Young players see where they stand

The start of the regular season is two weeks away, and that means some changes to Blue Jackets training camp.

With two exhibition games complete and three in the next three days, coach John Tortorella split his roster into two groups for the morning skate Friday. On the ice at Nationwide Arena was one group, filled with the likes of Sergei Bobrovsky, Nick Foligno and Zach Werenski. At the Ice Haus was another group with Calvin Thurkauf, Justin Scott and others.

Or, as Tortorella put it, group one and group two.

“It’s pretty clearly defined,” he said. “It sends a thought to the players: Whether you like it or not, this is where you’re at. And if they want to come and talk to me about it, they will.”

The groups were not cleanly divided for the Blue Jackets’ game Friday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Former Ohio State player Zac Dalpe, who was in group one, said the rosters were posted when players arrived for the morning skate and workouts.

“One or two groups, it doesn’t change my mentality,” he said. “I see who’s on the ice and I understand, but that’s not going to make me comfortable in any way.”

Personnel dept.

Brandon Dubinsky continues to make progress after undergoing offseason wrist surgery. He was active in contact drills and Tortorella said he’s coming along nicely.

The Blue Jackets have brought in John Mitchell on a professional tryout after he made 65 appearances for Colorado last season and had three goals and four assists with a minus-12 rating.

His addition came partly in response to the loss of Sam Vigneault, who suffered a broken finger this week and will miss four to six weeks.

“He’s a good man, good faceoff guy,” Tortorella said. “He’s a very smart player. He doesn’t do anything great, but he’s a good, solid player. He’s a good pro and he’s a good person in the locker room.”

Center Boone Jenner remains out because of an undisclosed middle-body injury, and Tortorella didn’t give any indication when he might be back.

Defenseman John Ramage will miss two to four weeks because of a hamstring injury, center Jordan Schroeder is day-to-day and did not practice Friday, and the Blue Jackets released Hayden Hodgson from camp.

Right wing Josh Anderson remains out of camp in a contract dispute. A message to his agent was not immediately returned.