We’re coming to the end, and since I’m a dunce and missed an earlier interview, you’re getting TWO installments today from the mock job interview series, “So, You Want to Be A Blue Jacket”. Today’s first interviewee is…
Q) Hi Derick, tell us a little about yourself.
A) I was born in Hull, Québec on September 22, 1987. I am a left-handed shooting centerman, and I stand 6’1″ and weigh in at 190. I was the Blue Jackets‘ first round pick–sixth overall–in 2006. I made my NHL debut for the Blue Jackets in January of 2008. I’m more of a playmaker at my core, but I also scored at a pretty solid rate in The Q (Drummondville).
Q) Tell us about some intangibles you could bring to the Blue Jackets.
A) I’m willing to work. After my inauspicious debut during the ’07-’08 season, I spent the summer in Columbus working on my personal training in an effort to get stronger and make the club. And, the short-term results were good, considering I was on almost a point-per-game pace before getting hurt in ’08-’09. Otherwise, my skating and my wrister are the things I rely on most.
Q) What areas of your game do you think you can improve on?
A) I need to improve my faceoff work, and I need to get comfortable playing center with skilled players but also being willing to assert myself. When I’ve played with Rick Nash, too often I’ve spent so much time trying to set him up that my overall development has stalled. For my career, I’m 819-of-1803 on the draw, or 45.4%.
Q) Can you give us some examples of your hockey accomplishments?
A) I have a few here and there. My ’04-’05 season in The Q was memorable: I was on the CHL All-Rookie Team, the QMJHL All-Rookie Team, and won both the QMJHL Offensive Rookie of the Year (Michel Bergeron Trophy) and QMJHL Rookie of the Year awards. I was also on Canada’s U18 silver-medal-winning team at WJCs. In ’05-’06, I was decorated again in The Q: CHL Second All-Star Team, QMJHL Best Professional Prospect (Mike Bossy Trophy), and QMJHL First All-Star Team. In ’07-’08, I made the AHL All-Star Game for Syracuse, and in ’08-’09 I was the NHL Rookie Of The Month for October.