In case you haven't heard, things aren't going so swimmingly in Columbus. They've won twice in their first fourteen games, James Wisniewski and Jeff Carter, their prized offseason acquisitions, have yet to play a game together, and the St. Louis Blues just hired their consultant.
Looking at the situation from afar (which is definitely preferable to within), you had to know a shakeup was coming, and here it is: the Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired center Mark Letetsu from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Cue the resurrection. Did you know that "Letestu" is a perfect anagram of "Messiah"?
And all it took was a fourth round pick! Take it away, Blue Jackets press release:
The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired center Mark Letestu from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft, Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Scott Howson announced tonight.
Letestu, 26, has registered one assist and two penalty minutes in 11 games with the Penguins this season. He collected 14-13-27, 13 penalty minutes and was +4 in 64 games with Pittsburgh in 2010-11. He ranked fourth among NHL rookies in game-winning goals (three), seventh in power play goals (four) and 11th (tied) in goals. In 85 career NHL games, he has 15-14-29 and 17 penalty minutes and added 0-2-2 in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
I don't think it's any coincidence that "Letestu" sort of rhymes with "rescue" (Kanye West could make it work, at the very least): this could -- nay, will -- be the move that saves Columbus's season.
Okay, I'm done now.
What's the real reason for the move? Is it a precursor to other deals? Has Kristian Huselius suffered a setback? Holy crap has Jeff Carter?
No to all of Huselius is a few weeks away, Carter is nearing a return, and the trade not a sign of things to come. In fact, it has nothing to do with anything at all; Scott Howson just thinks Mark Letestu's pretty swell. Howson, via Aaron Portzline:
We like the player. It does not fill an immediate need, but you can never have too many centers. We think he's a top-9 talent.
Well, that's just boring.
On the other side, of course, the fact that Letestu, a centre, was deemed expendable in Pittsburgh is a good sign regarding those reports on Sidney Crosby's Friday return. That's exciting, right?
Nope. Bob McKenzie warns not to read too much into that either.
*sigh* Nothing to see here, people.