Defenseman may play Thursday, Hitchcock says
- On his seventh day as a Blue Jacket, defenseman Anton Stralman finally met his new teammates and pulled a practice sweater over his head.
With a sense of relief in his voice, coach Ken Hitchcock sat down after his club's practice yesterday in GM Place and said: "It's good for him to be a part of our team."
Stralman, acquired in a trade with the Calgary Flames on Sept. 28, needed four days to get his U.S. work visa.
"It was a long few days," Stralman said. "I'm very glad that process is behind us now.
"I wanted to be in Columbus for (the home opener on) Saturday, but we won the game and that's what matters."
Stralman will not play tonight when the Blue Jackets face the Canucks.
But, with two full days of practice set for Tuesday and Wednesday in San Jose, Stralman could be ready to go against the Sharks on Thursday.
"I feel all right," Stralman said. "Not being on the ice for six days, it makes a bit of a difference. The hands and head are there, but maybe not the legs yet.
"It'll probably take a couple of days to get into it, but sometimes playing games is the best way to get back into it. If the coaches want me to play, I'm ready to go."
Stralman (6 feet 1, 193 pounds) is regarded as a skilled defenseman who can play the point on a power play, something the Blue Jackets can certainly use.
Commodore skates
Defenseman Mike Commodore, who missed the home opener because of a groin strain, skated by himself for 40 minutes yesterday.
He won't play tonight, Hitchcock said, but he might play Thursday in San Jose.
"We're going to elevate his activity and see where that takes us," Hitchcock said. "He didn't really push it today."
Rome in?
Canucks coach Alain Vigneault has ignored the local clamoring for sweeping line changes after the Canucks' 0-2 start.
Right winger Alex Burrows will stay on the No. 1 line with the Sedin twins, center Henrik and left winger Daniel.
There is a chance, however, that Vigneault will make changes lower in the lineup or on defense, one of which could include former Blue Jackets defenseman Aaron Rome.
Rome spent most of the past two seasons in the Blue Jackets organization, dressing for 25 NHL games. He signed a one-year contract with the Canucks this summer.
Slap shots
No lineup changes are expected for the Blue Jackets tonight. However, Hitchcock said back-up goaltender Mathieu Garon will make his first start for Columbus at some point on this trip. Also, forwards Derek Dorsett and Mike Blunden will see their first action. Stralman will wear No. 5, previously worn for the Blue Jackets by Jamie Pushor (2000 to '02, 2005 to '06), Darryl Sydor (2003 to '04) and Christian Backman (2008 to '09).
- On his seventh day as a Blue Jacket, defenseman Anton Stralman finally met his new teammates and pulled a practice sweater over his head.
With a sense of relief in his voice, coach Ken Hitchcock sat down after his club's practice yesterday in GM Place and said: "It's good for him to be a part of our team."
Stralman, acquired in a trade with the Calgary Flames on Sept. 28, needed four days to get his U.S. work visa.
"It was a long few days," Stralman said. "I'm very glad that process is behind us now.
"I wanted to be in Columbus for (the home opener on) Saturday, but we won the game and that's what matters."
Stralman will not play tonight when the Blue Jackets face the Canucks.
But, with two full days of practice set for Tuesday and Wednesday in San Jose, Stralman could be ready to go against the Sharks on Thursday.
"I feel all right," Stralman said. "Not being on the ice for six days, it makes a bit of a difference. The hands and head are there, but maybe not the legs yet.
"It'll probably take a couple of days to get into it, but sometimes playing games is the best way to get back into it. If the coaches want me to play, I'm ready to go."
Stralman (6 feet 1, 193 pounds) is regarded as a skilled defenseman who can play the point on a power play, something the Blue Jackets can certainly use.
Commodore skates
Defenseman Mike Commodore, who missed the home opener because of a groin strain, skated by himself for 40 minutes yesterday.
He won't play tonight, Hitchcock said, but he might play Thursday in San Jose.
"We're going to elevate his activity and see where that takes us," Hitchcock said. "He didn't really push it today."
Rome in?
Canucks coach Alain Vigneault has ignored the local clamoring for sweeping line changes after the Canucks' 0-2 start.
Right winger Alex Burrows will stay on the No. 1 line with the Sedin twins, center Henrik and left winger Daniel.
There is a chance, however, that Vigneault will make changes lower in the lineup or on defense, one of which could include former Blue Jackets defenseman Aaron Rome.
Rome spent most of the past two seasons in the Blue Jackets organization, dressing for 25 NHL games. He signed a one-year contract with the Canucks this summer.
Slap shots
No lineup changes are expected for the Blue Jackets tonight. However, Hitchcock said back-up goaltender Mathieu Garon will make his first start for Columbus at some point on this trip. Also, forwards Derek Dorsett and Mike Blunden will see their first action. Stralman will wear No. 5, previously worn for the Blue Jackets by Jamie Pushor (2000 to '02, 2005 to '06), Darryl Sydor (2003 to '04) and Christian Backman (2008 to '09).
