At one point, John Tortorella could barely pronounce the kid's name.
He fumbled with it a couple times before defaulting to "Heineken," with profuse unspoken apologies to Labatt, the Blue Jackets' beer sponsor. That basically sums up how anonymous Markus Hannikainen was and might still be to those not privy to the daily workings of the Blue Jackets.
But at some point, and perhaps sooner than later, this looks like a player who could be a regular NHLer. Before you "well, actually" me with the fact he holds a one-way contract for this season, do note that it's far from a guarantee he gets regular playing time. Hannikainen is waiver-exempt, however.
Having a one-way contract means Hannikainen will earn the same amount of money ($650,000 this season) whether he plays in Columbus or Cleveland.
Hannikainen often joked last season that he was becoming quite familiar with the I-71 route between Columbus and Cleveland. Sorry kid, that's nothing to brag about...unless you're a huge fan of Grandpa's Cheesebarn. With nine recalls before the trade deadline, he probably knows by now to avoid the Taco Bell/Popeye's gas station travel mart in Ashland at all costs.
Not speaking from experience. Just saying.
The Blue Jackets would like to see a training camp performance from Hannikainen that removes all doubt and ensures he won't be headed back to Cleveland. The 24-year-old was undrafted and signed by the Blue Jackets in April 2015 after coming up through the Jokerit organization in Finland; he's been a steady character for the Cleveland Monsters over the past few seasons, but this fall, there's a different vibe.
Markus Hnnikinen is confident after training camp and is ready for preseason games to start tomorrow.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/qMCFUgpPkB
— ColumbusBlueJackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) September 18, 2017
With uncertainty surrounding Josh Anderson and a few vacancies in the bottom six, this represents the best opportunity yet for Hannikainen. He told reporters this week that he's added weight and muscle via intensified offseason training, which had to be music to Tortorella's ears as he has praised Hannikainen's strength and relentlessness along the boards.
| SEASON | GP | GOALS | ASSISTS |
| 2015-16 (CLE) | 50 | 7 | 13 |
| 2015-16 (CBJ) | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016-17 (CLE) | 57 | 19 | 18 |
| 2016-17 (CBJ) | 10 | 1 | 1 |
Hannikainen was also responsible for three goals and 10 points in Cleveland's 16-game championship run at the end of 2015-16.
The life of a regular NHL recall -- aka, the "yo-yo guy" -- isn't glamorous (aside from the NHL paycheck): it's a lot of travel, many long days and nights and sometimes a cross-country flight only hours before you're expected to throw on the gear and play.
What it does mean, though, is the coaching staff has enough trust to know you'll step in and fit in regardless of the circumstance. When they need a guy, you're the guy. In this career stage, you're as close to an NHLer as you can be, but Hannikainen is confident that his training camp record will be enough to keep him in Columbus for the long haul.
"I'm ready to take the spot, and I'm ready to take it," he said this week. "I'm ready, I'm prepared. I'm going to give all I've got and I'm sure it will happen."
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