Have no fear, we’re not about to start humming Nadia’s Theme here (if you don’t know what that is youngsters, Google it), but with the NHL’s first games in the books, Patrick Roy’s inaugural tirade dully documented, and Nationwide Arena gearing up for its own debut tonight, it’s time to get down to the business of hockey in earnest.
The young, of course, are the Blue Jackets players themselves, who once again will be in the running for the youngest team in the league. How young? Only five on the roster (McElhinney, Gaborik, Tyutin, MacKenzie and Umberger) have ages beginning with a “3”, and two (Murray, Jenner) entered their 20’s. Feel old yet? No? Let’s try this one — not a single Blue Jacket player was alive for the USA’s ‘Miracle on Ice’ at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. I’ll wait while you retrieve your hearing aids and shawls . . . More on this in a bit.
The restless, of course, are the Blue Jackets fans. Sure, there has been the annual clamoring for a playoff spot — or even a winning season — with the restlessness more like that of a mob waiting to unleash evil energy. Think Vancouver when the Canucks lost the Cup a few years ago. The restlessness this year is of an entirely different character. It is a positive, excited, anticipatory restlessness, borne from a tantalizingly close run last season, a Vezina Trophy and a productive draft and off-season. Sure, there is hope — there has almost always been hope. But hope is not a strategy, and the mood among the Blue Jackets’ faithful this year transcends hope, but falls a bit short of expectation. The gift of realignment breeds some measure of excitement by itself, as does the prospect of a full 82-game season. It is a palpably different mood this year — one that is to be savored, enjoyed.
Clearly, however, it is that young cast of players that gives rise to the lion’s share of the enthusiasm. With the opening night roster finalized — featuring 13 forwards, 8 defensemen and 2 net-minders, the preliminaries are finished. While the bulk of the roster meets most expectations, a few notable surprises are worthy of note.
Let’s deal with the forwards first, and the meteoric rise of Boone Jenner. While most thought he would be a serious contender for a roster spot coming into camp, few could have foreseen the way in which he became a dominant force in virtually every aspect of the game. His performance — with and without the puck — even caused Todd Richards to uncharacteristically tip his hand early, and suggest that Jenner would have to play his way off the team. Making the squad is one thing, but earning the left-wing slot with Dubinsky and Gaborik is quite another. In a different time, with a different front office and coach, this move might quickly be dismissed as a desperate stunt. Not now, not with this management and this club. Anyone watching that trio on the ice in the pre-season caught the chemistry, the speed and the opportunities that line generated. Will Boone struggle at times? Sure he will, but so will virtually every other NHL player, at one time or another. He’s demonstrating a work ethic and a hockey sense that were lacking last year at this time, plus a significantly larger frame. The combination promises to be hard to beat.
Jenner is not the only story up front, however. As a unit, the forwards are deeper than they have every been, despite lacking the marquis
name of a Rick Nash. Consider the possible lines to start the season: Atkinson, Anisimov and Foligno — Calvert, Johansen and Umberger — Comeau, Letestu and MacKenzie. It’s hard to find a place for Boll, and when Nathan Horton comes back… yikes! This is a mix and match group that can hurt you in a variety of ways, with a few candidates for 30+ goals, and a slew for 20 or more. Unlike a squad with one play — “Pass To Nash”– this club can survive periodic droughts by one or two players. The skill level is high, but the temptation to take that skill into an East-West game needs to be avoided. The latter half of the pre-season saw a tendency to try for the “pretty” play, with a corresponding drop in productivity. Of course, many of the kids now in Springfield were getting final looks, but the North-South game needs to return.
As predicted here, Columbus opted to carry eight defencemen to start the season, providing some depth and some mix and match capability in terms of divergent strengths. Again, the primary story here is Ryan Murray , who simply skated and played his way into a position in the top four, paired with James Wisniewski. As with Jenner, his physical skills and play-making ability are impressive, but the difference maker is his awareness and coolness in real game situations. He plays far older than his youthful 20, and serves as a stabilizing influence for the more risk-taking Wisniewski. He may struggle at times, but that’s where the depth comes in. With both Jenner and Murray, Richards will have to avoid the tendency he sometimes has to apply an almost Hitchcockian higher standard to young players than to veterans. Patience is the by-word, and if he can avoid the quick hook and banishment to the press box or the AHL, Richards will be rewarded by some dramatic play from his youngsters.
The Tyutin-Johnson pairing is written in stone — to the extent that any pairing is definitive — which leads to the interesting possibilities for the third pair. Nikitin started poorly in the pre-season, but rallied a bit late. Prout remains a physical force, but also remains slow and a bit unsure with the puck. Given his waiver status, and his reduced preparation time, I was a bit surprised that he did not start the season in the AHL, simply to get some minutes on his legs and some pucks on his stick. Erixon had the best camp of the group, and provides the versatility, speed and awareness that you want to see from a youngster. Savard was a bit of a surprise, as his play was serviceable, but not striking. Still, he has more NHL games under his belt than Goloubef or Erixon, and there had to be some sense that he might not survive a trip to the waiver wire, while Goloubef might (and did).
This is clearly audition time for this quartet, and do not be surprised if either Savard or Nikitin find themselves part of a trade in the near future. I still have the sense that the club has one more deal coming. For all of the balance at forward, there were some very talented guys shipped back to the AHL, and they are a very short plane flight away if anyone struggles. Ditto at defense. Goloubef was in the hunt until the end, and Melart simply needs to learn the North American game. That’s the ideal situation for a franchise — competitive depth that keeps everyone looking over their shoulders.
In goal, Bobrovsky has looked solid. McElhinney remains a big question mark, but McKenna and Smith made strong showings when given the opportunity, and could well be serviceable alternatives should McElhinney fail to meet expectations.
At the end of the day, this is the most diverse, skilled and deep Blue Jackets roster ever. Though “brick by brick” is the mantra, and most sober and sane observers would agree that it will be an exciting year, but a tough battle, you can’t help feel that those bricks are falling into place a helluva lot faster than anybody had any right to expect. The organization has done some terrific things to fan the flames, and when the puck drops tonight, Nationwide Arena will be a madhouse. No more isolation in the barren West — Columbus is in the Prime Time East, and the hockey world is taking notice.
As I do every year, I have to insert a cautionary word. The club has some great talent, and will likely be in the hunt all season long. If good fortune shines, great things can happen. If the injury bug bites, or the puck luck goes elsewhere, well… That’s why they play the games — it’s a different game every night. Be loud, be proud and #DefendNWA from Game 1 to Game 82 . . . and beyond. But remember – it is a long season, played by youngsters. Be a fan of the team, but also be a fan of the Game — perhaps the greatest spectator sport there is. We’re going to see terrific hockey in Nationwide Arena this season — and for many years to come. Sometimes the best hockey will be played by the visiting team — that’s the way it works. Develop the ability to both regret your team’s loss, but appreciate the glory of the game. You’ll be a happier fan — and person — in the long run.
I will unfortunately miss Opening Night for only the second time in franchise history. Don’t cry for me — as we’ll be heading on a two-week trek through Maine, Nova Scotia, PEI and Quebec. For those of you who have followed me for a while, Gn’Odelein will be making the journey, and I’ll be filing reports throughout the trip, including some glass seats for a Quebec Remparts game in the Q. We’ll see if we can’t make some contacts in PEI, and throw in a few other surprises along the way. And yes, I’ll be following the Blue Jackets on the old iPad, fully expecting an unblemished (or only slightly tarnished record) upon my return.
Hockey is here at last! It’s going to be a terrific ride!
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