Blue Jackets begin training camp with heavy hearts
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
By Kevin Rouch
krouch@cbussports.com
New Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason, with general manager Don Waddell, answers a question at a press conference Wednesday at Nationwide Arena. Training camps open Thursday around the National Hockey League. Photo: Kevin Lam
The Columbus Blue Jackets get on the ice Thursday to begin training camp. General manager Don Waddell and head coach Dean Evason, along with players Boone Jenner, Zach Werenski, and Sean Monahan, answered the media’s questions at Nationwide Arena Wednesday.
The first and main line of discussion was the impact that the tragic deaths of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matt earlier this month will have on the team as it begins the preseason. “We’ve talked a lot about it,” said Waddell. “Johnny will be with us all year long. We’ve kept his stall down in the locker room. We’re going to hang his journey every game. He’ll travel with us.”
“I met with the captains the night they went to the viewing in Jersey,” added Evason. “They were sitting around afterwards and asked what would Johnny want us to do?” He finished the thought, “He’s going to be with us. He’s going to be a presence in our locker room … at home and on the road.”
Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner talked to the media on Wednesday at Nationwide Arena. Photo: Kevin Lam
As for Evason’s approach to camp, he said, “I’ve asked the coaching staff to not tell me about the players and their personalities or what happened last year, how they played or how they conducted themselves. I don’t care. I don’t care what happened last year. I just care about what’s going to happen tomorrow in practice and moving forward.”
Last week, the Blue Jackets signed winger James van Riemsdyk to add a veteran presence in the locker room. He has played more than 1,000 games in the National Hockey League. Waddell got to know van Riemsdyk in their time with USA Hockey and described him as “an ultimate pro.”
Another veteran who is expected to make an impact is Monahan. He played with Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary and had looked forward to reuniting with the person he calls his best friend. “I’m excited for the season. I’m excited to get it going. We’re going to miss Johnny. I’m going to miss Johnny a lot. It’s something I think about every day so it’s something definitely really hard to get through.”
There will be 31 forwards, 16 defensemen, and eight goaltenders on the ice when camp begins on Thursday at the OhioHealth Ice Haus. The final rosters must be submitted to the NHL by 5:00 p.m. on October 7th. The Blue Jackets open on the road at Minnesota on October 10th, with the home opener against Florida on October 15th.