Injuries test Jackets’ depth at forward
The Blue Jackets have been lucky with injuries thus far this season, but they’ve hit a bump in the road in recent weeks.
Currently without two-thirds of their fourth line, Brandon Dubinsky (hamstring) and Markus Hannikainen (elbow), the Jackets initially dipped into their organizational depth to get through it. They already have called upon a couple of rookie forward prospects, Eric Robinson and Kevin Stenlund, and might be close to giving New Albany native Kole Sherwood a shot to play.
“His name has come by my desk in discussions with (assistant GM Bill Zito) and (general manager Jarmo Kekalainen) for a number of weeks now, as far as how he has skated,” coach John Tortorella said of Sherwood, who was recalled from the Cleveland Monsters on Sunday and then reassigned Monday.
“We all know how fast he is and how he’s applied himself to his game, so that’s why (he was) here. We’re just a little banged up at forward. But we’ve got some really good reports on him.”
The Blue Jackets had received similar reports on Robinson and Stenlund, each of whom was given a chance to play in the past two weeks.
Robinson made his season debut Jan. 5 at Florida and played three games, primarily filling a spot while captain Nick Foligno was away in Boston for his daughter’s recovery from heart surgery.
Stenlund made his NHL debut Saturday in Washington and has played the past two games on a line with Anthony Duclair and center Alexander Wennberg.
“I liked him in camp,”
Tortorella said of the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Stenlund, who also can play center. “He’s a big body, he won a couple faceoffs (against the Capitals). First period (in Washington), I thought he did some really good things on the wall, made a couple of nice little 5-foot plays. (He) wasn’t overwhelmed by any means.”
Most important for Stenlund is that Tortorella wasn’t underwhelmed by his play. The same could be said for Robinson, despite his being sent back to Cleveland. Robinson is also big, listed at 6 feet 2, 200 pounds, and has top-end speed similar to
Josh Anderson (6-3, 221).
The Blue Jackets also have a trio of veteran forwards playing well in Cleveland, each of whom has NHL experience.
Zac Dalpe has 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) and centers the top line; Nathan Gerbe has 29 points (nine goals, 20 assists) and plays on the wing; and center Mark Letestu has 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists). Alex Broadhurst, a forward who made his NHL debut last season, has 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists).
The Blue Jackets have also leaned on defenseman Dean Kukan recently, playing him in three of the past five games when Scott Harrington and Ryan Murray were out with illnesses.
“It’s really encouraging, as far as the couple guys that we’ve brought up here and then Kuks stepping up after missing so much (time as a healthy scratch), giving us some good minutes,” Tortorella said. “I look at Stenlund, I look at (Kukan), I look at (Robinson) coming up here and playing a couple games. It’s encouraging for us to see some guys stepping in here and playing.”