Colorado may be in town, but as is the approach under John Tortorella, the focus for the Blue Jackets is squarely on their game and now the influx of young talent joining the team.
As of today, the Jackets’ average age at 26.3, good enough for fourth youngest in the league.
One place the youth movement gets underway tonight is with 22-year-old Markus Hannikainen. The Finn takes to the ice tonight for his second NHL game and his first home game at Nationwide Arena. Hannikainen played just 6:15 against St Louis back on Nov 28 before going out with a shoulder injury.
“I like his legs, I think he’ll make us faster,” Tortorella said. “We have to play faster and I think the more people you get in there that are faster, it forces your teammates to play quicker.
“I think (his play) will lend itself to us being stronger on pucks and forechecking. Getting to pucks quicker. That’s a big part of it.”
Hannikainen’s enthusiasm was obvious as he spoke with the assembled media after participating in an optional morning skate. He says he’s looking forward to bringing “energy, skating, working hard and giving everything I got” to the ice.
“Being injured was a frustrating time for me, but now I’m really excited to get back,” Hannikainen said.
When asked about Tortorella’s earlier comments on his legs and ability to drive the speed of play, the Finn was quick to agree.
“That’s everything I’m trying to do, everything I am,” Hannikainen said. “(My legs are) one of my strengths and I want to bring all the good parts from me to the game.”
Two other young faces in the Jackets lineup? Forwards Kerby Rychel and Josh Anderson. Rychel has two assists in the three games he’s played since being called back up to Columbus, and Anderson notched his first NHL goal Saturday against Carolina.
“We don’t put any locks on them at all,” Tortorella said. “The biggest thing we show them when they come to us here is some thoughts on how to play away from the puck. As a coach when you see and your comfortable with that, it gives you an opportunity to keep putting them on the ice.”
Tortorella is still interested in seeing exactly what kind of players the two young guns are, but Anderson for one says he’s definitely seeing the comfort level increase for him and Rychel.
“We feel a little more comfortable out there and you can see it by our play,” Anderson said. “We’re making some plays in the defensive zone and same in the offensive zone.”
One more spot where the Jackets will turn to youth tonight is in net with 21-year-old Joonas Korpisalo. While Sergei Bobrovsky was activated off injured reserve yesterday, Tortorella says ideally he wants the Vezina winner to get one more practice under his belt.
“Korpi deserves to be back in he’s played really well,” Tortorella said.
Hannikainen is another person proud to see what Korpisalo is doing in the NHL. The two played together dating back to their junior careers in Finland.
“He’s a really good goalie like everyone can see,” Hannikainen said. “Really athletic. His everyday performance got a lot better. In minors he had some bad days and good days like we all do, but now he’s solid every night.”
QUICKLY
- Hannikainen said dealing with such a quick injury was one of the toughest points in his career. “But now it’s over” and he’s excited to play tonight.
- Torts on the shot differential versus Toronto Wednesday, “I think the shots on goal painted a different picture of the game, it wasn’t as far as many (scoring) chances. The chances were fairly even – neither team generated too much but (Toronto) did a really good job of throwing pucks at the net.”
- Boone Jenner who was out on a maintenance day for yesterday’s practice is slated to be in the lineup tonight.
- Tortorella on Cody Goloubef who is playing in his fourth game since returning from a broken jaw, and was a healthy scratch Saturday, “Remember how he was playing before he was injured he was really coming on. So when you see that as a coach, you want to try to get him there.”
- Colorado in town means former Jackets Jack Skille and Andrew Bodnarchuk are both back in Columbus. Bods appears to be a healthy scratch for tonight.
LINE UP
Saad – Wennberg – Atkinson
Hartnell – Dubinsky – Jenner
Rychel – Karlsson – Anderson
Hannikainen – Campbell – Boll
Murray – Jones
Johnson – Goloubef
Falk – Prout
Korpisalo
INJURED: Calvert, Clarkson, McElhinney, Savard, Foligno
SCRATCHED: Bourque, Tyutin
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