Rookie Robinson gets look on third line
SUNRISE, Fla. — There wasn’t any hoopla, nor was there a solo lap to start the pregame warmup.
Eric Robinson simply suited up for the Blue Jackets as an NHL rookie this time, making his season debut Saturday night against the Florida Panthers as the left wing on the third line.
“It’s an important game right in the middle of the regular season,” said Robinson, who was recalled Monday from the Cleveland Monsters as a roster addition while captain Nick Foligno is away for his daughter’s recovery from surgery. “It’s a competitive division, so every game, every win is important. It’s a little bit different than the first one and I’m hoping that’s in a positive way.”
The “first one,” was his NHL debut last season, which happened in Nashville to conclude the regular season. The Blue Jackets and Predators had already secured playoff spots, so nothing but seeding in the Eastern Conference was at stake for Columbus — which rested most of its regulars as healthy scratches.
It was basically a just reward for Robinson, who signed with Columbus in March as an undrafted college free agent from Princeton — finishing the season by tagging along for the final couple of weeks of the season.
Saturday’s game was a different story, with the Jackets coming off a frustrating loss Friday at the Carolina Hurricanes to open a three-game trip. There was more at stake against the Panthers, so Robinson got a good chance to showcase his tantalizing combination of size, speed and skill.
After drawing early comparisons to Josh Anderson, a highoctane power forward, it was a natural fit for Robinson to start out at left wing on Anderson’s line — centered by Boone Jenner, another power forward.
“I want to see him play,” coach John Tortorella said of Robinson, who had 10 goals, 19 points and played on the top line in Cleveland. “He has a big body with great speed. I want to see if he can play. I’m anxious to see him play.”
Where’s Sonny?
Tortorella said there are other players in Cleveland pushing for possible NHL call-ups, including Zac Dalpe and Kevin Stenlund, but didn’t initially mention Sonny Milano.
Tortorella doesn’t currently see a good fit in Columbus for Milano, whom the Blue Jackets selected 16th overall in 2014. Milano, 22, spent most of last year in the NHL as a rookie and started this season with the Blue Jackets — scoring one goal in eight games. He has seven goals and 11 assists in 19 games with the Monsters, but there’s no room for his top-six game on the Jackets’ top two lines.
“He has done some really good things down there,” Tortorella said. “We haven’t forgotten him. I just don’t want him here playing in a third, fourth-line role. I don’t think it helps his development. He’s still a very young guy.” Leading without captain
Foligno missed his third straight game to be with his family while 5-year-old daughter, Milana, recovers from surgery Monday related to a congenital heart condition.
Milana is a source of motivation, but Foligno’s absence creates an emotional void that alternate captains Seth Jones, Cam Atkinson and Jenner are trying to fill.
“You can see what he does on the ice, but off the ice he does a lot for this team,” Jenner said. “It’s on us as the other leaders on the team to take some of the void away and keep trying to speak up more and do stuff that Nick would do if he was here. It’s definitely a big void when he’s missing.”
bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger