3 notes from Columbus Blue Jackets training camp
Patrik Laine wants to play center.
He’s leading his practice group's conditioning skates at Blue Jackets training camp, has delved into the art of winning faceoffs and is taking an interest in becoming a leader for a team packed with young talent. In short, Laine has shown coach Pascal Vincent and the rest of the Jackets’ staff that he’s eager to test himself at center, a position that carries the most responsibility among forwards.
More: Columbus Blue Jackets' self-roasting Patrik Laine: 'I used to be a goal-scorer'
“We’ve been talking about it quite a bit, to be honest with you,” Vincent said. “He’s showed a lot of interest, and it’s like I told him. He’s got to do the right things. His conditioning has got to be way up there, skating and practicing, pushing himself. And so far, I’d like to say … he’s been doing all of this. So, we’re going to practice it, see how it goes in practices … and if we like it, then we’re going to continue the project.”
It’s a project that stretches back to last season, when Laine centered the Blue Jackets’ top line for two games. Vincent ran the bench in those games while former coach Brad Larsen was away.
What's surprising is Laine’s persistence and dedication to earning another look. Prior to a day off ice Thursday, he centered a line Tuesday and Wednesday with Johnny Gaudreau at left wing and Kirill Marchenko on the right.
The next step is playing a preseason game or two at that spot.
“He opened up,” Vincent said. “He said, ‘Hey, I want to do it. I want to try it. I think I can be pretty good at it.’ Fine, we’ll try it. But if it doesn’t work, we haven’t lost anything because he can go back on the wing and he’s got a better understanding of somebody else’s job. So, to me, it’s a win-win, especially to try it at this time of year.”
The flip side, if “Project Laine” works, is more fun for Blue Jackets coaches to daydream about.
“When I see Patrik, in the vision I have is when he skates the puck and he’s building speed through the neutral zone, he’s hard to stop,” Vincent said. “I mean, he’s a 6-foot-5 right-handed shot forward. If it works, it changes the picture of our group up front. If it doesn’t work, then it was a good try and we’ll move forward. To me, it’s intriguing to see him in that position.”
Should Laine stick in the middle, the Blue Jackets’ top four centers could be him on the first line, rookie Adam Fantilli on the second, Cole Sillinger or captain Boone Jenner on the third and Sean Kuraly with the fourth group. Either Jenner or Sillinger would potentially shift to the wing on a line that gains a second center.
Those kinds of options make coaches happy.
Daniil Tarasov’s knee causing uncertainty for Columbus Blue Jackets
A knee injury has projected backup goalie Daniil Tarasov on the shelf a week into camp and Vincent doesn't have a timetable for his return. That’s alarming considering the Jackets’ lack of goaltending depth plus starting goalie Elvis Merzlikins’ injury history.
Should Tarasov not return in time to handle the backup role, the Blue Jackets’ lone internal option at the moment is rookie Jet Greaves. They could also sign veteran Aaron Dell, who’s in camp on a professional tryout offer, or give Cleveland Monsters goalie Pavel Cajan an NHL deal.
Otherwise, they’d need to add an experienced backup.
“We’re still in September,” Vincent said. “I’m not worried. I’d like to see Daniil in the net. That’s the one thing that, if there’s any concerns, we want to see him. He’s got to play minutes. He’s got to do his reps and stuff like that, so whenever he’s ready (he will). But I don’t have a specific date for his return.”
Columbus Blue Jackets developing database on coaching challenges
Hockey teams will study anything if it might provide a competitive advantage, which is why the Blue Jackets are building a database about NHL coaching challenges.
Going back through the past two seasons, every challenge issued for goaltender interference is being examined for specific information ― such as which ref made the final determination or whether it was decided by the NHL's situation room in Toronto. The hope is to give Vincent and his staff more information to make a good decision within a 20-second window following goals.
One of those situations, an unsuccessful challenge for goaltender interference, cost the Blue Jackets during a 3-2 loss Tuesday in St. Louis. The Blues scored on a power play issued for delay of game triggered by the failed challenge, opening a 3-1 lead.
“It’s studying cases,” Vincent said. “So, every time there’s a situation, we try to study, ‘OK, is it consistent?’ We’re pretty deep into our research and who’s calling those challenges. We’re trying to dig and dig and dig, so we can make the right calls. Sometimes it’s a gut feeling … and on top of it, you have 20 seconds to make a decision (whether to challenge).”
During the contested play in St. Louis, Blues forward Brandon Saad entered the crease at the same time as the puck. He was pushed into Dell after the puck bounced off his skate, but the Blue Jackets felt replays showed Saad making contact with Dell before being checked into the goalie. That’s now how referee Frederick L’Ecuyer saw it.
Vincent spoke with L’Ecuyer prior to the game about the topic of goaltender interference and was told there’s “gray area” involved in hashing out those calls.
L’Ecuyer smiled when Vincent issued his challenge.
“I call him to the bench, and I say, ‘We’re going to challenge that one … I want to see what you’re going to do about this one,’” Vincent said. “He had a big grin on his face. His reaction was pretty funny, and he came back and said, ‘Well, he got pushed into the goalie.’ I said, ‘Hey, not arguing today. It’s an exhibition game. I don’t agree … I’m not going to argue, but I disagree.’ He said, ‘Well, that’s the gray area we were talking about.’”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 3 notes from Columbus Blue Jackets training camp
