As Blue Jackets training camp continues, storylines from this year have become much clearer. Certain players are sticking around longer than anticipated and some are impressing like they are supposed to. These are my thoughts on camp thus far and what it means for the team.
Zach Werenski is going to make this team
It is something everyone has assumed for a while but Werenski is going to make this team out of camp. The amount of opportunities he has been given have been endless and he has done well against pseudo-NHL competition. The grooming for a spot on the team started this past spring when he got extensive time with the Monsters. He ran with the chance there and has done well this preseason being paired with potential NHL partners.
The real question now becomes expectations from fans and the front office. Our own Paul Berthelot covered this issue aptly, he isn’t going to come right out and be a superstar. He is a great player, it doesn’t mean that growing pains won’t be an issue. I, like many others, can’t wait to see him against NHL competition.
Sonny Milano is the forward that has stuck out the most
Coming into camp, everyone was expecting Oliver Bjorkstrand and Josh Anderson to make this team. Those two players had great postseasons and were key to the Monsters’ Calder Cup run. However, it’s one different player that has been electric when he is on the ice and he may be the most overlooked prospect the Jackets have, his name is Sonny Milano.
Everyone knows how great he is with the puck on his stick but watching him during preseason games, he has become much better instinctually putting himself into plays. The puck is beginning to find his stick and that isn’t because he is always open, he is just in the right place at the right time. He’s also proven himself to be engaged away from the puck and that is just as important as what he can do with it. If he has another good game, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is the winger that the Jackets keep up before the October 11th deadline.
Markus Nutivaara is the real deal.
At Buckeye State Hockey, the hype around Nutivarra is already at an all-time high. Playing in nearly every preseason game, Nutivaara hasn’t been tearing up box scores with goals and assist totals, but he is lighting up game sheets by eating up minutes efficiently and winning the Corsi battle.
His numbers in four games are comparable to what Seth Jones has put up this preseason. That isn’t anything to scoff at, especially given the amount of ice time he has been given. Not to mention he has been in the defensive zone for most of his starts as well. Much like Werenski, it is important to take his performance with a grain of salt. If he keeps it up though, my expectations may be sky high.
(stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick)
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