Media day luncheon was today and I don't know how other organizations do it but the CBJ impressed. More access and time to spend with players 1 on 1 than I thought would be available. Here are some of the things that I found out.
I was having lunch and Scott Howson sat down with me at my table and was able to talk to him for about 20 minutes. Talked about a lot of things non-hockey related but when I brought up matt Calvert and the way he has played at the Traverse City Tournament, his eyes lit up. "He's a player and really has a chance to play in the NHL."
During the traditional part of the press conference, Howson said there would be 8-9 new faces on this team come the start of the season. he said "we have to be a true team to be able to make the playoffs and non of the teams that made it last year are going to just give us their spot." he also said 3 more players are going to be added to the training camp roster but didn't hint on who they might be. He said that it would put the training camp roster at 61 to 62 players. Nikita Filatov might be on the ice next week.
Note: As I was walking through the under belly of Nationwide Arena, I saw Filatov on dry land with a net set up just whistling pucks into the net. The guy just can't stay away from the rink.
Then hitch started and he said you will definitely see an "A" group and a "B" group and it will be real evident on who is who. You can tell that he wants the team that will be there on opening night to start being a cohesive group. 1st 3 days of camp will have very limited scrimmaging and mostly working on chemistry. Hitch also said he already has a sense of focus before camp even starts.
Some of the questions answered:
Is there a pressure to make the playoffs due to declining ticket sales?
Howson: There's pressure all the time and it comes internally as well as from the fans and media.
Hitchcock: We're lucky to have our support with almost no success...Got more support than we deserve based off our play.
What kind of players have the Jackets added to the squad?
Hitchcock: When we were looking to bring in players, we want to find players that love the game of hockey and all things about it. We want the players that love to practice and play and everything else that goes with hockey.
Most of the other questions were rehash questions that have been answered a hundred times before but during the whole press conference, Hitchcock kept saying we had the players now "to start the battle and finish the battle every night." You can really tell that Hitch is excited to finally have the horses to play the way he wants to play and succeed doing it.
After the regular press conference I got a side bar with Hitchcock and asked him about Kristian Huselius. Here are some of the things I covered.
ES: Hitch, Huselius doesn't fit the profile of the other players that were brought in being big and strong type players, how will he fit due to this?
KH: Kristian is a competitor. Some players compete and do it with grit. Kristian is competitive with skill. He's competitive with the puck and is willing to take a hit to make a play. Once he has the puck he is going to make a play. He also isn't afraid to get into the difficult areas on the ice to make plays. He can play in traffic or other areas that other players don't want to go.
ES: You keep talking about Huselius making plays. Do you see him more as a playmaker or a goal scorer?
KH: If you would watch him in the captain practices that are going on right now, you would swear that he is a playmaker but we know he can score. He knows how to score (at this time you could really tell that he was having a tough decision to put a tag on Huselius) I would really say it is 50/50. He can do both very well. He does want to pass though. The big thing with him is that he does things at top speed. He is different than Zherdev. Zherdev did it with incredible puck and stick control but Huselius does everything at top speed. We have never had a player than could do what he does at top speed. Zherdev did it with his stick; Huselius does it with his feet.
Now we moved into the individual player interviews. Here are some individual things from each player:
Mike Commodore:
We have to get out of the gate fast. It can be easy to let points slip away at the beginning of the season but you have to earn points right from the beginning of the season. With Carolina we came out hard and earned a lot of points early. It made it easier when at Thanksgiving you have built up a good point total versus saying we need to start making up ground.
Loves winning. Life goes a lot better with winning. I hate to lose. In Ottawa we went on that bad streak and I hated it. I can't go through that again.
I am excited to set roots. I have moved around a lot and I excited to be with this team.
Pascal Leclaire:
We have added a lot of good defenseman. It will make my job easier. I am excited to start playing with the new players we have. I like the guys in the locker room.
Knew the contract would get done and it didn't matter if it happens right after the season or when it did.
Said he won't play different with the new defense in front of him. He will get used to how they play though in the preseason games
Rusty Klesla:
Yes, we have a playoff team. This group is more serious and focused than before.
Ask about the ages being closer together since most players are between 26 and 32. Klesla said is a lot better in the locker room because of it. We like playing together.
Klesla said that this is a great organization with great place to play and practice. Great general manager and coach and the only thing missing is the winning. He said the fans would be really excited to have a winner.
RJ Umberger:
We're competitive and we know we can win with the guys we have here.
Great to be back in Columbus.
Said what he brings to the ice speaks for itself. Believes the experience that he gained with the Flyers going to the playoffs will help with this team because they also had to bring several new players together to be able to play as a team. This experience will help him do that here. He also said that what made it happen in Philadelphia last year was because they had they right type of leadership, no one was uncomfortable with anyone, good friends and no clichés, one tight group.
Anxious to get started.
Rick Nash
Thinks it is important to have a young captain with all the young players on the team.
He has been here 5 years and said that they need to give back for the loyalty that the fans have given the team.
Said it is important to win now because careers go fast. He stated that he started at 18 and now he is already 24 and captain of the team. When talking to him you can tell that he has really accepted his role as captain. He said he knows there is more responsibility and knows the team wants him to be captain for the long term. He said leading by example is the most important thing he can bring in regards to being captain. Said he talked with Steve Yzerman and Jayson Allison in the off season to get some pointers as well as Hitchcock gave him some things to read that also helped.
Asked him about how he juggled such a busy off season with the World Championships and launching the new 2K9 game and still come into camp in the shape that Hitch expects. Stated that his 1st priority was to be on the ice and come into camp in shape.
Asked him about his 2K9 experience and he said it was an eye opener and it really educated him on all the things that go into making the game.
Well there you have it. A little look at what happens at the media day luncheon. I will have another story on Friday after the boys have their physicals and we are able to sit down and talk with many more players.
You have a question you want me to ask Friday. Fire a question my way via e-mail and I will do my best to get it answered.
Fire The Cannon!
Eric Smith
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Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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