Perseverance puts Kukan on cusp of dream

Dean Kukan left his home in Switzerland with the goal of becoming a defenseman in the National Hockey League.

After getting a taste of the big leagues two seasons ago, he spent last year in the minors with the Cleveland Monsters. He didn’t let that setback deter him, however, saying he would not “give up on the dream.” In the offseason, he signed another contract with Columbus.

After stops in Sweden and now a tour of northeast and central Ohio, Kukan feels he is close to fulfilling his dream of being a fulltime NHL player.

On Tuesday, Kukan was in the Blue Jackets' lineup for the fifth consecutive game.

“I’m pretty close to my dream right now, but I haven’t made the NHL yet. I just don’t think I have ever been this close,” said Kukan, who recorded his first career NHL points on assists in games against Minnesota and San Jose last week.

"I’m older, more experienced and more confident in my game. I have played four games, and each one has been better and better. I’m trying to figure things out, but I think things have been going well."

Kukan, 24, was called up to Columbus after spending the start of this season in Cleveland and was a healthy scratch for a month.

On Jan. 25 in Arizona, coach John Tortorella put him in the lineup for the first time at the expense of Scott Harrington — who had not been a healthy scratch in 24 consecutive games.

Harrington was scratched again Tuesday after missing Saturday’s game against the Islanders because of illness.

Tortorella said Kukan is getting a chance to play because he gets the puck out of the Columbus zone.

“He can pass the puck. He passes the puck well,” Tortorella said. “I think Harrington is a different-style player, is more physical. Kukan isn’t strong enough or built like Harrington to take up space like that, so he relies more on positioning and stick work to get position. … Moving pucks is a big part of playing defense these days.”

Kukan, who is a restricted free agent following this season, said he didn’t let not playing in Columbus bother him and said the experience of practicing with the Jackets and watching games from a different vantage point may have been to his benefit.

“Last year was tough, but Columbus had a great team and great defensemen and there were no injuries,” said Kukan, who played eight games with the Jackets two seasons ago. “I left home over six years ago, and I know that I am close now.”

Time to pass

Forward Alexander Wennberg has been moved from playing away from the net and placed in position down low.

Tortorella said the Jackets can utilize Wennberg’s passing skills from that position; Wennberg can also create some room in front of the net.

“He likes to pass the puck and doesn’t like to shoot it, obviously,” Tortorella said. “We’re putting him in a spot where he has to pass the puck … He has made some really good pays low, and I think he feels comfortable. He’s not afraid. He’s willing to be there.”

Slap shots

Harrington and winger Markus Hannikainen were Tuesday’s healthy scratches. ... Injured defenseman Ryan Murray skated for the second consecutive day. Murray has been out with what is suspected to be a back injury since November.