Jackets Hockey is Back!

by Mike MacLean on Sep 13, 2009 5:01 PM EDT

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via Andy Newman's Twitter Feed

After undergoing physicals yesterday, the Jackets began the on-ice portion of training camp today, with two of the four owner-picked squads facing off at the Dispatch Icehaus. The format for camp was created by coach Ken Hitchcock- the four owners conducted a closed-door fantasy draft, with every player on the training camp roster selected by an owner. The four owners are Majority owner John P. McConnell and minority owners Jay Crane, Ron Pizzuti and John Wolfe.

The first game took place this morning, with Team Crane defeating Team McConnell by a score of 3-2 in a shootout. The goal scorers for Team Crane were Derek Dorsett and tryout Darren Archibald. Scoring for team McConnell were Antoine Vermette and Brent Regner. I have high hopes for Regner, and he is very much in the mix for the seventh-defenseman spot. Recent first round pick John Moore scored the shootout winner.

In addition to scoring a goal, Archibald was also involved in a fight with Kevin Harvey. Camp invite Brock McBride was absolutely levelled by Rusty Klesla early in the game. Klesla is a player with a lot to prove. Rusty has been criticized for not living up to his lofty status as a first round pick, but if his play in the 2009 playoffs are a good indicator, Rusty has finally developed into a top shutdown blueliner.

The second game was between Team Wolfe and Team Pizzuti. Team Wolfe won the game 5-3. Scoring for Wolfe were Jon Mirasty, Kris Russell, Rick Nash, Tom Sestito and Grant Clitsome. Getting the markers for Team Pizzuti were invites Scott Tanksi and Tyler Murovich, and Nik Filatov got the third goal. Clitsome is another player in the mix for the seventh defenseman spot, so it's good to see he and Regner get on the scoresheet. Filatov will be a Jacket this year, but continued offense could get him a spot on the top two lines, perhaps supplanting RJ Umberger.

If you were at any of the games today, leave some comments with what you saw and who stood out to you!

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I was there for the first scrimmage and I have to tell you that I thought the Brassard line was the best line on the ice. I also was surprised that the Vermette, Umberger, Torres line didn’t get much going. I know this was just the first day of camp but I thought those guys would make the kids look silly… didn’t happen. The speed of some of the young guys impressed me too. I can’t wait to see more of Legein… I know he didn’t get anything going offensively but his speed was impressive.

Now some props to the Jackets fans, we have to have THE best fans anywhere. I mean, 10:30am on a Sunday morning with no Nash and that place was pretty full. This was the first time I made it down to the first day of on-ice training camp and I enjoyed it thoroughly. If I didn’t live an hour away I would probably spend much more time in the arena district.

by doug32674 on Sep 13, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

I hate to single out one player as the “best” today, and I want to hold back most of my opinions until after tomorrow, but Garon was excellent today. No goals were scored against him, and he made every save look easy.

LaCosta was the second best goalie and I definitely feel he’s better than Lalande at the moment.

I was impressed with a lot of our blueliners. If you ask me, Plekhanov is the darkhorse to make the team. Regner was also very good, and although he’s small like Russell, he’s more physical and threw out a couple big hits today. Sigalet looks like an NHL defenseman, making the right plays at the right time.

Klesla was a beast during the first half of the first game. As soon as I said to myself, “Klesla looks really good,” he made a few simple mistakes, but you’ll have that on Day 1. Overall, I look forward to seeing what he brings this year.

I feel like all of the forwards are slowly revving up their engines. Voracek had an insane cross-ice pass through a couple defenders but Aulin (I think) couldn’t put the puck in the net. I’m very intrigued at the the of Filatov-Aulin-Voracek as a potential line in a pre-season game or two.

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by Andy Newman on Sep 13, 2009 10:03 PM EDT reply actions

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Blue Jackets Schedule

Last 5 Games

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