Defensive pair impressive in home exhibition debut
By J. Justin Boggs, Columbus Wired, Photos by Dave Weissman

As Columbus Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock and general manager Scott Howson work towards finalizing their roster for the season debut on Oct. 3 against the Minnesota Wild, a pair of young defensemen are vying for one of the last spots on the squad.

John Moore, 19, and Grant Clitsome, 24, had an excellent chance to prove themselves in the Blue Jackets’ 5-1 preseason victory over the Minnesota Wild Monday evening. The pairing both received about 18 minutes of playing time, several of which was during the power play. 

Both players notched a point Monday. Clitsome scored a goal after receiving a well placed pass from Derick Brassard late in the first period. Moore got a second assist on Columbus’ first goal midway through the first period.
 

“(Moore’s) first two and a half periods were really good.,“ Hitchcock said. “The thing he does (so well), he snaps the puck up the ice.  John, for a young guy, is very strong."

“It is a pretty big jump in terms of the speed and size of these guys,” Moore said about the difference between the USHL and NHL
levels. “I think I can skate with them. Skating is one of my biggest strengths. It is just a matter of getting stronger and winning those
battles.”

Moore is one of Columbus’ top prospects as he was their first draft pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at No. 21 overall. He played with the Chicago Steel of the USHL the last two seasons and is slated to play for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. After Moore has scored three points in three preseason games played, that decision to send him to major juniors might be difficult.

“I have no idea (if I am going to Kitchener),” Moore said. “I am just taking it day-by-day and hopefully there is a tomorrow.

Clitsome on the other hand has worked hard to get to the brink of an NHL spot. He was drafted in the ninth round by Columbus in 2004. After spending four years for the Clarkson Knights at the NCAA Division I level, he joined the Syracuse Crunch and had a solid rookie professional campaign.

“They have told me that I am in the mix but it is going to battle to the end,” Clitsome said. “I just have to keep playing hard.”

As of now, Mike Commodore, Jan Hejda, Rostislav Klesla, Kris Russell, and Fedor Tyutin appear to be sure bets as members of the Blue Jackets’ defensive core. Marc Methot also appears to be the sixth member. Typically teams will carry a seventh defenseman on the roster. Hitchcock said that if Moore is not one of the top six, do not expect him to play in Columbus.

“I think the competition is really heating up there,” Hitchcock said,  “I think it is that sixth and seventh (spot) we are getting a push for - a push from John (Moore), a push from Grant (Clitsome), we are getting a real push from Mathieu Roy.”

Torres leaves game early

Blue Jackets forward Raffi Torres left a preseason game early for the second straight year with an injury, this time the injury does not appear to be serious. Torres is said to be day-to-day with back spasms. Torres said following the game he could have played but was held out as a precaution.

Torres’ injury is one of now quite a few to a growing list of injuries the squad has suffered during the preseason. R.J. Umberger, Mike Commodore, and Tyutin are also listed as day-to-day with minor injuries.

“This is always my pet peeve because you come from summer hockey to training camp to your into games right away,” Hitchcock said. “It has always bothered me that the players have not been able to practice on their own and everything is so short. There is no slow built up. There is two days of training camp and then we’re playing a game, so it is hard. This is the effects of the training camp and games in a short period of time.”

In a preseason game last season, Torres received a separated shoulder in a preseason game against the Chicago Blackhawks which caused him to miss the first six weeks of the season.