BLUE JACKETS VS. STARS
3:30 P.M. TODAY
CENTRE ICE ARENA (DAVID'S RINK)
TRAVERSE CITY, MICH.
TV/STREAM: FOX SPORTS GO & BLUEJACKETS.COM
THE SKINNY
After back-to-back titles at the NHL Prospects Tournament in 2014 and 2015, the Blue Jackets finished third last year and dealt with an early injury scare to captain Zach Werenski, who made only a brief appearance in game action.
They're bringing a different look this season, led by 2016 first-round pick Pierre-Luc Dubois, who enters the weekend as the unquestioned focal point for the Blue Jackets. Dubois is also a leading contender for the vacant third-line center role in Columbus, but he'll need to show the coaches and management more than he did a year ago if he's going to stick around for opening night.
Their first game of the tournament is a 3:30 p.m. start today against the Dallas Stars, who will be without highly-regarded defenseman Miro Heiskanen (the third overall pick in 2017). According to Mark Stepneski of DallasStars.com, Heiskanen suffered a head injury last weekend while playing in Europe and will not play in Traverse City. The Stars expect Heiskanen to be ready for their main camp, which begins Sept. 15.
One to Watch: Vitaly Abramov
As we mentioned in yesterday's Traverse City tournament primer, Abramov comes into this fall with a laser focus on making the NHL roster. He had a strong close to the season with Cleveland (AHL), but as he can't play there full-time this fall, his options are the NHL or junior hockey with the possibility of Europe still up in the air. Abramov was good in spurts last September in Traverse City and figures to be a key part of the Blue Jackets' run this time around -- so we should not be surprised if he sees a lot of ice time on Dubois' wing and in a variety of situations.
