It wouldn't be a pre-season media day without a smorgasbord of random updates encompassing several different topics, would it?
When the GM leans into the microphone and reads off his list of items, that's his hopeful method of insinuating "let's move on from this now, shall we?" In the Blue Jackets' case, a few of those are going to linger and remain fodder for discussion deep into training camp, provided things don't change between now and then.
After John Davidson and Jarmo Kekalainen took their turns on the dais, we heard from Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, who talked about expectations and the likelihood of repeating their 16-game winning streak.
They will be short a few regulars when camp officially begins on Thursday morning with medicals. Their first on-ice sessions are Friday at the OhioHealth Ice Haus, and this season, the Blue Jackets won't play their first preseason games until early next week. With Tortorella's demanding physical workouts and the two-mile run on tap, the players are going to need some recovery time.
Boone Jenner
When the first whistle blows on Friday morning, the Blue Jackets will be without both of their alternate captains: Boone Jenner and Brandon Dubinsky. Jenner, it was announced by Kekalainen, is battling a "middle body injury" and won't be on the ice early in camp.
The goal is for him to join the team in the weeks ahead once he's back up to speed.
"We won't rush him," said Kekalainen. "He should be in for enough exhibition games to be ready for the season opener."
The Blue Jackets open the regular season on Friday, Oct. 6 at Nationwide Arena against the New York Islanders.
Alexander Wennberg
This one wasn't an injury update (whew), but Wennberg has been dealing with immigration issues and is expected to arrive in Columbus on Thursday. The Blue Jackets signed Wennberg to a six-year, $29.4 million deal two weeks ago after a summer's worth of negotiations.
"It's taken a little more time than we anticipated," Kekalainen said of Wennberg's immigration.
Brandon Dubinsky
Dubinsky underwent wrist surgery this summer and is expected to be back early in the regular season (if not before). Taking into account the way Kekalainen spoke on Wednesday, the Blue Jackets may be targeting a return sooner than anticipated.
"We're going to make sure he's (at) 100 percent health and strong before we get him started into the exhibition games," Kekalainen said.
It would certainly be welcomed news for the Blue Jackets, who have a few balls in the air with their roster as training camp begins. Not having Dubinsky in the lineup would be a big blow, especially after losing William Karlsson in the expansion draft and not yet knowing what they have in Pierre-Luc Dubois.
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