Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson controls the puck during the third period against the Detroit Red Wings in Detroit on March 26, 2012.(Photo: Carlos Osorio, AP)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Coach Todd Richards likely won’t forget that when Jack Johnson was traded last season from the Los Angeles Kings to the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets, he walked into his new dressing room like he had just won the lottery.
Johnson expedited his travel plans to ensure he could play in his first game that night and was disappointed he couldn’t because Jeff Carter, the other player in the deal, hadn’t taken his physical.
“He was a breath of fresh air. … The next day, we were on a plane to Pittsburgh, and he could play that game, and then we saw how he played that game,” Richards recalled. “Talk about winning your teammates over.”
COLUMN: Blue Jackets on Davidson’s leadership[1]
Richards isn’t close to deciding who will replace Rick Nash as captain, but Johnson, an alternate captain, is among the front-runners.
“He loves the game. He’s passionate about the game. He wants to be at the rink,” Richards said. “He wants to get better. He wants to win hockey games. He wants to be a champion. He wants all of those things, and he’s driven by it.”
Richards recalls a day late last season when he had given the team the day off. It was very quiet in his office and he headed off to the weight room, where he found Johnson doing squats.
“He had just played 30 minutes (the night before),” Richards said. “And this wasn’t light weight, either. This was heavy, heavy weight.”
Blue Jackets President John Davidson has also been impressed by Johnson’s attitude and work ethic. “He is so strong he should be a linebacker in football,” Davidson said. “He’s 230 pounds, and it’s large weight.”
However, Johnson isn’t a sure bet to be named captain. Other candidates:
-R.J. Umberger: This is his fifth season in Columbus, and he’s Mr. Consistency. He is durable and has averaged 23.5 goals a season in his career with the Blue Jackets. He has an outgoing personality, friendly with the news media. He also played for Ohio State, which adds to his popularity.
-Derek Dorsett: Plays with heart and intensity, piling up more than 200 penalty minutes last season. He’s an alternate captain. He scored 12 goals last season. The only question is how much his role will expand.
-James Wisniewski: The Blue Jackets’ big free agent signee two summers ago, and he’s known as one of the league’s ultra-competitors.
NHL captains
References
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/columnist/allen/2013/02/01/columbus-blue-jackets-bank-on-team-president-john-davidson/1882271/ (www.usatoday.com)
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