speak, they go out of their way to make the Alexandre Picards, Derek MacKenzies and Craig MacDonalds of the world feel a part of the group, even when they're not here. When the players return from injury, they fold right back into the group. I'm particularly interested to see what Torres brings to the table when he's back in the groove after a few weeks in the lineup.
 
[gocbj] Lots of "anti-Foote" signs, etc, in the arena last night..too bad CBJ chose not to show any on the jumbotron to pump up the crowd? why is that?

[Aaron Portzline] The organization wants no part of this story. They want it to go away. They've told the FSN Ohio folks to not even mention, same as the radio. In the larger sense, however, I have no idea what criteria is used for the arena scoreboard. I mean, they played Vanilla Ice last night. No, really, they did. Embarrassing. It baffles the mind sometimes. The atmosphere has been very good lately, but it's all been crowd driven.
 
[ljj] What do you think the plan for Filatov is? Didn't see much of him last night.

[Aaron Portzline] Very true. Even in the hat trick game, he only played 9:59. I would think he goes down before he plays his 10th game -- contract kick-in -- but it all depends on how he's playing and who's healthy. Wonder if anybody has ever demoted a player a week after he scored a hat trick?
 
[bluejackets72] Is there truth to the rumors about shopping Klesla? Also with the way russell has played lately it's hard to give him up in any deal don't you think?

[Aaron Portzline] Hard to shop him now with an injured boot. He does have some value, but only as a stay-at-home defenseman. This is why it pays to have patience in the GM chair. A week ago, people wanted to ship Russell off to Ottawa. To me, you've paid the price to let Russell develop in the NHL. Now you're starting to reap the rewards of the process. That pass to Umberger last night was un-freakin'-believable.
 
[hank] does Picard have to clear waivers again to be sent to Syracuse?

[Aaron Portzline] Not yet. He cleared earlier. He has 10 games or 30 days -- I believe -- before he'd have to clear again.
 
[FELingo] As players get healthy - who do you see going back down to the AHL? Will Filatov go down when Nash returns? Who will be sent down when Chimera is back? etc.

[Aaron Portzline] Mayorov went down today. I would think MacKenzie, Picard and Filatov would be the next order. But we shall see.
 
[STARMAN] I think Hejda and Commodore have been outstanding. Where would you rank them among the NHL's top defensive pairs?

[Aaron Portzline] People would scoff at this because of Hejda's (lack of) reputation and Commodore's play last season in Ottawa. But the two have been very, very good. I would certainly say they're in the upper-echelon as a shut-down pair of defenseman. And it's interesting to note that Hitchcock wants his top pair to be a shut-down pair. 8-22 are very, very solid. They are no fun to play against, and they make better first passes than more realize.
 
[let_it_snow] Did Hitchcock play Voracek late last night in a one goal game because he doesn't think of him as a rookie anymore or because the veterans needed a quick blow and he had no choice?

[Aaron Portzline] Yes and Yes. Hitchcock has said that he no longer views Voracek, Mason, Brassard and Dorsett. Voracek has been very good. He's on pace for a 40-point season, which is pretty dang good for a 19-year-old rookie. But with no Nash, Chimera, Murray available, guys are being asked to assume bigger roles. So far, so good.
 
[xanbo] Has the mood in the dressing room changed much with the recent wins and the youth movement?

[Aaron Portzline] Yes. It was a good room to begin with, but I get the sense that the feeling out process is over. These guys know each other now. They're a pretty tight group. Two big keys: 1. the guys who were brought in (Commodore, Tyutin, Huselius, Torres) are known to be good guys in the room; 2. the young guys are very respectful of the veteran players. It's a whole different world from previous seasons.
 
[Rob_(moderator)] At least 10 people have sent this next question in some form (as they do every week) ...
 
[Tim] Can we shop Backman?

[Aaron Portzline] Sure, you can shop him. At $3.4M, he's going to be a tough sell. That's about $1.65 remaining, and what does he bring you. Strange, but everybody expected him to be an offensive defenseman who struggled in his own zone. And he's been the exact opposite. I don't know who would want to add him right now, not just because of his game, but the salary. To be clear, the Blue Jackets took him from the Rangers to facilitate the Tyutin trade. Backman's contract is up after this season.
 
[Rob_(moderator)] Save that answer for next week.
 
[mike] Peca seems rejuvenated the last month or so....Does he have a future with CBJ?
 
[Aaron Portzline] He does, yes. I could see another one-year deal. I think he's a very important player. And if you talk to the people in EDM, this is how Peca's season goes. He's OK for the first 41 games of the season, good games/ok games. But when the stretch drive starts, the guy explodes. The game he played in Washington last Friday might have been his best this season. Heck, his best as a Blue Jacket.
 
[Bring Jody Back] Your opinion...Is attendance up because we are winning or because of all the free tickets given out through Giant Eagle and Toyota?

[Aaron Portzline] I have no way of knowing, to be honest. I haven't asked that question. Attendance is up, yes, but only if you look at it through this point last season. They epxect a stronger second half, which has been the tendency here and elsewhere in the league. I have said all along, this city will explode in a way very few anticipate when the Blue Jackets take that playoff step.
 
[SixOneC] Whats the latest on Chimera?

[Aaron Portzline] He's taking this week off from skating. Tom Reed reported it earlier this week. Next week, while the club is on the Western swing, Chimera will resume skating. He could be ready by early February if all goes well.
 
[xanbo] The Jackets have cleared a number of major hurdles, but in my opinion they've yet to prove they can win the games they "should" win. In two weeks they face Dallas and St. Louis, and these are prime examples of teams they ought to beat. How can the Jackets bring the same fire they have against San Jose & Washington?

[Aaron Portzline] Dallas is playing much better now than they were earlier in the season. But you're right. They've lost to the Islanders, four to the Coyotes (who aren't bad) and that dog-ugly game in St. Louis. They should hang with New Jersey and all three teams on the road trip, too. Good teams make that leap you're talking about, usually this time of season. It's called the playoff push. The strong teams separate.
 
[Dan N] With the salary cap projected to go down next summer when Nash's contract is up, do you think that will help the Jackets resign him because the big spender teams will have a hard enough time dumping the salarys they have to make him a good offer?

[Aaron Portzline] This could go a variety of ways. The salary cap might not go down this summer, but hold steady. Reason? The cap is built on revenues generated this season, and most of tickets, sponsorships, private suites, etc., have already been paid for. The real dip could be not this summer, but next. So, I'm thinking, it could behoove Nash to sign this summer before the salary max -- 20% of the cap limit -- dips along with the revenue.
 
[puckbuck] Nash might wear the C but is he the real leader of the clubhouse? I know, lead by example but that's on the ice. Seems like Peca or even Manny might be more suited to the clubhouse responsibilities of the C. Your thoughts?

[Aaron Portzline] I would disagree. Nash is not a screamer or a rally-the-troops guy, but he is clearly the leader of this team. There's not a team in the NHL that has only one guy do the talking. In the Blue Jackets room, Peca, Commodore, Malhotra and Chimera would seem to be the verbal types. It's a good mix, in my opinion.
 
[4-7] With reports/rumors of Ottawa shopping Gerber, as well as Sanford possibly being the odd man out in Vancouver, do you see Howson making a move for either of those two? If so, what do you think would happen with Leclaire?

[Aaron Portzline] I don't see them making a move for either if Leclaire's ankle is deemed OK later this week. In the event that Leclaire is not OK, they would much prefer Curtis Sanford to Gerber. Sanford makes $650,000 this year. Gerber makes $3.7M. Ugh.
 
[jbloch] I saw on Hockey News website power rankings (rated Jackets 13th this week, by the way) that the comment they made was how Thomas Kaberle would be a good fit given the jackets power play problems. Do you think he'd be a good fit? What would it cost(i.e. our next #1 pick?). I think his salary is $4.25 mil.

[Aaron Portzline] Yeah, he'd be a great fix, even though he's yet another left-handed shot. He's a highly skilled defenseman. Last season, the Leafs were set to trade Tomas Kaberle to Philadelphia for Jeff Carter AND a No. 1 pick. The City of Brotherly Shove should thank Kaberle until the end of days. I only pass that along as an example of what Kaberle's market is. He is going to be very expensive. And he has a no-trade clause. It's unclear if he'd waive it to pay for a Western Conference team.
 
[Flash] I've heard it said turning a prospect into a bonna-fide NHL player is equal parts drafting, development & player desire. How would you characterize this teams hockey operations: I'm talking about everything: personnel, invested capital, minor league affiliations?

[Aaron Portzline] That's a tough question. The hockey operations is now more streamlined and, shall we say, democratic than it used to be. Scouts are trusted, and other's opinions are valued. A big part of the development is Tyler Wright, who works with the young players after their drafted and until they get to the NHL. Derek Dorsett and Tyler Wright are extremely close, as are a lot of the young players, including Filatov. These changes can take years to bear results, but it's starting to now. Under previous regimes, Brassard and Voracek would have been regulars last season and Filatov this season. Times have changed.
 
[hitchcockquotes] Who are some of the best people you've interviewed for good quotes? Does Hitch rank up there? He always seems to describe things evenly and even colorful here lately.

[Aaron Portzline] Hitchcock is problematic for me. He's so good some nights that it becomes an easy crutch for a writer to lean on. Commodore is great. So is Peca. On previous teams, Kevin Dineen was always very insightful and snappy.

[Aaron Portzline] And Shelley, of course.

[xanbo] Speaking of player development and minor league affiliations, when they Jackets send a player like Filatov down to the farm, can they dictate that he be played in certain situations they want him to work on? Or does the staff in Syracuse have the freedom to do as they see fit?

[Aaron Portzline] Well, they trust the coaches in Syracuse, but the coaches are paid by the Blue Jackets. It's their minor-league club, so, yes, they have a huge say in how the players are used. Asst. GM Chris MacFarland is technically in charge of the Crunch roster. So the interaction is constant.
 
[weighty] Do we honestly have a better than good chance to stay above that "damn line"?

[Aaron Portzline] Yes. Believe it. Embrace it.
 
[Mr. Matt] How would you rate the officiating during last night's game? There seemed to be some questionable calls and no calls early in the game.

[Aaron Portzline] I didn't have a problem with it. I rarely do, actually. Nothing from last night stands out, to be honest.
 
[oxcamel] Will the tone of this weeks Cannon Fodder be a little lighter then last weeks CBJ funeral edition? (It did reflect the attitude of Jacket nation quite accurately.)

[Aaron Portzline] Yes, this will be the bachelor party edition! Firetrucks!!! I wish I could have taken a picture of Priest and Howson at lunch on Friday in Washington. They were ashen. The roster was riddled with injuries, Mason was questionable ... they were nervous nellies.
 
[Section114RowQ] The war room in Toronto for replays to me seems to be a mistake. NFL handles reply faster and with higher accuracy because the refs have an opportunity to see the reply of their call and make a local decision. Is the NHL aware of how hockey fans generally don't like the whole idea of this process? At least the people I talk to think it's too inconsistent...replay isn't the whole picture many times

[Aaron Portzline] Yes, they're aware that most people don't like it. But they've invested lots of money into the operation, so it's not going away. What has astounded me this season is how many times they've used the best equipment with supposedly the brightest minds ... and been wrong. Dead wrong.
 
[TLK] How about an update on Stephan Legein?

[Aaron Portzline] Klesla and Novotny are both a couple of weeks. Leclaire is up in the air. Last I heard, the ankle was finally responding well. Torres will play Friday. Nash is probable for Friday. Murray is questionable. Tom Reed reports, by the way, that Nash is on the ice today.
 
[Rob_(moderator)] AP, there are a lot of questions in the hopper asking about this player or that player as possibly coming to Columbus in a trade. Rather than me posting each one, why don't you tell us any rumors you've heard that might have a good chance of happening.

[Aaron Portzline] Spezza is not going to happen. Too much money. I can see a goaltender coming if Leclaire is not continuing to improve as the week goes on. The first target for Columbus is a center, not a defenseman. They like their back end right now. They want a center but they will not mortgage the future to do it ... not right now. Doug Weight is out two to four weeks, so scrap that. If the asking price for Vermette or Antropov or Stajan goes down, they could make a move.
 
[Rob_(moderator)] Nice job, everyone. We just keep remodeling this room to allow more people in for the chats. Thanks, AP, great stuff (as usual). We'll have a chat transcript in a few minutes on Dispatch.com and BuckeyeXtra.com. That's a wrap.

[Aaron Portzline] I'd post it on Bluejacketsxtra.com, Rob, but that's just me. Kidding. Thanks for all the questions.
 
[Rob_(moderator)] Yikes. I'm heading to the box.