Blue Jackets’ Dunne brimming with confidence
It didn’t take long for Josh Dunne to get his NHL “starstruck” moment out of the way.
A month after signing with the Blue Jackets out of Clarkson University last season, the 6-foot-4 center skated toward the dot at center ice in Dallas to take an opening face-off against one of the league’s top power forwards.
“It was against Jamie Benn,” said Dunne, who gained a memory despite losing the draw. “That was pretty cool. I’m like, ‘This is the real deal.’ ”
It was the first of six games Dunne, 22, played with Columbus before heading back to the Cleveland Monsters to finish his first season of professional hockey. He also remembers skating against stars like Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov and Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman during his brief NHL stint, which built Dunne’s confidence and eased any lingering nervous feelings about playing in the world’s best league.
It’s a different feeling now, as Dunne heads into his first NHL training camp with a goal of earning a spot on the Jackets’ roster. He’s more comfortable mingling with established NHL players and feels prepared after spending the offseason in Columbus, working on his strength, nutrition and skating.
“I was here this summer, so I worked with the (development) staff,” Dunne said. “I had some good skill stuff this year and I’m feeling ready for camp. I feel like I’ve gotten a little bit quicker, I’ve lost a little bit of weight, and I feel like I’m in better shape than I was last year. So, I’m excited.”
The early returns are encouraging. Dunne was a force at both ends of the ice in the Blue Jackets’ first three games of the 2021 Traverse City NHL Prospects Tournament, which began Thursday with his overtime goal in a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dunne also notched the Jackets’ second “Gordie Howe hat trick” of the tournament with a goal, assist and fighting major in a 7-3 victory Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings. Centering the second line, he’s provided a strong physical presence and used his
size effectively in all zones, especially on draws.
Chinakhov making it look as easy as “1-2-3”
Forward Yegor Chinakhov, 20, had a hat trick for the Blue Jackets on Sunday in a 7-3 rout of the host Detroit Red Wings at Centre Ice Arena, giving him six goals in three games of the tournament, all Columbus victories. He began with a goal in the team’s 4-3 overtime victory Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, added two goals in a 5-3 victory Friday over the Dallas Stars and then torched the Red Wings. In a precautionary move, he and Cole Sillinger were healthy scratches for Monday’s rematch against Toronto.
Big Ben
Ben Boyd had seven goals and 10 points in 35 games for the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season, but that’s not why the Blue Jackets drafted him in July.
They used a sixth-round pick (No. 165) on Boyd because he’s big (6-3, 205), skates well and provides an intimidation factor.
“I don’t know if other people like it, but … I like getting under people’s skin and getting people mad at me, to be honest,” said Boyd, who had a goal and assist against Detroit. “I enjoy that. I like hitting people. And if they want to answer to me, then great. I would be happy to (accept).”