The Columbus Dispatch

Blue Jackets’ Voracek proved doubters wrong with longevity, skill

- Brian Hedger Columbus Dispatch USA TODAY NETWORK

Jakub Voracek always believed that he’d be in the NHL for a long time. ● In fact, he used to tell that regularly to his former Blue Jackets teammates as a brash young forward who played the first three years of his career in Columbus. Now 32, Voracek is making good on those prediction­s in a second stint with the Blue Jackets that followed a decade with the Philadelph­ia Flyers. ● Voracek, re-acquired by the Blue Jackets on July 24 for Cam Atkinson, couldn’t help but crow prior to playing his 1,000th NHL game Thursday in New Jersey.

“I remember like it was yesterday, especially Antoine Vermette,” Voracek said, recalling his former teammate with the Blue Jackets. “We were stallmates (in the locker room). He was sitting right next to me and, you know, by my lifestyle back in the day, I don’t think he thought I was going to be sticking around for five years — and here I am in year 14 and I’m sure I’ve surprised him a little bit ... and I surprised a lot of people.”

Another one he surprised is former Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel, who Voracek mentioned Wednesday as one of his biggest doubters.

“I remember Scott Arniel told me I was going to be out of the league in three years, my last year in Columbus,” Voracek said, “so I kind of told him what I thought and I told him to go ‘F’ himself, and I think that was one of the reasons why I got traded out of here (in 2011). But I knew I was going to be around.”

Voracek showed it in Philadelph­ia, where he compiled 604 of his 761 career points on 177 goals and 427 assists as one of the Flyers’ top forwards. Now he’s doing it for the Blue Jackets, coleading the team in scoring going into Thursday’s game against the New Jersey

Devils with 23 points (22 assists).

“I know exactly why he’s played 1,000,” said coach Brad Larsen, who played with a number of players who reached the 1,000-game mark. “It’s not just skill or his ability to make plays. He loves to play hockey . ... He loves coming to the rink, he loves to win, he hates losing, and, like every player, there’s things to work on … but I think that’s what drives him. He just enjoys competing and playing.”

Voracek also enjoys the spotlight. As years passed in Philadelph­ia, his contributi­ons and skills didn’t dip much, if at all.

He’s still one of the league’s top passers, with exemplary vision and hands. Voracek’s experience is valuable too, acting as a coach on the ice during power plays. He has meshed well with his new teammates in city he’d already known.

“When I was 25, 26, I didn’t think I was going to get there (to 1,000 games), but now I’m there and hopefully I’m going to have many more years,” Voracek said. “You never know what the final number (of games) is going to be, but as long as I’m relevant to the team and helping the team to win games and being in a position to be successful on the ice, I’ll play. As soon as I feel there is nothing I can offer, I’m going to call it.”

A glance at the NHL’S statistica­l leaders shows that a player with Voracek’s skills and experience is still quite valuable. Joe Pavelski, 37, is leading the Dallas Stars with 12 goals, 15 assists and 27 points. Corey Perry, 36, has 9-9-18 in a bottom-six role for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ryan Getzlaf, 36, has 2-20-22 for the Anaheim Ducks. Brad Marchand, 33, has 11-19-30 for the Boston Bruins. Anze Kopitar, 34, has 9-20-29 for the Los Angeles Kings.

And then there are aging superstars Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. Ovechkin, 36, is third in the league in scoring at 24-26-50 in just 34 games for the Washington Capitals, while Crosby has 5-17-22 in 20 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins after missing the start of the season with an injury.

Voracek will be 34 at the end of his contract, which carries an annual salary-cap charge of $8.25 million. It’s not a stretch to see him earning another deal and continuing to produce.

“Everybody’s different, you know what I mean?” Voracek said. “It’s all depending on how much you want to be in those positions and how much longer you want to play . ... As soon as I see the wheels start falling off, I don’t think I’m going to have a problem to call it, because I don’t want to be in the way anymore. As of now, I feel pretty good. I’m sure I can play for three or four more years. We’ll see what’s going to happen after.” bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedge­r

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States