There are precious few spots left on the Columbus Blue Jackets. It is coming down to the wire who actually will make the team and who will be sent back down to the Cleveland Monsters.
One player, in particular, Marko Dano has shown in the past that he could be an impactful player if given the opportunity. It only makes his journey with the team now all the more frustrating, that at this point he is a borderline player to make the roster.
Dano has always been an intriguing prospect due to his ability to skate with and without the puck. His instincts in his first season playing with the Blue Jackets were utterly outstanding. He found himself alone at the net-front many times over.
Now with Sonny Milano, Emil Bemstrom and Jacob Lilja all puting in impressive camps, Dano seems to be the odd man out. The best part about the preseason is the ability to impress enough to kick everyone to the curb.
There is only one game left to do so and it is against the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. Putting in the work has never been the problem for Dano the issue for him stems from being in the wrong place at the wrong time ironically enough. Whether that is with his prior teams or with the Blue Jackets.
Milano is going to need waivers to be sent down and they believe they can still get value for him. Bemstrom and Lilja have to deal with the SHL. Even from a basic and simplistic standpoint, the team has their decisions made.
Dano is good enough to make the team and it will take a good performance to prove everyone wrong. If anyone can do it though, it would definitely be him. Proving people wrong has been his thing since he has made the league. Who says he can't do it one more time?
