Hartnell stays; reward of playoffs draws near

Scott Hartnell keeps his hair tightly cropped these days, almost in a crew cut. Even with the Stanley Cup playoffs looming this spring, the veteran Blue Jackets forward has no plans to bring back his bright orange Ogie Ogilthorpe.

He actually chuckled at the thought.

“It would probably come in gray,” Hartnell said.

Hartnell is the same person he has always been — a quick wit, a character, a throwback. But the 34- year- old also is defying the adage about old dogs and new tricks.

After requesting a trade at the end of last season — then asking not to be traded and re- asserting his no- move clause in August — Hartnell is now thrilled that he and the club didn’t part ways.

“When I came here ( 2014), the team was on a real high,” said Hartnell, who waived his no- trade clause then to facilitate his trade out of Philadelphia. “Then two bad years and a new coach … big changes.

“I think about ( not being traded) all the time, every day. The attitude and the atmosphere, the business- like approach that’s here now … I’ve had that with other teams, and now it’s here. I’m so excited for the rest of the season and the playoffs.”

New role, new approach

In his 16th NHL season, Hartnell is playing the fewest minutes ( 12: 05 per game) and has taken the fewest penalty minutes ( 41) since he was a know- yourplace rookie with Nashville in 2000- 01.

The playing time bites at Hartnell. It’s 3 ½ minutes less per game than he played last season, and more than five minutes less than he played in 2014- 15.

“I’m sure he’s frustrated, but this is the evolution of a team,” Tortorella said. “I’m sure he leaves the building some nights ( after games) and he’s really aggravated.

“But he has been outstanding with how he has handled himself.”

It’s true that Hartnell and Tortorella have had their issues. Tortorella made Hartnell a healthy scratch last season for “sloppy” play — his defensive positioning and a flurry of bad penalties.

But two of the hardest heads in Nationwide Arena have agreed to disagree on some issues, and they’ve learned to find middle ground on others.

For instance, Tortorella said Hartnell has worked really hard to improve his defensive positioning, a claim that makes Hartnell grin and shake his head.

“Torts has misconceptions of my play in the defensive zone,” Hartnell said. “The first part of the year we went through some tape, and there weren’t too many times I was out of position. It made him realize I’m not a liability defensively.”

On this they agree: Hartnell needed to be less reckless with his temper and tactics on the ice.

“The game has changed,” Hartnell said. “When you put your team down a skater now, it’s a bigger deal. You have to be smarter about it.”

’ Tis the season

The Blue Jackets lost to Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2013- 14 playoffs, then added Hartnell — who is loathed by the Penguins — the following summer. The expectation was that playoff spots would be a rite of spring in Columbus.

Heading into tonight’s game in Ottawa, the Blue Jackets have the thirdbest record in the NHL, and the second best in the Eastern Conference.

The playoffs are why they added Hartnell.

“I’m filling a certain role right now,” Hartnell said. “But come playoff time, those third- and fourth- line guys, they’re going to be the biggest players and the biggest factors in the series.

“You wear on teams. You’re physical. You’re annoying. You’re always on the puck, and it gets frustrating for them.”

Tortorella has refused to look too far ahead on the calendar. But the thought of Hartnell playing for his club in the postseason brought a smile.

“He’s going to do some big things,” Tortorella said. “If we get the opportunity to play, he’s going to do some big things, because those are the kind of guys who understand the pressure.”