Atkinson joins in full practice
LAS VEGAS — When Cam Atkinson took a shot off his skate last month, the Blue Jackets wing suffered what is known medically as a “Jones fracture.”
At least he could find some humor in it.
When told by a nurse what his fracture was called, Atkinson laughed figuring she had been watching the game. The shot off Atkinson’s foot came from teammate Seth Jones.
“I laughed because Seth Jones is the one who broke my foot,” Atkinson said Monday afternoon. “She was like, ‘Shut up, his name is Jones?’ He owes me a couple of dinners. I need to take full advantage of that.”
Atkinson needed surgery on his right foot with two small screws put in place to secure the broken fifth metatarsal bone.
On Monday at T-Mobile Arena, Atkinson joined the team for a full practice in advance of a game Tuesday night at the Vegas Golden Knights.
Atkinson was said to miss four to six weeks when the fracture was discovered after the Jackets’ final game before the Christmas break, but he hopes to be back in the lineup much sooner.
“I feel good, I’m surprisingly shocked at how fast it healed and is coming along,” said Atkinson, who has been skating the past few days. “I have to talk to the doctors so I’m not making any promises. ... Initially, getting the boot on is the worst part. But when I get out there skating it feels pretty good.”
Atkinson was hurt when a hard shot from Jones snapped off his skate boot in the first period of that game on Dec. 23 against the Flyers.
Despite the pain, Atkinson continued to play on logging almost 23 minutes in the shootout victory. He didn’t dare take off his skate during intermission knowing the swelling which would follow.
“I have blocked enough shots where they are stingers, you shake your foot and it goes away,” Atkinson said. “The worst part was walking to the locker room in between periods. I just couldn’t do it.”
As for Atkinson’s potential return, coach John Tortorella would only say Atkinson is “day to day.” He can come off the injured reserve list at any time.
In mourning
Nick Foligno said he was “shocked” when he heard of the sudden passing of USA Hockey general manager and longtime Team USA executive Jim Johannson, who died in his sleep Sunday. Johannson was 53. “It breaks your heart,” Foligno said, “not only as the guy who runs USA Hockey, but as a family man. I remember talking to him when he was going to have a baby and he was so excited. My heart breaks for the whole family, those close to him and to USA Hockey. It’s a big loss for the organization.”
Slap shot
The Blue Jackets acquired goalie Jeff Zatkoff (48 NHL games) from the Los Angeles Kings for future considerations on Monday and assigned him to minorleague Cleveland.