Jackets trade for Thrasher's Williams

[Buckcub]

From the Columbus Dispatch-
http://blog.dispatch.com/cbj/2009/01...ason_wil.shtml

The Blue Jackets have acquired forward Jason Williams from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for defenseman Clay Wilson and a sixth-round draft pick

Williams has played mostly on the right wing, but he can play center, too. He's a right shot and can play on the power play point. In 41 games with the Thrashers, he has seven goals, 11 assists and a minus-9 rating.

“We know quite a bit about Jason, he’s a very serviceable player who can really help us,” Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said. “He brings an element to our team will help us at 5-on-5 and on the power play.

“He’s got an excellent shot and he looks to shoot.”

The Thrashers signed Williams in hopes that he could play on a line with Ilya Kovalchuk, but it never clicked. That's hardly a knock on Williams as the Thrashers have found few to mesh with Kovalchuk.

Williams got almost no time on the point in Atlanta with Mathieu Schneider, Ron Hainsey and Kovalchuk. That should not be a problem in Columbus.

Last season, he had 13-23-36 with a minus-2 rating in 43 games for Chicago. Sources in Chicago say he was a solid addition to their power play and that he gets himself in good position to shoot the puck. His biggest problem last season was a sports hernia, which cost him a considerable chunk of the season.

His best season was 2005-06 with Detroit when he had 21 goals, 37 assists and a plus-4 rating. He has a history with at least one Jacket. On Nov. 8, 2006, forward Raffi Torres laid out Williams with a crushing check. Williams was taken from the ice on a stretcher. He suffered a concussion.

He's making $2.2 million this season, the final year of his contract. As the season is half over, the Blue Jackets will owe him roughly $1.1 million. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

-end-

Seems like Howson got a steal for a defenseman we weren't using and a 6th round choice! Center who can help on the PP=check. Now all we need is an elite PP quarterbacking defenseman and our own guys to get healthy, and we should be in the playoffs!

[McJoe]

this is a great trade to get Williams for a 6th. He is a good young player and definitely a top 6 forward. His main problem in Atlanta and Chicago for that matter is that he is the kind of player who needs someone to play with. If you arent playing with Kovie in Atlanta you dont have anyone to play with and he was in Chicago PRE-Kane/Toews.

[bidi_nash]

a great trade