Center R.J. Umberger (Official Thread)

[Buckskin86]

Columbus? Umberger: ?We feel like it?s our destiny to make the playoffs?
James O'Brien
Apr 21, 2013

The Columbus Blue Jackets? startling run to the playoffs has shocked many, but they still have a way to go. Forward R.J. Umberger seems pretty convinced that they?ll make the postseason ? and maybe even steal the seventh spot while they?re at it.

He provided some bold words to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.

?Yeah, this is definitely for real. We?re not just trying to get the eight spot, we want to get as high as we can get,? Umberger said. We?re a very confident team. Everyone in here believes. We feel like it?s our destiny to make the playoffs.?

Like his team, Umberger has had a flair for the dramatic. He only has a goal and an assist in his last 11 games, but both of those points came at key times for a team that?s often winning by a slim margin of error.

One might say that?s exactly the type of training that a team needs to win when things really tighten up in the playoffs ?

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/...el-like-its-our-destiny-to-make-the-playoffs/

 

[Buckskin86]

RJ Umberger: Exit Interview
Posted on April 28, 2013 by Lori Schmidt

Are you at the point where you can focus on the 19-5-5 finish as opposed to coming just short of the playoffs?

I don?t know if we?re there yet. Still kind of soaking it in. Last night was such an incredible roller coaster with such a high at one moment and then such a low the next. Never felt something like that. You know, I think it will take some time to reflect, but I know we?re definitely proud of the time we put in here the last two months.

What can you take from those last two months that you?re confident will transfer over to next season?

I think, as a group, we learned how to win hockey games again. You know, I think we have a foundation of how to play here, a work ethic, a group that?s shared a lot together this year. It seems like a majority of guys will be back, and I think it?s a group that has a great foundation to build off of.

I would think that extends beyond the dressing room. You talk about relationships established, and this city just had a love affair with this team late in the season. Can you see that continuing?

Absolutely. It?s like no other time here. It?s really incredible right now. There are fans everywhere coming up to players and thanking them and everything, and we should be playing this way all the time. That?s what they deserve. They enjoyed following a team, seeing them put everything out every night and their passion. They really enjoyed being able to be proud of a team.

cont...

http://fearthehat.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/rj-umberger-exit-interview/

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HhiDlJ-06U"]Exit Day: R.J. Umberger (4/28/13) - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

 

[Buckskin86]

 

[Buckskin86]

R.J. Umberger ends Columbus Blue Jackets' slide
October 20, 2013

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Although it was only the eighth game of the season, it was already vital for the Columbus Blue Jackets to show some improvement.

A pair of thirty-somethings led the way.

R.J. Umberger scored his first goal of the season with 8:46 left to help make a winner of Curtis McElhinney as the Blue Jackets ended a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...kets-beat-vancouver-canucks-umberger/3133961/

 

[Dryden]

http://espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/10830909/columbus-blue-jackets-believe-win

Blue Jackets believe they can win
Never-quit attitude has Columbus raising questions about Pittsburgh

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- R.J. Umberger had his shirt on inside out and backwards as reporters gathered around his dressing room stall to ask about his role in this the biggest, most improbable of wins in Columbus Blue Jackets history.

"That's our team. No quitting all year. It's character. My shirt's on backwards here," he noted, still trying to catch his breath in the wake of Nick Foligno's game-winner at 2:49 of overtime that capped a stunning come-from-behind 4-3 victory.

Under his left eye, there is a nasty red wound thanks to a puck in the face in the third period.

"We thought we had them on the ropes there the whole second period on. We started taking it to them," he said while still trying to get his shirt the right way around.

"This is bloopers huh? Start over here," the Pittsburgh native said with a happy laugh.

"What a finish though, eh? That's what it's all about."

Cont'd ...

 

[Dee-Liem]

R.J. Umberger requests trade and both sides agree to put him on the trading block this summer.

Probably best for both club and player.

http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com...8/jackets-umberger-agree-trade-is-needed.html

 

[ScriptOhio]

R.J. Umberger requests trade and both sides agree to put him on the trading block this summer.

Probably best for both club and player.

http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com...8/jackets-umberger-agree-trade-is-needed.html

Re: Umberger, who is signed through the 2016-17 season at a $4.6 million salary-cap hit, has a no-trade clause in his contract through June 14. On June 15, the full no-trade clause becomes a limited clause, and Umberger will provide the Blue Jackets with 10 NHL clubs to which he would not approve a trade.That would leave 19 teams.

Good luck to the Blue Jackets on getting fair value (whatever that is) for him.

However, he is a former Buckeye hockey player; so I wish him well, hope he gets his (requested) trade, and finds "NHL happiness" with a new team.

 

[TooTall]

Re: Umberger, who is signed through the 2016-17 season at a $4.6 million salary-cap hit, has a no-trade clause in his contract through June 14. On June 15, the full no-trade clause becomes a limited clause, and Umberger will provide the Blue Jackets with 10 NHL clubs to which he would not approve a trade.That would leave 19 teams.

Good luck to the Blue Jackets on getting fair value (whatever that is) for him.

However, he is a former Buckeye hockey player; so I wish him well, hope he gets his (requested) trade, and finds "NHL happiness" with a new team.

Considering how the Gaborik deal went down at the trade deadline, I have no hope of the Jackets getting fair market value for Umby. I could, however, see them pairing him with picks, or other players in attempt of luring in a top line winger to Columbus. Either way, I'm really hoping the Jackets get another big name here like Horton.

 

[Mike80]

Considering how the Gaborik deal went down at the trade deadline, I have no hope of the Jackets getting fair market value for Umby. I could, however, see them pairing him with picks, or other players in attempt of luring in a top line winger to Columbus. Either way, I'm really hoping the Jackets get another big name here like Horton.

The Jackets need another scorer and another top-4 defenseman. I don't think Umby would bring that even with picks. Jarmo is a magician, but not a miracle worker.

The Gaborik trade was basically trying to get something for him to be a rental somewhere. He wasn't coming back to Columbus after the season.

 

[TooTall]

The Jackets need another scorer and another top-4 defenseman. I don't think Umby would bring that even with picks. Jarmo is a magician, but not a miracle worker.

The Gaborik trade was basically trying to get something for him to be a rental somewhere. He wasn't coming back to Columbus after the season.

Then let his contract run out. Just about anything would have been better than the bum LA sent us.

I don't give a shit what Columbus gets in return, so long as it's a productive move.

 

[Dave Winch]

traded to the Flyers for Scot Hartnell ...

 

[Dryden]

 

[ScriptOhio]

RJ Umberger
Men’s Hockey 2001-03
RJ Umberger was a standout for the Ohio State men’s hockey team from 2001-03. He was a JOFA West Second Team All-American and Hobey Baker Award finalist while also earning First Team All-Central Collegiate Hockey Association honors in 2003. That season, he posted a career-high 26 goals, 27 assists and 53 points as the Buckeyes reached the NCAA Tournament.

In his three-year Ohio State career, Umberger recorded 129 points, with 58 goals and 71 assists in 112 games, and his 1.15 points per game average is second among all Buckeyes with 50-plus games played since 1990. He led the squad in assists and points each of his three years and was the team goal leader twice. The 2001 CCHA Rookie of the Year, Umberger won the Perani Cup, given to the player with the most three star of the game honors, three times for the Buckeyes.

Umberger is the highest NHL draft pick in program history, as he was selected 16th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2001. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native played in 779 NHL games between the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets, with 392 points on 180 goals and 212 assists. A product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, Umberger represented the United States at the IIHF World Junior Championship in both 2001 and 2002, as well as at the 2006 IIHF World Championship.

A two-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Umberger completed his Ohio State business marketing degree during his professional career, graduating in June 2011. He received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for Ohio State in 2003.