CALGARY, Alberta -- In the two-plus years since he was hired as general manager, Scott Howson has turned over the roster and turned the Blue Jackets from the laughingstock of the NHL into a playoff-caliber team with a bright future.

He was asked yesterday, though, if the Feb. 1, 2008, trade of left winger Curtis Glencross to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Dick Tarnstrom isn't the one move he'd like to have back.

Glencross, signed by Calgary as a free agent in the summer of 2008, had 13 goals and 27 assists for the Flames last season, and he played on the No. 1 line opposite Jarome Iginla against the Blue Jackets last night in the Pengrowth Saddledome.

Meanwhile, Tarnstrom played 19 games with the Blue Jackets in 2007-08, went to play in Sweden the following year and has since retired.

"No," Howson said. "There wasn't room for Curtis the way our team was being put together. But I didn't think Curtis would play as well as he's played. He's become a good NHL player. I didn't see him play that well-rounded game in Columbus.

"It's a credit to him. I think he got some confidence in Edmonton at the end of (2007-08). Maybe that's all he needed. Maybe we didn't give him that confidence."

Howson acknowledged that the trade looks like a mistake. But he pointed out that Tarnstrom, a power-play capable defenseman, filled a need on the roster when the Blue Jackets were holding on to faint playoff hopes.

Another point: Anaheim, Columbus and Edmonton all either traded Glencross or let him leave via free agency.

"There's a risk for every trade," Howson said. "That's why I don't regret it. You're not going to be right on every trade. You're not. That's just the reality of it."

In 43 career games with the Blue Jackets, Glencross had six goals and six assists. He entered last night with three goals in eight games, trailing only Dion Phaneuf and Rene Bourque on the Flames.

Legein traded

The Blue Jackets traded minor-league left winger Stefan Legein to Philadelphia for minor-league defenseman Michael Ratchuk, who was assigned to Syracuse.

Ratchuk, 21, has six goals, 15 assists and 48 penalty minutes in 82 career American Hockey League games. He's 5 feet 11 and 186 pounds.

"Michael is a skilled defenseman," Howson said. "I don't think he's put up numbers yet where you'd say he's an offensive defenseman. But he can certainly transport the puck, and he's an excellent skater."

As for Legein, Howson said the trade was in no way related to Legein's retirement in the summer of 2008, when he cited a lack of passion for hockey. But Howson said this represents a fresh start for the former second-round draft pick (No. 37) in 2007.

"Stef never asked to be traded, to his credit," Howson said. "But I think he felt somewhat leery of how his teammates and the organization felt about him because of what he did. This is something that he probably feels will be good for him."

Slap shot

Left winger Jason Chimera is the Blue Jackets' new NHL players' association representative, replacing Manny Malhotra, who signed as a free agent with San Jose.

aportzline@dispatch.com